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delivery

Amazon to begin drone deliveries in two US states

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Amazon is preparing to start deliveries of its retail products to its customers by drone. The first areas chosen are Lockeford, in California, and College Station, in Texas.

The world’s largest online retailer says “hundreds of residents have expressed interest in receiving their Amazon orders via drone”, and the company has built new facilities to support the expansion into the air.

The company’s drone service is called Amazon Prime Air, one of only three companies given certificates by the Federal Aviation Authority to operate drone deliveries. [Read more…] about Amazon to begin drone deliveries in two US states

Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

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Geekplus, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, has expanded its collaboration with electronic components manufacturer Siemens Switchgear Shanghai with the second phase of a smart manufacturing automation project.

The expansion introduces more of Geekplus’s goods-to-person picking and materials handling robots to the multi-robot configuration and opens up a further 3,000 sq m of automated warehousing space. The system achieved a delivery accuracy rate of 100 percent, with materials accuracy of over 99.98 percent in the production line.

Siemens Switchgear Shanghai first joined forces with Geekplus in 2019 and successfully built a full-process flexible automated intelligent logistics factory using four types of Geekplus robots: P800R goods-to-person picking robots, MP1000R moving robots, RS2 tote-to-person robots, and X-series four-way shuttles for high-density storage. [Read more…] about Siemens expands robotic activities with Geekplus

Robots in retail: Delivering the goods in 2022

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By Ritukar Vijay, CEO at Ottonomy

Retailers are feeling the heat from rising labor costs, and are increasingly looking to automated solutions to keep worker costs down.

According to a February 28, 2022 story in The Wall Street Journal, US retailers spent 4 percent more cash on labor costs in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.

Big box brands like Target, Costco, and Walmart are all raising wages above beyond the $15 minimum wage level to secure the staffing they need to stay competitive. For retailers, restaurants, and other consumer-facing businesses, the wage growth issue stems from a burgeoning problem – not enough workers. [Read more…] about Robots in retail: Delivering the goods in 2022

Embark Trucks completes autonomous vehicle testing in snowy conditions

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Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, says it has successfully completed on-road testing in snowy conditions in Montana, USA.

The testing, which Embark announced earlier this year, was conducted to demonstrate the performance and safety of Embark’s patent-pending Vision Map Fusion (VMF) technology in geographies that experience severe winter weather.

Results from the testing demonstrate that in approximately 90 percent of runs through the snowy conditions under study – which could result in delays for HD map-based autonomous driving systems – VMF should operate successfully, or pause and resume travel within acceptable shipper delivery windows. [Read more…] about Embark Trucks completes autonomous vehicle testing in snowy conditions

Unilever flies ice cream to customers using Flytrex drones

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The Ice Cream Shop, Unilever’s first-ever digital storefront, has partnered with Flytrex, an aerial food and retail delivery company, to offer ice cream delivery via drone across all of Flytrex’s US locations: Holly Springs, Fayetteville and Raeford, North Carolina, and Granbury, Texas.

Orders from The Ice Cream Shop will be delivered via the skies to front and backyards of local residents with a flight time of “under three minutes”.

Orders are placed using the Flytrex app, which provides customers with real time updates along the delivery route until the package is lowered safely by wire into their yard. [Read more…] about Unilever flies ice cream to customers using Flytrex drones

Serve Robotics partners with Piestro to deliver robot-made pizzas

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Piestro, a maker of a robotic pizzeria, is partnering with Serve Robotics, a maker of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots, to offer customers a totally robotic pizza delivery service.

When a customer places an order, Piestro’s scheduling system will notify Serve’s fleet and the nearest available robot will pick up the pizza for transport from a Piestro pod.

The partnership will roll out in the coming months, as Piestro deploys units within Serve delivery areas.  [Read more…] about Serve Robotics partners with Piestro to deliver robot-made pizzas

Massive growth predicted for robotic last-mile delivery

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Worldwide robotic last-mile delivery revenues are forecasted to grow from $70 million in 2022 to $670 million in 2030.

This is according to new research from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research.

Furthermore, the value of those parcels delivered by autonomous mobile robots could reach $3.3 billion by 2030. [Read more…] about Massive growth predicted for robotic last-mile delivery

Grubhub and Cartken partner to bring robot delivery to college campuses

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Grubhub, an online and mobile food-ordering and delivery platform on college campuses, and Cartken, a technology startup that specializes in self-driving, AI-powered robotics and delivery operations, have formed a partnership to bring robot delivery to college campuses.

This delivery was piloted at Ohio State University this spring, and a full roll out is expected when students return to campus this fall.

Grubhub partners with more than 250 college campuses across the United States to give students the ability to integrate meal plans directly into their Grubhub account and access restaurants both on- and off-campus for delivery and pickup. [Read more…] about Grubhub and Cartken partner to bring robot delivery to college campuses

EAVX unveils autonomous ‘walk-in van’ prototype

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EAVX, a subsidiary of JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO), and REE Automotive, a provider of electric vehicle platforms and automotive technologies, have unveiled the companies’ new fully electric “walk-in van” prototype will begin customer evaluation this summer.

The class 5 vehicle debuts the EAVX body design powered by REE’s modular P7 platform, making it the first fully drive-by-wire walk-in van on the market.

Evaluations of the new electric walk-in van will take place over several weeks in the Detroit metropolitan area. [Read more…] about EAVX unveils autonomous ‘walk-in van’ prototype

Remy Robotics exits stealth mode with launch of third autonomous robotic kitchen

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Remy Robotics, a food technology startup leading the disruption of delivery-only restaurants through the use of adaptive robotics and culinary engineering, today exited stealth mode with the opening of a third autonomous robotic kitchen.

With over 60,000 robot-cooked dishes sold and top customer ratings across all major delivery apps, Remy Robotics is now ready to expand its delivery-only restaurant business with more brands and more locations.

The company’s successful track record means it is now ready to offer its autonomous robotic kitchen platform to other food operators looking to scale their business, improve profitability and solve the labour shortage challenge. [Read more…] about Remy Robotics exits stealth mode with launch of third autonomous robotic kitchen