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AP Møller makes $51 million investment in Blue Ocean Robotics ahead of global launch of mobile robotics solutions

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By Malene Grouleff

AP Møller has made an investment of $51 million in partnership with Blue Ocean Robotics ahead of the global launch of a range of mobile robotics solutions. AP Møller is the investment arm of the shipping company which usually goes by the name AP Møller Maersk.

In a world with increasing labour shortages and a growing ageing population, demand for service robots that can assist companies and institutions is growing.

This is why Blue Ocean Robotics, Europe’s largest manufacturer of service robots, has now strengthened its financial muscle, enabling the company to roll out its sustainable mobile robot solutions all over the world.

Service robots are part of the solution when productivity needs to be increased in the labour market. At the same time, the working environment can be improved, and the quality of the delivered service can reach a higher level. [Read more…] about AP Møller makes $51 million investment in Blue Ocean Robotics ahead of global launch of mobile robotics solutions

Bot Hacks: The Next Frontier

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The age of robots and artificial intelligence is in its early stages – robots are here to stay for a long time and generations to come.

For decades, robots have played a significant role in sci-fi movies and our imaginations in tandem.

Today, some household appliances such as automated vacuums are robotic. Such popular robotic appliances coupled with IoT functionality are very promising. [Read more…] about Bot Hacks: The Next Frontier

2022 Energy Forecast: Ultra-dense power delivery networks are re-shaping the future

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By Tom Curatolo, senior director, applications engineering, Vicor Corporation

It is estimated by the year 2030 there will be a global skilled labor shortage of up to 85 million jobs, which equates to $8.5 trillion, according to a recent Korn Ferry report.

Many of these jobs will be in the industrial and service sectors where the Covid pandemic has exposed weaknesses in global supply chains and labor pools. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robots can alleviate this situation by efficiently automating manual tasks.

Today, UAVs are being quickly ushered into service for a host of unique and mission-critical applications, including security/surveillance, parcel delivery, agriculture, defense and even natural disaster recovery and humanitarian aid delivery missions. [Read more…] about 2022 Energy Forecast: Ultra-dense power delivery networks are re-shaping the future

Robotics data and operations startup Formant raises $18 million

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Formant, a robotics data and operations platform, has completed an $18 million series A funding round.

The investment was led by SignalFire, with participation from Hillsven, Pelion, Goodyear Ventures, Thursday Ventures, Ericsson, Picus Capital, and Holman Strategic Ventures.

Founded in 2017, Formant is a cloud-based platform for managing fleets of heterogeneous robots. [Read more…] about Robotics data and operations startup Formant raises $18 million

A history of advanced driver assistance systems

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In its report, Autonomous Cars, Robotaxis & Sensors 2022–2042, IDTechEx predicts that SAE Level 3 autonomous features, such as traffic jam pilot, will emerge in 2022 and become common in vehicles by 2042.

How did IDTechEx predict this time scale? The answer lies in the historical adoption trends of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies.

Everyone is familiar with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control; you would not have even thought to ask about them when purchasing your last car. [Read more…] about A history of advanced driver assistance systems

ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

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Industrial automation company ABB and China’s leading automotive parts supplier, HASCO, have agreed to create a joint venture to drive the next generation of smart manufacturing in China’s automotive industry.

The joint venture will build on the existing successful relationship between the two companies, leading to the crucial development of highly flexible and sustainable auto parts manufacturing within HASCO’s China-based operations.

As the automotive industry’s transition towards electric vehicles gathers pace, parts manufacturers must increasingly invest in flexible facilities that can respond to rapidly changing demands and trends. [Read more…] about ABB creates joint venture with China’s largest automotive parts supplier

BMW partners with Seoul Robotics to launch ‘Level 5’ control tower

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Seoul Robotics, a robotics perception company, has introduced what it describes as a “Level 5 Control Tower” (LV5 CTRL TWR), a mesh network of sensors and computers on infrastructure that guides vehicles autonomously rather than having to place any sensors on an individual vehicle.

This “revolutionary technology” – which is said to enable non-autonomous vehicles to be controlled autonomously – is in the final stages of testing with automaker BMW and preparing for implementation to automate last-mile fleet logistics at their manufacturing facility in Munich.

Beyond original equipment manufacturers, the system has the potential to transform operations for a wide range of business applications ranging from vehicle distribution centers to car rental companies and trucking logistics. [Read more…] about BMW partners with Seoul Robotics to launch ‘Level 5’ control tower

Robots increasingly taking over film camera work

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Robots are increasingly taking over from what has traditional been the preserve of human creative people – film camera work.

According to a company called SISU Cinema Robotics, more and more film creators are turning to automated systems for recording moving images.

“Businesses, both large brands and independent retailers, have seen a rise in sales after the spike in high quality content across platforms,” says a SISU spokesperson in an email to Robotics and Automation News. [Read more…] about Robots increasingly taking over film camera work

Some predictions for the year ahead

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How many among us would want to make predictions when the coronavirus in a variety of new forms is still wreaking havoc on all our lives? Not many.

Nonetheless, there are some who have sent in some thoughts about what they believe will be key trends to watch out for in 2022. Below are a selection of them.

“The fallout from Covid-19 prevention measures, the process of transitioning from pandemic to endemic disease, and global political tensions weigh heavily on the coming year’s fortunes,” says Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research. [Read more…] about Some predictions for the year ahead

Automating cricket ball production: Global cricket ball manufacturer uses automation with a vision system for efficiency and upskilling

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Under the laws of cricket, it is illegal for players to rub any substance other than saliva and sweat onto the ball, let alone scuffing it with their fingernails. Similarly, strict rules apply to the manufacturing of cricket balls.

Here’s how cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra designed its first ever machine tending robotic system to produce the perfect ball, with the help of industrial robot supplier, TM Robotics and MAP Services, Australian partner for TM Robotics and Shibaura Machine.

Machine tending is repetitive work. The job of loading and unloading machines with parts or materials are usually done by humans. In the production of cricket balls, workers would place covers – the outside leather of cricket balls – onto trays after being pressed into shape to form half of a cricket ball. These trays are then placed into a rack and moved to the next process – trimming excess leather from the pressed cover. [Read more…] about Automating cricket ball production: Global cricket ball manufacturer uses automation with a vision system for efficiency and upskilling