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delivery

Amazon expands delivery robot trials to more US states

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Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer, is expanding its delivery robot trials to more US states.

The company had initially field tested its delivery robot in Snohomish County, in Washington state, as reported by Robotics and Automation News in January this year.

The deliveries in Washington were made using a robot called “Scout”, which look like they’re a modified version of Starship Technologies’ machine, and were being offered as part of Amazon’s Prime subscription service, which includes free deliveries on most orders. [Read more…] about Amazon expands delivery robot trials to more US states

Spacetime Labs and Small Robot Company to develop swarm robotics for agri-business in Latin America

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SpaceTime Labs and Small Robot Company are partnering to co-develop swarms of fourth generation autonomous aerial and terrestrial robots to “transform” Latin American agriculture with “per plant farming solutions”.

The strategic partnership will focus on co-developing an on the ground, end-to-end “per plant” planting, weeds, pests and disease management and nutrition management “farming as a service” value propositions delivered through an integrated delivery “sense-predict-act” value chain for all key commercial crops in Latin America.

The companies will work with leading Brazilian and Argentinian farmers to prototype, test and scale Per Plant Farming – maximising yields whilst reducing the impact on the environment. [Read more…] about Spacetime Labs and Small Robot Company to develop swarm robotics for agri-business in Latin America

US Senate to give green light to delivery robots on sidewalks

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The US Senate is poised to give the green light to the operation of delivery robots on American sidewalks after a bipartisan North Carolina bill was passed in the House in a “near unanimous vote”, according to News Observer.

Delivery robots are being tested in several states across the US in strict accordance with specific agreements with local authorities.

Delivery robots are also used on university campuses and large industrial areas where the land is owned or controlled by one company or organisation, bypassing the need to use public sidewalks. [Read more…] about US Senate to give green light to delivery robots on sidewalks

PAL Robotics delivery robots for hospitals now integrate Accerion positioning sensors

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PAL Robotics is using delivery robots that are now integrate Accerion positioning sensors.

The TIAGo Delivery Robot will part of the fight against coronavirus in hospitals and is scheduled to start operating in hospitals next month.

With the unpredictable health crisis of Covid-19 continuing to place high demands on hospitals, PAL Robotics is building a solution: the TIAGo Delivery robot, which will soon be deployed in hospitals, following a winning proposal submitted to the European DIH-Hero project. [Read more…] about PAL Robotics delivery robots for hospitals now integrate Accerion positioning sensors

Caterpillar acquires delivery robot maker Marble

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Caterpillar, the manufacturer of large-scale equipment for sectors such as construction, mining and transportation, has agreed to acquire Marble, a startup company that makes delivery robots.

According to a report on construction news website KHL.com, Caterpillar is looking to build on its work in autonomous mining vehicles, where it’s famous for using gigantic driverless dump trucks (see infographic below).

Innovations and developments gained through the Marble acquisition could help Caterpillar to supply a new generation of technology to its other markets. [Read more…] about Caterpillar acquires delivery robot maker Marble

The impact of coronavirus on e-commerce with China

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By Matt Rivera, marketing and business expansion advisor for Asian markets in China

The spread of coronavirus has undoubtedly shifted the entire global economy. Businesses of almost every sector needed to rapidly react and navigate the challenges presented by the virus to quickly overcome them and move forward.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to surge in Italy, Germany, Spain and nearly all over the world. Businesses in major global cities such as Rome and New York have been gravely affected by this unfortunate turn of events.

Companies are scrambling to mobilize responses, but the unpredictable nature of the virus, coupled with the obvious under-preparedness by business executives and government leaders, these responses have brought little to no success. [Read more…] about The impact of coronavirus on e-commerce with China

IAM Robotics wins contract with global health and beauty retailer

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IAM Robotics, makers of autonomous mobile manipulation robots, has won a contract with new client A.S. Watson Group, one of the world’s largest international health and beauty retailers with over 15,700 stores in 25 markets.

A.S. Watson will implement a fleet of Swift robots from IAM Robotics at its Benelux e-commerce fulfillment center in the Netherlands to help solve labour and capacity constraints due to a fast-growing, high-volume health and beauty retail business.

Ed van de Weerd, CEO of A.S. Watson health and beauty Benelux, says: “Our business in e-commerce is growing rapidly, and we need a way to keep up with the growth while offering next-day delivery within our existing fulfillment center, which is important for us to deliver the group’s online and offline strategy. [Read more…] about IAM Robotics wins contract with global health and beauty retailer

Nuro partners with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle

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Nuro is partnering with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle.

Starting this month, the “first-of-its-kind partnership” brings Nuro into the health space as the startup utilizes its fleet of autonomous vehicles to deliver prescriptions and essentials across three zip codes in Houston, Texas.

Pharma is the third industry sector in which Nuro will introduce its autonomous vehicles. [Read more…] about Nuro partners with CVS Pharmacy to deliver medicines using its autonomous vehicle

Enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot double amid pandemic

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The number of enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot (see video below) has doubled amid the global coronavirus pandemic, according to an executive at the startup company.

Governments in virtually every country in the world have ordered lockdowns of citizens, or “shelter-in-place” orders, as they are referred to in the US.

The orders have led to many people in the robotics industry to predict that the demand for delivery robots, such as the ones produced by Savioke, will increase. [Read more…] about Enquiries for Savioke’s delivery robot double amid pandemic

LG partners with Woowa Brothers to develop food delivery robots

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Electronics and household appliances giant LG is partnering with unicorn startup Woowa Brothers to develop food delivery robots.

The partnership will aim to produce mobile robots that can deliver food to people’s homes as well to the tables of customers at restaurants.

While LG is well known around the world, Woowa Brothers is a startup which achieved unicorn status – became worth more than $1 billion – when German company Delivery Hero acquired it for around $4 billion in January this year. [Read more…] about LG partners with Woowa Brothers to develop food delivery robots