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Google launches last mile fleet solution and cloud fleet routing API

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Google has launched its Last Mile Fleet Solution from Google Maps Platform and Cloud Fleet Routing API from Google Cloud – two new solutions to help fleet operators improve delivery success and optimize fleet performance.

The pandemic has accelerated e-commerce adoption and strained supply chains, while consumer expectations around delivery speed and visibility have reached an all-time high. At the same time, last-mile delivery is estimated to make up more than half of total shipping costs.

This means last-mile fleet operators have to work harder to create better consumer experiences and improve their operations. [Read more…] about Google launches last mile fleet solution and cloud fleet routing API

Geek+ launches ‘ground-breaking’ four-way shuttle warehouse storage and picking solution

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Geek+, the warehouse automation specialist, has launched its multilevel storage and retrieval system: Sky-Storage & Ground-Pick.

The solution uses Geek+’s X-series four-way shuttle robots to boost storage density while devoting the ground floor to picking operations entrusted to the flagship P800 robots.

On the upper levels of the warehouse, the four-way shuttles utilize every inch of vertical space for pallet storage and quick and flexible replenishment of the lower level. Below them, picking robots move shelves, pallets, and racks containing the most in-demand goods. [Read more…] about Geek+ launches ‘ground-breaking’ four-way shuttle warehouse storage and picking solution

TinyMobileRobots celebrates marking 1 millionth sports field

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Denmark-based TinyMobileRobots, a provider of fully autonomous GPS line-marking robots, has officially marked its 1 millionth sports field, culminating in “savings of approximately 1.6 million hours, $102.5 million and 1.5 million gallons of paint” for its rapidly growing customer base across three continents.

The landmark moment occurred in Dallas, Texas with FC Dallas, who manages 20 soccer fields. They have been using TinyMobileRobots’ solution for four years.

TinyMobileRobots can autonomously mark lines for virtually every type of sports field, including soccer, American football, baseball, lacrosse, softball and more. [Read more…] about TinyMobileRobots celebrates marking 1 millionth sports field

Alstom wins €156 million contract for driverless metro trains in Italy

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Alstom, a large transportation vehicles manufacturer, has won a €156 million contract from the Italian city of Turin to supply its latest generation of fully driverless metro trains.

Turin’s transportation infrastructure agency, Infra.To, actually placed the order. Infra.To is owned by the city of Turin and is one of Europe’s largest public companies.

The contract is for the supply of Alstom’s latest generation of fully driverless train-to-train CBTC system for line 1 of Turin Metro along with four new Metropolis trains. The contract includes an option for 12 more Metropolis trains. [Read more…] about Alstom wins €156 million contract for driverless metro trains in Italy

New cart from Roeq ‘doubles payload’ of autonomous mobile robots

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A new cart solution developed by Roeq will double the payload of autonomous mobile robots from Mobile Industrial Robots.

Roeq says it followed the principle of “Doing more with less” because this is what users of the MiR250 mobile robot will realize with its new Roeq TMS-C500 Ext and S-Cart500 Ext.

As the product name indicates, the new top module/cart combo enables the robot to carry up to 500 kg payload (1102 lbs), effectively doubling the payload of MiR’s best-selling AMR. [Read more…] about New cart from Roeq ‘doubles payload’ of autonomous mobile robots

Fuzzy Logic makes robotics agile at MBDA

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MBDA is a leading European manufacturer in the aerospace and armaments sector, specializing in the design of missiles and missile systems for the operational needs of the three branches of the military (army, navy and air force).

MBDA France’s Bourges site specializes in the manufacture of tactical missile equipment utilising several key technologies: mechanical manufacturing (metal and composite materials) and electromechanical assembly.

The company wanted to robotise certain processes in small series or even single unit production, by allowing an operator with no programming skills to teach the robotic system, in just a few seconds, the process to be carried out, and then to execute the cycle with complete confidence without human supervision. [Read more…] about Fuzzy Logic makes robotics agile at MBDA

Tompkins Robotics launches tSort3D autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

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Tompkins Robotics has launched its new tSort3D mobile robot, designed to increase the number of sort destinations while reducing the footprint of a system.

tSort3D allows 6 to 8 times the sort destinations in the same space as other traditional automated sortation solutions, provides for thousands of sort destinations, volumes up to 20,000 an hour, and facilitates a single, very large batch pick.

The system is ideal for fulfillment of items for customer e-commerce orders and other fulfillment flows such as store replenishment and reverse logistics. [Read more…] about Tompkins Robotics launches tSort3D autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

RightHand Robotics raises $66 million in Series C funding

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RightHand Robotics, a startup developing autonomous robotic picking solutions for order fulfillment, has secured $66 million in a Series C financing.

The funding round was led by investors Safar Partners, a technology venture fund; Thomas H. Lee Partners, an investor in automation and supply chain; and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, which is part of the SoftBank Group.

Zebra Technologies, Epson and Global Brain also join this round, along with previous investors GV, F-Prime Capital, Menlo Ventures, Matrix Partners and Tony Fadell’s Future Shape. Previous rounds were led by Menlo Ventures and Playground Global. [Read more…] about RightHand Robotics raises $66 million in Series C funding

Airbus boss backs hydrogen airplanes as the ‘ultimate solution’

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The CEO of Airbus, currently the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, says he believes hydrogen-powered airplanes are the “ultimate solution” to the unfair criticism of the aerospace industry as a planet-polluting monster.

The World Wildlife Fund says the aviation industry is “one of the fastest-growing sources of the greenhouse gas emissions driving global climate change”, adding that air travel is “currently the most carbon intensive activity an individual can make”.

These things have been true for many decades, but with completely crazy extreme weather systems attacking different parts of the world on an almost weekly basis over the past couple of years, the search for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) has taken on a new urgency. [Read more…] about Airbus boss backs hydrogen airplanes as the ‘ultimate solution’

ZF partners with Embotech to develop freight yard automation systems

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ZF, one of the world’s largest automotive systems suppliers, has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Embotech, a developer of autonomous vehicle software.

The companies have agreed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly develop fully autonomous systems for commercial vehicle yard operations.

The partnership aims to enhance the operational safety and productivity of distribution hubs and yards. [Read more…] about ZF partners with Embotech to develop freight yard automation systems