Robotics & Automation News

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Carbon Robotics unveils new farm tech that kills weeds by zapping them with a laser

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Carbon Robotics, an agricultural robotics company, today unveiled its 2022 LaserWeeder implement, an autonomous, laserweeding pull-behind robot that seamlessly attaches to the back of tractors.

The new LaserWeeder is a precise, organic, and cost-effective weed control solution for large-scale specialty row crops.

In addition to an updated build, the 2022 LaserWeeder features 30 industrial CO2 lasers, more than 3X the lasers in Carbon Robotics’ self-driving Autonomous LaserWeeder, creating an average weeding capacity of two acres per hour. [Read more…] about Carbon Robotics unveils new farm tech that kills weeds by zapping them with a laser

Novanta partners with MassRobotics to ‘advance next generation of robotics’

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Novanta has agreed a new partnership with MassRobotics to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics startups.

Through the partnership, Novanta business units Celera Motion and ATI Industrial Automation will collaborate with MassRobotics to develop advanced innovations in medical or surgical robotics and improve robotic productivity.

MassRobotics is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as an innovation hub for robotics and connected devices. Its efforts include providing innovative entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop and commercialize their products and solutions. [Read more…] about Novanta partners with MassRobotics to ‘advance next generation of robotics’

The Importance of IT Service Management: A Big-Picture Look

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In today’s society, technology is a cornerstone of any company. Having a system for planning and organizing technology will make your business run more efficiently. It also means you’ll have happier customers, vendors, and employees at the end of your workday.

On the other hand, if your IT department is a mess with unfulfilled customer and employee service requests, you could be in hot water.

Fortunately, resources like Beyond20 ServiceNow IT service management services can help you meet the demand if you’re struggling with IT service management. That said, here’s your big-picture, brass-tacks look at why IT service management matters. [Read more…] about The Importance of IT Service Management: A Big-Picture Look

RE2 Robotics partners with JLG Industries to build robotic elevation platforms

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RE2 Robotics, a developer of intelligent mobile manipulation systems, has agreed a developmental partnership with JLG Industries, part of the Oshkosh group and a manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers.

The collaboration of these two companies is intended to advance the integration of robotics with access equipment.

Jorgen Pedersen, RE2’s president and CEO, says: “The future of work is here. Humans and robots are working more closely together, and the construction industry is no exception. [Read more…] about RE2 Robotics partners with JLG Industries to build robotic elevation platforms

Yaskawa launches two new collaborative robots for industrial applications

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Yaskawa Motoman, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots, has launched two new collaborative robots – HC10DTP and HC20DTP, each of which has six axes.

The company describes them as “highly reliable robots (that) enrich easy capability for Yaskawa’s HC-series line”.

Hand-guided programming allows users to direct teach points without a pendant, and an ISO standard tool flange and electrical connections facilitate a plug and play approach for easy deployment of the robot system. [Read more…] about Yaskawa launches two new collaborative robots for industrial applications

TuSimple to operate nation’s first autonomous trucking route between Tucson and Phoenix

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TuSimple, an autonomous driving technology company, says that the Union Pacific Railroad, the largest Class I railroad in the US, will become the first customer to move freight on TuSimple’s fully-automated trucking route between the Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona metro areas.

Union Pacific is leveraging Loup Logistics, a wholly-owned subsidiary, to coordinate the freight shipment and support seamless movement between rail and the critical first and last mile.

Starting this spring, TuSimple plans to carry Driver Out freight for Union Pacific, utilizing groundbreaking autonomous vehicle technology to deliver goods to their destination faster and more cost-effectively. [Read more…] about TuSimple to operate nation’s first autonomous trucking route between Tucson and Phoenix

Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the award of a contract to build a first in the United States public wireless in-road charging system allowing electric vehicles to charge while in motion and stationary.

A company called Electreon has been selected to build an electric road system in Detroit as part of the inductive vehicle charging pilot program.

Governor Whitmer says: “As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability. [Read more…] about Governor Whitmer launches ‘first’ US wireless electric vehicle charging road system

Open Ocean Robotics raises $4 million to develop autonomous boat

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Open Ocean Robotics has completed a $4 million round of seed financing to advance its marine robotics and ocean data analytics platform.

This included a $2.8 million non-dilutive investment from Sustainable Development Technology Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, and $1.2 million from a syndicate of international investors including Rhiza Capital and Cindicates.

This funding enables the company to accelerate the development of its solar powered autonomous uncrewed surface vehicle technology and ocean data analytics platform for maritime monitoring. [Read more…] about Open Ocean Robotics raises $4 million to develop autonomous boat

Interview: Formic aims to change the way you integrate robotics and automation into your facility

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Formic Technologies is a new type of company which, itself, is the result of the huge changes that are occurring in the robotics and automation market, what with all sorts of new robots and technologies emerging, none of which is cheap to buy, and creating an increasing amount of complexity when it comes to implementing them in an integrated system at, say, a factory. 

In simple terms, you can hire robots – for example, Universal Robots collaborative robots – and other automation technologies from Formic. But it’s more than that. You can also have Formic design the implementation, and handle the integration, for which the startup company has many established partners.

And possibly Formic’s unique selling point is its promise to link its income from its customers to those customers’ success with the automation systems Formic installs. In other words, it’s a kind of like a robotics-as-a-service company which you can pay as you go according to a sliding scale – or “Easy to start, easy to scale”, as Formic likes to put it. [Read more…] about Interview: Formic aims to change the way you integrate robotics and automation into your facility

NEC unveils autonomous mobile robot control system

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NEC has developed a control technology that the company claims “doubles the efficiency of autonomous mobile robots” in warehouses while maintaining a high level of safety.

NEC plans to put this technology into practical use by March 2024 and to have it installed in NEC’s co-operative AMRs in Japan.

In recent years, the introduction of robots for transporting materials has accelerated due to labor shortages and large warehouses. [Read more…] about NEC unveils autonomous mobile robot control system