Robotics & Automation News

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Symbotic to buy Walmart’s robotics business for up to $350 million

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Symbotic, a developer of AI-enabled robotics technology for the supply chain, has agreed to acquire Walmart’s Advanced Systems and Robotics business.

This transaction expands the long-standing relationship between Walmart and Symbotic with the aim of developing an integrated automated supply chain.

Walmart has chosen Symbotic to develop, build and deploy an advanced solution leveraging Symbotic’s AI-enabled robotics platform to offer Walmart customers greater shopping convenience through accelerated online pickup and delivery (APD) options at stores. [Read more…] about Symbotic to buy Walmart’s robotics business for up to $350 million

Walmart installs drinks-making robot from Richtech Robotics

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Richtech Robotics, a Nevada-based provider of AI-driven service robots, has installed its advanced robotic beverage system, ADAM, at a One Kitchen in a Rockford, Illinois Walmart.

This milestone marks the second installation as part of a planned rollout across 240 One Kitchen locations in the US.

One Kitchen restaurants feature multiple national and local brands using a single kitchen. The Rockford Walmart will also have a Richtech Robotics’ Matradee L and DUST-E S installed. [Read more…] about Walmart installs drinks-making robot from Richtech Robotics

Wing and Walmart continue to expand drone service to millions of customers

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By Adam Woodworth, CEO, Wing

We’re kicking off 2024 by making drone delivery a reality for even more people: Wing and Walmart are expanding service to millions of customers, leveraging Wing’s airspace approvals that facilitate service across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) community.

Wing and Walmart will launch our newest drone delivery locations in the coming months and plan to complete the expansion within the year.

Last August, Wing and Walmart launched service together at two locations in DFW – reaching 60,000 homes via drone delivery. In our first 4 months of service, the response from Walmart customers has been overwhelmingly positive, using the service to order a range of products, including quick meals, groceries, household essentials, and over-the-counter medicines. [Read more…] about Wing and Walmart continue to expand drone service to millions of customers

Walmart makes Brain Corp ‘the world’s largest supplier of inventory scanning robots’

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Sam’s Club, a membership warehouse club and a division of Walmart, has completed a national, chain-wide rollout of “Inventory Scan” towers that have been added to its existing fleet of robotic scrubbers in partnership with Brain Corp, a provider of artificial intelligence for robots.

In doing so, Walmart has made Brain Corp “the world’s largest supplier of inventory scanning robots”, according to the company.

Todd Garner, vice president, in-club product management, says: “Our initial goal at Sam’s Club was to convert time historically spent on scrubbers to more member-focused activities. [Read more…] about Walmart makes Brain Corp ‘the world’s largest supplier of inventory scanning robots’

Walmart and Symbotic expand partnership to implement automation system

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Symbotic, an AI-powered supply chain technology company, and Walmart have expanded their commercial agreement to implement Symbotic’s robotics and software automation platform in all 42 of Walmart’s regional distribution centers over the coming years.

This is an expansion of Walmart’s prior commitment to deploy Symbotic Systems in 25 regional distribution centers.

The end-to-end software-enabled high-density robotics platform plays a strategic role in supporting the retailer’s goal of modernizing its vast supply chain network and allows Walmart to transform its regional distribution centers to provide faster responsiveness to store orders, increased inventory accuracy and higher capacity for receiving and shipping freight to stores. [Read more…] about Walmart and Symbotic expand partnership to implement automation system

Walmart Canada investing $118 million to build new fulfillment centre in Calgary area

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Walmart Canada is investing more than $118 million to build a new high-tech sortable fulfillment cent Rocky View County, Alberta, located just outside of Calgary.

The investment is part of the retailer’s plan to expand, revolutionize and transform its best-in-class supply chain network while increasing its e-commerce capabilities to better serve Walmart customers.

It is part of Walmart Canada’s $3.5-billion investment to make the online and in-store shopping experience simpler, faster and more convenient for Walmart customers as the retailer plans to invest for continued growth in Alberta and across Canada. [Read more…] about Walmart Canada investing $118 million to build new fulfillment centre in Calgary area

Walmart to roll out inventory analytics function to fleet of robotic floor cleaners

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Walmart business unit Sam’s Club – a membership warehouse club – is planning the national, chain-wide roll out of “Inventory Scan”, a new inventory analytics function which will be added to the its existing fleet of robotic scrubbers.

The implementation will be undertaken in partnership with software company Brain Corp and Tennant Company, the manufacturer of the vehicle.

The rollout marks the largest and fastest technology deployment undertaken by Brain Corp – which provides the operating system for the robotic floor cleaners – and the first commercial application of its inventory scanning technology anywhere in the world. [Read more…] about Walmart to roll out inventory analytics function to fleet of robotic floor cleaners

Walmart teams up with Symbotic to implement ‘industry-leading supply chain automation system’

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Symbotic, a supply chain robotics and automation company, and retail giant Walmart are partnering to “reimagine the retailer’s regional distribution network”.

Symbotic first implemented its system in Walmart’s Brooksville, Florida distribution center in 2017. Since that time, the companies have worked together to optimize the system.

Today, Symbotic will begin the process of outfitting 25 additional regional distribution centers with the high-tech system aimed at furthering Walmart’s mission of operating a best-in-class supply chain. [Read more…] about Walmart teams up with Symbotic to implement ‘industry-leading supply chain automation system’

Walmart begins to scale local fulfillment centers

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Walmart, the world’s largest supermarket chain, has started to scale its local fulfillment centers in the apparent belief that highly automated micro-warehouses are the way to go. 

The company has been working with a range of robotics companies on changing many aspects of its operation, and Alphabot (main picture) is one of the robots it has been testing.

Brian Roth, senior manager of pickup automation and digital operations for Walmart US, says: “With Alphabot, our associates should be able to put even more focus on helping the customer.” [Read more…] about Walmart begins to scale local fulfillment centers

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