Robotics & Automation News

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HEBI Robotics awarded $150,000 grant by NASA

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HEBI Robotics, creator of a robot development platform that makes it possible to quickly design and create robust robots, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by NASA to develop smart robotic actuation hardware and building blocks that are compatible with the HEBI Platform for robot development, and suitable for use in missions to space.

Bob Raida, CEO of HEBI Robotics, says: “For 10 years, HEBI has been working to streamline the process of developing robots. Customers around the world use our system to create robust robots that would have been infeasible without the HEBI Platform.

“Many of those users are designing systems that will ultimately be deployed in space. This project will make it possible for those users to design and build robots in their lab with the HEBI Platform, knowing that work will carry through to the final production design and system.” [Read more…] about HEBI Robotics awarded $150,000 grant by NASA

California Energy Commission awards Liminal $2.75 million grant

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The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved a $2.75 million grant for Liminal, a battery manufacturing intelligence company, to advance the assembly of its EchoStat platform from manual to mostly-automated factory-ready equipment.

EchoStat is an EV battery cell inspection system that uses ultrasound inspection and machine learning analytics to provide manufacturers with previously unavailable insights into battery quality, reliability and performance.

Andrew Hsieh, CEO of Liminal, says: “To power the global EV transition, battery production needs to expand by 20 percent annually, but challenges with battery reliability have created setbacks for automakers and battery companies. [Read more…] about California Energy Commission awards Liminal $2.75 million grant

Baker-Polito administration awards $4.4 million grant for new Boston University robotics facility

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The Baker-Polito Administration has announced a $4.4 million grant to Boston University for a new research and development center called the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Teaching and Innovation Center (RASTIC).

The project will drive the development of new innovations with private sector partners in Massachusetts and increase student research opportunities in the robotics space.

RASTIC will emphasize real-world prototyping projects to integrate new materials, functionality, and artificial intelligence into robotic devices, delivering tools that will allow students to design and launch their own R&D projects. [Read more…] about Baker-Polito administration awards $4.4 million grant for new Boston University robotics facility

Baker-Polito Administration awards Harvard and Boston universities $3 million for assistive robotics research

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The Baker-Polito Administration, or the Massachusetts state government, has awarded a new grant award of $3,057,320 to Harvard University and Boston University to support the development of next-generation robotics and wearable technologies.

Researchers aim to improve the lives of people with neuro-motor impairments and to help individuals achieve ambitious fitness goals, driving innovation in a new category of rehabilitation, diagnostic, and assistive devices that are more lightweight, affordable, and connected.

Led by Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the project involves a collaboration with Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, as well as with industry partners that are poised to bring innovations to market. [Read more…] about Baker-Polito Administration awards Harvard and Boston universities $3 million for assistive robotics research

Fugro partners with Nexxis to operate robots via satellite from SpAARC

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Fugro, in partnership with remote visual inspection, non-destructive testing and robotics company Nexxis, has demonstrated how its remote operations capability can be applied to space through satellite-controlled robots.

The demonstration took place at SpAARC, the Space Automation Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Control Complex, in Western Australia.

The Australian Space Agency commissioned Fugro to design, build and operate the world-class SpAARC complex in 2020. [Read more…] about Fugro partners with Nexxis to operate robots via satellite from SpAARC

Nasa awards Geisel Software grant to develop multi-robot perception

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Geisel Software, a Massachusetts-based custom software development firm, has partnered with Fayetteville State University to perform research funded by NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project Space Technology Artemis Research grant.

The grant will fund Active and On-demand Multi Robot Perception research designed to develop multi-robot perception, a technology that utilizes highly specialized image sensors, to support NASA’s use of autonomous multi-robot systems performing scouting missions on the surface of the Moon or other planets. [Read more…] about Nasa awards Geisel Software grant to develop multi-robot perception

Five companies awarded $280,000 to develop mobility solutions in Michigan

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PlanetM, the State of Michigan’s mobility initiative, is awarding a round of its technology activation grant program to companies addressing the challenges presented by the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Five companies received more than $280,000 in funding to aid in the development and deployment of solutions that address the mobility challenges Covid-19 presents in Michigan.

The five companies are:

  1. GHSP;
  2. Gatik;
  3. Penske Vehicle Services;
  4. RCO Engineering; and
  5. Pratt Miller.

The mobility challenges include contactless automated delivery within the statewide retail supply chain, disinfecting technologies in West Michigan and barriers to protect transit workers in Detroit. [Read more…] about Five companies awarded $280,000 to develop mobility solutions in Michigan

Finger Lakes college partners with New Scale Robotics to develop collaborative robot tools

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Finger Lakes Community College has been awarded a $50,000 manufacturing grant from the FuzeHub Innovation Fund to support its work with New Scale Robotics, accelerating development of New Scale’s precision measurement and gripping tools for a wide range of collaborative robots.

New Scale has a line of precision grippers, calipers and other tools that install in minutes on cobots from Universal Robots.

New Scale will collaborate with Dr Sam Samanta, head of the Instrumentation and Controls program at FLCC, and his students to develop a Smart Platform that expands plug-and-play compatibility of New Scale Robotics tools to multiple additional cobot brands. [Read more…] about Finger Lakes college partners with New Scale Robotics to develop collaborative robot tools