Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

interaction

Ritsumeikan University develops ‘soft microfingers’ for robots

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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

Embark demonstrates its autonomous trucks’ emergency vehicle interaction capabilities

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Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, has completed a public demonstration of its emergency vehicle interaction capability.

Working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Embark developed the capability for Embark-powered trucks to identify and stop for law enforcement vehicles in situations such as traffic stops, and built communication protocols and standard operating procedures between autonomous trucks and law enforcement officers.

This represents the first-ever public demonstration of an autonomous truck being pulled over by law enforcement and participating in a routine traffic stop on a public highway. [Read more…] about Embark demonstrates its autonomous trucks’ emergency vehicle interaction capabilities

Embark provides Texas law enforcement with autonomous trucks

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Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, is making progress in its efforts to develop an emergency vehicle interaction capability for Embark-powered autonomous trucks to identify, stop for, and interface with law enforcement vehicles.

Embark is working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety to train Embark-powered trucks to identify law enforcement vehicles in situations such as traffic stops, and to develop communication protocols and standard operating procedures between autonomous trucks and law enforcement officers.

Embark plans to publicly demonstrate the emergency vehicle interaction capability later this summer. [Read more…] about Embark provides Texas law enforcement with autonomous trucks

Savioke says hotels turning to its room service robot

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An increasing number of hotels are making enquiries to Savioke about its room service robots, according to the company.

As the hospitality industry struggles to adapt to changing consumer behavior during the coronavirus pandemic, many hotels are turning to room service robots to help wary travelers feel more at ease.

David Wang, director of sales and marketing at the Crowne Plaza San Jose – Silicon Valley hotel, in Milpitas, says: “Guests now think of it as a perk to not have a person come to their room. [Read more…] about Savioke says hotels turning to its room service robot

Essential Marketing Tech Tools

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Few areas of business have escaped the technological revolution. Indeed there is so much that can be gained by embracing the latest tech trends commercially.

In particular, tech is changing the face of the way business markets their brand and products – something that can make keeping up with the increasing demands of an effective marketing schedule that little bit easier.

Not to mention help to supply potential customers with a consistently positive experience each time they interact with your brand. [Read more…] about Essential Marketing Tech Tools

BMW unveils one of the strangest cars ever designed

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BMW has unveiled what could be described as one of the strangest cars ever designed.

The “BMW i Interaction EASE”, as it’s called, looks from the side to be shaped like a rectangular block with absolutely no aerodynamics integrated into it. But the front and back end do have some aerodynamic contours.

The autonomous weirdo was showcased at this year’s CES, with BMW saying that it “offers a glimpse into a future where autonomous driving has become commonplace”. [Read more…] about BMW unveils one of the strangest cars ever designed

Helping robots and humans work hand in hand

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As the internet-connected world continues to transform the manufacturing and logistics industry, Technische Universität Dortmund is leading the way in research into human-robot interaction.

With the help of Vicon’s cutting-edge motion capture and VR solutions, the University is developing innovative ways to approach the coexistence of drones and robots with people in warehouse environments.

The manufacturing and logistics sector faces a major challenge: how best to serve the ever-growing e-commerce market – with increasingly small-scale shipments and shorter delivery deadlines – in a cost-effective and sustainable way. [Read more…] about Helping robots and humans work hand in hand

Endurance Robots launches fully roboticized open-source platform

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robotized endurance open-source platform

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A year ago we started tо work at a platform to be used as a basis for a simple robotic interface.  Our task was to combine face and voice recognition with voice synthesis.

We began with a simpler task: voice synthesis, as this task is solved by many vendors.  In 1984 Steve Jobs surprised everybody at his Macintosh presentation when the first Mac started speaking.

We did not have any problems with the selection of the speech synthesis modules. They all work well and have a wide choice of voices.

Finally, we used the standard Microsoft SAPI.  This product with various language sets is distributed free of charge.  [Read more…] about Endurance Robots launches fully roboticized open-source platform