Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

drones

Drone software company secures over $750,000 in seed funding

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Converge, a commercial drone software provider, has raised over three quarters of a million in seed funding. The company’s initial round of funding included investors Samsung NEXT, Techstars Ventures, Kima Ventures, and other angel investors.

The commercial drone market is expected to grow to $58.3 bn as traditional industries incorporate drones to execute tasks from delivery to inspections through to emergency response.

It is the fastest growing drone market segment, however AI software is needed to move beyond intensive, hands-on planning, flying and distilling data to an automated world where drones are a seamless part of business operations.

[Read more…] about Drone software company secures over $750,000 in seed funding

Robots are stealing the world’s fish, says World Economic Forum

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A third of all fish consumed in the world are already caught illegally, and artificial intelligence and drone technologies are increasingly to blame, according to a report by the World Economic Forum into risks to the global economy.

WEF says that when the automation of illegal fishing is considered, the impact on fish stocks could be “devastating – particularly in international waters where oversight is weaker”.

Countless other areas exist where the same logic might unfold, says WEF, adding that huge short-term incentives might lead to the use of emerging technologies in ways that trigger irreversible long-term damage.  [Read more…] about Robots are stealing the world’s fish, says World Economic Forum

Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

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If we were to think of robotics and automation as one industry – which we at this website in fact do – we could argue that it’s one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now.

Certainly if we were to include software automation systems – such as robotic process automation – it would probably be the biggest.

But Robotics and Automation News tends to concentrate on physical machines – such as robotic arms or autonomous vehicles – which can be seen in a typical manufacturing or logistics facility.

And we try and understand what other sectors are most closely related to robotics and automation – manufacturing and logistics being two obvious ones.

[Read more…] about Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

How robots and artificial intelligence will transform the mining industry

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By Joao Piexe, FN Media Group’s Safehaven.com

Drones are sweeping over the global mining industry and for good reason.

The future of mining will increasingly rely on the use of drones and automated systems, slashing costs while helping mining companies find and dig up more gold, silver and other metals and minerals.

According to a 2015 survey of 190 mining companies around the world, about two thirds of them were aiming to integrate remote operations and monitoring centers into their operations.  [Read more…] about How robots and artificial intelligence will transform the mining industry

Natilus raises new funds to launch pilotless freight aircraft

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Natilus, a manufacturer of large aircraft drones, has closed a second round of seed funding with investment from Starburst Ventures, Seraph Group, Gelt VC, Outpost Capital and Draper Associates.

The funds – the amount was not disclosed – will go toward what the company calls its “aggressive scaling strategy”, with the first Federal Aviation Administration-approved flight for its 30-foot prototype scheduled for late 2017, and a commercial market launch in 2020.

Just as the long-haul freight sector has made huge strides in efficiency gains and cost reduction due to technology innovation, Natilus says the $15.5 trillion global freight market is poised for disruption as it strives to offer customers more cost-effective delivery solutions beyond the decades-old vessels and aircraft which serve as its primary sources of transport.  [Read more…] about Natilus raises new funds to launch pilotless freight aircraft

Game of Drones: An epic infographic by RS Components

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Drones are set to become a multi-billion dollar industry over the next few years, and with the likes of Amazon, Walmart and Google all developing UAV technology it seems the fight for the ‘drone crown’ is fully under way.

But what industries are already embracing drones and what stand out devices are they developing?

This infographic, produced by RS Components, provides a bird’s eye view of the drones sector.  [Read more…] about Game of Drones: An epic infographic by RS Components

Sintef develops drones and robotics technologies for unmanned surveillance and operation of salmon farms

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A Norwegian technology research company called Sintef has been developing drones and other robotics technologies to help salmon and aquaculture farmers manage their operations. 

In one example, an underwater remotely operated underwater vehicle – often called an ROV – is being utilised to manage a farm which has 200,000 salmon fish.

Salmon and fish farming in general is a huge industry in Norway, which is said to be one of the largest – if not the largest – salmon suppliers in the world.  [Read more…] about Sintef develops drones and robotics technologies for unmanned surveillance and operation of salmon farms

Market for logistics robots predicted to exceed $75 billion in 10 years

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Mobile robotics in material handling and logistics will become a $75 billion market by 2027, according to a new report, which adds that it will be more than double by 2038. 

These staggering headline figures mask turbulent transformative change underneath: some technologies will rise and transform the fortunes of industries, fuelling growth rates far outpacing recent trends, whilst others will face with decay and obsolescence.

“We are at the beginning of the beginning of a transformative change, and the time to plan is now,” says the report by IDTechEx Research.  [Read more…] about Market for logistics robots predicted to exceed $75 billion in 10 years

Amazon could assimilate Whole Foods workers into robots and drones in some sort of cyber-physical dystopian Borg-like nightmare

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By Lisa Baertlein and Harriet McLeod, Reuters

The merger that shook food and retail stocks on Friday – Amazon’s proposed deal to buy Whole Foods Market – rattled some employees of the upscale grocery chain who expressed fears ranging from layoffs to the loss of their laid-back corporate culture.

The online retailer hopes the $13.7 billion acquisition helps it disrupt the grocery business and expand its real-world store footprint.

Carmen Clark, 37, a six-year employee at a store in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, said some workers worry that Amazon-led automation could lead to job cuts.  [Read more…] about Amazon could assimilate Whole Foods workers into robots and drones in some sort of cyber-physical dystopian Borg-like nightmare

The pros and cons of using drones in the real estate business

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By Tim Jennings, president, Custom Case Group

Are drones a necessity in the real estate business or are they an extra? 

The clearest and quickest way to answer that question is to present a few compelling pieces of information:

  • When the Federal Aviation Administration handed out its first 1,000 commercial drone operator exemptions a couple of years ago, 35 percent were to operators in real estate marketing.
  • The Multiple Listing Service has reported that properties featuring aerial images sell about 68 percent faster than do properties featuring only non-aerial photos.
  • According to the National Association of Realtors, 73 percent of homeowners said they’d be more likely to list with an agent who incorporates video in marketing their home.
  • In March 2016, Goldman Sachs released a report saying the global drone market is expected to grow to $20.6 billion in the next five years.
  • Many analysts are saying last summer’s FAA commercial drone ruling will result in a dramatic expansion of drone use in the real estate industry this year.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The bottom line is: If you haven’t incorporated drones in your operations yet, it’s time to get the process started.  [Read more…] about The pros and cons of using drones in the real estate business