Robotics & Automation News

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Sonair raises $6 million to accelerate launch of ‘world’s first safe 3D ultrasonic sensor for robots’

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As autonomous robots enter warehouses, hospitals, shops, and public spaces, the need for safe human-machine collaboration is growing fast. That’s exactly what Sonair’s ADAR sensor is built for. With $6 million in new funding the company can capture its global target market segments and establish a new category for robotic perception.

After a strong market debut earlier this year, ADAR (acoustic detection and ranging) is now shipping to manufacturers in Asia, Europe and North America.

The sensor uses sound waves in air to give robots a precise, real-time 3D view of their surroundings, helping them operate safely in shared spaces.

Sonair is safety-certifying to PLd ISO13849 / SIL IEC 61508. An industry-first for 3D ultrasonic sensing, with the company now moving fast to meet rising, global demand. [Read more…] about Sonair raises $6 million to accelerate launch of ‘world’s first safe 3D ultrasonic sensor for robots’

Figure raises over $1 billion in Series C funding at $39 billion valuation

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Humanoid robotics company Figure has secured more than $1 billion in committed capital through its latest Series C financing round, reaching a post-money valuation of $39 billion.

The company said the funding will accelerate its efforts “to bring general-purpose humanoid robots into real-world environments at scale.”

The round was led by Parkway Venture Capital and included significant participation from Brookfield Asset Management, Nvidia, Macquarie Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, Tamarack Global, LG Technology Ventures, Salesforce, T-Mobile Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures. [Read more…] about Figure raises over $1 billion in Series C funding at $39 billion valuation

Alibaba leads $140 million funding round in Chinese humanoid robot start-up X Square Robot

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X Square Robot, a Shenzhen-based humanoid robotics developer, has raised the equivalent of between $100 million and $140 million in its latest financing round, according to multiple reports.

Alibaba Cloud, the artificial intelligence and cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, led the round, which the South China Morning Post reported as a 1 billion yuan (about $140 million) Series A+ investment. CNBC, meanwhile, cited the figure as $100 million.

Other backers include CAS Investment, China Development Bank Capital, HongShan Capital Group, Meituan, and Legend Capital. The deal marks Alibaba Cloud’s first direct investment in the field of embodied intelligence. [Read more…] about Alibaba leads $140 million funding round in Chinese humanoid robot start-up X Square Robot

JPMorgan report: Robotics and automation surge as investors back ‘science made real’

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The robotics and automation sector is experiencing a dramatic rise in investor interest, as the industry matures from theoretical science to real-world application, according to JPMorgan’s newly released Applied Tech report.

JPMorgan, the world’s largest bank, defines “Applied Technology” as the sector that bridges scientific discovery and engineering innovation – essentially translating lab-born concepts into real-world tools.

Robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation form a core part of this applied frontier, where the theoretical is rapidly becoming practical. [Read more…] about JPMorgan report: Robotics and automation surge as investors back ‘science made real’

Renault Group invests in ‘humanoid robot’ maker Wandercraft

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Renault Group has made a minority investment in Wandercraft, which is said to be “the first company to develop, manufacture and market medical self-balancing exoskeletons”.

Building on its strong expertise in powerful and reliable exoskeletons, Wandercraft has developed an advanced platform for uses such as manufacturing.

Moreover, Wandercraft describes its exoskeleton as a “humanoid robot”, and the (main) picture supplied with the press release shows the exoskeleton apparently working alone in a warehouse of some sort. [Read more…] about Renault Group invests in ‘humanoid robot’ maker Wandercraft

ABB financials and spin-offs: What’s behind the sharp drop in share price?

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ABB’s share price just a month ago was above CHF 50 (which converts to slightly more than $60). In the past few days, it’s fallen to below CHF 40. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, trading under the ticker symbol ABBN.

While the sudden decline may appear alarming, it’s important to consider the broader context. ABB’s stock has more than doubled over the past five years, indicating strong long-term investor confidence in the Swiss engineering giant.

The recent dip may reflect short-term uncertainty rather than a fundamental problem with the company’s business model or product offerings. [Read more…] about ABB financials and spin-offs: What’s behind the sharp drop in share price?

Robotics investment fund grows to $450 million since launch one year ago

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Global X Funds, the New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds, today celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ).

The company says Botz has received considerable interest from investors in its first year, having surpassed $450 million in assets under management.

Botz launched on September 12, 2016 and tracks the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index.  [Read more…] about Robotics investment fund grows to $450 million since launch one year ago