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Pony.ai and SANY to mass produce autonomous trucks

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Pony.ai, an autonomous driving technology company, has formed a strategic joint venture with SANY Heavy Truck, a subsidiary of SANY Heavy Industry, a Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer and the third largest heavy equipment manufacturer globally.

Pony.ai and SANY say they will collaborate to create a “world-leading autonomous truck brand”.

The two companies say they will “deeply integrate” Pony.ai’s “virtual driver” with SANY’s technical accumulation in the field of wire-controlled chassis and vehicle development to jointly develop high-end heavy trucks that are automotive-grade and have L4-class redundancies. These trucks will inaugurate the future of truck logistics transportation.

The joint venture plans to start small-scale deliveries of the robotrucks in 2022 and 2023. Mass production of the L4 truck will commence in 2024 and within a few years will reach an annual production of around 10,000 trucks. [Read more…] about Pony.ai and SANY to mass produce autonomous trucks

Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

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Hai Robotics has formed a partnership with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity.

With this partnership, Pop.capacity will be able to include Hai Robotics solutions as part of its portfolio offering to its customers in an effort to reduce friction points within their warehouses.

Pop.capacity is pioneering the frictionless supply chain. By combining years of supply chain experience, and a never before seen technology, they are uniquely positioned to bring a disruptive new solution to an industry full of unnecessary friction. [Read more…] about Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

Global semiconductor equipment sales grow 5 percent to $25 billion

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Global semiconductor equipment billings grew 5 percent year-over-year to $24.7 billion in the first quarter of 2022, according industry association SEMI.

The figures were revealed in SEMI’s Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics Report. Quarter-over-quarter billings in the seasonally soft first quarter declined 10 percent.

Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO, says: “Year-over-year first quarter equipment revenue growth is in sync with positive forecasts for 2022 as the semiconductor industry continues its robust increase of fab capacity. North America and Europe logged healthy quarter-over-quarter rises in equipment spending as they intensify efforts to bolster domestic chipmaking.” [Read more…] about Global semiconductor equipment sales grow 5 percent to $25 billion

ROBOJuice promises robot-made smoothies in 60 seconds

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A startup company called ROBOJuice is promising “first-ever artificial intelligence and robotics-powered kiosk that can prepare and serve smoothies and acai bowls in under 60 seconds”.

Nik Sakhno, the founder of ROBOJuice, says the company has launched because the hospitality industry continues to embrace automation and it was good time to bring the machine to market.

With more than 10 years’ experience in the food automation industry, Sakhno, alongside a team of expert engineers, created ROBOjuice with the goal of helping fast-casual restaurants increase productivity, while being “10 times more affordable to deploy, and two times more profitable compared to traditional, labor-intensive fast-casual restaurants”. [Read more…] about ROBOJuice promises robot-made smoothies in 60 seconds

SafeAI and Obayashi demonstrate autonomous vehicle on a construction site in Japan

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SafeAI, a developer of autonomous solutions for heavy equipment, in partnership with Japanese construction giant Obayashi, has hosted nearly 150 visitors to view its retrofitted autonomous Caterpillar 725, operating on a construction site in Japan for the first time ever.

The demos, which took place over a two week period, brought together delegates from nearly 50 organizations across the construction industry ecosystem, including leading OEM, general contractors, technology companies, universities and research groups and Japanese government entities responsible for regulation.

In addition to winning buy-in from key stakeholders, the demos mark a critical first step toward securing approval from the government and industry organizations to bring autonomous construction to Japan. [Read more…] about SafeAI and Obayashi demonstrate autonomous vehicle on a construction site in Japan

Intelligent City raises $30 million to bring robotics and automation to prefabricated construction sector

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With pressure mounting for cities to address affordable housing needs, decarbonize buildings, and meet sustainability goals, housing technology company Intelligent City raised CAD 22 million ($17 million), bringing the total capital invested in the company to CAD 30 million ($23 million).

As one of the first companies in North America to apply automation and robotics to the design and manufacturing of prefabricated mass timber buildings, Intelligent City will use the funding to scale operations, commercialize its Platforms for Life (P4L) building solution, grow factory automation, and expand its footprint across and beyond Canada.

Earlier this year, the company completed testing of its building systems and is now verified to work within the new mass timber high-rise building codes in Canada and the US. [Read more…] about Intelligent City raises $30 million to bring robotics and automation to prefabricated construction sector

Wings and Rings partners with Miso Robotics to begin Flippy 2 pilot

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Miso Robotics, the company transforming the restaurant industry with robotics and intelligent automation, has started a partnership with Wings and Rings, a club-level sports restaurant chain serving signature wings and other chef-inspired menu items, to begin a piloted test of Flippy 2 in its Crestview Hills, Kentucky location, with possible plans for further integration in the months ahead.

Built on the Miso Platform, Flippy 2 leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and data analytics to maximize efficiency in the commercial kitchen.

As the first wing concept to integrate Flippy 2 in a real restaurant environment versus a test kitchen, Wings and Rings sees robotics as the next evolution in alleviating the long-term challenges that the ongoing labor shortage has brought to the entire restaurant industry. [Read more…] about Wings and Rings partners with Miso Robotics to begin Flippy 2 pilot

Vicor delivers power conversion breakthroughs to fuel a robot revolution

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OLogic incorporates advanced, integrated power modules from Vicor Power to ignite a new generation of mobile robots

Innovations in power conversion technology are enabling a transformation in robotics design.

Today’s integrated power modules are addressing the demanding size, weight, power budgets and cost efficiencies required to move robots from factory, residential and commercial applications into a vast new landscape bounded only by the imagination.

We are hitting a tipping point where robots are bringing tremendous benefits to our lives. And OLogic is a big reason for why we see their proliferation. [Read more…] about Vicor delivers power conversion breakthroughs to fuel a robot revolution

German robotics and automation sector experiencing ‘booming demand’

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The robotics and automation industry in Germany is benefiting from a boom in demand, according to industry association VDMA.

In the first four months of 2022, order intake increased by 38 percent year-on-year. The dynamic market development had already been noticeable with the results for 2021, in which industry turnover rose by 13 percent – more than expected.

Frank Konrad, chairman of the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association, says: “The robotics and automation industry is booming. [Read more…] about German robotics and automation sector experiencing ‘booming demand’

Scythe Robotics surpasses 5,000 reservations for zero-emissions autonomous mower

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Scythe Robotics, the creator of advanced, commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the landscaping industry, has surpassed 5,000 reservations for its all-electric, fully autonomous mower, Scythe M.52.

Further, as the company scales alongside this significant demand, Scythe announced the appointments of Brian Merkel, formerly a head of manufacturing and production for SpaceX Starlink, as head of manufacturing for Scythe, as well as former Magic Leap lead recruiter, Jen Mongeois, as head of talent acquisition.

Founded in 2018, Scythe is transforming the $115 billion commercial landscaping industry, which despite being plagued for years by painful labor shortages has not seen substantial technological innovation in decades. [Read more…] about Scythe Robotics surpasses 5,000 reservations for zero-emissions autonomous mower