Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

humans

Veo Robotics launches ‘new and improved’ safeguarding system for human-robot collaboration

by Leave a Comment

Veo Robotics, the industrial automation company that created FreeMove, a 3D safeguarding system for industrial robots that enables dynamic human-robot collaboration, has released its new and improved FreeMove 2.0 Engine. 

The redesigned FreeMove 2.0 Engine is a high-performance industrial computer with a proprietary safety architecture that works alongside FreeMove Sensors to monitor workcells in 3D. It implements dynamic Speed and Separation Monitoring to enable safe interaction between humans and robots.

The launch coincides with a growing need for manufacturers to create safer facility floors as their use of automation – and in particular robots – increases. [Read more…] about Veo Robotics launches ‘new and improved’ safeguarding system for human-robot collaboration

Ritsumeikan University develops ‘soft microfingers’ for robots

by Leave a Comment

Ritsumeikan University researchers develop a soft robotic microfinger that enables interaction with insects through tactile sensing

Human-robot interactions not only allow robots to interact with humans but also with the environment. Microrobots, for instance, can interact with insects and measure the force exerted by them during flight or walking.

However, this interaction is not direct, with the microrobots measuring insect behavior primarily. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a soft micro-robotic finger that allows humans to directly interact with insects. This could enable human-environment interaction at previously inaccessible scales.

Humans have always been fascinated by scales different than theirs, from giant objects such as stars, planets and galaxies, to the world of the tiny: insects, bacteria, viruses and other microscopic objects. While the microscope allows us to view and observe the microscopic world, it is still difficult to interact with it directly. [Read more…] about Ritsumeikan University develops ‘soft microfingers’ for robots

Peer Robotics raises $2.3 million in seed funding round

by Leave a Comment

Peer Robotics, a new mobile robotics solution for manufacturing, has raised $2.3 million in seed funding led by Kalaari Capital, with participation from existing investors Axilor Ventures, Connecticut Innovations and Innopact VC.

Rishabh Agarwal, co-founder, and CEO of Peer Robotics, says: “Small and medium-size companies are struggling with the labor shortage today, not to mention high turn-over.

“Also, many operations are still manual with employees operating at a high risk of injuries and fatigue. Solutions to date have been too expensive and complex. [Read more…] about Peer Robotics raises $2.3 million in seed funding round

15 benefits to using Automation in High-Pressure Die Casting

by Leave a Comment

Die casting is a process that has been used for many years to create products from metal using die casting mould. It is often used when there is a need for mass production of parts, as it can be done quickly and relatively cheaply.

In recent years, however, die casting has begun to be replaced by a new process called Automation in High-Pressure Die Casting. [Read more…] about 15 benefits to using Automation in High-Pressure Die Casting

How Automation is Influencing the Automotive Industry Today

by Leave a Comment

Last year, robot orders were up by 67 percent in comparison to the previous year. And according to the International Federation of Robotics, 1 in every 2 industrial robots sold globally is bought by US automakers. This goes to show just how much the auto industry appreciates the benefits of automation.

Automakers have always been pioneers of automation; they started using sensor technology and industrial robots in their assembly plants years ago to increase efficiency and productivity. Want to know how automation is influencing the automotive industry today? Read on. [Read more…] about How Automation is Influencing the Automotive Industry Today

Carnegie Mellon develops robots that ‘learn household tasks by watching humans’

by Leave a Comment

By Aaron Aupperlee

Novel method developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers enables robots to ‘learn in the wild’

The robot watched as Shikhar Bahl opened the refrigerator door. It recorded his movements, the swing of the door, the location of the fridge and more, analyzing this data and readying itself to mimic what Bahl had done.

It failed at first, missing the handle completely at times, grabbing it in the wrong spot or pulling it incorrectly. But after a few hours of practice, the robot succeeded and opened the door.

“Imitation is a great way to learn,” says Bahl, a PhD student at the Robotics Institute (RI) in Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science. “Having robots actually learn from directly watching humans remains an unsolved problem in the field, but this work takes a significant step in enabling that ability.” [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon develops robots that ‘learn household tasks by watching humans’

Apptronik raises $15 million for its humanoid robots

by Leave a Comment

Apptronik, an Austin-based robotics company specializing in the development of exoskeletons and collaborative robotics systems, says it raised $14.6 million in a Seed Round, including Capital Factory, Grit Ventures, Perot Jain and other strategic investors.

This funding will go toward fulfilling the company’s current customer orders while accelerating the commercialization of one of the industry’s first mass-produced humanoid robots capable of working alongside humans.

Apptronik is positioned to scale its deep portfolio of safe, intelligent, versatile, and adaptable robotic technology for unstructured environments across enterprises. [Read more…] about Apptronik raises $15 million for its humanoid robots

Did Someone Say Co-Bots? How Human-Robot Teamwork Will Upend Manufacturing

by Leave a Comment

Matthew Cherewka, director of business development and strategy, Vecna Robotics

Advances in sensor and camera technologies have made robots more intelligent, allowing them to collaborate more with human workers instead of being isolated in cages or separate areas.

Known as co-bots (collaborative robots), this new form of robot can slow down or stop completely to prevent humans from getting injured, but they also enable companies to develop new human-robot workflows that automate previously manual methods.

In essence, they aim to focus on the “collaborative” aspect of the term, rather than the “robot”. [Read more…] about Did Someone Say Co-Bots? How Human-Robot Teamwork Will Upend Manufacturing

Skyline Robotics unveils ‘world’s first high-rise window-cleaning robot’ Ozmo

by Leave a Comment

Skyline Robotics has unveiled “the future of window cleaning” with Ozmo, describing it as the “world’s first high-rise window-cleaning robot”, and investors are taking notice. (See video below.)

The company has closed a successful pre-Series A funding round led by Standard Industries with contributions from Karcher New Venture and Gefen Capital.

Skyline will use the funding across a variety of business operations including expanding its New York City team, as well as continued product development and new capabilities to own the facade operations of the future. [Read more…] about Skyline Robotics unveils ‘world’s first high-rise window-cleaning robot’ Ozmo

New sensor that mimics automatic human reaction to heat could pave the way for ‘soft robots of the future’

by Leave a Comment

A new robotic sensor that mimics the automatic human reaction to heat is being hailed as a world first.

The device has been built by a team of experts from Liverpool Hope University, who say it’s the first sensor that can trigger this “sensory impulse” that the robotics community has yet seen.

The findings have been published in IEEE Xplore last December 15, 2021 as an early-access article and published this month in the IEEE Sensors Journal. [Read more…] about New sensor that mimics automatic human reaction to heat could pave the way for ‘soft robots of the future’