Robotics & Automation News

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UPS installs AutoStore system in warehouse and increases capacity by 400 percent

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When UPS Global Logistics & Distribution in Europe needed to add capacity at a fulfillment center in the Netherlands, the team used an innovation driven approach to think inside the box and find a better way to utilize the existing space rather than build another warehouse.

The solution was implementing a leading automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS).

Automated storage and retrieval systems are revolutionizing traditional warehousing and order fulfillment. Sprawling buildings filled with tall racks, wide rows and loud forklifts are being replaced by grids and bins with robotic arms and workstations. [Read more…] about UPS installs AutoStore system in warehouse and increases capacity by 400 percent

Plus One Robotics raises $33 million to fuel expansion

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Plus One Robotics, a provider of vision software for logistics robots, has raised $33 million in Series B funding.

McRock Capital and TransLink Ventures co-led the round, with participation from BMWi Ventures, Kensington Capital Partners, and Ironspring Ventures alongside existing investors.

Whitney Rockley of McRock Capital and Toshi Otani of TransLink will join the company’s board of directors. [Read more…] about Plus One Robotics raises $33 million to fuel expansion

Semiconductor Industry Association to discuss global chip shortage with US government

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The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is to meet with officials in the administration of newly elected president of the United States, Joe Biden, to discuss the ongoing global shortage in chips, which is affecting many areas of manufacturing and the wider economy.

The SIA released a statement from its president and CEO, John Neuffer, welcoming the upcoming meeting at the White House between Biden Administration officials and leaders from the semiconductor industry and other sectors to discuss the global chip shortage, President Biden’s infrastructure plan, and other issues related to the semiconductor supply chain.

In the statement, Neuffer says: “We welcome this high-level engagement between the White House and industry leaders and see it as an important opportunity for a discussion on the need to fund investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research to help ensure the long-term strength and resilience of America’s semiconductor supply chain.” [Read more…] about Semiconductor Industry Association to discuss global chip shortage with US government

Teradyne, Fetch, and BlueBotics named as ‘market leaders’ in ABI Research’s autonomous material handling competitive ranking

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The market for autonomous mobile robots performing material handling tasks has expanded greatly in the last few years, with global revenues of $223 million in 2016 expanding to $800 million in 2020, according to a new report by ABI Research.

To help commentators and end users understand the strongest horses in this race, global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research has completed a detailed profile on ten of the most promising autonomous handling robotics vendors: Teradyne, Fetch, Bluebotics, Seegrid, Gideon Brothers, Agilox, Baylo, IAM Robotics, Vecna Robotics, and Forward X. [Read more…] about Teradyne, Fetch, and BlueBotics named as ‘market leaders’ in ABI Research’s autonomous material handling competitive ranking

Key industry organisations partner to develop global standards for autonomous vehicles

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The Autonomous Vehicle Computing Consortium, a global group of automotive and technology industry organisations, has agreed what is described as a “key liaison” with SAE International, the association of more than 200,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries.

The two organisations’ shared goal is to help expedite the development of autonomous and assisted driving solutions through shared technical references, recommendations, design benchmarks and marketing initiatives.

Jack Pokrzywa, ground vehicle standards director, SAE International, says: “For more than a century, SAE Standards have created the safe, reliable and consistent use and adoption of technologies to advance the mobility industry for the benefit of humanity. [Read more…] about Key industry organisations partner to develop global standards for autonomous vehicles

Chinese robotics sector files ‘44 percent of total global patents’

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The Chinese robotics sector generated almost half of total global patents in the most recent year available, according to a new report. 

The figure was published in the Annual Report on the Development of the Robot Industry in China, jointly written by HRG International Institute of Research and Innovation as well as the China Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation.

The two organizations produced what they call the 2021 Blue Book of the Robot Industry, based on their research. [Read more…] about Chinese robotics sector files ‘44 percent of total global patents’

Organic wholesaler ‘doubles output’ with AutoStore and Swisslog warehouse automation

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A top wholesaler in the Swiss organic market, Bio Partner, has “doubled its output” following the implementation of innovative robotic logistics from Swisslog at its facility in Aargau, Switzerland, according to the company. 

Bio Partner supplies business customers in the organic specialist trade as well as the rest of the retail and food industry from its location in Seon, in Switzerland.

As a result of the merger with Somona, the warehouse reached its performance and capacity limits, and the wholesaler turned to a local partner with a global footprint to deliver an automated storage system. [Read more…] about Organic wholesaler ‘doubles output’ with AutoStore and Swisslog warehouse automation

Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

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By John Hayes, Balyo USA

Economic policies from Industry 4.0, Logistics 4.0, and connected warehouses point to the imperative to lower costs, increase productivity, and guarantee quality. There are as many forklift truck operator positions to be filled as there are IT developer and R&D engineer jobs combined.

In the United States, 65 percent of the businesses surveyed by Deloitte (as part of its annual Supply Chain report) noted that it is “extremely difficult” to hire qualified warehouse labor.

Moving pallets is expensive. One of the global Fast Moving Customer Goods (FMCG) leaders estimates spending “almost 380 million dollars per year” for tasks that create no additional value for the business. [Read more…] about Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

ABB launches new range of ‘next generation’ collaborative robots

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ABB is expanding its collaborative robot portfolio with the new GoFa and SWIFTI cobot families, offering higher payloads and speeds, to complement YuMi and Single Arm YuMi in ABB’s cobot line-up.

These stronger, faster and more capable cobots will accelerate the company’s expansion in high-growth segments including electronics, healthcare, consumer goods, logistics and food and beverage, amongst others, meeting the growing demand for automation across multiple industries.

GoFa and SWIFTI are intuitively designed so customers need not rely on in-house programming specialists. This will unlock industries that have low levels of automation, with customers able to operate their cobot within minutes of installation, straight out of the box, with no specialized training. [Read more…] about ABB launches new range of ‘next generation’ collaborative robots

Visteon partners with ECARX and Qualcomm to develop ‘intelligent cockpits’ for automotive industry

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Visteon, ECARX and Qualcomm Technologies have launched a joint initiative to develop intelligent cockpit solutions across conventional and electric vehicle applications. 

Visteon and ECARX, using Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platforms, are working together to develop these intelligent technologies and sharing research to commercialize an integrated cockpit project for a variety of vehicle platforms starting in 2021.

Sachin Lawande, president and CEO of Visteon, described digital content as “the battleground” for OEMs as human interfaces becomes more complex and connected technologies are increasingly important to improve the cockpit. [Read more…] about Visteon partners with ECARX and Qualcomm to develop ‘intelligent cockpits’ for automotive industry

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