Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

service

Porsche selects DB Schenker to operate Canada distribution centre

by Leave a Comment

Porsche Cars Canada has selected DB Schenker to operate its new Mississauga, Ontario parts distribution centre.

Expected to ship about 282,000 orders during its first year in operation, the new facility joins two other DB Schenker-Porsche parts distribution centres that are already operating in China and Korea.

Known for making some of the world’s best-known sports cars, sedans, and SUVs, Porsche Cars Canada, has selected DB Schenker Canada to operate its new parts distribution centre in Mississauga, Ontario. [Read more…] about Porsche selects DB Schenker to operate Canada distribution centre

May Mobility raises $50 million in funding round led by Toyota

by Leave a Comment

May Mobility, an autonomous transportation-as-a-service provider, has closed a $50 million Series B funding round led by Toyota.

There was also participation from Sparx Group, alongside return investors Millennium Technology Value Partners, Cyrus Capital Partners, BMW iVentures, and Toyota AI Ventures.

The company says the round will help fund strategic hires across the engineering and operations functions, and expansion of the vehicle fleet to meet growing demand. [Read more…] about May Mobility raises $50 million in funding round led by Toyota

Bosch and Mercedes-Benz start automated ride-hailing service in San José

by Leave a Comment

Bosch and Mercedes-Benz’s joint project to develop urban automated driving has now entered a new stage.

Their pilot project for an app-based ride-hailing service using automated Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles has now been launched in the Silicon Valley city of San José.

Monitored by a safety driver, the self-driving cars shuttle between West San José and downtown, along the San Carlos Street and Stevens Creek Boulevard thoroughfares. [Read more…] about Bosch and Mercedes-Benz start automated ride-hailing service in San José

Plus Automation wins its first robotics-as-a-service contract

by Leave a Comment

Logistics and supply chain technology startup Plus Automation has won its first robotics-as-a-service contract with Jun Co, a Japanese company with diversified interests including fashion, food and fitness products. 

The company was jointly established in June 2019 and is 60 per cent owned by Mitsui, a Japanese conglomerate, and GLP Japan, said to be the largest Japanese logistics company but also has real estate and other interests.

The contract between Plus and Jun consists of a standard annual subscription together with the option to add robots when cargo volumes increase, making it “a highly convenient service package”, says Plus. [Read more…] about Plus Automation wins its first robotics-as-a-service contract

Blue Ocean Robotics raises $12 million to develop service robotics market

by Leave a Comment

Blue Ocean Robotics, said to be the “world’s first” robot venture factory, has raised almost $12 million to develop its position in the service robotics market.

Blue Ocean Robotics is entering new robot markets with service robots for the healthcare, hospitality, construction and agriculture industries.

The new investment is described as a recognition of the strength of Blue Ocean Robotics’ business model and success. [Read more…] about Blue Ocean Robotics raises $12 million to develop service robotics market

Panasonic introduces autonomous ride share service around its Japan HQ

by Leave a Comment

Panasonic has launched autonomous ride share service around its headquarters, which cover an area of approximately 468,000 sq meters and has about 14,000 staff. (See video below.)

The company says that, as autonomous driving evolves and interest in mobility as a service grows, there are “increasing expectations” for their adoption in towns and communities.

Panasonic says offering an autonomous ride share service for its employees around its headquarters in Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, is the first step towards this direction. [Read more…] about Panasonic introduces autonomous ride share service around its Japan HQ

AGCO completes Maryland assembly, distribution, training facility

by Leave a Comment

AGCO Corporation, a worldwide distributor and manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has completed expansion of its Edgewood, Maryland assembly and distribution facility.

The facility will be used to build Fendt high horsepower tractors and Massey Ferguson compact and utility tractors and equipment.

The location also now includes a training center to provide dealers in the region a more cost-effective, time-efficient location for product and service training. [Read more…] about AGCO completes Maryland assembly, distribution, training facility

ZVerse partners with 3D Systems to provide more access to expertise

by Leave a Comment

ZVerse, the developer of a CAD as a Service platform for digital manufacturing, is partnering with 3D Systems, a provider of parts manufacturing services.

The strategic alignment will provide 3D Systems’ customers with access to ZVerse’s network of certified designers who can lend their expertise to optimize file formats – facilitating desired final parts.

Theseservicesincludeeverythingfromdesignmodificationstorevisingfileformats to ensure the final part matches the customer’s requirements. [Read more…] about ZVerse partners with 3D Systems to provide more access to expertise

ZF joins Mobility as a Service Alliance group

by Leave a Comment

The automotive components and systems supplier ZF has become the first major automotive supplier to participate in the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Alliance.

The objective of this special interest group that spans Europe is to bring about a paradigm shift in urban mobility, promote networked mobility concepts, and create uniform standards for technologies and legislation.

ZF says traffic jams, lack of parking, and air pollution mean that better mobility concepts are needed to avert the threat of complete gridlock in many city centers. [Read more…] about ZF joins Mobility as a Service Alliance group

Promobot to ‘mass produce’ humanoid robots

by Leave a Comment

Russian robotics company Promobot says it is launching “mass production of life-like robots that look like humans”.

Promobot is mainly known as a manufacturer of autonomous service robots and the new humanoid “Robo-C” is the first of its kind from the company.

Promobot calls the android “a robot companion”, and says Robo-C is “the world’s first humanoid android, which not only copies the appearance of a person, but is also able to integrate into a business environment”. [Read more…] about Promobot to ‘mass produce’ humanoid robots