Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

indoor

Clearpath unveils new indoor research robot ‘Dingo’

by Leave a Comment

Clearpath Robotics has unveiled its Dingo Indoor Research Robot, described as a “compact, lightweight and cost-effective indoor robotic platform” that is extensible and programmable, and designed to accelerate robotics research and education.

Julian Ware, general manager at Clearpath Robotics, says: “Dingo offers the reliability and flexibility our customers expect from a Clearpath robot, at an approachable price point.

“We have seen a gap in the market for a system with these capabilities and believe Dingo is a cost-effective, ROS-ready indoor platform suitable for benchtop and laboratory testing. The lower cost also makes the use of multi-robot systems more accessible than with other robots.” [Read more…] about Clearpath unveils new indoor research robot ‘Dingo’

SICK to showcase indoor localization technology that lets you know where all your machines are at all times

by

SICK is unveiling indoor localization technology which lets users know where all their machines are at all times.

The sensor supplier is planning to showcase the system at the Pack Expo Las Vegas later this month.

SICK says it has taken another step toward Industry 4.0 by offering a new, comprehensive indoor localization portfolio. [Read more…] about SICK to showcase indoor localization technology that lets you know where all your machines are at all times

Ultimation reaches out to vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems

by

Ultimation is targeting the new and growing market of vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems, technology it has been supplying for more than 30 years.

The company says that sustainable agricultural operations such as vertical and indoor farms are becoming more prevalent, and “conveyor technology systems can be part of the solution”.

Ultimation says vertical farms can potentially achieve higher yields for the surface area dedicated to production by controlling the light, temperature, humidity, water and nutrients the plants receive. [Read more…] about Ultimation reaches out to vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems

Top 25 vertical farming companies

by

The phrase “vertical farming” probably doesn’t need to be explained even though it’s quite new. But anyway, vertical farming refers to the practice of producing fruits and vegetables vertically, in stacked layers, perhaps on many floors inside a building, using artificial lights instead of the sun, and a whole range of relatively new technologies.

The two main reasons why it’s a much-discussed topic now is because:

  1. there are a number of startup companies emerging in the sector and attracting tens of millions of dollars in investment; and
  2. more people live in cities than do in rural areas, a global trend which seems irreversible, and this means that the demand for fresh produce will increase in urban areas, and bringing the production closer to the consumer would make sense.

The third thing we could have added is that there is the range of new technologies available now that make vertical farming in urban areas cost-effective and possibly profitable. But we already mentioned that.

[Read more…] about Top 25 vertical farming companies

Australian university focuses on future food systems

by

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers will play a key part in developing smart logistics to link growers with their markets and high-tech methods of growing customised food, with the announcement of the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre.

The Future Food Systems CRC will involve more than 50 commercial and research partners, with the Federal Government injecting AUS$35 million in funding over 10 years along with almost AUS$150 million in support from the research centre’s educational and commercial participants.

QUT’s involvement in the CRC is spread across the centre’s three research and development programs of planning and logistics in linking growers to their markets, developing smart automated indoor cropping and creating nutrient-dense foods and hybrid food and medical goods tailored to growing domestic and export markets.

[Read more…] about Australian university focuses on future food systems

Plenty attracts ‘largest-ever agriculture technology investment’ led by SoftBank to develop indoor farms in city centres

by

A company called Plenty claims it has attracted the “largest-ever agriculture technology investment”. 

The company says the investment will drive its development of its global, large-scale indoor farm network to deliver “radically fresher, affordable food to local communities everywhere”.

Plenty describes itself as a “field-scale indoor farming company remaking the global food system”.  [Read more…] about Plenty attracts ‘largest-ever agriculture technology investment’ led by SoftBank to develop indoor farms in city centres