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Hyundai Robotics establishes Europe office to expand robot business

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Hyundai Robotics has established a new Europe office in Ismaning, Germany.

Germany occupies about 37 percent of the robot demand in Europe and it has an advantageous location because it is close to four countries in Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain) with an “overwhelming robot demand” compared to other regions.

The decision to establish an office in Germany was also based on convenient transportation to Czechia and Slovakia, where the first and second vendors of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors are located. [Read more…] about Hyundai Robotics establishes Europe office to expand robot business

Geek+ streamlines e-commerce supply chain company Winit’s warehouse operations

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Geek+, an autonomous mobile robot manufacturer, is providing smart logistics solutions for to Winit, an integrated supply chain solutions provider for cross-border e-commerce.

Winit serves e-commerce leaders like eBay, and Geek+ says its robots will enable enable more efficient and flexible operations at Winit’s fulfillment center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

With an inventory subject to a wide variety of products, massive SKUs, and a rapid increase in online sales, Winit has been looking for solutions that can streamline their warehouse operations, mitigate against management issues due to high turnover of warehouse workers, and enable flexible yet affordable scaling of operations. [Read more…] about Geek+ streamlines e-commerce supply chain company Winit’s warehouse operations

RIOS raises $5 million to launch robots with ‘human-level dexterity’

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RIOS, a developer of dexterous AI-powered robots for automating assembly lines, has come out of stealth mode and raised $5 million in venture funding.

RIOS, which spun out of Stanford University and was founded by former Xerox PARC engineers, helps customers automate their factories, warehouses, and supply chain operations by installing what it describes as a “new class of highly-dexterous robots” that handle hard-to-automate tasks in unstructured environments.

RIOS not only automates individual lines, but also builds “lights out” factories by partnering with its network of systems integrators. [Read more…] about RIOS raises $5 million to launch robots with ‘human-level dexterity’

The Future of Robotics in Large-Scale Clearing Operations

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Remote-controlled garbage bins used to glide through America’s most beloved theme parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney World, encourage visitors to put trash inside of them, but the widespread usage of robotics in larger-scale cleaning operations, such as land clearance, is still on the horizon.

Large machinery, such as mulchers, backhoes, and bulldozers, is generally utilized to clear spaces for new developments, whether they are industrial, commercial, or residential.

The technology used in these large machines is evolving rapidly, so these big machines do provide impressive performance. However, when it comes to efficient, eco-conscious cleaning and clearing in the future, robotics will surely play a bigger role. [Read more…] about The Future of Robotics in Large-Scale Clearing Operations

SoftBank Robotics sells 10,000 units of its commercial vacuum cleaning robot

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SoftBank Robotics says it has sold 10,000 units of its industrial or commercial vacuum cleaning robot, Whiz, making it “the global number-one in autonomous professional cleaning robots by sales”, according to Grand View Research.

SoftBank Robotics says that, as of the end of June 2020, it recorded global cumulative sales of more than 10,000 units of Whiz, which is an AI-enabled vacuum-cleaning robot.

Following SoftBank Robotics’ launch of the humanoid robot Pepper, the company launched Whiz as its second robot in November 2018, and it began providing Whiz commercially from May 2019 in Japan. [Read more…] about SoftBank Robotics sells 10,000 units of its commercial vacuum cleaning robot

Kivnon launches ‘AGV/AMR Exchange Program’ for its warehouse robots

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Kivnon has launched a “AGV/AMR Exchange Program” for its warehouse robots – its automated guided vehicles as well as its autonomous mobile robots.

Kivnon says its customers can swap their old AGV or AMR and “save up to 40 percent on a brand-new” Kivnon warehouse robot.

Kivnon specializes in the automation of industrial processes using self-guided vehicles, and its customers include the largest automakers in the world. [Read more…] about Kivnon launches ‘AGV/AMR Exchange Program’ for its warehouse robots

I-PEX Torque Sensor and Gripper Help Eliminate Errors in Factories

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PRESS RELEASE: Austin, Texas, June 26, 2020

I-PEX has integrated the technologies of our ESTORQ® Torque Sensor and the ES-Gripper to help eliminate human errors on the factory floor by using automatic insertion of connectors. This helps reduce rework, saving both time and money.

The ESTORQ Sensor was designed to detect and control torque being generated by the revolving motion of different kinds of robots and automated assembly machines.

Its main feature is to detect external force and automatically stop when the robot senses interference. This helps robots and humans to work side-by-side without fear of being harmed by a moving robotic arm. [Read more…] about I-PEX Torque Sensor and Gripper Help Eliminate Errors in Factories

US Senate to give green light to delivery robots on sidewalks

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The US Senate is poised to give the green light to the operation of delivery robots on American sidewalks after a bipartisan North Carolina bill was passed in the House in a “near unanimous vote”, according to News Observer.

Delivery robots are being tested in several states across the US in strict accordance with specific agreements with local authorities.

Delivery robots are also used on university campuses and large industrial areas where the land is owned or controlled by one company or organisation, bypassing the need to use public sidewalks. [Read more…] about US Senate to give green light to delivery robots on sidewalks

Robots provide opportunities for restart after coronavirus pandemic, say industry leaders

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Robots provide opportunities for a restart of the economy after the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to industry leaders surveyed by Automatica, one of the largest industrial automation trade shows in the world.

Messe Munchen, which owns Automatica, says it did a survey and found the following:

  • 84 percent of decision-makers expect more robot automation in German SMEs;
  • 77 percent of decision-makers rely on mobile robotics to convert production quickly; and
  • 76 percent of employees in SMEs want robotics training.

Even before the corona pandemic, the manufacturing industry in Germany was highly automated according to figures from the International Federation of Robotics and ranked third in robot density worldwide behind Singapore and South Korea. [Read more…] about Robots provide opportunities for restart after coronavirus pandemic, say industry leaders

Boston Dynamics now selling its robot dog for $75,000 each

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Boston Dynamics, creator of humanoid and canine robots that have caused primal fear on a global scale, is now selling its robot dog for $75,000 each.

The company has launched commercial sales for Spot, the agile robot that climbs stairs and traverses rough terrain with ease.

The exact price per unit of the clever little canine is $74,500 and it can be bought through Boston Dynamics’ online shop. Discounts are probably available for multiple purchases. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics now selling its robot dog for $75,000 each