Robotics & Automation News

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Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

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Geek+ says it implemented and completed large-scale scheduling of more than 4,000 robots in its smart warehouses during this year’s 11.11 Singles’ Day shopping festival.

China’s largest smart warehouse network processed a record 8 million orders in 72 hours.

Geek+ says “the successful deployment is a fantastic validation of the strength of the robotics-as-a-service business model” and the flexibility and efficiency of smart warehouses during periods of peak orders, including the ultimate challenge of the world’s largest shopping festival. [Read more…] about Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

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

General Motors and University of Michigan develop automated safety features

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As General Motors moves toward its vision of a world with zero crashes, the company is partnering with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute to understand the real-world effectiveness of some of its available active safety, driver assistance, and advanced headlighting features that may prevent or mitigate different types of crashes.

The company says results show that several of these features are making a statistically significant impact in helping to reduce crashes.

The study leveraged 3.7 million GM vehicles across 20 different models from 2013-2017. Fifteen different systems were evaluated using police report crash databases available to UMTRI from 10 states. [Read more…] about General Motors and University of Michigan develop automated safety features

Universal Robots ‘future-proofs’ production processes at Vietnamese manufacturer with collaborative robots

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Universal Robots has helped Vietnam-based Vinacomin Motor Industry Joint Stock Company “future-proof” its production processes with collaborative robots.

VMIC is a subsidiary of the Vinacomin Group, a state-owned coal and mining giant.

VMIC, one of the first state-owned manufacturers to deploy cobots, has seen productivity increase two to three times, with improved product quality, leading to a 50 to 60 percent rise in orders. [Read more…] about Universal Robots ‘future-proofs’ production processes at Vietnamese manufacturer with collaborative robots

IFR report: Global investment in industrial robots reaches record $16.5 billion

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The new World Robotics report, released by the International Federation of Robotics, shows an annual global sales value of $16.5 billion in 2018 – a new record.

At least 422,000 units were shipped globally in 2018 – an increase of 6 percent compared to the previous year.

IFR forecasts shipments in 2019 will recede from the record level in 2018, but expects an average growth of 12 percent per year from 2020 to 2022. [Read more…] about IFR report: Global investment in industrial robots reaches record $16.5 billion

Record sales of collaborative robots reveal increasing demand for end-of-arm tooling

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With a growth of 23 percent in annual installations of collaborative robots from 2017 to 2018, the new World Robotics Report, published by International Federation of Robotics, shows a huge demand for end-of-arm-tooling, (EoAT).

In 2018 almost 14,000 new cobot arms were installed, and if this trend continues, that number will double in approximately three years, prompting an unprecedented EoAT market opportunity that OnRobot is ready to address.

For the first time ever, the annual World Robotics Report includes a specific analysis on the market for cobots, documenting a robust 23 percent growth worldwide. [Read more…] about Record sales of collaborative robots reveal increasing demand for end-of-arm tooling

Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million

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Takeoff Technologies has closed its Series C fundraising with an additional $25 million in investment for 5 percent of the company, with a valuation of $500 million, bringing the total funds raised to $86 million.

The Series C funding was led by Forrestal Capital. This funding is set to propel a rollout scale across North America, Europe and Australia.

Takeoff is at the forefront of microfulfillment as the first and only solution provider with several operating sites in partnership with major grocery retail chains. [Read more…] about Micrologistics startup Takeoff Technologies raises $25 million

Going ‘smart’ helps factories make 12 per cent gains, says new report

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Implementing smart technologies has enabled factories make gains of up to 12 percent, according to an authoritative new report by Deloitte and the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.

The areas in which the gains were achieved include: manufacturing output – an important US economic indicator; and factory utilization; and labor productivity.

Looking ahead, smart factory initiatives could lead manufacturers to experience labor productivity increases of 4 percent, which represents a three-fold improvement over the past decade’s average annual growth rate of 0.7 percent (2007-2018). [Read more…] about Going ‘smart’ helps factories make 12 per cent gains, says new report

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

Pack Expo to showcase robots in packaging industry

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Robot use in the packaging industry has grown nearly 48 percent among consumer packaged goods companies and 30 percent in the life sciences and pharma sector.

Pack Expo Las Vegas and co-located Healthcare Packaging Expo – scheduled for September 23-25, 2019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center – is primed to introduce the “Robotics Zone”, a new show floor destination that spotlights new robotic technology, human and robot interaction and collaborative robot displays.

The new destination area is an ideal place for attendees to get ideas and inspiration, meet leading robot providers and interact with cutting edge robotic technologies first-hand. [Read more…] about Pack Expo to showcase robots in packaging industry