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Realtime Robotics raises $9.5 million in additional funding

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Realtime Robotics, a developer of collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that it has secured an additional $9.5 million in funding from Shinhan GIB and Kyobo Life Insurance.

Driven by the strong response to its RapidPlan industrial robotics motion control and collision avoidance software, Realtime will use this additional investment to drive further product enhancements, incorporate feedback from customers and partners, and scale to support additional go-to-market efforts.

RapidPlan reduces the annual costs of robotic automation by two-thirds and makes the robot programming process up to 5x faster, all while eliminating collisions and removing the majority of manual, time-consuming adjustments. [Read more…] about Realtime Robotics raises $9.5 million in additional funding

Micropsi Industries makes its AI-powered robot controller hardware agnostic

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Micropsi Industries’ artificial intelligence-powered robot control software Mirai, which helps automate complex tasks too difficult or costly to automate with traditional programming, will soon be accessible for all robot users.

Previously compatible exclusively with Universal Robots and Fanuc robots, Mirai will be available for Kuka robots in early Q4, followed by other collaborative robots (cobots) and industrial robots as requested.

Using AI, Mirai generates robot movements directly and in real time. Robot skills (or specific tasks) are trained, not programmed, in a few days through human demonstration, without users needing programming or AI knowledge. [Read more…] about Micropsi Industries makes its AI-powered robot controller hardware agnostic

Nauticus to supply Aquanaut to Petrobras Brazil

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Nauticus Robotics, a developer of autonomous robots using artificial intelligence for data collection and intervention services for the ocean industries, has been awarded a contract with Petrobras, one of the world’s largest energy companies, to deploy Aquanaut, the company’s autonomous subsea robot, to support Petrobras’ offshore activities.

Petrobras has ramped up efforts recently in robotics and artificial intelligence and is pioneering their application to the offshore sectors.

Toward that end, this relevant contract was competitively awarded to Nauticus and will utilize Aquanaut in Petrobras’ Deepwater Production Field using supervised autonomy for infield inspection services. [Read more…] about Nauticus to supply Aquanaut to Petrobras Brazil

Carnegie Mellon builds killer robot to save economy

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A team from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute has developed an autonomous robot to find and kill dangerously spotted lanternflies before they’re even born. Spotted lanternflies are invasive insects known to destroy economically important crops. (See video below.)

TartanPest uses an all-electric tractor, a robotic arm and computer vision to traverse fields and forests while it detects and destroys spotted lanternfly egg masses.

The egg masses – which contain 30-50 eggs and are often found on trees, rocks, outdoor furniture and rusty metal surfaces – are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring, birthing a new generation of the pests each year. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon builds killer robot to save economy

Introducing Unitree Go2 – Quadruped Robot of Embodied AI from $1600

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On 12 July, Unitree unveiled its latest quadruped robot – the Unitree Go2, which features embodied AI technology and is priced from $1,600 (tax and freight excluded).

This product is expected to revolutionize the consumer-grade quadruped robots industry, leading to a transformation of the sector.

Back in June 2021, Unitree released its first side-follow bionic robot – Go1, a technological breakthrough that attracted widespread attention and generated discussions worldwide upon its release. [Read more…] about Introducing Unitree Go2 – Quadruped Robot of Embodied AI from $1600

DNV and KIRIA join forces to develop the Korean robotics industry

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DNV and Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) have signed an extension to their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a program to collaborate in the area of cyber security and artificial intelligence in the field of robotics.

KIRIA, a South Korea government institution based in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and DNV, the independent assurance and risk management provider, have extended the MoU to share information and support the international development of Korea’s growing robotics industry.

The purpose of the MoU is to help the Korean robotics industry to enter the EU market through a reciprocal agreement, as well as to enable the parties to share technical and regulatory information about robots and relevant components; cooperate in technical exchange visits regarding safety standards; have the opportunity to work together on governmental projects run by the Republic of Korea and other institutions; look into developing and jointly providing advisory services, including public seminars, to the robot industry in Korea regarding safety standards; and to jointly participate in the standardization process of robots. [Read more…] about DNV and KIRIA join forces to develop the Korean robotics industry

World’s most remote robot automates Amazon reforestation project

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A pilot project between ABB Robotics and US non-profit organization Junglekeepers is demonstrating the role Cloud computing technology can play in making reforestation faster, more efficient and scalable.

ABB Robotics is supporting Junglekeepers in their mission to protect 55,000 acres of Amazon rainforest and reverse deforestation.

In a first-of-its-kind demonstration, ABB’s cobot YuMi is automating planting tasks in a jungle laboratory, speeding the process and allowing Junglekeepers’ volunteers to focus their valuable time and resources on more impactful work. [Read more…] about World’s most remote robot automates Amazon reforestation project

Swedish city Helsingborg receives $258,000 grant to test robotic garbage collection

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By 2027, the city of Helsingborg aims to become one of the world’s best cities to live and work in. Recently, the city received a grant from Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Vinnova, to test autonomous robots in garbage collection.

Traditionally, garbage collection has involved loud trucks blocking the streets and interrupting early mornings. In collaboration with Robot Minds AB and the regional waste management company Nordvästra Skånes Renhållnings AB (NSR), the City of Helsingborg aims to implement a project where service robots collect the garbage instead.

In mid-June, it was decided that the project would receive funding of SEK 2.8 million from Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency, through the strategic innovation program Drive Sweden. [Read more…] about Swedish city Helsingborg receives $258,000 grant to test robotic garbage collection

Omron launches new collaborative robot with 20 kg payload

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New 20 kg payload collaborative robot levels the playing field between traditional industrial robot and cobot palletising

Omron recently launched their new TM20 collaborative  robot with a payload of 20kg, whilst keeping its small footprint and providing a reach of 1.3 meters, making the new cobot ideal for tasks such as palletising.

Recognising the potential of the TM20 and the new opportunities it could bring, Reeco a specialist in the manufacturer and delivery of a wide range of palletising solutions and an official UK solutions partner of Omron, where quick to adopt the TM20 and expand their palletising offering.

The new RB2000 palletiser is a 20kg payload, cost effective, market ready solution which makes end-of-line robotic automation attractive to producers of all sizes. [Read more…] about Omron launches new collaborative robot with 20 kg payload

LionsBot launches ‘world’s first Zero Click cleaning robots’

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LionsBot International, which says its cleaning robots are in operation in more than 30 countries, has unveiled three new products – the R3 Vac, R3 Scrub Pro and the MagicTag.

The company says the new products “revolutionise autonomous professional cleaning”. Both the R3 Vac and R3 Scrub Pro are professional-grade vacuuming and scrubbing robots respectively, while the MagicTag enables both LionsBots to become “Zero Click” and very easy to use.

Currently, there is a global shortage of professional cleaners. However, most professional cleaning robots still require users to undergo extensive training before using the robot. Coupled with the high turnover rate experienced in the cleaning industry, this is not practical. [Read more…] about LionsBot launches ‘world’s first Zero Click cleaning robots’