Robotics & Automation News

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Europe’s welfare systems ‘cushion’ negative impact of automation on employment

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Welfare systems in Europe play a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects that robot adoption has on wages and employment, a new UNTANGLED study finds.

The rapid expansion of automation has raised concerns for workers’ welfare, as robots are often implemented to improve efficiency and hence may replace humans.

In the United States, the displacement of jobs due to automation has substantially reduced wages and employment, especially for those at the lower end of the wage scale. [Read more…] about Europe’s welfare systems ‘cushion’ negative impact of automation on employment

AMR solution provider Robotize opens office in the US

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Robotize, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for internal pallet transportation, has expanded into North America by establishing the company’s first office in the US, located in the metro Detroit area.

Anders Pjetursson, Robotize CEO and co-founder, says: “North America is an extremely interesting market for us, and we already have several customers and partners in both Canada and the US.

“However, the interest in our unique GoPal AMR solution is so high that it is a natural next step for us to establish our own presence in North America.” [Read more…] about AMR solution provider Robotize opens office in the US

Startup Niryo raises €10 million to ‘democratize collaborative robot arms’

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Niryo, the industrial startup specialized in the design of compact collaborative robotic arms, has completed a €6.4 million round of financing, marking a new stage in its ambition to revolutionize the collaborative robotics industry on a global scale.

This Series A financing round, led by the BPI Digital Venture investment fund, the Innovacom investment fund and four other historical funds (IRD, Finorpa, NFA and Go Capital), aims to support Niryo’s growth, particularly by addressing new use cases, developing a range aimed at professionals, and consolidating its international expansion.

This financing is complemented by €3.6 million in loans provided by a banking pool. [Read more…] about Startup Niryo raises €10 million to ‘democratize collaborative robot arms’

Tormach to unveil cutting-edge real-time motion control in ROS at ROSCon 2023

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Tormach, a US-based CNC machine and industrial robot manufacturer, will make its inaugural appearance at ROSCon 2023, taking place in New Orleans from October 18 to 20.

This year’s event will mark Tormach’s debut on the ROSCon stage, where the company will present its “groundbreaking fusion of real-time motion control within the Robot Operating System (ROS) ecosystem”, under the title: Real-Time Motion Control in ROS: Uniting HAL with Tormach’s ZA6 Robot.

Tormach’s presentation will explore how its expertise in CNC motion control has led to the integration of the MachineKit/LinuxCNC Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) with ROS, resulting in a seamless interface that empowers high-performance, real-time motion control. [Read more…] about Tormach to unveil cutting-edge real-time motion control in ROS at ROSCon 2023

Washington university scientists build tiny, self-driving robot powered only by light and radio waves

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Small mobile robots carrying sensors could perform tasks like catching gas leaks or tracking warehouse inventory. But moving robots demands a lot of energy, and batteries, the typical power source, limit lifetime and raise environmental concerns.

Researchers have explored various alternatives: affixing sensors to insects, keeping charging mats nearby, or powering the robots with lasers. Each has drawbacks. Insects roam. Chargers limit range. Lasers can burn people’s eyes.

Researchers at the University of Washington have now created MilliMobile, a tiny, self-driving robot powered only by surrounding light or radio waves. [Read more…] about Washington university scientists build tiny, self-driving robot powered only by light and radio waves

Interroll launches autonomous mobile robot top module

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To keep up with the ever-growing demand for autonomous material handling, Interroll has developed an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) Top Module as an expansion to its Light Conveyor Platform (LCP).

This roving conveyor solution has been successfully tested with MiR and Omron, two leading mobile robotics companies who have identified it as a preferred choice.

The current robotic market is evaluated with an annual growth rate of more than 20 percent by 2027, indicating a flourishing demand for collaborative robots and the integration of robotics in diverse fields such as logistics. [Read more…] about Interroll launches autonomous mobile robot top module

Yaskawa unveils new industrial robot with ‘unparalleled versatility and reliability’

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Yaskawa has unveiled its new industrial robot, the Motoman GP20, which it describes as “a beacon of innovation and precision, redefining the way industries approach manufacturing and automation”.

It adds that this advanced robot is more than just a machine – it boasts cutting-edge technology, precision and speed, as well as unparalleled versatility and reliability.

At the heart of the GP20 lies an intricate puzzle of advanced technology. It’s a testament to Yaskawa’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of industrial automation. [Read more…] about Yaskawa unveils new industrial robot with ‘unparalleled versatility and reliability’

Clevon celebrates delivery of ‘nearly 1,500 DHL Express packages’

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Clevon, an autonomous delivery innovator, says it has delivered almost 1,500 packages for DHL Express Estonia. The two companies began their partnership in the summer of 2022 and are moving towards expanding their collaboration.

The pilot project has gradually grown into an everyday service, and now Clevon’s Autonomous Robot Carrier (ARC) is a part of DHL Express Estonia’s vehicle fleet.

In the project’s first stage, the carrier transported DHL Express internal packages between three offices in the Capital of Estonia, Tallinn. Soon after, they moved on to serving business customers, and this year, private customers were also added. [Read more…] about Clevon celebrates delivery of ‘nearly 1,500 DHL Express packages’

Worcester Polytechnic invents robot lizard to ‘sneak into small spaces’

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researchers have partnered with the City of Worcester to develop a lizard-like soft robot that can creep into walls, ductwork, and pipes to perform inspections and three-dimensional mapping tasks that could be dangerous or impossible for humans.

Funded by a $50,000 National Science Foundation grant, the team – Cagdas Onal, Paul Mathisen, Yunus Telliel, and Berk Calli – collaborated with students and city officials to design the slender and deformable robot, which can get into tight spaces much less invasively than current methods allow.

The team built the prototype robot – an “origami” design made of plastic, 3D-printed, and laser-machined parts, custom circuit boards, a miniature computer, sensors, a few metal parts and motors – and tested it in locations across the city that included City Hall and the Worcester Senior Center. [Read more…] about Worcester Polytechnic invents robot lizard to ‘sneak into small spaces’

ForwardX Robotics unveils new autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

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ForwardX Robotics, a vision-based autonomous mobile robot (AMR) and warehouse solutions provider, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest cutting-edge addition to the esteemed Flex product series: Flex 60-SW.

This innovative AMR, equipped with automatic weighing scales along with an interactive touch screen, will revolutionize picking accuracy in the warehouse.

The anticipation surrounding the Flex 60-SW’s official launch on September 13th is palpable as it takes center stage at the prestigious Logistic-Tech Tokyo 2023 – The 3rd Innovation EXPO, as customers and industry professionals alike will witness the transformative capabilities of the Flex 60-SW firsthand. [Read more…] about ForwardX Robotics unveils new autonomous mobile robot for warehouses