Robotics & Automation News

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FedEx opens new automated sorting facility at Memphis World Hub

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FedEx has unveiled a new, state-of-the-art, automated sorting facility at the Memphis World Hub.

The LEED Certified building, which is now fully operational ahead of the holiday peak season, spans 1.3 million square feet across four levels, includes 11 miles of conveyor belt, has a space dedicated to moving bulky, non-conveyable shipments, and can sort 56,000 packages per hour.

The facility alone can process more than half the volume from the primary sort, which enables quicker sort times and the ability to transport customer packages to their final delivery destination faster. [Read more…] about FedEx opens new automated sorting facility at Memphis World Hub

AutoStore wins first customer in South Korean pharmaceutical sector

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Geo-Young, one of South Korea’s leading pharmaceutical distributors, has inaugurated its Smart Hub Center in Incheon, marking a significant advancement in the industry as the first in the nation’s pharmaceutical sector to integrate the AutoStore system into its operations.

The Smart Hub Center employs AutoStore’s automated storage and retrieval system to address the specific demands of pharmaceutical distribution, where precision, safety, and efficiency are paramount. [Read more…] about AutoStore wins first customer in South Korean pharmaceutical sector

Interview: Ambi Robotics founder sees ‘huge opportunities’ in new markets

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The founding of Ambi Robotics is somewhat obscured by the mist of history, but it started with some abandoned robots in a basement and the co-founders meeting at University of California Berkeley in 2018. 

Within about a year, the five founders made a breakthrough in simulation-to-reality transfer learning systems for robotics, calling it Sim2Real AI, which, in turn, led to the establishment of Ambidextrous Laboratories Inc, and a year later to the commercialization of the technology in the form of the AmbiSort parcel sorting system.

The lightning quick pace of development led to huge interest from investors, who poured in $21 million into the startup by 2021, and another $32 million the following year. [Read more…] about Interview: Ambi Robotics founder sees ‘huge opportunities’ in new markets

Embotech receives $27 million in funding to expand its autonomous tow truck business

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Embotech, an innovator in autonomous driving solutions for industrial logistics, has received CHF23.5 million (approximately $27 million) in Series B funding to help the company scale its autonomous tow truck business.

The company calls its solutions “Automated Vehicle Marshalling” (AVM) and “Autonomous Terminal Tractor” (ATT). The plan is to expand in Europe initially, and then in the United States, Middle East, and Asia.

The funding round is led by Emerald Technology Ventures and Yttrium, with additional funds from BMW i Ventures, Nabtesco Technology Ventures, Sustainable Forward Capital Fund, RKK VC and existing investors.

Embotech, short for embedded optimization technologies, has already secured landmark multi-year rollout contracts for its AVM solution in finished vehicle logistics and its ATT solution for port and yard logistics applications. [Read more…] about Embotech receives $27 million in funding to expand its autonomous tow truck business

AI-RobotX integrates Geekplus robots at Hellmann Logistics’ Dubai eCommerce Center

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Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has implemented Geekplus robotics automated storage solutions at its eCommerce Center in Dubai CommerCity, executed by AI-RobotX MEA.

In 2023, Hellmann established a dedicated Innovation Hub, reinforcing its commitment to integrating advanced technologies into global operations.

The company’s recent implementation of robotics in Dubai exemplifies this strategic focus, increasing storage capacity, improving operational efficiency, and reducing delivery times for businesses in the region.

[Read more…] about AI-RobotX integrates Geekplus robots at Hellmann Logistics’ Dubai eCommerce Center

Opinion: Enhancing employee experience with robotics and automation at DHL

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By Sally Miller, global CIO, DHL Supply Chain

As the deployment of robotics and automated solutions accelerates, we are seeing supply chain and logistics operations transform.

Over time, initial concerns that robotics would replace the human workforce have gradually given way to a deeper understanding of how these technologies complement and enhance human roles.

The integration of robotics and automation into supply chains is proving to be a powerful tool which works alongside employees to drive efficiency while reducing manual strain and creating new career development opportunities.

[Read more…] about Opinion: Enhancing employee experience with robotics and automation at DHL

DB Schenker installs remote-controlled forklifts at logistics facility

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Forklifts are now being operated remotely at DB Schenker’s contract logistics site in Kassel, Germany. The drivers control the vehicles from a distance. With a remote driving setup, drivers are connected to several different vehicles at different locations via the enabl platform.

Lucas Mömken, vice president global engineering and innovation in contract logistics, DB Schenker: “The collaboration with enabl allows us to react flexibly to fluctuations in demand and automate our processes to increase productivity.

“We see this partnership as a valuable addition to our CL digitalization strategy, which will help us to secure our competitiveness in the long term.” [Read more…] about DB Schenker installs remote-controlled forklifts at logistics facility

Loxo establishes German subsidiary to expand its autonomous driving business

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Loxo, a Swiss developer of autonomous driving solutions for logistics, has embarked on its first international expansion with the opening of a new subsidiary in Munich.

Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, Loxo has rapidly established itself as a key player in the field of autonomous driving, with a focus on middle-mile delivery and mobile distribution hub logistics.

The expansion into Germany follows rapidly from Loxo’s successful rollout of Europe’s first Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology, which is operational on public roads in Bern, Switzerland, with autonomous driving routes spanning 65 kilometres (40 miles) within the city. [Read more…] about Loxo establishes German subsidiary to expand its autonomous driving business

Nauto and Beans.ai partner to optimize last-mile delivery solutions

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Nauto is partnering with Beans.ai have formed a strategic partnership to offer a “comprehensive solution” tailored to the unique needs of commercial fleets engaged in the last mile delivery.

Nauto is a developer of AI-powered safety and operations for commercial vehicles and an approved Video Event Data Recorder (VEDR) solution provider for FedEx service providers.

Beans.ai is a technology firm specializing in AI-powered routing and dispatch solutions to optimize last-mile operations. [Read more…] about Nauto and Beans.ai partner to optimize last-mile delivery solutions

Outrider raises another $62 million to drive growth of yard automation

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Outrider, a developer of autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has raised $62 million in an oversubscribed Series D financing round.

The round was led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) and New Enterprise Associates (NEA), with additional investments from 8VC, ARK Invest, B37 Ventures, FM Capital, Interwoven Ventures, NVentures (Nvidia’s venture capital arm), and Prologis Ventures.

This funding will drive the commercial scaling of Outrider’s autonomous yard operations as a service with Fortune 500 customers in 2025 and solidify its position at the forefront of logistics automation. [Read more…] about Outrider raises another $62 million to drive growth of yard automation