Robotics & Automation News

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Estonian company launches ‘first’ autonomous bus in Greece

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An autonomous bus named “Iseauto” has started its work in Greece, in the city of Lamia. The bus has been developed in Estonia and offers a full-scale autonomous service that was first piloted in the summer in Tallinn, in Ülemiste City.

For the first time in Greek history, a fully street-legal autonomous vehicle is operational in the context of an autonomous public transport pilot project led by Estonians.

The autonomous minibus developed by AuveTech in Estonia is the first “4th category” – or Level 4 – autonomous vehicle that has been pigeonholed “street-legal” in Greece. [Read more…] about Estonian company launches ‘first’ autonomous bus in Greece

Autonomous boats could be your next ride

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Five years in the making, MIT’s autonomous floating vessels get an upgrade in size and learn a new way to communicate aboard the waters

The feverish race to produce the shiniest, safest, speediest self-driving car has spilled over into our wheelchairs, scooters, and even golf carts.

Moreover, recently, there’s been movement from land to sea, as marine autonomy stands to change the canals of our cities, with the potential to deliver goods and services and collect waste across our waterways.

In an update to a five-year project from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Senseable City Lab, researchers have been developing the world’s first fleet of autonomous boats for the city of Amsterdam, and have recently added a new, larger vessel to the group: “Roboat II”. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Autonomous boats could be your next ride

Blendid opens fourth kiosk location at Walmart in Bay Area

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​Blendid​ is opening the company’s fourth food robotics kiosk at Walmart in Fremont, California.

Bay Area–based Blendid offers an innovative, autonomous, and contactless food automation platform that leverages machine learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence to create nutrient-dense and delicious smoothies, made on-demand, and customized to meet the unique health and taste preferences of individual consumers.

Vipin Jain, CEO and co-founder of Blendid, says: “The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the focus on food safety globally. At Blendid, we’re working with many essential businesses to help integrate a solution for safe, contactless food preparation and delivery. [Read more…] about Blendid opens fourth kiosk location at Walmart in Bay Area

Schilling Robotics to integrate Energid software into its Gemini underwater robot

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Schilling Robotics has selected Energid’s Actin software to be integrated into what is described as “the world’s most advanced work class remotely operated vehicles”, or ROVs, which are basically underwater robots.

Schilling is a division of TechnipFMC and will integrate Actin into its new automated Gemini ROV System.

Schilling Robotics is leveraging advanced motion control features of the Actin software to enhance the performance and effectiveness of the Gemini manipulators, one of the many break-through features of the Gemini ROV. [Read more…] about Schilling Robotics to integrate Energid software into its Gemini underwater robot

MMI Micro launches ‘world’s smallest-wristed’ surgical instruments

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MMI Micro, an Italian company specialised in improving clinical outcomes for patients undergoing microsurgery, has launched what it claims is “the world’s smallest wristed surgical instruments”.

The company’s system has been awarded the CE Mark, a standard in Europe, and it has already completed the first human use of its Symani Surgical System for open microsurgical procedures.

The first four robotic surgeries were successfully performed in Florence, Italy, including three complex, post-traumatic lower limb reconstructions as well as a post-oncological reconstruction of the pharynx. [Read more…] about MMI Micro launches ‘world’s smallest-wristed’ surgical instruments

Trumpf enters the world of automated arc welding

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Industrial machine tools company Trumpf has released its first automated arc welding system. The TruArc Weld 1000 comes with a collaborative robot, also known as a “cobot”. After the operator has manually guided it over a component, the cobot then automatically carries out the weld.

It is significantly more efficient than would be possible manually. With the new system, Trumpf says it is responding to the increasing lack of skilled workers and helps fabricators get started with automated welding. CE-compliant and approved by TÜV Austria, the TruArc Weld 1000 “meets the very highest safety standards”. [Read more…] about Trumpf enters the world of automated arc welding

Honeywell to provide flight control technology for unmanned cargo plane

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Pipistrel has selected Honeywell’s Compact Fly-By-Wire system for the Nuuva V300 cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), choosing a modern, lightweight, highly capable system with a proven architecture ideally suited for their autonomous cargo UAV.

Fly-by-wire computers act as the “brains” of an aircraft’s flight controls by operating them electronically and can be found inside nearly all large fixed-wing aircraft today.

The compact version from Honeywell has features derived from decades of expertise in fly-by-wire systems for airliners, but it’s much smaller – roughly the size of a paperback book. [Read more…] about Honeywell to provide flight control technology for unmanned cargo plane

Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

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Volansi, a drone company specializing in medical logistics, has launched a commercial healthcare drone delivery project in North Carolina.

In collaboration with pharmaceuticals and biotech giant Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, Volansi is piloting the delivery of cold-chain medicines from Merck’s Wilson, North Carolina manufacturing site to Vidant Healthplex-Wilson, a Vidant Health clinic, as the first of three phases in a project to learn about drone technology’s role and ability to improve access to healthcare.

With 1.4 million people across 29 counties, eastern North Carolina’s vast, rural environment can create challenges for accessing care. Initial flights in the project resulted in the first drone delivery of temperature-controlled medicines within the US. [Read more…] about Merck and Volansi launch commercial drone service to deliver cold-chain medicines in rural North Carolina

Smart Home Upgrades for Modern Living

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A smart home is a happy home. At least, in the sense that the easier you make things for yourself and your family, the better!

These days, planning and going about renovations is as much about smart home upgrades as it is the usual decorative touches. A gadget here, a convenience there and before you know it you’re wondering how you got by without them.

But which smart home upgrades for modern living should appear at the top of your ‘must-buy’ list? If you’re planning on bringing a few 21st century mod-cons into your home this year, which indispensable gadgets should you make a beeline for? [Read more…] about Smart Home Upgrades for Modern Living

Outrider raises $65 million in Series B financing round

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Outrider, a provider of autonomous yard operations systems for logistics hubs, has closed $65 million in Series B funding, led by Koch Disruptive Technologies. Other existing investors increased their investments, including NEA, 8VC, and Prologis Ventures.

New investors included Evolv Ventures, the investment arm of Kraft Heinz, and Henry Crown and Company. With $118 million raised to date, Outrider is positioned to scale and support the rapid automation of distribution yards.

In supply-chain-intensive industries, distribution yard operations are necessary for transitioning goods between the road and the warehouse. [Read more…] about Outrider raises $65 million in Series B financing round