Robotics & Automation News

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Fetch Robotics partners with Vargo to launch integrated fulfillment solution

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Fetch Robotics, a warehouse and cloud robotics company, has agreed a partnership with Vargo, a provider of warehouse execution software, to launch an integrated fulfillment solution.

The new solution will combine Fetch’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with the Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine (COFE), Vargo’s warehouse execution system (WES), to enable warehouse customers to optimize order fulfillment in real time.

The growth of e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment has pushed companies to optimize their order fulfillment processes to gain efficiencies and to do so with more speed and accuracy. [Read more…] about Fetch Robotics partners with Vargo to launch integrated fulfillment solution

Automated Warehousing: Playbook for Introducing AI to Your Operation

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In the eCommerce industry, businesses need to reduce their costs and streamline the distribution process if they want to succeed.

With the number of physical goods ordered online skyrocketing across the country, Amazon has raised the bar in terms of the delivery timeline and customer service.

Small delays in the supply chain or order fulfilment process could leave your customers dissatisfied. [Read more…] about Automated Warehousing: Playbook for Introducing AI to Your Operation

6 River Systems upgrades its robotic fulfillment solution

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6 River Systems has made a series of enhancements to its robotic fulfillment solution.

6 River, part of e-commerce platform provider Shopify, revealed the upgrade during its second annual user conference, FLOW 2020.

David Vallance, director of product at 6 River Systems, says: “We have developed a strategic product roadmap at 6RS to find and address the next level of efficiencies to help our customers meet ever-changing demand and drive value to their own customers. [Read more…] about 6 River Systems upgrades its robotic fulfillment solution

Manufacturing industry ‘optimistic’ about post-pandemic recovery

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More than 60 percent of professionals in the UK manufacturing industry expect the sector to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and return to business as usual by mid-2021, according to a new survey by SteelScout.

However, they highlighted issues in the wider supply chain which might impact the recovery, with almost 30 percent unable to access the materials they need and 36 percent adding that it is taking longer just to receive a “winning quote”.

One key driver behind the confidence in recovery is that 62 percent of respondents reported having orders waiting to be fulfilled once lockdown rules have eased. [Read more…] about Manufacturing industry ‘optimistic’ about post-pandemic recovery

ABB wins $5 million order for electric vehicle chargers from GAC Toyota

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ABB has won an order worth $5 million for electric vehicle chargers from GAC Toyota.

The agreement was made through Chargedot, an ABB business unit, and is considered “a major order” in China.

GAC Toyota is the Guangzhou-based joint venture between GAC Group and Toyota. With plans to expand production of electric vehicles to 400,000 a year, the company has asked ABB to supply “several thousand electric vehicle chargers” over the next year. [Read more…] about ABB wins $5 million order for electric vehicle chargers from GAC Toyota

Agilox applies artificial swarm intelligence to its warehouse robots and makes ‘substantial’ cost savings

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Agilox says its autonomous mobile robots are “substantially saving costs” by applying artificial swarm intelligence.

Swarm Intelligence and bio-inspired computing have attracted great interest in almost every area of science and engineering, including robotics, over the last two decades.

Being an innovative manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, Agilox directs most of its effort into developing one of the most unique robotic material handling features on the market – completely decentralized autonomy. [Read more…] about Agilox applies artificial swarm intelligence to its warehouse robots and makes ‘substantial’ cost savings

inVia Robotics expands into Asia with Kantsu implementation

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Kantsu has selected inVia Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation solutions, to supply autonomous mobile robots that automate fulfillment operations in its primary distribution center in Osaka, Japan.

inVia’s modular automation system, which includes a fleet of 200 autonomous mobile robots and AI-driven software, will modernize Kantsu’s e-commerce fulfillment process.

It will automate the picking process and allow warehouse workers to sort at rates of 800-900 units per hour per person, says inVia. [Read more…] about inVia Robotics expands into Asia with Kantsu implementation

Hitachi awarded its ‘largest order’ to install 300 lifts at Singapore apartments

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Hitachi Elevator Asia has been awarded the contract for the supply and installation of 300 lifts by the Housing & Development Board of Singapore.

This is the largest single order for the Hitachi group’s lifts and escalators business in Singapore.

Hitachi Elevator Asia will see the supply, delivery and installation of the 300 lifts at HDB blocks. [Read more…] about Hitachi awarded its ‘largest order’ to install 300 lifts at Singapore apartments

Locus Robotics raises $40 million in new Investment to bring total to $105 million

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Locus Robotics, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, has raised more than $40 million in new investment.

The Series D funding was led by Zebra Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Zebra Technologies. Existing investors, including Scale Venture Partners, also participated in the round.

The new funding brings Locus Robotics’ total funding to more than $105 million. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics raises $40 million in new Investment to bring total to $105 million

The Future for Contactless Delivery

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By D. A. Rupprecht

The future for contactless product delivery is already here, and a pandemic seems to already be moving this trend forward.

It just needs companies to implement and customers to accept the new delivery and tracking methods, along with other innovations, that will make this so.

When this happens, we may one day look back and quietly thank the lowly coronavirus for catapulting us into a brighter future. [Read more…] about The Future for Contactless Delivery