Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

logistics

Sick launches new compact image-based code reader

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Sick has launched a new compact image-based code reader, Lector621, for reliable detection of 1D, 2D, stacked codes, and plain text.

The high-performance DPM – direct part marking – decoder can read laser or dot-peened codes perfectly, even in the case of low contrast levels, contamination, or poor code quality.

This fills a gap in Sick’s existing portfolio of code readers, by providing a compact solution with increased reading distance, resolution, field of vision, and scanning frequency. [Read more…] about Sick launches new compact image-based code reader

Locus Robotics raises $26 million in new investment

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Supply chain automation startup Locus Robotics has raised $26 million in Series C funding.

The company says it will use the proceeds to scale production of its revolutionary multi-bot solution for warehouse fulfillment, as well as for expansion of its sales and marketing efforts, both in North America, and internationally.

Participants in the round include Zebra Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Zebra Technologies, and Scale Venture Partners, which led the Company’s Series B round in 2017. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics raises $26 million in new investment

Sick demonstrates ‘smart logistics’ system for warehouse automation

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Sensors supplier Sick showcased a new “smart logistics” system at the recent ProMAT Show, one of the world’s largest material handling exhibitions.

Sick says its system demonstrates how to obtain greater efficiency throughout supply chain operations.

Sick presented its new innovations under the banner of “Logistics Gets Smart”, and says they are designed to provide “highly efficient solutions for intralogistics applications”. [Read more…] about Sick demonstrates ‘smart logistics’ system for warehouse automation

DoCoMo and Itochu to trial IoT solution for delivery fleet management in the US

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NTT DoCoMo and Itochu Logistics are planning to trial an internet-of-things solution for delivery fleet management in the US.

The system uses devices compatible with low-power, wide-area LTE-M technology to enable delivery businesses to visualize the status of outsourced trucks in their fleets.

The trial will begin in the United States on May 1, 2019. [Read more…] about DoCoMo and Itochu to trial IoT solution for delivery fleet management in the US

Boston Dynamics buys Kinema Systems for its brains

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Boston Dynamics, maker of the world’s most terrifying robots (see video below for proof), has agreed to acquire Kinema Systems, a company that enables industrial robotic arms with deep learning technology to locate and move boxes on complex pallets.

Using a combination of vision sensors and deep learning software, Kinema Systems’ Pick technology works with leading commercial robotic arms to move boxes off pallets to conveyors or build stacks of boxes on pallets.

Pick enables logistics, retail, and manufacturing companies to achieve high rates of box moving with minimal setup or training for both multi-SKU and single-SKU pallets.  [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics buys Kinema Systems for its brains

E-commerce in the USA: Fast-growing demand for warehouse robots

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The phrase “e-commerce in the USA” might immediately bring to mind the giant of the sector, Amazon, which is said to have received fully 40 percent of all online shopping orders over the Christmas period in the country.

It’s difficult to imagine how many orders and how much money that really is, but it’s not difficult to imagine Amazon being the winner – the company has been the biggest e-commerce platform in the US for many years.

Top 10 e-commerce companies in the US

According to eMarketer, Amazon has almost 50 percent of the US retail e-commerce market, as it showed in its list, which we reproduce below.  [Read more…] about E-commerce in the USA: Fast-growing demand for warehouse robots

LogiMAT event sees more autonomous vehicles than ever

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LogiMAT is said to be the largest logistics and material handling event in Germany. If it’s the largest in Germany, it’s likely one of the largest in the world.

Held annually in Stuttgart, right next to the airport, the show attracts thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors.

More than one of the massive halls in the Messe centre are filled with autonomous and automated guided vehicles, and many of the companies RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com reports on are present here this year.  [Read more…] about LogiMAT event sees more autonomous vehicles than ever

GreyOrange launches Flexo modular sortation system at LogiMAT

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Robotics and warehouse automation company GreyOrange has launched its latest modular sortation system, designed for modern distribution and logistics centers serving retail, and courier and express companies.

The Flexo robotics system was demonstrated to customers and visitors in Stuttgart at the 17th edition of LogiMAT, an international trade fair for intralogistics solutions.

Designed for versatility, portability and sortation efficiency, the new GreyOrange Flexo modular sortation system fits well in most warehouses thanks to its fluidic layouts, requiring minimal additional infrastructure. [Read more…] about GreyOrange launches Flexo modular sortation system at LogiMAT

Geek Plus Robotics to showcase advanced warehousing robotic solutions at LogiMAT

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Geek Plus Robotics has released what it says is the “world’s first interweaving robot sorting system” with the latest version of its Geek Picking System at LogiMAT 2019, the international trade fair for intralogistics solutions, to be held in Stuttgart, Germany from February 19 to 21.

Geek Plus says it is now a leading artificial intelligence-driven robotic solution and service provider – and China’s top supplier of warehousing and logistics robotics.

Now it is bringing its award-winning solutions “Geek Sorting System” to Stuttgart for LogiMAT. Its wide range of automated and intelligent devices is capable of handling the material – pallets, boxes, and single pieces – from goods receipt, unloading, put-away, to picking, packing and order shipment.  [Read more…] about Geek Plus Robotics to showcase advanced warehousing robotic solutions at LogiMAT

Why e-commerce is shifting towards the warehouse model of ‘distributed distribution’

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By Lior Elazary, CEO and co-founder, inVia Robotics

E-commerce sales continue to climb at a record pace; at least 80 percent of US consumers with internet access have made a purchase online in the last 30 days.

E-commerce giants, namely Amazon, have set customer expectations for free and fast shipping incredibly high.

It’s a major factor influencing purchase decisions – 28 percent of online shoppers abandon carts because of unexpected shipping costs while 54 percent shared they don’t always request same day delivery, but still expect non-urgent items “reasonably quickly” (generally thought of as within two days).  [Read more…] about Why e-commerce is shifting towards the warehouse model of ‘distributed distribution’