Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

mobile

Locus Robotics raises $26 million in new investment

by

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

Waypoint Robotics launches MAV3K omnidirectional autonomous mobile robot

by

Waypoint Robotics has launched the MAV3K (pronounced May-vick) industrial grade autonomous mobile robot (AMR). It has a 3000lb carrying capacity and omnidirectional mobility.

MAV3K comes equipped with Waypoint’s Dispatcher software, allowing it to be set up and autonomously operating in under 15 minutes.

MAV3K’s batteries keep it moving through the longest workday and Waypoint’s EnZone wireless charging system enables MAV3K to charge itself.

NextShift Robotics receives patent for vertical lift capability in robotic picking

by

NextShift Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robot solutions for automated order fulfilment and warehouse materials management, has been granted a second patent, US10214354B2, “Method and System for Automated Transport of Items”.

The patent pertains to operating a robotic picking system in which the containers to be picked are positioned on the shelves and within picking stations.

The patent covers the ability of the robot to raise itself vertically to access shelving of different heights in order to pick the appropriate container from a range of shelf heights and storage system configurations.

[Read more…] about NextShift Robotics receives patent for vertical lift capability in robotic picking

Market for logistics robots predicted to exceed $75 billion in 10 years

by

Mobile robotics in material handling and logistics will become a $75 billion market by 2027, according to a new report, which adds that it will be more than double by 2038. 

These staggering headline figures mask turbulent transformative change underneath: some technologies will rise and transform the fortunes of industries, fuelling growth rates far outpacing recent trends, whilst others will face with decay and obsolescence.

“We are at the beginning of the beginning of a transformative change, and the time to plan is now,” says the report by IDTechEx Research.  [Read more…] about Market for logistics robots predicted to exceed $75 billion in 10 years

DHL and Wärtsilä complete tests of mobile robots from Fetch Robotics for warehouse operations

by

Industrial technology company Wärtsilä and the world’s largest logistics company, DHL, say they have been utilising mobile robots from Fetch Robotics to streamline warehouse operations. (See video below.)

The companies say they have completed a “successful pilot”, where they tested autonomous vehicles from Fetch Robotics.

The pilot was carried out in Wärtsilä’s central distribution centre in Kampen, the Netherlands, where the entire logistics chain of Wärtsilä’s spare parts, from order intake to customer delivery, is managed.

As Wärtsilä’s partner, DHL runs the warehouse operations.  [Read more…] about DHL and Wärtsilä complete tests of mobile robots from Fetch Robotics for warehouse operations

Sita Lab launches mobile robotic kiosk for airports

by

Sita Lab, a provider of air travel technology, has launched Kate, a mobile robot which the company says is an intelligent check-in kiosk that will autonomously move to busy or congested areas in the airport as needed. 

Using various data sources – including flight and passenger flow information – Kate can identify where additional check-in kiosks are required to reduce passenger queue times at check-in.

Kate, which was developed in partnership with BlueBotics, uses existing Sita data systems such as Day of Operations Business Intelligence and FlightInfo API.  [Read more…] about Sita Lab launches mobile robotic kiosk for airports

5G telecommunications networks being constructed in many places around the world

by

5G_plans

Fifth generation mobile telecommunication networks – or 5G – are being created in many places around the world, including the US, China and Europe. 

Currently, the majority of mobile device users access either 3G or 4G networks, which both have significantly lower data rates than 5G.

The table below has some basic numbers for how fast each network is – in megabits per second – and dates of when they were operational, or in the case of 5G when it will be.  [Read more…] about 5G telecommunications networks being constructed in many places around the world

Aethon launches new autonomous mobile robots at Automate 2017

by

aethon tug

Aethon has demonstrated new products at Automate 2017 in Chicago specifically designed to address the needs of manufacturers looking to automate material movement and connect islands of automation within their plants.

Aethon showcased new mobile robots and software control systems allowing their robotic platform to achieve Level 4 autonomy. (Full list of autonomy levels, as published by SAE.)

Aethon will feature the T3 and T3XL model robots, which represent the newest innovations in automated material movement.  [Read more…] about Aethon launches new autonomous mobile robots at Automate 2017

Fetch Robotics unveils expanded line of autonomous mobile robots

by

Company says it now offers “comprehensive options” for autonomous collaboration with transport robots

Fetch Robotics has introduced two new autonomous mobile robots to its fleet: Freight500 and Freight1500.

Both new robots, like the Freight predecessor, operate safely in commercial and industrial environments where they are deployed to automate the delivery of bulky and heavy loads.

The company and the new robots were showcased at ProMat 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, a few days ago.  [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics unveils expanded line of autonomous mobile robots

Mobile Industrial Robots launches new MiR200 logistics robot

by

Mobile Industrial Robots, a developer and manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for logistics, has launched its newest robot, the MiR200.

The company says the MiR200 is “a more powerful mobile robot in almost every aspect” than the company’s flagship MiR100, which has already been installed in more than 30 countries by companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Flex, Honeywell, Michelin, Procter & Gamble, Toyota and Walmart.

MiR says its vehicles are “a dramatic improvement over legacy automated guided vehicles”, which require the expensive and inflexible installation of sensors or magnets into factory floors for guidance.  [Read more…] about Mobile Industrial Robots launches new MiR200 logistics robot