Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

team

Locomation and Wilson Logistics partner on autonomous truck relay convoy pilot

by

Locomation has signed a definitive agreement establishing a multi-year partnership with Wilson Logistics to put Locomation’s autonomous technology on the road across several critical Wilson Logistics shipping routes.

Locomation claims to be the world’s first trucking technology platform to offer “human-guided autonomous convoying”. Wilson Logistics is a family-owned transportation logistics company based out of Springfield, Missouri.

During the three-year pilot, Locomation will employ its Autonomous Relay Convoy (ARC) technology on 11 separate Wilson Logistics ARC segments. [Read more…] about Locomation and Wilson Logistics partner on autonomous truck relay convoy pilot

Upnest: Using Technology and Transparency to Connect In-Market Buyers and Sellers with the Right Agent

by

The real estate world is like a jumbled ball of colored wool, and trying to decipher it without the right team or know-how can make you a mess.

Now you don’t have to bother your head about how to sell a house to make the best profit either.

Do you know that using the right real estate team can save you lots of money as profit when selling a house? [Read more…] about Upnest: Using Technology and Transparency to Connect In-Market Buyers and Sellers with the Right Agent

Robotics Plus named in top 50 agritech companies list

by

Robotics Plus, an agricultural production automation company, has been named in the Thrive Top 50, an annual ranking of leading global AgTech companies exemplifying the best in agriculture innovation.

Robotics Plus, the only New Zealand company to make the 2020 Top 50 ranking, was just one of five companies featured in the Robotics & Automation category.

Robotics Plus CEO Dr Matt Glenn says it’s a “huge honour” to receive a coveted spot on Thrive’s Top 50 global list. [Read more…] about Robotics Plus named in top 50 agritech companies list

Fabric raises $110 million in new investment round backed by Kraft Heinz

by

On-demand fulfillment services startup Fabric has raised an additional investment to its Series B round from Evolv Ventures, the investment arm of Kraft Heinz, one of the largest global food and beverage companies in the world.

Led by a team of food, startup, and venture capital veterans, Evolv Ventures is focused on strategic investments in emerging technologies across the food value chain.

Their undisclosed additional investment to the $110 million-dollar round is a resounding vote of confidence from a leading food tech investor and the iconic food company. [Read more…] about Fabric raises $110 million in new investment round backed by Kraft Heinz

GM investing $40 million in Spring Hill plant

by

General Motors is to invest $40 million in its Spring Hill Global Propulsion Systems plant to increase capacity of the 5.3L V8 engines for GM’s full-size truck and SUV programs.

The 5.3 V8 engine with Dynamic Fuel Management is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

This engine variant is available for select full-size trucks and SUVs, including Chevrolet’s Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban as well as the GMC Sierra. [Read more…] about GM investing $40 million in Spring Hill plant

Columbia develops ‘robotic trunk support assists’ for people with spinal cord injuries

by

Engineers at Columbia university have invented a robotic trunk-support-trainer to retrain patients with spinal cord injury to sit more stably and gain an expanded active sitting workspace. (See video below.)

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can cause devastating damage, including loss of mobility and sensation. Every year, there are an estimated 17,000 new SCIs in the US alone, a rate higher than in most regions of the world.

In addition, the rate of SCIs in people 65 years or older is expected to rise in the US, from 13 percent in 2010 to 16.1 percent by 2020. [Read more…] about Columbia develops ‘robotic trunk support assists’ for people with spinal cord injuries

Researchers create new metallic material for flexible soft robots

by

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have created a new metallic material which they say is suitable for flexible soft robots. (See video below.)

NUS Assistant Professor Chen Po-Yen (main picture, right) and doctoral student Yang Haitao and their team say the new material is also suitable for “origami robots”.

Origami robots are described as “state-of-the-art soft and flexible robots” that are being tested for use in various applications including drug delivery in human bodies, search and rescue missions in disaster environments and humanoid robotic arms. [Read more…] about Researchers create new metallic material for flexible soft robots

Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility as production of the ID.3 starts

by

Volkswagen has initiated a system changeover to electric mobility as production of the ID.3 starts in Zwickau

Volkswagen’s electric offensive is picking up speed: This months sees the official start of series production of the ID.3.

The first car in the new generation of electric vehicles (EVs) – a white ID.3 – rolled off the assembly line watched by Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Group CEO Dr Herbert Diess.

The Volkswagen Group aims to sell some 22 million EVs worldwide by 2028, helping EVs make the breakthrough to the mainstream. [Read more…] about Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility as production of the ID.3 starts

Madison College students win industrial robotics competition

by

Madison College students Schuyler Bostedt, Garrett Butler and Jonathan Stowell took first place in the Industrial Robotics Competition held during the Wisconsin Manufacturing and Technology Show October 8-10 in Milwaukee.

Bostedt, Butler and Stowell are enrolled in the Electromechanical Technology associate degree program.

The contest tested robotic programming knowledge by challenging students to complete a set of tasks on a Fanuc education robot in three hours. [Read more…] about Madison College students win industrial robotics competition

Helping robots and humans work hand in hand

by

As the internet-connected world continues to transform the manufacturing and logistics industry, Technische Universität Dortmund is leading the way in research into human-robot interaction.

With the help of Vicon’s cutting-edge motion capture and VR solutions, the University is developing innovative ways to approach the coexistence of drones and robots with people in warehouse environments.

The manufacturing and logistics sector faces a major challenge: how best to serve the ever-growing e-commerce market – with increasingly small-scale shipments and shorter delivery deadlines – in a cost-effective and sustainable way. [Read more…] about Helping robots and humans work hand in hand