Robotics & Automation News

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Vecna Robotics raises $50 million to expand business

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Vecna Robotics, the workflow orchestration and self-driving forklift provider, has raised $50 million in Series B funding.

With double-digit annual growth forecast for the mobile robot market over the next five years, the new capital will expand Vecna Robotics’ industry-leading footprint and accelerate the development of new product offerings.

This round is led by Blackhorn Ventures, with participation from new investors Highland Capital and Fontinalis Partners, and additional funding from existing investors Drive Capital and Tectonic Ventures. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics raises $50 million to expand business

Iowa scientists create nanoscale sensors to ‘better see how high pressure affects materials’

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Scientists at Iowa State University have developed new nanoscale technology to image and measure more of the stresses and strains on materials under high pressures.

As the researchers reported in the journal Science, that matters because, “Pressure alters the physical, chemical and electronic properties of matter.”

Understanding those changes could lead to new materials or new phases of matter for use in all kinds of technologies and applications, said Valery Levitas, a paper co-author and Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering at Iowa State University, the Vance Coffman Faculty Chair and professor in aerospace engineering. [Read more…] about Iowa scientists create nanoscale sensors to ‘better see how high pressure affects materials’

Omron launches its highest-payload autonomous mobile robot

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Industrial automation giant Omron has started selling a new autonomous mobile robot for logistics, called the LD-250, with a payload capacity of 250 kg.

Omron says the LD-250 is the strongest and newest addition to the company’s LD series of mobile robots.

The robot’s integrated Fleet Manager software enables the control of multiple mobile robots with different payloads through one system, “for the first time in the industry”, according to Omron. [Read more…] about Omron launches its highest-payload autonomous mobile robot

Researchers create new metallic material for flexible soft robots

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Researchers at the National University of Singapore have created a new metallic material which they say is suitable for flexible soft robots. (See video below.)

NUS Assistant Professor Chen Po-Yen (main picture, right) and doctoral student Yang Haitao and their team say the new material is also suitable for “origami robots”.

Origami robots are described as “state-of-the-art soft and flexible robots” that are being tested for use in various applications including drug delivery in human bodies, search and rescue missions in disaster environments and humanoid robotic arms. [Read more…] about Researchers create new metallic material for flexible soft robots

Schmalz launches ‘clever automation solutions’ for electronics production

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Vacuum specialist Schmalz has unveiled numerous “clever” solutions for the automated handling of delicate electronic components.

For example, gripping systems that reliably protect delicate components against electrostatic discharge.

Electrostatic charges and the resulting uncontrolled electrostatic discharge (ESD) produce irreversible damage to electronic components such as chips or printed-circuit boards. [Read more…] about Schmalz launches ‘clever automation solutions’ for electronics production

Material advancements allow creation of ‘perfect products’

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Since the turn of the 17th century, the planet has undergone a huge period of industrialization. Although the manufacturing companies operating today bear little resemblance to the factories of decades past, many of the processes we use today can trace their lineage to those earlier times.

Stated by polyurethane manufacturers, as many industries have increased the demand for manufactured goods, the market has needed to constantly adapt and improve. Material advancements have allowed us to create complex processes that were impossible just a few decades ago.

One material that has become indispensable in manufacturing in recent years is polyurethane. Let’s dive into how urethane has been able to meet these ever-changing demands in the manufacturing industry. [Read more…] about Material advancements allow creation of ‘perfect products’

Teradyne to acquire AutoGuide Mobile Robots for $165 million

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Teradyne is again strengthening its position in the robotics and automation market with another acquisition after already buying Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots. 

Teradyne and AutoGuide Mobile Robots have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teradyne will acquire privately held AutoGuide for $165 million – $58 million net of cash acquired plus $107 million if certain performance targets are met extending potentially through 2022.

The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. [Read more…] about Teradyne to acquire AutoGuide Mobile Robots for $165 million

Vecna Robotics partners with UniCarriers to launch new line of autonomous material handling solutions

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Vecna Robotics is teaming up with UniCarriers Americas, a manufacturer of material handling equipment and part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The two companies are collaborating on a line of autonomous material handling vehicles for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing environments.

Vecna Robotics is integrating its autonomous navigation technology, learning algorithms, and workflow orchestration software into UCA vehicles turning them into autonomous mobile robots, capable of moving bulk material through dynamic warehouse environments. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics partners with UniCarriers to launch new line of autonomous material handling solutions

All Axis Robotics manufactures custom robot arm end-effectors with MakerBot 3D printer

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MakerBot, a 3D printing equipment supplier, says All Axis Robotics is implementing the MakerBot “Method” manufacturing workstation – or 3D printer – into its automation processes to produce custom tooling parts for its legacy machines as well as customers.

All Axis Robotics is a Dallas, Texas-based machine shop and a leader in turnkey custom robot solutions for other machine shops and manufacturing facilities in need of automated machine tending.

Customers enlist the expertise of All Axis Robotics’ mechanical and manufacturing engineers to streamline their manufacturing operations with robotic arms and custom end-effectors, including those for CNC machine tending, automated part sanding, and brake press machine tending, among others. [Read more…] about All Axis Robotics manufactures custom robot arm end-effectors with MakerBot 3D printer

IMHX provides platform for more robotics and automation technologies

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IMHX is one of the largest trade shows aimed at the intralogistics sector in the UK. Held in Birmingham, the event features more than 450 exhibitors and attracts more than 16,000 industry experts over its four-day duration, from September 24th to 27th.

As with the other events Robotics and Automation News has covered over the past year or two, IMHX is seeing an increasing number of robotics and automation solutions sharing the stage with technologies that have been established for a lot longer.

Longer-established technologies can be said to be the ones that brought about “mechanised” automation, which has become more sophisticated over time, integrating electronics and computer technologies into it. [Read more…] about IMHX provides platform for more robotics and automation technologies