Robotics & Automation News

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Purdue scientists build a chip that makes connections like a human brain

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An electronic chip that can be reprogrammed on demand may enable artificial intelligence to learn more continuously like the human brain does, researchers have discovered.

When the human brain learns something new, it adapts. But when artificial intelligence learns something new, it tends to forget information it already learned.

As companies use more and more data to improve how AI recognizes images, learns languages and carries out other complex tasks, a paper published in Science this week shows a way that computer chips could dynamically rewire themselves to take in new data like the brain does, helping AI to keep learning over time. [Read more…] about Purdue scientists build a chip that makes connections like a human brain

How Important is Technology in Automation?

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Manufacturers face a variety of challenges in today’s evolving world. With security in mind, it is important to create processes to incorporate security into your operations and productivity.

When everyone is looking for ways to maintain social distance and monitor activity on the operating system, it can be difficult to promote and improve safety while maintaining productivity as well.

Automated systems not only reduce the risk of accidents but also help prevent occupational accidents, resulting in a safer workplace for all. By making your workplace safer, you also improve quality and productivity. [Read more…] about How Important is Technology in Automation?

Jamba and Blendid expand pilot launch of robotic smoothie kiosks to more locations

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Health food and smoothie specialist Jamba and robotics company Blendid have added two new “Jamba by Blendid” autonomous robotic kiosk locations.

The new locations at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia and Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia mark the first Jamba by Blendid openings on college campuses, expanding beyond the current pilot locations in a shopping mall and big box retailer.

The company calls this a “significant step” as Jamba and Blendid continue to explore opportunities to open more Jamba by Blendid kiosks in a variety of non-traditional venues, including gyms, hospitals, airports, and more. [Read more…] about Jamba and Blendid expand pilot launch of robotic smoothie kiosks to more locations

Brain Corp launches mobile app to manage autonomous robot fleets

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Brain Corp, a developer of software for mobile cleaning robots, has launched BrainOS Mobile, a mobile application connecting operators and managers directly with their BrainOS-powered robotic fleets and providing real-time visibility on machine locations, status and performance.

Josh Baylin, vice president of product and marketing at Brain Corp, says: “Our BrainOS Mobile app represents an exciting new step in our company’s goal to make working with advanced robotics incredibly simple and to provide critical insights to our customers.”

“We’re now able to provide operators a more seamless way to interact with their robotic teammates and for managers to oversee their automated operations from almost anywhere, which leads to better operational experiences and performance.” [Read more…] about Brain Corp launches mobile app to manage autonomous robot fleets

Helping robots ‘see’ by using advanced AI and video in manufacturing

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Not long ago, a world inhabited by robots was merely a sci-fi storyline.

Today, robots have become part and parcel of many manufacturing lines. We’ve become used to seeing them assemble, pick and pack, and zip down warehouses looking for the latest item for delivery.

They have become indispensable to many organizations and individuals, where many work hand-in-hand with human colleagues. Now, they are being given the ability to see and are using video technology to be even more efficient. [Read more…] about Helping robots ‘see’ by using advanced AI and video in manufacturing

Everyday Robots comes out of Google Moonshot Factory with robots that can learn variety of tasks

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A startup company called Everyday Robots has unveiled a new robot that it says can perform a range of tasks including wiping tables and windows as well as arrange chairs.

Everyday Robots started out as a project at Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory – also known as X, formerly Google X – but has now started to strike out on its own, setting up its own website as well.

Writing on X’s blog, Hans Peter Brøndmo, chief robot officer, says: “We are now operating a fleet of more than 100 robot prototypes that are autonomously performing a range of useful tasks around our offices. The same robot that sorts trash can now be equipped with a squeegee to wipe tables and use the same gripper that grasps cups can learn to open doors.” [Read more…] about Everyday Robots comes out of Google Moonshot Factory with robots that can learn variety of tasks

MIT unveils dexterous robotic hands that can ‘manipulate thousands of objects with ease’

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MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has revealed a dexterous robotic hand that scientists say can “manipulate thousands of objects with ease”. (See video below.)

At just one year old, a baby is more dexterous than a robot. Sure, machines can do more than just pick up and put down objects, but we’re not quite there as far as replicating a natural pull towards exploratory or sophisticated dexterous manipulation goes.

OpenAI gave it a try with “Dactyl” (meaning “finger” from the Greek word daktylos), using their humanoid robot hand to solve a Rubik’s cube with software that’s a step towards more general AI, and a step away from the common single-task mentality. DeepMind created “RGB-Stacking,” a vision-based system that challenges a robot to learn how to grab items and stack them.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), in the ever-present quest to get machines to replicate human abilities, created a framework that’s more scaled up: a system that can reorient over two thousand different objects, with the robotic hand facing both upwards and downwards. [Read more…] about MIT unveils dexterous robotic hands that can ‘manipulate thousands of objects with ease’

A system for designing and training intelligent soft robots

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‘Evolution Gym’ is a large-scale benchmark for co-optimizing the design and control of soft robots that takes inspiration from nature and evolutionary processes

Let’s say you wanted to build the world’s best stair-climbing robot. You’d need to optimize for both the brain and the body, perhaps by giving the bot some high-tech legs and feet, coupled with a powerful algorithm to help enable the climb.

Although design of the physical body and its brain, the “control”, are key ingredients to letting the robot move, existing benchmark environments favor only the latter. Co-optimizing for both elements is hard – it takes a lot of time to train various robot simulations to do different things, even without the design element.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), aimed to fill the gap by designing “Evolution Gym”, a large-scale testing system for co-optimizing the design and control of soft robots, taking inspiration from nature and evolutionary processes. [Read more…] about A system for designing and training intelligent soft robots

Taking Control of Your Own Vehicle Repairs

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Keeping your car on the road is very important to most people. No matter how much you drive, you need to make sure that you have a car that is always reliable, but this isn’t always easy to achieve in the modern world.

DIY vehicle repairs can save a lot of money, making this a good choice for anyone who has a little bit of mechanical knowledge and wants to take it further.

Of course, though, there are challenges that come with taking control of your own vehicle repairs, and this makes it worth taking the time to learn about this work before you get started. [Read more…] about Taking Control of Your Own Vehicle Repairs

Autonomous driving software startup Helm.ai raises $26 million in new funding

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Helm.ai, creator of next-generation AI software for autonomous driving, today announced it has raised $26 million in series B funding.

This funding will help Helm.ai better serve its rapidly growing customer base, and accelerate product expansion of its highly scalable approach to autonomous driving software.

Additional funding in this round was from JM Partners, Base Capital Funding, and Freeman Group, with additional participation from Nicolas Berggruen, ACVC Partners, OneWay Ventures, Binnacle Partners, Nadia Asoyan, Vlad Tenev, Mark Leslie, Jeff Rothschild, and Neil King. [Read more…] about Autonomous driving software startup Helm.ai raises $26 million in new funding