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Flexiv unveils new operating system for its adaptive robots

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Flexiv, a developer of robotic and artificial intelligence solutions, has unveiled Flexiv Elements, its all-new operating system for “adaptive robots”.

Adaptive robots are a new category – very similar to collaborative robots – which Flexiv is concentrating on. It describes its “Rizon” model (main picture) as “the first adapative robot” – referring to its ability to maintain performance even amid significant changes in the environment, such as floating base, vibration, and human interference.

Created to provide integrators with “ground-breaking new features” which simplify complex robotic operations, Flexiv says Elements makes it “easier than ever” before to develop customized programs that enhance efficiency and productivity. [Read more…] about Flexiv unveils new operating system for its adaptive robots

NTT training robots to become data center workers

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NTT, the national telecommunications provider of Japan and one of the largest such companies in the world, is training industrial robots to become data center workers.

The company has a separate business division for data centers called Global Data Centers and says its global platform is “one of the largest in the world”.

Its data centers tend to be huge facilities and are “expensive to run”, mostly because of the massive amount of electricity necessary and the cooling infrastructure, not to mention the sheer floor space required. [Read more…] about NTT training robots to become data center workers

Key Components of Building a Smart Warehouse in 2022

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The term “smart warehouse” refers to a warehouse in which many aspects of the warehousing operations are automated in order to increase productivity, efficiency, and accuracy of the operations. 

This allows for more adaptability and capacity in the warehouse’s procedures and staff. In the traditional warehouse, to convey goods to the shipping docks, employees have lists of items that need to be picked up.

However, in the smart warehouse, robot carts load the ordered items into containers and then deliver them to workers for the next step making every little task automated. Orders are automatically received, and then the system confirms that the products are in stock before sending pick-up lists to the robot carts. [Read more…] about Key Components of Building a Smart Warehouse in 2022

Almost 50,000 robots expected to be shipped to warehouses by 2026

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More than 47,000 collaborative robots are expected to be shipped to warehouses by 2026, according to ABI Research, which included the estimate in its report, 38 Technology Stats You Need to Know for 2022.

The Covid-19 pandemic quickened the pace of digital transformation, placing technologies at the very center of how people live and work – and that pace shows no signs of slowing down.

In its new white paper, 38 Technology Stats You Need to Know for 2022, global technology intelligence firm ABI Research has identified and highlighted the most impactful forecasts that illuminate the direction in which digital transformation is truly heading. [Read more…] about Almost 50,000 robots expected to be shipped to warehouses by 2026

White Castle orders 100 fast-food robots from Miso Robotics

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White Castle, an American fast-food restaurant chain specialising in burgers and fries, has ordered 100 “Flippy 2” robotic frying cells from Miso Robotics, a company which has developed a range of robotic systems for the catering industry. (See video below.)

White Castle has almost 400 locations across the US and approximately 10,000 employees. With the installation of the robots – mainly the “Flippy 2” model (main picture) – many of its employees who were on frying duty will be put to different tasks. The company has been testing Miso robots since September 2020, and upgraded to Flippy 2 in November last year. .

Jeff Carper, chief operating officer at White Castle, says: “Our partnership with Miso continues to lead the way on what’s next for back of house restaurant operations looking to empower team members with technology to better satisfy customers. [Read more…] about White Castle orders 100 fast-food robots from Miso Robotics

Kiwibot completes new funding and closes ‘biggest expansion deal’ with Sodexo

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Kiwibot, the Colombian robotic sidewalk delivery startup with a new headquarters in Miami, has agreed a “multimillion-dollar contract expansion” with Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company.

This contract will enable Kiwibot to expand its robotic fleet, delivering more than 1,200 robots across 50 US college campuses, with Sodexo, by the end of 2022.

Sarosh Mistry, chair, Sodexo North America, says: “The early success of our Kiwibot partnership has shown that automated delivery is not only possible and reliable, it’s desirable. [Read more…] about Kiwibot completes new funding and closes ‘biggest expansion deal’ with Sodexo

Starship launches grocery delivery service in Bay Area

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Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services using a tiny sidewalk robot, is now delivering groceries in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Starship is expanding its partnership with The Save Mart Companies for the exclusive launch of an on-demand grocery delivery service at its Lucky California flagship store in Pleasanton, California.

Lucky is the first grocery store in the San Francisco Bay Area to partner with Starship. [Read more…] about Starship launches grocery delivery service in Bay Area

Automation specialist Keba acquires software startup Drag & Bot

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Keba acquired the Germany-based software company Drag & Bot – or “drag and bot”, as it prefers to be known. The start-up develops an innovative operating system for robots.

As a 100 percent subsidiary, drag and bot is part of Keba Industrial Automation, one of the three business areas of Keba Group.

With this new acquisition, Keba strengthens its position in industrial automation and strategically expands its product portfolio with flexible automation software. [Read more…] about Automation specialist Keba acquires software startup Drag & Bot

Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

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The other day, I got an email asking me to participate in a survey regarding robots in hotels. Basically, the people behind the study wanted to gauge how comfortable respondents were about letting robots and AI systems take care of different aspects of their stay.

Would they be happy to check in without ever speaking to a human? What about having a robot clean their rooms?

The reason this survey stuck with me is that it posited the possibility that hotels would be staffed by robots in the near future. I wondered if it would be people coming to stay in hotels who would delay this from happening due to technophobia. This is in spite of the fact that mechanisation itself is not fully automated in many industries. [Read more…] about Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

Verizon Robotics and LA Times to ‘enhance storytelling’ with network-connected robots and drones

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Verizon Robotics Business Technology, a business unit of telecommunications giant Verizon and one of America’s leading newspapers, the Los Angeles Times, have entered into an agreement to accelerate the application of advanced robotics and other technology from Verizon to expand on the way news is gathered, shared and consumed.

Through the engagement, the companies will work to integrate technologies including 4G-connected drones, 5G-connected ground robots and 3D modeled data, among others, to redefine digital media and add dimension to news reporting and storytelling. [Read more…] about Verizon Robotics and LA Times to ‘enhance storytelling’ with network-connected robots and drones