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Beyond Imagination receives order for 1,000 humanoid robots

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Robotics innovator Beyond Imagination has entered into an agreement with SELF Labs to provide at least 1,000 humanoid robots for use in agricultural “grow boxes”. This is believed to be the largest deal of its kind.

SELF and Beyond are announcing a partnership to develop automated off-the-grid grow boxes. Each box will be equipped with solar panels, windmills, atmospheric water generators, 5G, and an advanced version of Beyond Imagination’s Beomni robot with its Omni-Purpose AI Brain.

By aligning the visions of Milan Cheeks of SELF and Dr Harry Kloor of Beyond, this futuristic take on farming will be made possible through a uniquely powerful combination of Omni-Purpose AI, humanoid robotics, blockchain, and game technology. [Read more…] about Beyond Imagination receives order for 1,000 humanoid robots

Nauticus Robotics wins contract with oil giant Shell for autonomous subsea operations

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Nauticus Robotics, a Houston-based developer of subsea and surface robotic services using autonomy software, has entered into an agreement with Shell, one of the world’s largest oil companies, to advance to the qualification phase for a more efficient means of acquiring subsea integrity data utilizing Nauticus’ Aquanaut and Hydronaut robotic platforms.

This collaboration will enable Shell to add an advanced tool to its subsea asset integrity management lineup with the potential to improve subsea operations.

Shell and Nauticus will collaborate with the industry’s leading inspection tooling service providers, leveraging their expertise and technology to fully integrate into Nauticus’ robotic service solution. [Read more…] about Nauticus Robotics wins contract with oil giant Shell for autonomous subsea operations

Ottonomy closes $3.3 million seed funding round

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Ottonomy has closed its seed funding round of $3.3 million, bringing its total funding to date to $4.9 million.

The funding is planned to support the scale of Ottobots for fully autonomous airport, retail and restaurant deliveries with its robots.

The funding round is led by Pi Ventures who back deep tech startups. Connetic Ventures and Branded Hospitality Ventures and the Founder & CEO of Addverb Technologies, Sangeet Kumar, also joined this round; making the group a dynamic mix from retail, food and robotics industry investors for Ottonomy’s seed round. [Read more…] about Ottonomy closes $3.3 million seed funding round

Hyundai and Kia to develops mobile robots for space exploration

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South Korean automotive giants Hyundai and Kia have agreed a partnership to develop robotic technology for space exploration.

The two companies say they “are now expanding their vision beyond the bounds of Earth and into space” are specifically concentrating on robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

Hyundai and Kia recently signed joint research agreements with six Korean research institutes and formed a consultative body to develop mobility solutions to explore the surface of the moon. This follows Korea’s successful launch of a domestically produced rocket in June. [Read more…] about Hyundai and Kia to develops mobile robots for space exploration

Kuka teams up with DesignPro to develop robotic welding processes

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Industrial robot maker Kuka has teamed up with automation technology developer DesignPro to create new, advanced robotic welding processes.

Automating the welding process and employing robots enables manufacturers to achieve significant returns across several areas: application precision, speed and agility of task execution, waste reductions and increased safety.

The skills gap is also driving the take-up of automated robotics, as a means to sustain legacy manufacturing processes and support operational resilience. [Read more…] about Kuka teams up with DesignPro to develop robotic welding processes

Veo Robotics named in CB Insights’ advanced manufacturing top 50

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Business research website CB Insights has named Veo Robotics, the Waltham-based industrial automation company building sensing and intelligence for robots to collaborate with humans safely, to its first-annual Advanced Manufacturing 50 ranking, showcasing the 50 most promising private advanced manufacturing companies in the world.

Founded by Patrick Sobalvarro, Clara Vu, and Scott Denenberg, Veo has pioneered the creation of software and hardware that allow for fluid, efficient, and flexible production lines within manufacturing facilities.

Also making the list within the robotics and collaborative robots category were Rokae, Novarc Technologies, Linkwiz, Exotic, and Locus Robotics. [Read more…] about Veo Robotics named in CB Insights’ advanced manufacturing top 50

Rapid Robotics unveils robot with ‘fastest setup time in the industry’

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Rapid Robotics says it has developed a robot with the “fastest setup time in the industry”.

The Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) from Rapid Robotics is “the first industrial robot that can get up and running in a matter of hours”, according to the company.

It’s also the first manufacturing robot that can move between jobs “in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee”. [Read more…] about Rapid Robotics unveils robot with ‘fastest setup time in the industry’

Robots in retail: Delivering the goods in 2022

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By Ritukar Vijay, CEO at Ottonomy

Retailers are feeling the heat from rising labor costs, and are increasingly looking to automated solutions to keep worker costs down.

According to a February 28, 2022 story in The Wall Street Journal, US retailers spent 4 percent more cash on labor costs in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020.

Big box brands like Target, Costco, and Walmart are all raising wages above beyond the $15 minimum wage level to secure the staffing they need to stay competitive. For retailers, restaurants, and other consumer-facing businesses, the wage growth issue stems from a burgeoning problem – not enough workers. [Read more…] about Robots in retail: Delivering the goods in 2022

Flexiv raises more than $100 million for its general-purpose robots

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Flexiv, which describes itself as a general-purpose robotics company, has closed its Series B funding round, raising more than $100 million.

Major investors which took part in the round include Meituan, Meta Capital, New Hope Group, Longwood, YF Capital, Gaorong Capital, GSR Ventures and Plug and Play, marking the largest single-round fundraising ever in the field of general-purpose robotics.

Shiquan Wang, co-founder and CEO of Flexiv, says: “The strategic funding from leading companies and funds in various industries will mainly be used for mass production and marketing, new market development, and cutting-edge R&D. [Read more…] about Flexiv raises more than $100 million for its general-purpose robots

Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity

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Hai Robotics has formed a partnership with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity.

With this partnership, Pop.capacity will be able to include Hai Robotics solutions as part of its portfolio offering to its customers in an effort to reduce friction points within their warehouses.

Pop.capacity is pioneering the frictionless supply chain. By combining years of supply chain experience, and a never before seen technology, they are uniquely positioned to bring a disruptive new solution to an industry full of unnecessary friction. [Read more…] about Hai Robotics partners with frictionless supply chain company Pop.capacity