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Autonomous truck startup Kodiak to go public

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Autonomous trucking startup Kodiak Robotics is to go public through a merger with Ares Acquisition Corporation II, a special purpose acquisition company affiliated with Ares Management Corporation.

The deal will make Kodiak a publicly listed company under the name Kodiak AI, with shares expected to trade under the ticker symbols KDK and KDK WS, pending regulatory approval.

Founded in 2018 by autonomy pioneer Don Burnette, Kodiak has emerged as a leading player in driverless trucking, developing an AI-powered automated driving system known as the Kodiak Driver. [Read more…] about Autonomous truck startup Kodiak to go public

Lab0 emerges from stealth mode to unveil ‘humanoid-inspired’ automated warehouse system

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Lab0, a startup promising “cutting-edge robotics and automation”, has officially emerged from stealth mode, introducing RoboGlide, which is described as “the first industrial humanoid-inspired system designed for fully automated inbound warehouse operations”.

With over two years of development under the radar, Lab0’s technology integrates multiple stages of warehouse logistics – from shipping container unloading to product identification, damage detection, weighing, sorting, palletizing, and wrapping – into a unified, scalable, flexible, and modular system.

This system is already deployed at one of the world’s top 10 single price-point small box retailers, showcasing its ability to address complex logistics challenges with unprecedented efficiency and speed. [Read more…] about Lab0 emerges from stealth mode to unveil ‘humanoid-inspired’ automated warehouse system

Embodied AI startup Sereact raises €25 million to boost AI-powered robotics

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Embodied AI startup Sereact says it is on a “mission to redefine what’s possible with AI-driven robotics”. The company has reached a major milestone by securing €25 million in Series A funding.

The Series A round was led by Creandum, alongside significant participation from existing investors Point Nine and Air Street Capital, as well as prominent business angels, including former Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, Mehdi Ghissassi (ex Google DeepMind), Ott Kaukver (Skype), Lars Nordwall (ex neo4j), Rubin Ritter (ex Zalando), Torsten Reil, and Niklas Köhler (both Helsing).

The company says this funding represents more than just an investment in Sereact’s technology – it underscores the immense potential of AI in robotics and the trust that industry leaders place in the company’s vision. [Read more…] about Embodied AI startup Sereact raises €25 million to boost AI-powered robotics

ABB Robotics selects T-Robotics and Mbodi as AI startup winners

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ABB Robotics has selected T-Robotics and Mbodi as the winners of its 2024 ABB Robotics AI Startup Challenge, marking what the industrial giant says is “a significant milestone” in advancing artificial intelligence solutions for industrial robotics.

Selected from over 100 global applicants, these pioneering startups will help transform how industrial robots understand, learn, and adapt to complex manufacturing environments through breakthrough artificial intelligence solutions.

Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics, says: “Today’s manufacturing challenges demand solutions that combine simplicity with sophisticated AI capabilities. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics selects T-Robotics and Mbodi as AI startup winners

Balancing Business Growth and Travel Efficiency in 2024

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Traveling has always been an important way of networking and spreading the word about your business. However, it’s also a significant expense on your company’s budget. As much as 50% goes to lodging and air transportation, and every penny can make a difference.

There are a number of ways in which you can optimize your travel costs and efficiency with modern platforms for traveling being at the very top. Depending on the size of your business, traveling can make up a significant portion of the expenses.

On the other hand, going to a certain conference or an event can boost your success in the long run. These tips will help you balance your costs and business growth potential, allowing you to improve the efficiency of your trips.

[Read more…] about Balancing Business Growth and Travel Efficiency in 2024

CynLr opens first R&D facility in Switzerland

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Cybernetics Laboratory (CynLr), an Indian deep-tech startup specialising in visual object intelligence robotics and cybernetics, has opened its first “International Design & Research Centre” in Switzerland.

The announcement was made during the Swiss-Indian Innovation Week at Unlimitrust Campus in Prilly, headed by Pascal Marmier.

This Swiss Indian Innovation Week is being organised by Innovaud (Vaud’s Innovation and Economic Promotion Body associated with the Swiss Government) in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise.

[Read more…] about CynLr opens first R&D facility in Switzerland

ABB Robotics sponsors MassRobotics to accelerate innovation in the robotics industry

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ABB Robotics has agreed a sponsorship deal with MassRobotics, one of the leading innovation hubs and startup accelerators for robotics in the United States.

As part of this sponsorship, ABB Robotics will donate several of its versatile GoFa 5kg collaborative robots (cobots), and licenses to its RobotStudio simulation programming software to MassRobotics, providing emerging companies access to cutting-edge technology to drive innovation and development.

John Bubnikovich, president of ABB Robotics, US, says: “By providing our cobots and software to some of the brightest and most innovative engineers in the United States, we are not only helping startups push the boundaries of what’s possible but also benefiting from the fresh perspectives and groundbreaking ideas that emerge from this dynamic community.”

[Read more…] about ABB Robotics sponsors MassRobotics to accelerate innovation in the robotics industry

ABB Robotics launches global startup challenge

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ABB has launched its 2024 Robotics AI Startup Challenge, a global competition designed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in robotics.

The challenge is part of ABB’s ecosystem for innovation, with a previous challenge resulting in the acquisition of Sevensense in January 2024, a Swiss-based start-up and leading provider of AI-enabled 3D vision navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

ABB Robotics’ latest challenge will foster innovation and collaboration between ABB and pioneering startups and scaleups worldwide. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics launches global startup challenge

Hippo Harvest employs Zebra robots for indoor farming operations

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Hippo Harvest, a California-based controlled environment agriculture startup, has successfully integrated autonomous mobile robots from Zebra Technologies, a supply chain technology solution provider, into its indoor farming operations.

The robots have been put to use mainly to grow greens. Zebra says the robots enabling the company to “save up to 92 percent of water and use 55 percent less fertilizer than conventional produce growers”.

Hippo Harvest is using advanced plant science, machine learning, and robotics to grow leafy greens and other produce in sustainable greenhouse environments. [Read more…] about Hippo Harvest employs Zebra robots for indoor farming operations

Startup Niryo raises €10 million to ‘democratize collaborative robot arms’

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Niryo, the industrial startup specialized in the design of compact collaborative robotic arms, has completed a €6.4 million round of financing, marking a new stage in its ambition to revolutionize the collaborative robotics industry on a global scale.

This Series A financing round, led by the BPI Digital Venture investment fund, the Innovacom investment fund and four other historical funds (IRD, Finorpa, NFA and Go Capital), aims to support Niryo’s growth, particularly by addressing new use cases, developing a range aimed at professionals, and consolidating its international expansion.

This financing is complemented by €3.6 million in loans provided by a banking pool. [Read more…] about Startup Niryo raises €10 million to ‘democratize collaborative robot arms’