Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

product

Badger Technologies launches retail automation pilot program

by

Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil and leader in retail automation, has launched a pilot program with Busy Beaver Building Centers, operator of 24 full-line home improvement centers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

As part of the pilot, which is taking place at Busy Beaver’s store in Irwin, Pennsylvania, Badger Technologies multipurpose autonomous robots will monitor on-shelf product availability and verify prices for more than 30,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) while freeing highly knowledgeable sales associates to spend more time with customers.

Adam Gunnett, director of IT for Busy Beaver Building Centers, says: “Technology is a key imperative in our mission to be the favorite neighborhood home improvement center in the communities we serve. [Read more…] about Badger Technologies launches retail automation pilot program

ATI unveils ‘ultra-thin’ force torque sensor for robots

by

ATI Industrial Automation has unveiled its “ultra-thin” Mini43LP Force/Torque Sensor, which the company says provides “high-precision force sensing in a rugged, yet compact transducer”.

At less than 8 mm tall, the newest member of ATI’s force/torque sensor product range is “uniquely suited for smaller automated applications”, says ATI.

The low profile sensor body allows users to optimize their work envelope and preserve the robot’s lifting power for end-of-arm tools. [Read more…] about ATI unveils ‘ultra-thin’ force torque sensor for robots

Burro raises $10.9 million Series A to accelerate commercialization of its collaborative robot platform for agriculture sector

by

Burro, formerly known as Augean Robotics, an autonomy company providing solutions for the agriculture industry, has raised a $10.9 million in its Series A investment round.

The round was led by S2G Ventures and Toyota Ventures, with F-Prime Capital and the Cibus Enterprise Fund joining, along with existing investors including Radicle Growth and ffVC.

Burro robots are the first step towards an autonomous future where robots do work outdoors that people no longer want to do. Burros enable growers to boost profitability and mitigate labor shortages today by working collaboratively to force multiply workers, while also laying the foundation for more comprehensive automation tomorrow. [Read more…] about Burro raises $10.9 million Series A to accelerate commercialization of its collaborative robot platform for agriculture sector

Locus Robotics acquires Waypoint Robotics

by

Locus Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, has acquired Waypoint Robotics, a builder of omnidirectional mobile robots. Financial details were not disclosed.

Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics, says: “Locus is the proven leader in the development of highly productive and innovative AMR technology that efficiently solves our customers’ needs for total warehouse optimization.

“As order fulfillment and labor shortages continue to grow around the world, the acquisition of Waypoint Robotics will accelerate our ability to meet these global needs in just months rather than years, helping us drive the digital transformation of the warehouse.” [Read more…] about Locus Robotics acquires Waypoint Robotics

ABB launches new SCARA robot range for ‘faster, high precision assembly’

by

ABB is expanding its range of SCARA robots with the launch of the IRB 920T.

The company says the machine is designed to meet the requirements of the electronics industry for high-speed production in increasingly complex manufacturing processes.

The IRB 920T provides “the highest levels of speed, accuracy and repeatability for assembly, picking and handling tasks”, says ABB. [Read more…] about ABB launches new SCARA robot range for ‘faster, high precision assembly’

GXO pilots customised robotic arm for fashion e-commerce logistics

by

GXO Logistics, which claims to be the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, has launched an “industry-first pilot” of intelligent automation at its fashion e-commerce warehouse in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

GXO’s pilot of the Pick-it-Easy Robot station is tailored for one of its key global customers, in collaboration with value chain tech provider Knapp.

The pilot is the first application of Knapp’s Pick-it-Easy Robot technology for automated pocket induction in the sector for apparel logistics. [Read more…] about GXO pilots customised robotic arm for fashion e-commerce logistics

Innodisk releases industrial-grade solid-state disks with ‘world’s highest capacity’

by

Innodisk, a provider of industrial flash and memory solutions, has released its industrial-grade 112-Layer 3D TLC SSDs along with “the world’s highest capacity up to 8TB”.

The 112-layer SSDs introduces a complete product line including the SATA 3TG6-P and 3TE7 series, as well as the PCIe Gen3x4 and Gen4x4 series.

The new TLC SSD Series marks Innodisk’s continued development with 3D NAND design, bringing better efficiency, faster performance, and increased capacity. [Read more…] about Innodisk releases industrial-grade solid-state disks with ‘world’s highest capacity’

Healthcare provider Hillrom brings in telepresence robots from Ava Robotics

by

Connected healthcare company Hillrom says it has expanded its sales reach, customer experience and education processes by utilizing Ava Telepresence Robots at two premier product showrooms located in Irvine, California and Batesville, Indiana.

Ava Robotics is a builder of intelligent robots for the workplace.

As a provider of healthcare connected care products and services, Hillrom serves a high-profile customer base of large hospital and healthcare system executives. [Read more…] about Healthcare provider Hillrom brings in telepresence robots from Ava Robotics

Pandemic drives smart appliance and consumer robotics market revenues to $80 billion in 2021

by

Consumer robotics and smart appliance vendors will continue to benefit from the boost in consumer spending on home technology in 2021, building on the uplift that started in the second half of 2020.

Global tech market advisory firm ABI Research calculates that the consumer robotics and smart appliance market will generate $80 billion in revenues in 2021, up 40 percent on 2020 revenues.

Growth comes as two dynamics combine, says the analyst. [Read more…] about Pandemic drives smart appliance and consumer robotics market revenues to $80 billion in 2021

Timken acquires automation solutions manufacturer Intelligent Machine Solutions

by

The Timken Company, a maker of engineered bearings and power transmission products, has acquired Intelligent Machine Solutions, a builder of industrial robotics and automation solutions.

The addition of iMS expands and complements Timken’s Rollon linear motion product range with larger and heavy-duty applications, such as seventh-axis robotic transfer units (RTUs) and gantry systems.

iMS, which was founded in 2008, is based in Norton Shores, Michigan, in the United States. The company, which has approximately 20 employees, designs and manufactures floor-mounted, overhead, rotary and extreme seventh-axis RTUs and gantry systems used by manufacturers across industries to automate certain production processes. [Read more…] about Timken acquires automation solutions manufacturer Intelligent Machine Solutions