Robotics & Automation News

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Governor Whitmer launches air corridor for drones in Michigan and Ontario

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced that Michigan and Ontario are collaborating on a “first-of-its kind technology initiative” involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones.

This effort involves studying the feasibility of a commercial drone skyway in three proposed areas, including an international connection between Michigan and Ontario, southeast Michigan, and any other suitable location in the state.

Through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC), the State of Michigan, with support from the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Government of Ontario, through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), will explore whether small drones can be flown beyond the line of sight of a pilot and be used in operations like just-in-time delivery, medical transport, or other small-scale deployment of UAS. [Read more…] about Governor Whitmer launches air corridor for drones in Michigan and Ontario

Intel Mobileye and Geely Zeekr to build autonomous car for consumer market

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Mobileye, an Intel subsidiary which develops advanced driver assistance systems, and Zeekr, the premium electric car brand owned by China’s largest automaker Geely, are to develop a new all-electric consumer vehicle with Level 4 capabilities.

The plan represents an expansion of their existing strategic technology partnership.

The planned autonomous vehicle will be powered by six EyeQ 5 system-on-chips to process Mobileye True Redundancy sensing, Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS)-based driving policy and a new open collaboration model on Road Experience Management (REM) mapping technology. [Read more…] about Intel Mobileye and Geely Zeekr to build autonomous car for consumer market

Unity and Hyundai partner to build virtual twin of automotive manufacturing facility

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Unity, a platform for developing games and other 3D content, and Hyundai Motor Company have agreed a partnership to jointly design and build what they describe as “a new metaverse roadmap and platform for a meta-factory”.

The partnership will realize Hyundai’s vision of becoming the first mobility innovator to build a meta-factory, a digital-twin of the company’s physical plant, supported by a metaverse platform.

The introduction of Meta-factory, will allow Hyundai to test numerous scenarios virtually, in order to assess, calculate and create optimal operation conditions, without employees needing to be onsite. [Read more…] about Unity and Hyundai partner to build virtual twin of automotive manufacturing facility

The Future of the Workplace: The Rise of the Digital Workplace

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Since the Covid-19 pandemic rolled through the world the way companies conduct business has changed dramatically. A shift in business makes a significant impact upon the workforce across the globe. In a positive way.

Companies that could allow their employees the luxury of working from home during the lockdowns did so. The ones that were not able to do so continued to run as best that they could, cutting back on production and payroll to allow them to stay in business.

Some of them, anyway. Thousands of businesses had to go bankrupt and close their doors because they could not follow the shift of the business world. [Read more…] about The Future of the Workplace: The Rise of the Digital Workplace

Sarcos Robotics ‘merges’ with Rotor Acquisition

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Shareholders in Rotor Acquisition, a publicly-traded special-purpose acquisition company, have approved what’s being described as a “business combination” – possibly meaning a merger – with Sarcos Robotics, a maker of exoskeletons.

Upon completion of the transaction, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, Rotor will change its name to Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation.

The post-closing company’s common stock and warrants are expected to commence trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “STRC” and “STRCW” respectively. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics ‘merges’ with Rotor Acquisition

Supply chain robotics developer Photoneo raises $21 million in Series B funding

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Photoneo, a developer of robotics for warehouse tasks, has raised $21 million in new funding.

The new funding was from AI Capital, IPM Group, Earlybird, Venture to Future Fund, and Credo Ventures as well as all investors who participated in previous investment rounds.

The newly raised capital will accelerate 3D Sensor business and enable expansion of its fully automated fulfillment solutions for warehouses and dark stores – called BrightPick. [Read more…] about Supply chain robotics developer Photoneo raises $21 million in Series B funding

‘Slopehelper’ robot ready to help out in vineyards and orchards

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A company called PeK Automotive has developed a robot it calls “Slopehelper” and says it is ready to help out in vineyards and orchards.

The autonomous agricultural electric robot Slopehelper is being developed and produced in the European Union.

Its creators say the solar-powered robot promises the “absolutely green future” of agriculture to vineyards and orchards at low cost, having made it possible to perform regular annual operations without a driver in fully autonomous mode. [Read more…] about ‘Slopehelper’ robot ready to help out in vineyards and orchards

Top Tech Trend: The Best Robotics that Simplify Our Life

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Robotics is an emerging form of technology that promises to simplify our lives a great deal in the near future.

Although robotics has emerged in some forms, like manufacturing, the truth is that robotics can help people in many unique ways. In particular, robotics has emerged as a means of helping people involved with dating online through the application of the “soft” side of robotics and automation.

The ability to get involved with online dating is helpful to minorities in the dating scene, like gay men or seniors. [Read more…] about Top Tech Trend: The Best Robotics that Simplify Our Life

Flinkster relies on MOQO for the future

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Deutsche Bahn has been operating its own car sharing services for 20 years and currently offers the largest car sharing network in Germany. The service has grown to include 4,500 vehicles that can be booked in more than 400 cities and municipalities.

In order to initiate faster growth and new innovations, Deutsche Bahn will rely on MOQO as its carsharing software in the future with its car sharing service Flinkster. Plans for the technical move next year are already in place. [Read more…] about Flinkster relies on MOQO for the future

TTTech Auto and Infineon design new chip architecture for highly automated driving

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TTTech Auto and Infineon Technologies have developed key components for a fail-operational electronic architecture for highly automated driving of SAE Level 3 and 4.

This enables the safe and reliable processing of, for example, radar or LiDAR camera sensor data and is targeting car and technology manufacturers. The fail-operational architectural concept and its key components ensure the safe operation of highway pilot functions, valet parking and autonomous truck driving in case individual functions fail.

The joint research contributed to the successful completion of the European PRYSTINE (Programmable Systems for Intelligence in Automobiles) project. With a budget of about €50 million, PRYSTINE aimed to realize safe automated driving by fail-operational urban surround perception. [Read more…] about TTTech Auto and Infineon design new chip architecture for highly automated driving