Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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MIT reveals bug-sized flying robot that could help pollinate plants

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By Adam Zewe, MIT News

With a more efficient method for artificial pollination, farmers in the future could grow fruits and vegetables inside multilevel warehouses, boosting yields while mitigating some of agriculture’s harmful impacts on the environment.

To help make this idea a reality, MIT researchers are developing robotic insects that could someday swarm out of mechanical hives to rapidly perform precise pollination. However, even the best bug-sized robots are no match for natural pollinators like bees when it comes to endurance, speed, and maneuverability.

Now, inspired by the anatomy of these natural pollinators, the researchers have overhauled their design to produce tiny, aerial robots that are far more agile and durable than prior versions. [Read more…] about MIT reveals bug-sized flying robot that could help pollinate plants

Cyngn raises $33 million in December to scale autonomous mobile robot business

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Autonomous mobile robotics developer Cyngn has secured $33 million in funding. This funding positions the company to accelerate its growth and deliver on its mission to proliferate industrial autonomous vehicles.

Lior Tal, chairman and CEO of Cyngn, says: “This capital infusion strengthens our ability to fund operations, drive commercialization, and continue investing in groundbreaking autonomous vehicle technologies.

“With increasing demand for automation solutions, especially in the automotive, heavy machinery and logistics industries, this funding allows us to build on recent momentum, including our upcoming autonomous forklift launch and other strategic advancements.” [Read more…] about Cyngn raises $33 million in December to scale autonomous mobile robot business

OpenAI reportedly preparing to build humanoid robots

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OpenAI is reportedly rekindling its interest in robotics, with a particular focus on developing humanoid robots. Recent job postings indicate the company is seeking professionals experienced in robotics hardware and software, suggesting plans to reestablish its robotics division.

This marks a significant shift from 2020, when OpenAI disbanded its robotics team due to challenges in data scarcity and the complexities of physical interactions. At that time, the company redirected its efforts toward AI models like ChatGPT, which could be trained on abundant text and image data.

In the interim, OpenAI has actively invested in robotics startups. Notably, it participated in a $675 million funding round for Figure AI, a company developing general-purpose humanoid robots designed to perform tasks in logistics and warehousing. Figure’s latest model, Figure 02, integrates OpenAI’s AI models to process voice commands, enhancing its operational capabilities. [Read more…] about OpenAI reportedly preparing to build humanoid robots

Nvidia unveils ‘blueprint’ for developing industrial robot fleets

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According to Gartner, the worldwide end-user spending on all IT products for 2024 was $5 trillion. This industry is built on a computing fabric of electrons, is fully software-defined, accelerated – and now generative AI-enabled. While huge, it’s a fraction of the larger physical industrial market that relies on the movement of atoms.

Today’s 10 million factories, nearly 200,000 warehouses and 40 million miles of highways form the “computing” fabric of our physical world. But that vast network of production facilities and distribution centers is still laboriously and manually designed, operated and optimized.

In warehousing and distribution, operators face highly complex decision optimization problems – matrices of variables and interdependencies across human workers, robotic and agentic systems and equipment. Unlike the IT industry, the physical industrial market is still waiting for its own software-defined moment. [Read more…] about Nvidia unveils ‘blueprint’ for developing industrial robot fleets

RealMan Robotics showcases ‘ultra-lightweight’ range of robots at CES

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RealMan Robotics, a developer of ultra-lightweight humanoid robotics and specialized robotic solutions, has unveiled its “groundbreaking innovations” at CES 2025.

RealMan highlights a suite of cutting-edge products designed to revolutionize multiple sectors, from retail and healthcare to industrial and domestic applications. At booth 52855 in Halls A-D, Venetian Expo, the company is exhibiting the following innovations:

Innovative ultra-lightweight humanoid robotics arms

A leap forward in humanoid robotics, RealMan’s ultra-lightweight robotic arms offer unmatched agility, strength, and precision. Designed with cutting-edge materials and advanced motion control, these arms enable lifelike movements, making them ideal for manufacturing, service industries, and even domestic assistance. [Read more…] about RealMan Robotics showcases ‘ultra-lightweight’ range of robots at CES

Flexiv partners with Kurabo to launch new industrial robot

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Flexiv, a developer of general-purpose robotics solutions, has partnered with Kurabo, a Japanese pioneer in high-speed image processing and 3D measurement technology, to develop the “groundbreaking” Kuravizon adaptive robot.

Integrating Flexiv’s industry-leading force control technology with Kurabo’s advanced 3D vision sensing technology, Kurasense, the Kuravizon robot will be available for sale starting January 10th, 2025.

Owen Wu, Flexiv’s business development manager for the Asia Pacific region, says: “The Kuravizon system is a testament to Flexiv’s commitment to expanding our global presence by delivering cutting-edge automation solutions. [Read more…] about Flexiv partners with Kurabo to launch new industrial robot

Locus Robotics achieves CE certification for its high-payload ‘Vector’ robot

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Locus Robotics, a provider of autonomous mobile robots for warehouse automation, has achieved CE certification for its largest, most dynamic mobile robot, the Locus Vector.

Locus says this milestone reinforces the company’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence, enabling broader deployments across Europe and other international markets.

Powered by the LocusONE platform, Locus Vector “enhances warehouse productivity, flexibility, and scalability, empowering businesses to automate complex workflows with unmatched efficiency”. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics achieves CE certification for its high-payload ‘Vector’ robot

Apple’s humanoid robot project: What do we know?

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Apple, the 3.7 trillion-dollar iPhone, iPad and Macintosh gigantico, is reportedly working with numerous companies and organisations in an effort to develop a humanoid robot – codenamed “Armor”.

According to Digitimes, Apple’s “entry into the humanoid robotics market is gaining momentum”. Meanwhile, PatentlyApple.com reports that Apple is working with Carnegie Mellon University and that Apple’s “new robot known as ‘ARMOR’, has been reveal” (sic).

Bloomberg, one of the world’s most authoritative financial news sources, says Apple is “in the early stages of figuring out the best way to use robotics”, and is already pushing ahead with a “tabletop robot”, the development of which is being overseen by the same person or people who were in charge of the much-heralded but never-realised Apple car. [Read more…] about Apple’s humanoid robot project: What do we know?

Nexcom showcases ‘next-gen’ autonomous mobile robot at CES

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NexAIoT, a developer of AI-driven industrial automation technologies and a subsidiary of Nexcom International, is showcasing its second-generation autonomous mobile robot (AMR), the NexMOV-2.

The company says its new AMR represents “cutting-edge advancements in intelligent mobility and modular design”.

The global mobile robot platform market is projected to grow from an estimated $2.42 billion in 2023 to approximately $8.02 billion by 2033, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 12.7 percent over this period. [Read more…] about Nexcom showcases ‘next-gen’ autonomous mobile robot at CES

Roborock unveils robotic vacuum cleaner with arm at CES

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Roborock, a provider of home robotics, used the ongoing CES event to launch the Saros Z70, which it describes as “the world’s first mass-produced robot vacuum cleaner equipped with an OmniGrip intelligent and foldable robotic arm”.

And at first glance, I thought, “Why didn’t I think of that? It’s a brilliant idea.”

The innovation is similar to what is called an industrial mobile robot, where an autonomous mobile robot is fitted with a collaborative robotic arm. [Read more…] about Roborock unveils robotic vacuum cleaner with arm at CES