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Interview: Ambi Robotics founder sees ‘huge opportunities’ in new markets

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The founding of Ambi Robotics is somewhat obscured by the mist of history, but it started with some abandoned robots in a basement and the co-founders meeting at University of California Berkeley in 2018. 

Within about a year, the five founders made a breakthrough in simulation-to-reality transfer learning systems for robotics, calling it Sim2Real AI, which, in turn, led to the establishment of Ambidextrous Laboratories Inc, and a year later to the commercialization of the technology in the form of the AmbiSort parcel sorting system.

The lightning quick pace of development led to huge interest from investors, who poured in $21 million into the startup by 2021, and another $32 million the following year. [Read more…] about Interview: Ambi Robotics founder sees ‘huge opportunities’ in new markets

Plus One Robotics introduces dual-arm automated parcel solution

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Plus One Robotics, a provider of AI vision software and solutions for robotic parcel handling, has launched its latest offering, InductOne – a dual-arm automated parcel induction solution designed to optimize parcel singulation and induction in high-volume fulfillment and distribution centers.

As an experienced induction provider, Plus One Robotics has leveraged its extensive industry knowledge and track record of over 1 billion picks to engineer InductOne as a groundbreaking solution for the parcel shipping industry.

The company’s learnings from handling over a million picks per day and the required reliability for such high-volume operations have been manifested in this new dual-arm machine.

A key characteristic of InductOne is its innovative dual-arm design, which significantly outperforms single-arm solutions.

While a single-arm system typically tops out at around 1,600 picks per hour, the coordinated motion of InductOne’s two arms can achieve sustained pick rates of 2,200 to 2,300 per hour. InductOne’s peak rate maxes out at a rate of 3,300 picks per hour, 10% faster than the leading competition.

Erik Nieves, CEO of Plus One Robotics, says: “Parcel variability is a significant challenge of automation within the warehouse.

“That’s why InductOne is equipped with our innovative individual cup control gripper, which can precisely handle a wide range of parcel sizes and shapes. But it’s not just about what InductOne picks, it’s also about what it doesn’t pick.

“The system avoids picking non-conveyable items, allowing them to automatically convey to a designated exception path and preventing the robots from wasting precious cycles handling items which should not be inducted.”

The Plus One Robotics engineering team put a strong focus on the physical design of the InductOne system, engineering the machine to have the smallest possible footprint and lowest weight, all while maximizing its capabilities.

This enables the system to easily integrate into brownfield facilities, while minimizing the need for costly site modifications.

Nieves says: “The engineering approach behind InductOne has been focused on efficiency and flexibility.

“We designed the system to be as compact and lightweight as possible, making it easier to deploy in limited spaces, including on existing mezzanines. The modular and configurable nature of InductOne also allows it to seamlessly integrate into a variety of fulfillment center layouts.”

Going the last mile with robotic parcel sorting

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Everyone has heard of going the extra mile, but for e-commerce, parcel, postal and logistics companies, the last mile is often the most challenging. To streamline how parcels arrive on the doorstep, many businesses are relying on localised or temporary facilities. For smaller sorting centres close to the customer, robots are a proven solution to optimise routes, maximise available capacity and reduce overheads.

Hans Jongebloed, Senior Postal Expert at Prime Vision, explores the possibilities.  [Read more…] about Going the last mile with robotic parcel sorting

Ambi Robotics expands partnership with Pitney Bowes to automate middle-mile sorting

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Ambi Robotics, a provider of AI-powered robotic sorting solutions for supply chain operations, and Pitney Bowes, a global shipping and mailing company, say they have successfully implemented the new AmbiSort B-Series modular parcel induction and sorting solution for middle-mile operations.

This collaboration between two industry leaders advances ecommerce and logistics operations through cutting-edge automation and emerging technologies.

