Robotics & Automation News

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Advanced Construction Robotics launches ‘world’s first’ rebar robot

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Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR) has launched its second product, IronBOT, during ConExpo, the largest gathering of construction professionals in North America, held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

IronBOT augments construction crews by lifting, carrying, and placing up to 5,000-pound bundles of rebar in a transverse or longitudinal orientation without the need for heavy lifting from crew members.

When IronBOT is combined with TyBOT, ACR’s rebar-tying robot, this powerful BOT Bundle can typically provide 50% schedule savings during rebar installation. [Read more…] about Advanced Construction Robotics launches ‘world’s first’ rebar robot

Warehouse robot maker Seegrid partners with Koops Automation Systems

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Seegrid, a builder of autonomous mobile robots for material handling, has agreed a strategic partnership with Koops Automation Systems, a leading systems integrator specializing in industrial automation for manufacturing environments.

The collaboration agreement enables Koops to bolster their portfolio by introducing their customers to the full suite of Seegrid Palion autonomous mobile robots and Fleet Central enterprise software solutions.

Mike Slager, director of business development for Koops Automation, says: “We are excited to be able to solve yet another set of problems our customers experience. [Read more…] about Warehouse robot maker Seegrid partners with Koops Automation Systems

Flexiv partners with Tick-Tek to create the farms of the future

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Flexiv, the world’s leading general-purpose robotics company, is proud to announce that it has formed a strategic channel partnership with Singapore-based agritech and factory automation company Tick-Tek.

Focused on designing and manufacturing indoor farming machinery and complete production lines for large and small farms, Tick-Tek provides its clients with revolutionary agricultural technology that enables a complete indoor farming solution to be created.

Part of this revolutionary technology is Flexiv’s Rizon series of adaptive robots. Equipped with seven degrees of freedom, IP65 protection, artificial intelligence, and industry-leading force control, the Rizon 4, 4s, and 10 enable indoor farms to improve their processes and boost productivity. [Read more…] about Flexiv partners with Tick-Tek to create the farms of the future

Digital manufacturing startup Bright Machines raises $132 million in new funding

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Bright Machines, a startup which describes itself as “an innovator in software-defined manufacturing”, has raised $132 million in debt and Series B equity funding.

The equity portion of the funding, worth $100 million, was led by Eclipse Ventures. The debt portion of the funding, worth $32 million, was led by Silicon Valley Bank, and Hercules Capital.

Bright Machines intends to use the funds to accelerate the company’s growth, which includes continued expansion into high-demand industry verticals, and the development of new software and service offerings to complement its existing portfolio of products. [Read more…] about Digital manufacturing startup Bright Machines raises $132 million in new funding

MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi, MITRE and Novanta join efforts to support healthcare robotics startups

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MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, MITRE and Novanta are calling on startups in the healthcare robotics space to apply to the second Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program.

The objective of the program is to advance healthcare robotics companies by providing the connections, guidance, and resources they need to grow and succeed.

The selected startups will be guided by senior-level mentors from organizing companies and supported to connect with potential customers, investors, suppliers, marketing and more. [Read more…] about MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi, MITRE and Novanta join efforts to support healthcare robotics startups

Electric Sheep Robotics launches its Dexter robotic lawnmower system

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Electric Sheep Robotics, the leader in autonomous lawn mowing, has officially launched its Dexter robot.

Dexter takes existing commercial lawn mowers, both gas and electric, and turns them into autonomous vehicles. Dexter is designed to address critical labor shortages in the landscaping, facilities, and property management industries.

Nationally, a record 4.5 million US workers quit their jobs in November. There are more job openings than there are workers. The labor market in landscaping is particularly dire. [Read more…] about Electric Sheep Robotics launches its Dexter robotic lawnmower system

Sesto Robotics raises $5.7 million for its autonomous mobile robots

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Sesto Robotics, a Singapore-based autonomous mobile robotics company, has raised $5.7 million funding from institutional investors Trive, Germany-based World Trading Inovation, and the Singapore government-backed Seeds Capital. 

Chor Chen Ang, CEO of Sesto Robotics, says: “Having WTI as a strategic investor at this stage of our company’s development helps us to expand into the important European and German market that is the home of Industry 4.0.

“WTI has a strict investment policy and the investors are entrepreneurs who have built and scaled businesses themselves and believe in investing in the right management team to create successful businesses. [Read more…] about Sesto Robotics raises $5.7 million for its autonomous mobile robots

Toyota’s Woven Capital invests in autonomous vehicle fleet platform Ridecell

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Woven Capital, a venture capital unit of Toyota, has made an investment in Ridecell, a platform powering digital transformations and IoT automation for fleet-driven businesses.

Woven Capital is an $800 million global investment fund that supports innovative, growth-stage companies in mobility, automation, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, connectivity, and smart cities.

It is the investment arm of the Woven Planet Group, a Toyota subsidiary which says it is “dedicated to building the safest mobility in the world”. [Read more…] about Toyota’s Woven Capital invests in autonomous vehicle fleet platform Ridecell

AHS partners with Caja Robotics to bring robotic fulfillment to major distribution facility

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Advanced Handling Systems is partnering with Caja Robotics to optimize a Midwest distribution facility for a major retailer.

AHS, a full-service systems integrator located in Erlanger, Kentucky, is a premier US partner of Caja Robotics and will be completing the installation and deployment of approximately 100 robots in the new facility.

Caja Robotics is a visionary software and robotics company that is committed to advancing warehouse operations through its proprietary, smart, and flexible goods-to-person robotic fulfillment solution. [Read more…] about AHS partners with Caja Robotics to bring robotic fulfillment to major distribution facility

NASA awards Geisel Software and Arizona State University swarm robotics contract

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Geisel Software, a Massachusetts-based custom software development firm, and Arizona State University are pleased to announce they have been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Phase I will focus on identifying and developing intent estimation and intent-expressive motion planning technologies that enable cooperative operation of low-cardinality swarms of space vehicles (for example, planetary rovers and flyers) in lunar and planetary exploration missions.

Brian Geisel, CEO at Geisel Software, says: “Geisel Software is excited to be working with ASU on this ground-breaking swarming research for NASA. [Read more…] about NASA awards Geisel Software and Arizona State University swarm robotics contract