Robotics & Automation News

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Virtual Incision’s robotic surgery device to launch into space

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Virtual Incision, a medical device company which claims to be “pioneering the world’s first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery platform”, says its MIRA Platform will be launched into space to test its skills in a mission aboard the International Space Station.

The opportunity is driven by a recently awarded grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and is a technology demonstration scheduled for 2024.

John Murphy, CEO of Virtual Incision, says: “The Virtual Incision MIRA platform was designed to deliver the power of a mainframe robotic-assisted surgery device in a miniaturized size, with the goal of making RAS accessible in any operating room on the planet. [Read more…] about Virtual Incision’s robotic surgery device to launch into space

Hyundai and Kia to develops mobile robots for space exploration

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South Korean automotive giants Hyundai and Kia have agreed a partnership to develop robotic technology for space exploration.

The two companies say they “are now expanding their vision beyond the bounds of Earth and into space” are specifically concentrating on robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

Hyundai and Kia recently signed joint research agreements with six Korean research institutes and formed a consultative body to develop mobility solutions to explore the surface of the moon. This follows Korea’s successful launch of a domestically produced rocket in June. [Read more…] about Hyundai and Kia to develops mobile robots for space exploration

DHL opens new ‘highly automated’ fulfillment center for flatpack furniture giant IKEA

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DHL Supply Chain, Deutsche Post DHL Group’s contract logistics specialist, is opening a new, “highly automated” fulfillment center in Bergkamen, Germany, for its customer, the Swedish flatpack furniture giant IKEA.

The new state-of-the-art DHL facility has been commissioned to help the home furnishings group handle its fast-growing B2C online business in Germany, which grew significantly during the pandemic and required IKEA to rapidly expand its B2C fulfillment capabilities.

The multi-customer site in Bergkamen boasts 40,000 square meters of warehouse space and is part of the neighboring DHL Supply Chain Unna Campus, which is less than 10 kilometers away. [Read more…] about DHL opens new ‘highly automated’ fulfillment center for flatpack furniture giant IKEA

Universal Robots launches all-new 20 kg industrial collaborative robot

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Universal Robots, the Danish manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), is to add a new 20 kg cobot to its product range.

Called the UR20, the cobot boasts an all-new design based on Universal Robots’ experience in highly refined engineering and is the latest addition to the company’s strong portfolio of cobots.

The UR20 is the best demonstration yet of Universal Robots’ unrivalled innovation in the cobot space, featuring an entirely new joint design that will allow for even faster cycle times as well as the ability to handle heavier loads. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches all-new 20 kg industrial collaborative robot

RC Mowers breaks ground on new $4.8 million facility

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RC Mowers, a manufacturer of remote-operated robotic mowers, has begun construction of a new $4.8 million office and production facility in Green Bay with plans to begin operations there in February 2023.

Michael Brandt, RC Mowers CEO, says: “RC Mowers has doubled our revenue every year since our inception four years ago, and this new facility will alleviate the growing pains we’re experiencing as a result of our success.

“Investing in this new building will allow us to grow our manufacturing capabilities as our product line continues to expand, and the additional office space will accommodate our expected employee growth over the next several years.” [Read more…] about RC Mowers breaks ground on new $4.8 million facility

Indy Autonomous Challenge racecar sets new speed record for driverless vehicle

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The Indy Autonomous Challenge racecar, a Dallara AV-21 programmed by team PoliMOVE from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and the University of Alabama, USA, has set a new land speed world record of 192.2 mph / 309.3 kph at the historic Kennedy Space Center.

Operating the Dallara AV-21, PoliMOVE set out to push the limits of a boosted engine package during test runs yesterday at Space Florida’s Launch & Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center.

The upgraded engine package, capable of delivering 30 percent more horsepower than previous models, will be on all IAC racecars moving forward. Future competitions will be announced in the coming months. [Read more…] about Indy Autonomous Challenge racecar sets new speed record for driverless vehicle

Did Someone Say Co-Bots? How Human-Robot Teamwork Will Upend Manufacturing

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Matthew Cherewka, director of business development and strategy, Vecna Robotics

Advances in sensor and camera technologies have made robots more intelligent, allowing them to collaborate more with human workers instead of being isolated in cages or separate areas.

Known as co-bots (collaborative robots), this new form of robot can slow down or stop completely to prevent humans from getting injured, but they also enable companies to develop new human-robot workflows that automate previously manual methods.

In essence, they aim to focus on the “collaborative” aspect of the term, rather than the “robot”. [Read more…] about Did Someone Say Co-Bots? How Human-Robot Teamwork Will Upend Manufacturing

PickNik Robotics partners with Sierra Space to build robots for deep space missions and space habitats

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PickNik Robotics and Sierra Space have agreed a collaboration which will explore the implementation of robotic autonomy and controllability for autonomous maintenance of space habitat environments.

PickNik Robotics is a robotics software and engineering services company, while Sierra Space is a commercial space company with 1,100 employees, more than 500 missions and over 30 years of space flight heritage.

The companies anticipate that the robotic autonomy solutions developed with this collaboration will significantly improve the ability to support low Earth orbit (LEO), lunar and deep space missions. [Read more…] about PickNik Robotics partners with Sierra Space to build robots for deep space missions and space habitats

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

Motiv Space Systems wins contract to supply NASA with new type of actuation system

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Motiv Space Systems is has won a key contract with NASA that will continue to power the future of space exploration and innovation, with eyes set on NASA’s Artemis program.

Motiv was recently awarded a $5 million contract to begin development of the Distributed Extreme Environments Drive System (DEEDS) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Sequential Phase II Program.

This revolutionary technology has applications across a broad spectrum of missions, including in-situ resource utilization systems, robotics, payload offloading systems and mobility systems on the Lunar and Martian surfaces. [Read more…] about Motiv Space Systems wins contract to supply NASA with new type of actuation system