Robotics & Automation News

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Can robots save the e-commerce holiday season?

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It’s getting close to Christmas and that means it’s time for e-commerce fulfillment managers to start getting worried about the availability of labor for the holiday season.

According to a recent article in Supply Chain Dive, “this year’s peak season promises additional challenges in recruiting new hires as the pool of available labor shrinks”.

As the article points out, the US unemployment rate hit a 50-year low in September 2019. [Read more…] about Can robots save the e-commerce holiday season?

Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

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DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, has highlighted technologies such as robotics and digitalisation in a new strategy, which it unveiled at its Bering Technology Campus – or “Smart Warehouse” – in the Netherlands.

“Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry”, says DHL, and these technologies are central to the company’s Strategy 2025, launched by Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Supply Chain last week amid ever-greater challenges facing the logistics industry.

DHL Supply Chain already runs one of its Smart Warehouses and serves customers across Europe with “highly automated and digitalized” contract logistics solutions. [Read more…] about Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

How robotics and AI are changing the fashion industry and warehousing sector

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The fashion industry is investing huge amounts of money in artificial intelligence systems that can provide what is called “sentiment analysis”, which is similar to customer feedback, except that it’s indirectly acquired.

Typically, sentiment analytics systems can gather information from social media pages as well as through natural language processing, perhaps through listening to customer phone calls.

A massive number of data points can be collated and analysed – a quantity of information that only an AI system can process. And after processing it all, conclusions can be drawn. [Read more…] about How robotics and AI are changing the fashion industry and warehousing sector

inVia Robotics expands picking system capabilities

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inVia Robotics, the provider of the next generation of warehouse automation solutions for e-commerce, today announced the expansion of its core system.

The update includes inVia Connect, which streamlines integration, and the ability to automate replenishment, cycle counting and returns.

inVia’s automation system is powered by inVia Logic, which calculates and synchronizes inventory movements for a variety of business cases, and inVia Command, which maps a warehouse and designs optimized workflows based on those calculations. [Read more…] about inVia Robotics expands picking system capabilities

TRAPO’s new transport shuttle brings ‘new flexibility’ to palletising

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Logistics technology provider TRAPO says its new transport shuttle brings “new flexibility” to the palletising zone and warehouse.

The TRAPO Transport Shuttle, part of the company’s TTS series, transports loads of up to 2,000 kilograms, with higher load capacity available on request.

TRAPO says the TTS is based on a modular principle and can be flexibly configured: size, energy transmission and storage, drive and navigation. [Read more…] about TRAPO’s new transport shuttle brings ‘new flexibility’ to palletising

Honeywell establishes robotics innovation hub for distribution centres

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Honeywell has established an advanced technology center of excellence focused on innovating and developing artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and advanced robotics for use across supply chains – calling it Honeywell Robotics.

Based in Pittsburgh, Honeywell Robotics will help shape the warehouse and distribution center of the future, particularly as companies look to automated solutions, software and robotics to deliver increased speed, accuracy and throughput in complex material handling environments.

Pieter Krynauw, president of Honeywell Intelligrated, says: “Honeywell has been at the forefront of warehouse automation technology for more than 25 years helping customers improve productivity and efficiency. [Read more…] about Honeywell establishes robotics innovation hub for distribution centres

Teradyne to acquire AutoGuide Mobile Robots for $165 million

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Teradyne is again strengthening its position in the robotics and automation market with another acquisition after already buying Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots. 

Teradyne and AutoGuide Mobile Robots have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teradyne will acquire privately held AutoGuide for $165 million – $58 million net of cash acquired plus $107 million if certain performance targets are met extending potentially through 2022.

The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. [Read more…] about Teradyne to acquire AutoGuide Mobile Robots for $165 million

Helping robots and humans work hand in hand

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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

Swisslog to install ‘highly automated’ warehouse for Jaycar Electronics

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Swisslog is to install a purpose-built, high-tech, highly automated storage, handling and picking solution for Jaycar Electronics.

Jaycar, an electronics retailer and e-tailer, says it is investing in the advanced warehouse in Sydney so it can deliver the efficiency and performance needed to drive its growing business into the future.

Logistics automation specialists, Swisslog, has been chosen to provide the highly automated storage, handling and picking solution at the core of the new-build site. [Read more…] about Swisslog to install ‘highly automated’ warehouse for Jaycar Electronics

RightHand Robotics and Element Logic launch integrated robotic piece-picking solution

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RightHand Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation technology, and Element Logic, an AutoStore partner, have launched an integrated robotic piece-picking solution that combines the technologies of both companies. 

The announcement was made in conjunction with IMHX in Birmingham, UK, September 24-27.

The robotic piece-picking solution combines award-winning technology from RightHand Robotics with Element Logic software and AutoStore’s automated storage and retrieval system. [Read more…] about RightHand Robotics and Element Logic launch integrated robotic piece-picking solution