Robotics & Automation News

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What is the difference between level 1, level 2, and level 3 EV chargers?

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Level 1, level 2, and level 3 EV charging station definitions are all important when choosing the right charger for your electric car.

Understanding the differences between each type can help you decide which one to install at your home or business. Each charger has a different voltage range, meaning that each is best suited for a particular electric vehicle.

Let’s take a closer look at these three types of electric charging stations. [Read more…] about What is the difference between level 1, level 2, and level 3 EV chargers?

United Natural Foods brings in robots from Symbotic to automate warehouse

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United Natural Foods has entered into a commercial agreement to implement Symbotic’s AI-powered robotics and software automation in five of UNFI’s distribution centers over the next four years.

Under the agreement, UNFI also has an option to implement Symbotic’s warehouse automation systems in additional distribution centers.

Symbotic’s end-to-end automation system, with robotic case pick capabilities, is designed to enable UNFI to transform its distribution centers to enhance capabilities and efficiency, improve order accuracy for its customers, increase storage capacity within its facilities, and facilitate planned future growth. [Read more…] about United Natural Foods brings in robots from Symbotic to automate warehouse

Mercedes-Benz claims its ‘Drive Pilot’ is world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology

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Mercedes-Benz says its Drive Pilot automated driver assistance system has become the world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology. The company adds that it backs redundancy for safe conditionally automated driving.

When it comes to conditionally automated driving (SAE Level 3), safety and reliability are the top priorities for Mercedes-Benz. Drive Pilot is therefore based on a system architecture that enables safe control of all situations that could potentially arise.

To this end, braking, steering, power supply and some parts of the sensor system are designed with physical and functional redundancy. By adopting this safety‑focused approach to system design, Mercedes-Benz is setting completely new benchmarks in automated driving. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz claims its ‘Drive Pilot’ is world’s first internationally certified Level 3 automated car technology

Financial analyst Cowen teams up with MassRobotics to examine robotics and climate change

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Investment research company Cowen and startup incubator MassRobotics announced a groundbreaking research report on the increasing role robotics is playing in helping companies achieve climate goals.

Joe Giordano, CFA, Cowen’s diversified industrials, automation and robotics analyst, led the Ahead Of The Curve Series report, which incorporated a survey from MassRobotics that polled manufacturers and end-users to understand where robotics is positioned within their climate toolkit.

Joe Giordano, says: “The robotic technologies we explore in this report are maximizing the output (GDP) per unit of carbon and minimizing the carbon needed to achieve a targeted level of activity. [Read more…] about Financial analyst Cowen teams up with MassRobotics to examine robotics and climate change

Avikus conducts ‘world’s first’ transoceanic voyage with autonomous navigation

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Avikus, a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD Hyundai), has successfully carried out the autonomous navigation of a large ship across the ocean, becoming the first company in the world to accomplish such a feat.

Together with SK Shipping, Avikus, which specializes in autonomous navigation, announced on June 2 that it had successfully completed autonomous navigation of Prism Courage, a 180,000 square-meter-class ultra-large LNG carrier.

The vessel is equipped with HiNAS 2.0, Avikus’ Level 2 autonomous navigation solution. This transoceanic voyage is the world’s first case of a vessel using autonomous navigation technology. [Read more…] about Avikus conducts ‘world’s first’ transoceanic voyage with autonomous navigation

Latest Euro NCAP gradings show Nissan and Volkswagen are ‘bringing high-performance assisted driving to the mainstream’

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The latest round of Euro NCAP results feature assessment of four new cars with “Level 2 Assisted Driving systems”.

The gradings are based on dedicated protocols designed to encourage the safe adoption of Assisted Driving technology.

The safest systems should provide a good balance of performance across three key areas: the technical competence of the system and level of assistance it can safely offer, the feedback given to the driver to ensure they remain engaged and aware of their responsibilities, and how the car’s safety back-up mechanisms function in the event of an emergency. [Read more…] about Latest Euro NCAP gradings show Nissan and Volkswagen are ‘bringing high-performance assisted driving to the mainstream’

Things to Consider When Having an EV Charging Station Installed

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We are sure by now you’ve become familiar with the phrase “the future is electric”.

Well, there is truth behind those words. We’re living in an age where electric cars are not only on the market but are on the rise as well.

Given the rise of gas prices and the unsustainability of gas-powered vehicles, customers are now looking towards electric vehicles. These vehicles are both efficient and convenient. [Read more…] about Things to Consider When Having an EV Charging Station Installed

Geek+ launches ‘ground-breaking’ four-way shuttle warehouse storage and picking solution

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Geek+, the warehouse automation specialist, has launched its multilevel storage and retrieval system: Sky-Storage & Ground-Pick.

The solution uses Geek+’s X-series four-way shuttle robots to boost storage density while devoting the ground floor to picking operations entrusted to the flagship P800 robots.

On the upper levels of the warehouse, the four-way shuttles utilize every inch of vertical space for pallet storage and quick and flexible replenishment of the lower level. Below them, picking robots move shelves, pallets, and racks containing the most in-demand goods. [Read more…] about Geek+ launches ‘ground-breaking’ four-way shuttle warehouse storage and picking solution

SAIC unveils China’s ‘first’ Level 4 robotic taxi platform

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Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor has officially started the operation of its SAIC Mobility Robotaxi, claiming it to be China’s first Level 4 self-driving platform.

SAIC says its “Robotaxi” employs “superior resources” – from SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Company, SAIC Motor AI Lab, autonomous driving technology company Momenta, and its ride-hailing service platform SAIC Mobility – to create a data-driven ecosystem featuring continuing evolution in an effort to explore the application of Level 4 self-driving technology in urban mobility scenarios.

There is a lack of clarity about the term “robotaxi”. So far, most companies have used it as a generic term to mean robotic taxi. None of them has yet trademarked the actual word. SAIC doesn’t seem to have done so either, but has the word on the side of its cars. [Read more…] about SAIC unveils China’s ‘first’ Level 4 robotic taxi platform

Visteon partners with Steradian Semiconductors to build ‘enhanced’ advanced driver assistance systems

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Visteon, a technology company serving the mobility industry, and Steradian Semiconductors, an India-based high-tech imaging radar specialist, will collaborate on efforts that will produce “enhanced” Advance Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) for the global automotive market.

As part of a joint development agreement, Steradian will provide Visteon with access to its advanced 4D image radar sensor hardware and perception software technology.

Imaging radars are integral to autonomous driving technology that are classed as Level 2 and above because they enable safety application development, AI-based perception algorithms, and sensor fusion. [Read more…] about Visteon partners with Steradian Semiconductors to build ‘enhanced’ advanced driver assistance systems