Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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John Deere reveals fully autonomous tractor at CES

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John Deere has revealed a fully autonomous tractor at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s largest electronics trade show, currently taking place in Las Vegas, USA. 

The agriculture technology giant says its driverless tractor is ready for large-scale production.

The machine combines Deere’s 8R Tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. The autonomous tractor will be available to farmers later this year. [Read more…] about John Deere reveals fully autonomous tractor at CES

Heliogen demonstrates autonomous robot designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs of solar plants

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Bill Gates-backed company Heliogen, a provider of concentrated solar power, has unveiled a new robot which it describes as a “technological breakthrough” in the production of low-cost renewable energy.

In field tests at Heliogen’s Lancaster, California facility, the company successfully completed the first technical demonstration of an autonomous field maintenance system, Heliogen’s Installation & Cleaning Autonomous Robot & Utility Solution, or “ICARUS”. (See video below.)

By bringing the same advanced technologies that enable its AI-enabled concentrated solar power systems to the task of installing and maintaining those systems, the company’s latest innovation is expected to significantly reduce the time to implement its concentrated solar facilities, as well as the costs associated with construction and ongoing maintenance. [Read more…] about Heliogen demonstrates autonomous robot designed to reduce installation and maintenance costs of solar plants

Top 10 Most Liked and Popular Robotic YouTube Channels

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Robotics remains one of the most popular subjects that individuals like to post videos about on YouTube. You should know that if you want to buy cheap YouTube likes, that is one way to get the engagement numbers you crave as a content creator.

However, if you know about robotics and can develop some interesting videos using those as subject matter, you are likely to find success.

We’ve come up with ten of the most liked and subscribed robotics video channels if you’re interested in seeing what we mean. Maybe you might check out these channels and decide which one you’d like to use as a model for your own robotics-based content. [Read more…] about Top 10 Most Liked and Popular Robotic YouTube Channels

Rugged Robotics completes first full-scale pilot on Consigli construction site

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The Consigli Construction Company says that a Houston-based construction technology startup, Rugged Robotics, has completed its first full-scale pilot on a Consigli job site.

Consigli says its collaboration with Rugged Robotics is in line with the construction company’s commitment to support and utilize cutting-edge technologies in an effort to advance efficiencies in the construction process.

Founded by a registered professional engineer and a NASA engineer, Rugged Robotics’ inaugural product tackles the challenge of field layout. Traditionally, field layout is performed using tape measures, chalk-lines, and surveying equipment to manually mark the location of walls and mechanical systems. [Read more…] about Rugged Robotics completes first full-scale pilot on Consigli construction site

Scientists research ‘matter waves’ to shine light on post electronics future

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Most modern technologies owe their success to advances in electronics. These devices harness the flow of electrons in different ways to create computers, charge batteries, light-up displays, and move motors.

Now researchers are starting to explore ways to harness the flow of waves of whole atoms, called matter waves, to enable new kinds of sensors, computers, and scientific research.

This new field has been named atomtronics, owing to the focus on finding ways to move whole atoms rather than electrons in traditional electronics devices. [Read more…] about Scientists research ‘matter waves’ to shine light on post electronics future

Cleveron conducts ‘world’s first’ driving exams with a driverless semi-autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle

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Cleveron, an Estonian-based technology company, partnered with LRK Driving School to conduct what they say are “the world’s first driving exams with an unmanned semi-autonomous car”.

The exams were carried out with Cleveron’s last-mile delivery vehicle Cleveron 701. All four Cleveron specialists passed the exam and received the world’s first tele-operated vehicle certificates.

To receive the certificate, drivers first had to undergo special tele-operated vehicle training, followed by field exercises and city driving, in accordance with the Estonian examination standards. [Read more…] about Cleveron conducts ‘world’s first’ driving exams with a driverless semi-autonomous last-mile delivery vehicle

TerraClear raises $25 million to commercialize Robotic Rock Picker

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TerraClear, an applied AI and robotics company, announced Series A funding of $25 million led by Madrona Venture Group, bringing the company’s total funding to $38 million. Rocks in fields break machinery, slow precision farming, and take up valuable time that modern farms do not have.

TerraClear’s Rock Picker picks an average of 400 rocks per hour and can pick up rocks of up to 300 pounds each.

In the past year, TerraClear has deployed early versions of their solution that both map and clear fields of rocks. These rocks not only break the backs of those picking them up, but break increasingly expensive precision machinery that is in common use by farmers for planting, irrigating and harvesting. [Read more…] about TerraClear raises $25 million to commercialize Robotic Rock Picker

SAE International launches 12-week robotics for autonomous vehicle systems training ‘Bootcamp’

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Virtual 12-week experience provides career development opportunities for engineers entering the fast-growing autonomous vehicles industry

SAE International has announced the new 12-week Robotics for Autonomous Vehicle Systems Bootcamp for recent graduates and/or entry-level mechanical, electrical and computer science engineers joining the industry to support autonomous vehicle (AV) system development.

In partnership with Clemson University and Argo AI, SAE designed the rigorous, virtual-only workforce development experience to provide participants with an in-depth technical understanding of how to build autonomous systems.

“Companies can spend upwards of 10 months onboarding entry-level AV positions, which in this fast-moving industry can directly hinder the development and deployment cycles. The Robotics for Autonomous Vehicle Systems Bootcamp aims to support both employers and professionals by bridging the training gap through an accelerated 12-week bootcamp,” said Elizabeth Melville, director of learning at SAE International. [Read more…] about SAE International launches 12-week robotics for autonomous vehicle systems training ‘Bootcamp’

SICK launches ‘world’s first’ LiDAR multibeam scanner for small vehicles

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SICK Sensor Intelligence has launched what it describes as “the world’s first” LiDAR multibeam scanner with safe, solid-state technology for line-guided small vehicles.

The scanGrid2 safe multibeam scanner from SICK is the first of its kind in the world. The compact sensor uses a novel and in-house developed solid-state LiDAR technology to increase the productivity of small autonomous and line-guided transport vehicles.

Certified as a Type 2/SIL 1 safety sensor according to IEC 61496-3, the scanGrid2 can protect hazardous areas up to performance level c and works well for collision avoidance. An app and cloning function also ensure a high level of up time and fast fleet deployment. [Read more…] about SICK launches ‘world’s first’ LiDAR multibeam scanner for small vehicles

How robotics is helping those with disabilities

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Government statistics show that 14.1 million people reported a disability in the UK in 2018-19 – a figure that equates to 21% of the population. Of course, disabilities can range in severity and further data from the authorities reveals 4.1 million disabled people are in work.

Although that represents almost 30% of all disabled people, Scope’s 2019 disability price tag study found that on average, those with a disability face extra living costs of nearly £600 per month.

The encouraging news is that plenty is being done to improve the quality of life for disabled people, to help them enjoy the sense of freedom and independence that more able members of the population may take for granted. [Read more…] about How robotics is helping those with disabilities