Following the deployment of the AmbiSort A-Series small parcel sortation systems for last-mile operations, Pitney Bowes and Ambi Robotics partnered to develop and deploy the AmbiSort B-Series solution in Pitney Bowes ecommerce hubs across the US. [Read more…] about Ambi Robotics expands partnership with Pitney Bowes to automate middle-mile sorting

Ambi Robotics launches ‘most configurable high-speed’ robotic parcel sorting system

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Ambi Robotics, the industry leader in AI-powered robotic parcel sorting systems, today introduces AmbiSort B-Series, a modular parcel induction and sorting solution that redefines speed, flexibility, and scalability in the shipping logistics market.

This powerful solution empowers shippers and ecommerce companies to revolutionize their sorting operations while reducing operating costs.

AmbiSort B-Series automates the process of inducting and sorting parcels into gaylord destinations, addressing the challenges of labor-intensive manual sorting throughout high-speed supply chain operations. [Read more…] about Ambi Robotics launches ‘most configurable high-speed’ robotic parcel sorting system

Ambi Robotics and OSM partner to automate parcel sortation systems

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Ambi Robotics, a provider of AI-powered robotic solutions for parcel sorting operations, has agreed a commercial partnership with OSM Worldwide, a global parcel and logistics services company.

Under the partnership, Ambi Robotics will deploy its flagship AmbiSort A-Series system to OSM Worldwide’s warehouse locations in Atlanta, Chicago, and Las Vegas in a minimum four-year Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) agreement.

The AmbiSort A-Series system helps global shippers like OSM Worldwide accelerate parcel sortation to last-mile delivery providers while enabling ecommerce customers to benefit from cost-savings, order accuracy, and predictable performance. [Read more…] about Ambi Robotics and OSM partner to automate parcel sortation systems

Plus One Robotics raises $50 million in new funding

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Plus One Robotics, a provider of advanced AI vision software and solutions for robotic parcel handling, has raised $50 million in Series C funding.

The round was led by Scale Venture Partners, with Partner Rory O’Driscoll joining the board of directors. Top Tier Capital Partners, Tyche Partners, ROBO Global Ventures, Translink, McRock, and Pritzker Group Venture Capital also participated in the round alongside existing investors, which brings the company’s total funding to date to nearly $100 million.

Plus One’s technology helps to alleviate the persistent shortage of manual labor through robotic solutions, dramatically streamlining the parcel picking and depalletizing processes. [Read more…] about Plus One Robotics raises $50 million in new funding

Plus One Robotics’ parcel handling solutions surpass 500 million picks

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Plus One Robotics, a provider of a parcel handling robotics platform claiming to performing over 1 million parcel picks each day in production, says its platform has reached over half a billion parcel picks globally. 

The company says the 500 million figure is “currently an industry leading metric”.

Erik Nieves, Plus One Robotics’ CEO and founder, says: “Our north star will always be to increase our customers’ total picks per day. [Read more…] about Plus One Robotics’ parcel handling solutions surpass 500 million picks

Smart Robotics launches new robotic parcel picker

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Smart Robotics, a provider of pick and place automation as a service for warehouses and logistics processes, has launched its newly engineered Smart Parcel Picker.

The picking robot is designed to depalletize and unload an array of containers with parcels, varying in size, surface material and weight.

The company says its Smart Parcel Picker is able to do this at “business-case friendly throughput and performance” – replacing physically straining and repetitive work for warehouse employees at times that the industry is also experiencing growing labour shortages. [Read more…] about Smart Robotics launches new robotic parcel picker

DHL begins trial runs of Cleveron’s autonomous delivery vehicle

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DHL Express has begun testing an autonomous delivery vehicle built by Estonian company Cleveron. The trials will take place in Tallin, Estonia, and use the Clevon 1 electric delivery robot, which has a 100 km range.

This is the second strategic cooperation where DHL, one of the world’s leading logistics companies, will pilot Cleveron Mobility’s unmanned robot couriers to test their use in last-mile delivery operations.

Clevon 1 will be liveried in DHL’s branding and was due to start delivering parcels by the end of July. [Read more…] about DHL begins trial runs of Cleveron’s autonomous delivery vehicle