Robotics & Automation News

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manipulation

GXO signs ‘industry-first’ multi-year agreement with Agility Robotics

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GXO Logistics, one of the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, and Agility Robotics, creator of the bipedal Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR) Digit, have signed a multi-year agreement to begin deploying Digit in GXO’s logistics operations.

This agreement, which follows a proof-of-concept pilot in late 2023, is both the industry’s first formal commercial deployment of humanoid robots and first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) deployment of humanoid robots.

Adrian Stoch, Chief Automation Officer, GXO, says: “We’re building on the success of last year’s groundbreaking pilot with Agility by deploying fully operational Digit humanoids into a live warehouse environment. [Read more…] about GXO signs ‘industry-first’ multi-year agreement with Agility Robotics

Understanding Social Engineering and 5 Ways to Combat it

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Cybersecurity has two broad sources of breaches: the human element and the technical element. Technical elements involve loopholes or vulnerabilities in an application, network, program, and so on. On the other hand, the human element involves errors and insecure practices on a user’s part.

Social engineering is a strategy employed by attackers to precipitate security mistakes. They use human psychology to trick web users into revealing sensitive information or granting access.

As such, they capitalize on the human element to compromise cybersecurity. Read on to learn how cybercriminals use social engineering and how to defeat it. [Read more…] about Understanding Social Engineering and 5 Ways to Combat it

MIT scientists find new way to help robots handle fluids

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Researchers create new simulation tool for robots to manipulate complex fluids in a step towards helping robots more effortlessly assist with daily tasks that deal with liquids

Imagine you’re enjoying a picnic by a riverbank on a windy day. (Why you chose to do this on a windy day was your own poor decision).

A gust of wind accidentally catches your paper napkin and lands on the water’s surface, quickly drifting away from you. You grab a nearby stick and carefully agitate the water to retrieve it, creating a series of small waves.

These waves eventually push the napkin back towards the shore, so you grab it. In this scenario, the water acts as a medium for transmitting forces, enabling you to manipulate the position of the napkin without direct contact. [Read more…] about MIT scientists find new way to help robots handle fluids

Columbia scientists build ‘highly dexterous robot hand that can operate in the dark – just like humans’

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Columbia university engineers design a robot hand (video below) that is the first device of its kind to join advanced sense of touch with motor-learning algorithms – it doesn’t rely on vision to manipulate objects

Think about what you do with your hands when you’re home at night pushing buttons on your TV’s remote control, or at a restaurant using all kinds of cutlery and glassware. 

These skills are all based on touch, while you’re watching a TV program or choosing something from the menu. Our hands and fingers are incredibly skilled mechanisms, and highly sensitive to boot.

Robotics researchers have long been trying to create “true” dexterity in robot hands, but the goal has been frustratingly elusive. Robot grippers and suction cups can pick and place items, but more dexterous tasks such as assembly, insertion, reorientation, packaging and so on have remained in the realm of human manipulation. [Read more…] about Columbia scientists build ‘highly dexterous robot hand that can operate in the dark – just like humans’

ASTM forms new robotics group to develop standards for grasping and manipulation technologies

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ASTM International’s committee on robotics, automation, and autonomous systems (F45) has formed a new subcommittee on grasping and manipulation.

This new subcommittee (F45.05) of ASTM (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) will develop standards that evaluate performance in several major areas of robotic manipulation.

The first three task groups of the committee will develop standards for performance of grasping type end-effectors, mobile manipulators, and robotic assembly systems, covering their use in both fixed and mobile base systems. [Read more…] about ASTM forms new robotics group to develop standards for grasping and manipulation technologies

PickNik Robotics releases MoveIt Studio developer platform and SDK

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PickNik Robotics, a robotics software and engineering services company, has released both its MoveIt Studio Developer Platform and MoveIt Studio SDK (software development kit). The new software products help robotics and software engineers to create, debug, and ship complex manipulation projects faster.

Dr Dave Coleman, CEO of PickNik Robotics, says: “These premium offerings leverage cutting edge approaches that we have developed over seven years working with some of the best robotics companies in the world.

“Both MoveIt Studio products ensure customers don’t have to waste time programming common manipulation behaviors. This will further evolve the robotics industry by making it more practical to use advanced manipulation techniques in more applications.” [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics releases MoveIt Studio developer platform and SDK

RE2 Robotics partners with JLG Industries to build robotic elevation platforms

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RE2 Robotics, a developer of intelligent mobile manipulation systems, has agreed a developmental partnership with JLG Industries, part of the Oshkosh group and a manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers.

The collaboration of these two companies is intended to advance the integration of robotics with access equipment.

Jorgen Pedersen, RE2’s president and CEO, says: “The future of work is here. Humans and robots are working more closely together, and the construction industry is no exception. [Read more…] about RE2 Robotics partners with JLG Industries to build robotic elevation platforms

RE2 Robotics launches new robotic arm for outdoor mobile applications

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RE2 Robotics, a leading developer of intelligent mobile robotic manipulation systems, marks its 20th year in business with the launch of its newest robotic arm, the RE2 Sapien 6M.

The milestone marks two successful decades of innovation and growth for the Company in the robotics industry.

Originally founded on July 20, 2001 as a defense subcontractor to Carnegie Mellon University by alumni Jorgen Pedersen, the Company incubated at the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. [Read more…] about RE2 Robotics launches new robotic arm for outdoor mobile applications

RE2 Robotics achieves 50 percent hiring growth despite pandemic

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RE2 Robotics, or “Resquared Robotics”, a developer of intelligent mobile manipulation systems, announced today that the Company has already reached its 2020 hiring goal of increasing its staff by 50 percent.

In particular, 83 percent of the new hires were engineers from a variety of disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.

In addition, the Company has added to its operations team with the hiring of a head of talent, director of IT, and accountant, and has augmented its production team with the addition of a CNC machinist and lab assistant. [Read more…] about RE2 Robotics achieves 50 percent hiring growth despite pandemic

RE2 Robotics receives $2.5 million from US Navy to develop manipulation system

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RE2 Robotics, a developer of human-like robotic manipulation systems, has received $2.5 million in funding from the Office of Naval Research to continue the development and commercialization of its technology under the Dexterous Maritime Manipulation System (DM2S) program.

RE2’s DM2S technology will provide Navy personnel with the ability to autonomously perform mine countermeasure (MCM) missions.

In this next phase of the program, RE2 will upgrade its dual-arm prototype, known as the Maritime Dexterous Manipulation System (MDMS), for deep ocean use; apply computer vision and machine-learning algorithms to enable autonomous manipulation capabilities; and integrate with underwater vehicles that can autonomously navigate. [Read more…] about RE2 Robotics receives $2.5 million from US Navy to develop manipulation system