Robotics & Automation News

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Aerones raises $30 million to develop wind turbine maintenance robot

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Aerones, a Latvia-based company specializing in robot-enabled wind turbine maintenance and inspection, has secured $30 million in growth capital to scale its business globally.

The capital will be used to help the Company meet surging demand in a market which is expected to reach $50 billion in value by 2028.

The funding round was co-led by Lightrock, the global growth equity investor, and Haniel, the European family-owned purpose-driven investor. [Read more…] about Aerones raises $30 million to develop wind turbine maintenance robot

ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

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Astrocast, a global nanosatellite IoT network operator, and ArrowSpot has signed a multi-million-dollar contract to start mass production of ArrowSpot’s ArrowTrack SAT device.

The contract between Astrocast and ArrowSpot includes hardware integration and Satellite IoT (SatIoT) connectivity for an initial three-year period.

For context, ArrowSpot’s technology solutions provide the worldwide supply chain logistics industry with online information for safe & secure sensitive chilled cargo and high value cargo. Clients working with ArrowSpot include ZIM Shipping Line and Oceanex Inc. intermodal transportation services. [Read more…] about ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

SafeAI raises $38 million funding to develop autonomous heavy equipment

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SafeAI, a developer of autonomous solutions for heavy equipment, has raised $38 million in its Series B round of funding with key investors including Builders VC, McKinley Management, George Kaiser Family Foundation, and Energy Innovation Capital.

Additionally, Moog Inc joined the round as a strategic investor. SafeAI retrofits construction and mining vehicles with aftermarket hardware and proprietary autonomy software that delivers significant gains in increased worksite productivity, safety and cost savings.

The company will use the funding to accelerate their autonomous vehicle technology roadmap, and to scale operations globally to service and deploy their growing customer base. [Read more…] about SafeAI raises $38 million funding to develop autonomous heavy equipment

Comau to provide robotic systems for Daimler’s first truck production line in China

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Comau has built an advanced, automated welding solution for Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, a joint venture between Daimler Trucks and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor.

In doing so, Comau is helping support BFDA’s first localized heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.

Featuring 100 percent process automation, the Comau-designed production line is engineered to be completely flexible in order to handle complex model management and variable output management. [Read more…] about Comau to provide robotic systems for Daimler’s first truck production line in China

TeamViewer and Hyundai partner to accelerate digital innovation in automotive smart factory

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TeamViewer, a provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalisation solutions, is partnering with mobility solutions provider Hyundai Motor to digitalise business operations and manufacturing processes for Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS).

TeamViewer and Hyundai Motor Company will cooperate to maximise digitalisation benefits in HMGICS’ smart factory using TeamViewer’s Augmented Reality (AR) platform, which includes Mixed Reality (MR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities.

The platform will support assembly, maintenance, quality management, logistics, client experience projects and workforce training. The two companies will conduct joint research and development (R&D) activities in AR-powered smart factory operations, immersive digital experience for frontline workers and AI support for a future automotive factory. [Read more…] about TeamViewer and Hyundai partner to accelerate digital innovation in automotive smart factory

Brain Corp unveils new platform for its autonomous commercial robots

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Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence company specializing in cleaning and inventory robotics, has released its “next generation autonomy platform for commercial robotics”.

The third generation platform represents the latest evolution of Brain Corp’s BrainOS autonomous robotic operating system, which currently powers over 20,000 autonomous robots operating in public spaces, and has been designed to underpin a future generation of intelligent robotic solutions to be applied across multiple commercial sectors.

The new, modular architecture promotes faster and easier product development and includes a number of key features designed to expand potential robot applications and advance machine capabilities, performance, safety and security. [Read more…] about Brain Corp unveils new platform for its autonomous commercial robots

ABB survey reveals re-industrialization ‘at risk’ from global education gap in automation

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A global ABB survey has revealed a growing trend in US and European businesses towards re-shoring or nearshoring operations to build resilience in the face of global challenges – but at the same time, a significant education gap in the skills necessary for these strategies to succeed.

Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation Business, says: “The world is constantly evolving – businesses are shifting existing structures and adopting new technologies to future-proof their operations for a variety of challenges and uncertainties, with robotic automation playing a key role.

“We need significant investment in continuous education to prepare our existing and future workforce to thrive in an age of robotics and automation, important not only to prepare for the widespread shifts we are seeing, but to create prosperous societies going forward.” [Read more…] about ABB survey reveals re-industrialization ‘at risk’ from global education gap in automation

ICE Cobotics chooses IoT system from T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom

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ICE Cobotics has chosen T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom’s T IoT as its exclusive IoT connectivity solution worldwide to help its customers more easily manage fleets of the company’s floor cleaning robots.

As part of the long-term agreement, T IoT – a comprehensive solution for global IoT connectivity, platform management and support – will deliver cellular connectivity to more than 7,500 new and existing ICE Cobotics intelligent and autonomous cleaning units across the world.

This includes their newest product, Cobi 18, a compact autonomous floor scrubber which is designed to clean 5,000 to 7,000 square feet per hour, starting at less than $20 a day. [Read more…] about ICE Cobotics chooses IoT system from T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom

Global spending on semiconductor fabrication equipment forecast to reach ‘all-time high’ of almost $100 billion in 2022

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Global fabrication equipment spending for front-end facilities is expected to increase approximately 9 percent year-over-year to a new “all-time high” of $99 billion in 2022, according to SEMI.

The industry association revealed its prediction in its latest quarterly World Fab Forecast report. The report also shows the global fab equipment industry increasing capacity this year and again in 2023.

Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO, says: “After achieving a record level in 2022, the global fab equipment market is projected to remain healthy next year driven by new fabs and upgrade activity.” [Read more…] about Global spending on semiconductor fabrication equipment forecast to reach ‘all-time high’ of almost $100 billion in 2022

Geek+ raises $100 million in latest financing round with strategic investment from Intel

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Geek+, a maker of warehouse automation technologies, has closed a new, $100 million series E1 funding series, with the company valued at over $2 billion.

Investors in the round include Intel Capital, Vertex Growth, and Qingyue Capital Investment. The company will use this funding to accelerate its global market expansion and invest in its AMR technology research and development for key product innovation.

In early 2021, Geek+ closed a previously undisclosed series D financing round led by CPE. In 2021, Geek+ registered annual revenue of $150 million and over $300 million in orders. [Read more…] about Geek+ raises $100 million in latest financing round with strategic investment from Intel