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Safelog AGVs win numerous awards

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Safelog automated guided vehicles have won numerous awards over the past few months, including a German Design Award as well as an IF Design Award.

In the latest success, Safelog’s AGV product range emerged from the Red Dot design competition with two awards. The jury of around 40 international experts commended the series’ excellent design quality, and also awarded the range the prestigious design prize in the “Smart Products” meta-category, which was presented for the first time.

In a statement, the jury said: “The three AGV S2 / M3 and L1 transport robots were designed for complex logistics processes with both a high degree of precision and technological sophistication. [Read more…] about Safelog AGVs win numerous awards

BMW enters warehouse robotics market with launch of IdealWorks

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The BMW Group is breaking new ground in the field of logistics as it founds warehouse robotics company IDEALworks – a fully-owned subsidiary headquartered in Munich. 

This marks the first time a major automotive brand is building and supplying what are often called autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) or automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

The aim is to become a leading supplier of autonomous robotics solutions in the logistics sector. The name “IDEAL” stands for Industry Driven Engineering for Autonomous Logistics. [Read more…] about BMW enters warehouse robotics market with launch of IdealWorks

DHL expands its global logistics operation to include outer space missions

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DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, normally moves goods that stay in the Earth’s atmosphere. Now they have partnered with D-Orbit, a specialized company covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including logistics services, for the first time.

Together with the company’s own innovation team DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation (CSI), the freight forwarding expert set up logistics to help the ION Satellite Carrier in its journey into space. Developed and designed by D-Orbit, the satellite carrier is planned to launch at Cape Canaveral, the world’s most famous space base in Florida in January 2021.

Tim Scharwath, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, says: “We are excited about this partnership for two key reasons. First, D-Orbit shares our vision of reliable, safe and sustainable logistics to connect people and to improve lives. [Read more…] about DHL expands its global logistics operation to include outer space missions

Panasonic to apply industrial technology to solve society’s problems

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Panasonic says it aims to tackle the needs of smart societies – from healthcare to retail and logistics – with industrial technology. (See video below.)

The company says it will use its broad expertise in sensors as well as drives technology, and its technologies in industrial robots to meet the challenge.

Panasonic says its approach is based on “pragmatic solutions that work with people”, and this can be defined within three core pillars: augmented solutions, stand-alone solutions, and complete robotics automation solutions. [Read more…] about Panasonic to apply industrial technology to solve society’s problems

Audi turns to augmented reality for logistics planning

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Audi is turning to augmented reality to plan complex logistics processes: Virtual presentation of three dimensional holograms that are shown in their actual environment helps planners to better evaluate the future situation.

Because of this, prototypes of containers or equipment, and so on, which are elaborate to produce, are no longer necessary. Audi uses the new generation of Microsoft’s “HoloLens 2” device for this.

The “LayAR” system (short for “layout” and “augmented reality”) supports Audi logistics planners when setting up new logistics structures in an existing production hall. [Read more…] about Audi turns to augmented reality for logistics planning

Fanuc and Plus One Robotics develop automation solutions for e-commerce fulfillment

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Fanuc America, the world’s largest industrial robotics company, is partnering with Plus One Robotics, a machine vision specialist, to combine their technologies to meet the needs of their mutual customers in e-commerce.

The new flexible fulfillment solution incorporates a Fanuc robot and Plus One’s artificial intelligence-powered PickOne perception system to identify, singulate, and sort a wide range of conveyable items without the need for traditional vision training.

Powered by AI, the system can adapt to variations in product material, size and shape, as well as intermixed, random delivery. [Read more…] about Fanuc and Plus One Robotics develop automation solutions for e-commerce fulfillment

Locus Robotics reaches picking milestone of 250 million units in warehouses

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Locus Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, says that it has now passed the 250 million units picked volume level heading into the 2020 holiday peak season.

Locus robots now pick more than 10,000 units every 15 minutes, a 263 percent increase in units picked compared with the same period last year.

Locus’s 250 million pick milestone reflects the rapidly growing volumes at customer sites throughout this pandemic-impacted year, with some customers’ daily orders often reaching Black Friday levels. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics reaches picking milestone of 250 million units in warehouses

Mobile Robot Safety: Risks, Responsibilities and ROI

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Webinar Title:Mobile Robot Safety: Risks, Responsibilities and ROI
Early Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2216053079530/WN_1Km9ouxwSVGKaZc1sPqMgQ

AutoGuide is once again partnering with Robotics and Automation News to bring you their latest webinar. Brought to you on Thursday, 10th December at 4 pm, European time. Efficiency and safety are often said to be the cornerstones of the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) advantage but what this really mean? Safe implementation of AMRs presents opportunities for increased productivity, improved worker conditions, and (surprise) faster ROI. [Read more…] about Mobile Robot Safety: Risks, Responsibilities and ROI

Robotics market sees accelerated growth amid e-commerce boom

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By Steve Richmond, director of logistics systems, Jungheinrich

New use cases for robotics are being identified almost daily. The rapid growth of e-commerce, fuelled in part by necessity from Covid-19 lockdowns, has meant that for many organisations, the requirements for staff and goods is growing at a rate too fast to meet demand – the need for automation is now greater than ever.

With technology advancing rapidly, almost anything can now be automated. And with intelligent navigation and precise picking technology, even items of an odd size, shape or material can be handled by robots.

As this technology becomes increasingly more sophisticated, enabling robots to perform roles with accuracy, consistency and safety front of mind, this has also advanced the ability for robots to communicate with other robots around the facility. [Read more…] about Robotics market sees accelerated growth amid e-commerce boom

Geek+ launches new virtual booth

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Warehouse robotics company Geek+ has launched its next-gen virtual booth, saying it’s the company’s latest effort to provide customers with knowledge and access to the technologies that will allow them to make added-value decisions in a time of current global change and remote work.

In the new virtual space Geek+ will support visitors with online applications for customized solutions, a great visual experience, and easy access to product materials.

Geek+, the largest manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, says its virtual space allows visitors to experience robotics automation in a dynamic digital environment and provides them with the tools to make informed decisions on automation, in a time of urgency. [Read more…] about Geek+ launches new virtual booth