Robotics & Automation News

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Geek+ raises $100 million in latest financing round with strategic investment from Intel

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Geek+, a maker of warehouse automation technologies, has closed a new, $100 million series E1 funding series, with the company valued at over $2 billion.

Investors in the round include Intel Capital, Vertex Growth, and Qingyue Capital Investment. The company will use this funding to accelerate its global market expansion and invest in its AMR technology research and development for key product innovation.

In early 2021, Geek+ closed a previously undisclosed series D financing round led by CPE. In 2021, Geek+ registered annual revenue of $150 million and over $300 million in orders. [Read more…] about Geek+ raises $100 million in latest financing round with strategic investment from Intel

Intel’s new AI chip enables ‘real-time learning for robots’

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Intel Labs, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology and the Technical University of Munich, has introduced a new approach to neural network-based object learning.

It specifically targets future applications like robotic assistants that interact with unconstrained environments, including in logistics, healthcare or elderly care.

This research is a crucial step in improving the capabilities of future assistive or manufacturing robots. It uses neuromorphic computing through new interactive online object learning methods to enable robots to learn new objects after deployment. [Read more…] about Intel’s new AI chip enables ‘real-time learning for robots’

Lenovo unveils foldable tablet computer

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Lenovo has unveiled a foldable tablet computer, the likes of which have so far only been seen in science fiction.

Lenovo says its next-generation ThinkPad X1 Fold “redefines the foldable PC category” that the company claims to have created in 2020.

The new ThinkPad X1 Fold is designed to offer full PC performance with a larger screen area, while maintaining the ultra-portability that the original ground-breaking device offered. [Read more…] about Lenovo unveils foldable tablet computer

Beep secures $20 million Series-A investment from Intel and Blue Lagoon

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Beep, a provider of multi-passenger, electric, autonomous mobility solutions, has closed the company’s Series A investment round with Intel Capital and Blue Lagoon Capital, raising $20 million.

The funding will enable Beep to continue the expansion of its autonomous fleet deployments across North America and leverage its learnings to advance passenger mobility service for cities, business districts and campuses at scale.

Beep utilizes a combination of machine learning, contextual traffic data and the company’s existing centralized command center data to provide vital oversight in managing high-risk scenarios for autonomous vehicles in complex geo-fenced environments. [Read more…] about Beep secures $20 million Series-A investment from Intel and Blue Lagoon

ASRock Industrial and Dynamis PRC to provide autonomous car technology for 2022 Formula Student Championship

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ASRock Industrial is currently collaborating with Dynamis PRC, providing its latest Intel 10th Gen CPU motherboard IMB-1222 to power up the prototype’s autonomous driving system and participate in the 2022 Formula Student Championship.

Formula Student is one of the world’s most competitive international automobile design competitions for students among university teams. Each team designs and builds a formula-style competition vehicle to enter the race.

Among many great teams, Dynamis PRC from Italy has achieved 4th place globally and ranked 1st nationally after years of competitions and successes. [Read more…] about ASRock Industrial and Dynamis PRC to provide autonomous car technology for 2022 Formula Student Championship

DFI unveils computer with ‘auto warm-up’ and subzero operability

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Industrial computing specialist DFI has launched a computer that features “auto warm-up” and subzero operability.

The company says that, as edge computing has been rapidly expanding, users pursue computers to drive more functions with better performance to enhance artificial intelligence analysis capabilities. [Read more…] about DFI unveils computer with ‘auto warm-up’ and subzero operability

DFI’s Bridge Crane solution provides one-off customization and worry-free management

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Industrial computing specialist DFI has unveiled its Bridge Crane solution, which it says provides one-off customization and worry-free management

An overhead crane, commonly called a bridge crane, is a type of crane found in industrial environments. An overhead crane consists of parallel runways with a traveling bridge spanning the gap.

A hoist, the lifting component of the crane, travels along the bridge. Every year in the modern ports of the world, tens of thousands of containers and bulk goods come in and out through bridge cranes.

Unlike mobile or construction cranes, overhead cranes are typically used for either manufacturing or maintenance applications, where efficiency or downtime are critical factors. [Read more…] about DFI’s Bridge Crane solution provides one-off customization and worry-free management

John Deere pilots new robotic welding solution

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John Deere is leveraging Intel’s artificial intelligence technology to help solve a costly, age-old problem in the manufacturing welding process.

Deere is piloting a solution that uses computer vision to automatically spot common defects in the automated welding process in its manufacturing facilities.

Andy Benko, quality director, John Deere construction and forestry division, says: “Welding is a complicated process. This AI solution has the potential to help us produce our high-quality machines more efficiently than before. [Read more…] about John Deere pilots new robotic welding solution

Hitachi launches new industrial edge computer

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Hitachi has launched a new industrial edge computer. The “Hitachi Industrial Edge Computer CE series Embedded AI model” was developed in collaboration with Intel.

The product, an integration of Intel’s artificial intelligence technology and Hitachi’s control system design and manufacturing technologies, is a new model that incorporates an image analysis execution platform using AI and deep learning.

Through providing this product, Hitachi contributes to the expansion of digital transformation, such as streamlining and automating tasks that rely on visual checks (the inspection process for finished products in the manufacturing industry) and solving management challenges using on-site data. [Read more…] about Hitachi launches new industrial edge computer

ADLINK teams up with Intel to launch ROS-based robotics technology

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ADLINK Technology, a provider of edge computing systems, has launched the ROScube-I with Intel, providing a real-time ROS 2 robot controller for advanced robotic applications.

The ADLINK ROScube-I Series is a ROS 2-enabled robotic controller based on Intel Xeon E, 9th Gen Intel Core i7/i3 and 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processors, and features exceptional I/O connectivity supporting a wide variety of sensors and actuators to meet the needs of a wide range of robotic applications.

The ROScube-I supports an extension box for convenient functional and performance expansion with Intel VPU cards and the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit for computation of AI algorithms and inference. [Read more…] about ADLINK teams up with Intel to launch ROS-based robotics technology