Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

on-demand

Starship’s robot food delivery service launches Tennessee university

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Starship Technologies has partnered with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to roll out a robot food delivery service in a local area called Rocky Top.

A fleet of 40 autonomous on-demand robots will deliver from 16 campus eateries including Einstein Bros. Bagels, Steak ’n Shake, Starbucks, and Subway, among others.

Students, faculty, and staff can use the Starship app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from select dining partners to be delivered anywhere on campus. [Read more…] about Starship’s robot food delivery service launches Tennessee university

Fabric raises $200 million in new funding, bringing total to $336 million to date

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Fabric, a company specialising in retail supply chain automation, has raised $200 million in Series C funding.

The latest round was led by existing investor Temasek, with participation from Koch Disruptive Technologies, Union Tech Ventures, Harel Insurance & Finance, Pontifax Global Food and Agriculture Technology Fund (Pontifax AgTech), Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), KSH Capital, Princeville Capital, Wharton Equity Ventures, and others.

With a valuation of more than $1 billion, Fabric has established itself as a market leader in the on-demand fulfillment space, leveraging its proprietary robotic micro-fulfillment technology stack designed from the ground up to make on-demand fulfillment profitable and scalable for all retailers. [Read more…] about Fabric raises $200 million in new funding, bringing total to $336 million to date

Watch Now: How Robots Won the Digital Transformation Dance at Boston Dynamics

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You’d love to dance your way through a digital transformation, swinging to the sounds of product innovation, business acceleration, and unfettered visibility.

But, maybe you’re a bit hesitant to get on your feet and waltz your way to more effective customer engagement and efficient operations.

Boston Dynamics – the groundbreaking manufacturer behind those viral dancing robots (video below) – led their digital transformation to success by choreographing the right mix of great technology, a single digital platform, and proven best practices. [Read more…] about Watch Now: How Robots Won the Digital Transformation Dance at Boston Dynamics

Motional and Via partner to launch platform for public, on-demand shared robotaxi rides

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Motional, a driverless technology developer, and Via, a public mobility solutions provider, have agreed a partnership that they say will “serve as a blueprint for the future of on-demand, shared robotaxis”.

Motional and Via seek to use learnings from the partnership to inform how driverless vehicles can be integrated into mass transit networks, and optimized for pooled rides.

The partnership’s first service – shared robotaxi rides, available to the public – is expected to launch in one of Motional’s existing US markets in the first half of 2021. The initial launch market will be announced at a later date. [Read more…] about Motional and Via partner to launch platform for public, on-demand shared robotaxi rides

TPM to offer AI-driven on-demand manufacturing platform from ZVerse360

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Digital manufacturing technology company ZVerse has partnered with TPM to license its AI-enabled on-demand manufacturing platform, ZVerse360.

TPM will run production through the ZVerse360 platform and fulfill projects through its in-house production group, as well as leverage into TPM’s extensive manufacturing customer base across the Southeast.

The ZVerse360 platform aims to simplify and accelerate the design-to-production process, through an end-to-end solution for on-demand digital manufacturing, including CAD as a Service (CADaaS), instant quoting, e-commerce, workflow management and access to the ZVerse production partner network. [Read more…] about TPM to offer AI-driven on-demand manufacturing platform from ZVerse360

Nvidia provides online workshops about robotics and AI

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Nvidia is providing on-demand workshops about robotics and artificial intelligence online through its GTC Digital network.

GTC Digital is Nvidia’s training, research and insights resource and enables direct access to the company’s experts at the GPU Technology Conference.

Through these online services, Nvidia says it hopes to give members the latest news about advances in robotics, embedded computing, internet of things, AI at the edge and more.  [Read more…] about Nvidia provides online workshops about robotics and AI

Fabric raises $110 million in new investment round backed by Kraft Heinz

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On-demand fulfillment services startup Fabric has raised an additional investment to its Series B round from Evolv Ventures, the investment arm of Kraft Heinz, one of the largest global food and beverage companies in the world.

Led by a team of food, startup, and venture capital veterans, Evolv Ventures is focused on strategic investments in emerging technologies across the food value chain.

Their undisclosed additional investment to the $110 million-dollar round is a resounding vote of confidence from a leading food tech investor and the iconic food company. [Read more…] about Fabric raises $110 million in new investment round backed by Kraft Heinz

Walgreens chooses Postmates for grocery deliveries

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Walgreens and Postmates are partnering to provide quick, convenient, on-demand delivery for customers looking for over-the-counter medications, health and wellness, beauty and grocery products.

Postmates will deliver hundreds of Walgreens’ most popular items from 174 Walgreens and Duane Reade locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Whether it will use its delivery robots remains to be seen, but it’s certainly an option in the long term.

Craig Whitmer, VP, merchant business development, Postmates, says: “In the last year, orders from convenience and drugstores have increased by 68 percent. [Read more…] about Walgreens chooses Postmates for grocery deliveries

Via’s on-demand mobility service ‘exceeding targets’ in Australia

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Via, a provider and developer of on-demand public mobility solutions, has released metrics for its new Cooee Busways transport system, launched in partnership with Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) and Busways, an Australian transportation provider.

Despite only starting operations on May 27, Via says “residents are already flocking to the new service by the thousands, with ridership exceeding targets, and vehicle utilization well ahead of the project’s goals”.

Called Cooee Busways, the new on-demand shared transit network provides first- and last-mile connections for residents in The Ponds, Schofields and Kellyville Ridge, linking more residents with the new Sydney Metro public transportation hubs. [Read more…] about Via’s on-demand mobility service ‘exceeding targets’ in Australia

Via unveils its first autonomous vehicle service in public transportation pilot

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Via, a developer of on-demand shared mobility solutions, has launched what it claims is the “first public autonomous vehicle service in the world”.

The driverless vehicle, dubbed BusBot, is now fully operational and serving a community in New South Wales, Australia.

In partnership with local bus operator Busways, Transport for NSW, and autonomous vehicle technology provider EasyMile, BusBot will serve the Marian Grove Retirement Village in Toormina, a suburb of Coffs Harbour. [Read more…] about Via unveils its first autonomous vehicle service in public transportation pilot