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Ocean engineers optimize design and performance of autonomous underwater vehicle

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Almost two years ago, Dive Technologies, a subsea robotics designer and manufacturer based in Boston, began a multiyear partnership with researchers and students at the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics to develop a novel commercial autonomous underwater vehicle.

In April 2021, Dive Technologies delivered the DIVE-LD to market, a design they see as the most capable large-displacement autonomous underwater vehicle, in terms of the reliability, endurance, and navigational accuracy it brings to global commercial and defense customers.

With the first round of sea trials of their craft complete, the DIVE-LD’s performance has already exceeded expectations, but the team behind the self-propelled, unmanned, untethered underwater vehicle is driven to take it even further. They’re now back in the lab, working diligently to refine the vehicle’s software systems and optimize hydrodynamic performance. [Read more…] about Ocean engineers optimize design and performance of autonomous underwater vehicle

Epson signs Advanced Industrial Products as distributor in Kentucky and West Virginia

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Epson Robots has signed Advanced Industrial Products, a factory automation and robotics supplier, as an official distributor of Epson Robots automation solutions.

As manufacturers look to automate small, intricate processes as well as pick-and-place and assembly applications, this new partnership makes automation attainable, simple and affordable to AIP customers in the states of Kentucky and West Virginia.

Epson’s cost-efficient, easy-to-use solutions combined with AIP’s highly technical sales staff and engineers will help open the doors to build new relationships in automotive, food, beverage, and medical markets. [Read more…] about Epson signs Advanced Industrial Products as distributor in Kentucky and West Virginia

Boston Dynamics robot dog used to inspect construction work at Virginia Tech

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Virginia Tech researchers are unleashing an autonomous robot dog on university construction sites to investigate the applications of using robots to monitor construction progress. 

Faculty and students from Myers-Lawson School of Construction, within the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and College of Engineering, are partnering with the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities and industry sponsor Procon Consulting to deploy Spot, a mobile robot dog developed by Boston Dynamics, to conduct this innovative research.

The ongoing experimental investigation is exploring whether construction progress monitoring – a traditionally human-dependent, labor-intensive, and error-prone process – can be improved by leveraging autonomous robotic technology to lead the systematic collection of data in construction environments. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics robot dog used to inspect construction work at Virginia Tech

Amazon to build robotic fulfillment center in Virginia

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Amazon has decided to build a robotic fulfillment center in Henrico County, in the state of Virgina, in the US, a decision that was welcomed by the local governor, Ralph Northam. 

The new facility – to be located on 119 acres of ancillary land at Richmond Raceway in Henrico County – will hire more than 1,000 new employees.

Amazon will construct a multi-story, 650,000-square-foot facility with innovative robotics technology, adding over 1,000 new jobs to Amazon’s existing workforce of more than 27,000 full- and part-time employees in the Commonwealth. [Read more…] about Amazon to build robotic fulfillment center in Virginia

Virginia Tech partners with Dive Technologies to launch autonomous underwater vehicle

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Virginia Tech researchers at the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics have partnered with Boston-based Dive Technologies to support the development and testing of what they describe as a novel autonomous underwater vehicle with innovative vehicle design and state-of-the-art control, software, and autonomy systems.

This multiyear collaboration provides an opportunity to apply research discoveries and innovative technology developed in the academic lab and deploy them in next-generation commercial applications.

Bill Lebo, co-founder and chief technology officer of Dive Technologies, says: “We feel fortunate to be working closely with professors Daniel Stilwell, Stefano Brizzolara, and the entire team supporting Dive Technologies from the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics. [Read more…] about Virginia Tech partners with Dive Technologies to launch autonomous underwater vehicle

FedEx to test Wing Aviation drone for Walgreens deliveries

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Wing Aviation, an Alphabet company, is collaborating with FedEx and pharmaceuticals retailer Walgreens to launch a first-of-its-kind drone delivery service in Christiansburg, Virginia next month.

The pilot program will demonstrate the many benefits of drone delivery to communities by exploring methods to enhance last-mile delivery service, improve access to health care products, and create a new avenue of growth for local businesses.

Drone delivery in the United States has historically been limited to small-scale demonstrations on designated test sites, or extremely short flights along pre-planned, fixed routes – all within the visual line of sight of the drone operator. [Read more…] about FedEx to test Wing Aviation drone for Walgreens deliveries

Doosan debuts collaborative robot at US trade show

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Doosan Robotics showcased a wide variety of application scenarios using their cutting-edge collaborative robots (cobots), indicating the company’s entry into the North American market.

Doosan cobots have a track record in several markets worldwide including Germany, France and China, with capabilities such as a working radius of 900 to 1,700 millimetres and a load capacity of 6 to 15 kilograms.

The company gave a demonstration of six cobots collaborating with two human workers to execute fine motor activities on an auto assembly line.

[Read more…] about Doosan debuts collaborative robot at US trade show

TMEIC to supply Virginia port with world’s largest automated cranes system in deal worth $670 million

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port of virginia
Port of Virgina. Picture courtesy PortStrategy.com

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation has been selected to provide industrial drive and automation solutions for The Port of Virginia’s historic expansion project, totaling 86 Konecranes Automated-Stacking Cranes (ASC) at the Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) and Virginia International Gateway (VIG) facilities.

This is the largest ASC order TMEIC has received to date and the largest single ASC order ever placed by a port.

“TMEIC has been a longtime, proven partner with Konecranes and The Port of Virginia, including the construction of VIG and the original ASC implementation there in 2007,” TMEIC president and CEO Dale Guidry said.  [Read more…] about TMEIC to supply Virginia port with world’s largest automated cranes system in deal worth $670 million