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Levita Magnetics secures $26 million to advance disruptive surgical robotic system

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Levita Magnetics, on a mission to provide patients with more access to better surgery, has closed its $26 million Series C financing, which will be used to support regulatory and near-term commercial efforts in the United States for its Magnetic-Assisted Robotic Surgery (MARS) platform.

The financing was led by a healthtech investment group managed by seasoned investor Evan Norton, with participation from MedTex Ventures, as well as Invermaster and Carao Ventures, amongst other returning investors. The company also announced the appointment of Maria Sainz as chairwoman to its board of directors.

The MARS platform is designed to deliver the clinical benefits of the company’s first commercial product, the Levita Magnetic Surgical System®, including less pain, faster recovery and fewer scars for patients. [Read more…] about Levita Magnetics secures $26 million to advance disruptive surgical robotic system

MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi, MITRE and Novanta join efforts to support healthcare robotics startups

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MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, MITRE and Novanta are calling on startups in the healthcare robotics space to apply to the second Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program.

The objective of the program is to advance healthcare robotics companies by providing the connections, guidance, and resources they need to grow and succeed.

The selected startups will be guided by senior-level mentors from organizing companies and supported to connect with potential customers, investors, suppliers, marketing and more. [Read more…] about MassRobotics, Festo, Mitsubishi, MITRE and Novanta join efforts to support healthcare robotics startups

Kuka teams up with DesignPro to develop robotic welding processes

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Industrial robot maker Kuka has teamed up with automation technology developer DesignPro to create new, advanced robotic welding processes.

Automating the welding process and employing robots enables manufacturers to achieve significant returns across several areas: application precision, speed and agility of task execution, waste reductions and increased safety.

The skills gap is also driving the take-up of automated robotics, as a means to sustain legacy manufacturing processes and support operational resilience. [Read more…] about Kuka teams up with DesignPro to develop robotic welding processes

Ambi Robotics returns to Berkeley and expands headquarters

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Ambi Robotics, a provider of AI-powered robotic parcel sorting systems for supply chain operations, has unveiled its new headquarters in Berkeley, California to support company growth and new product development.

Ambi Robotics is ramping up installations of AmbiSort systems ahead of peak season as more shipping and logistics brands grapple with surging ecommerce demand.

The new headquarters boasts 33,000 square feet of space for the company to continue its mission to solve the supply chain’s most complex problems while helping people handle more than ever before. [Read more…] about Ambi Robotics returns to Berkeley and expands headquarters

Ericsson, TIM and Comau test the ‘factory of the future’

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Ericsson, TIM and Comau say they are testing the “factory of the future” through something called “5G network slicing”.

The three companies have joined forces to develop, on an experimental basis, innovative solutions for Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing by leveraging the potential of the 5G network. This initiative is part of the EU-funded 5Growth project.

Thanks to TIM and Ericsson’s deployment of a 5G network at Comau’s headquarters in Turin (Italy), three new applications have been launched to demonstrate the advantages of the new technology, and in particular those arising from the slicing functionality of the network, within an industrial environment. [Read more…] about Ericsson, TIM and Comau test the ‘factory of the future’

Vallarta Supermarkets test retail robot from Badger Technologies

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Badger Technologies, a product division of Jabil and leader in retail automation, has deployed a pilot program with Vallarta Supermarkets, a chain of 53 full-service markets throughout California, to reinforce operational and customer-service excellence.

Badger Technologies multipurpose autonomous robots support the retailer by identifying hazards at five Vallarta Supermarkets in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Vallarta also is testing the robot’s inventory management capabilities at a sixth location aimed at improving on-shelf product availability. [Read more…] about Vallarta Supermarkets test retail robot from Badger Technologies

DHL surpasses 100 million units picked with Locus Robotics machines

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DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group, says it has surpassed 100 million units picked in its North American facilities by LocusBots from Locus Robotics.

The milestone was achieved in DHL’s Hanover Township, Pennsylvania location, fulfilling orders for a major apparel retailer. The milestone achieved in this facility is one of more than a dozen DHL sites in North America, using more than 2,000 LocusBots – more than any other contract logistics company.

Sally Miller, CIO, DHL Supply Chain North America, says: “As this milestone illustrates, our unrivaled implementation and productization of assisted picking robots has been a tremendous success for our customers’ supply chains. [Read more…] about DHL surpasses 100 million units picked with Locus Robotics machines

Seegrid launches online knowledge base for its autonomous mobile robots

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Seegrid, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for material handling, has launched a new customer resource, Seegrid Help Center, an online knowledge base that gives Seegrid’s global logistics, e-commerce, and manufacturing customers exclusive access to specialized insights, product information, and innovative mobile automation use cases curated by Seegrid’s expert engineering, service, and support teams.

Jim Rock, chief executive officer at Seegrid, says: “Our robots and software are proven, having safely driven more than seven million autonomous miles while moving billions of pounds of materials in our customers’ highly dynamic, complex industrial environments.

“Every autonomous mile and pound moved represents real-world knowledge and expertise, making Seegrid uniquely capable of helping our customers succeed with mobile automation.” [Read more…] about Seegrid launches online knowledge base for its autonomous mobile robots

Comau and IUVO design new wearable robots to support manual work

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Comau and IUVO are developing an innovative wearable robotics solution to improve the ergonomics of operators engaged in manually moving loads at Esselunga, a leading large-scale retail trade company. The aim is to improve well-being by reducing lower back fatigue.

The action of the exoskeleton will assist the back muscles that are typically stimulated during lifting and handling tasks, thus creating short- and long-term benefits through a significant reduction in physical effort and fatigue.

There are three protagonists of the project. Comau’s role is to lead the engineering process related to the new exoskeletal device for lumbar support. IUVO’s design team will specialize in the conception, development and testing of wearable robotic technologies. [Read more…] about Comau and IUVO design new wearable robots to support manual work

Baker-Polito Administration awards Harvard and Boston universities $3 million for assistive robotics research

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The Baker-Polito Administration, or the Massachusetts state government, has awarded a new grant award of $3,057,320 to Harvard University and Boston University to support the development of next-generation robotics and wearable technologies.

Researchers aim to improve the lives of people with neuro-motor impairments and to help individuals achieve ambitious fitness goals, driving innovation in a new category of rehabilitation, diagnostic, and assistive devices that are more lightweight, affordable, and connected.

Led by Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the project involves a collaboration with Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, as well as with industry partners that are poised to bring innovations to market. [Read more…] about Baker-Polito Administration awards Harvard and Boston universities $3 million for assistive robotics research