Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

workers

Foundry workers given ‘robotic’ glove to improve grip and protect hands

by Leave a Comment

Waupaca Foundry is using an innovative adaptive technology to support workers who manually grind iron castings in the foundry. The “Ironhand” glove is claimed to be the world’s first soft exoskeleton designed for the human hand to improve grip strength and reduce effort.

The system was tested at the iron casting supplier’s Etowah, Tennessee casting finishing plant and is currently in trials at the Marinette, Wisconsin ductile iron foundry.

The system consists of a glove covering all five fingers, and a power pack worn in a backpack or hip-carry. It is activated when the operator starts moving his/her hand to perform a task, using sensors located on the palm and on the fingers. [Read more…] about Foundry workers given ‘robotic’ glove to improve grip and protect hands

BMC selects Zebra to automate operations

by Leave a Comment

Zebra Technologies, an industrial automation company, says Bespoke Manufacturing Company, an apparel manufacturer, has selected S&H Systems and Zebra’s Fetch autonomous mobile robots and fixed industrial scanners to improve visibility and productivity.

Zebra’s solution will improve BMC’s workflow visibility from the initial printing and cutting of fabric to the final phase of packing and shipping, increasing efficiency and productivity and allowing the manufacturer to scale up to meet growing demand.

BMC selected Zebra’s end-to-end industrial and robotics automation solution to enable front-line workers to focus on production. Its entire workflow logistics are delegated to Zebra’s Fetch AMRs and fixed industrial scanners which move, trace and direct workpieces to their destinations. [Read more…] about BMC selects Zebra to automate operations

Formic supplies 58-year-old family-run factory Compact Industries with its first robotic system

by Leave a Comment

Formic, a supplier of automation technology on a pay-as-you-go basis, has supplied 58-year-old family-run factory Compact Industries with its first robotic system.

Located in St Charles, Illinois, Compact faced challenges of a shrinking labor pool, high worker turnover, and supply and wage inflation; struggled to meet the increasing demands of the Fortune 500 companies it serves.

Formic’s robots-as-a-service model activated a cobot within hours of delivery, cut costs on hiring and re-training temporary workers, and enhanced safety. [Read more…] about Formic supplies 58-year-old family-run factory Compact Industries with its first robotic system

SRI unveils autonomous digger for construction sites

by Leave a Comment

SRI, a technology development company founded in 1946 by Stanford University, has unveiled an autonomous digger for construction sites and other similar heavy-duty applications. (See video below.)

The “smart excavator” can be operated remotely and comes with an augmented reality system which makes the process secure, more convenient, and “as easy as playing a video game”.

SRI likens it to the Nintendo Wii, saying the control system only takes “a couple of minutes to master”, adding that, by giving excavators a “robotification upgrade”, the operator doesn’t need to be in the driver’s seat and can even “operate the machinery from anywhere around the world”. [Read more…] about SRI unveils autonomous digger for construction sites

Ready to Automate? 5 Expert Insights on the Warehouse of the Future

by Leave a Comment

A new report explores trends and key considerations for warehouse and distribution center executives implementing automation.

Automation is changing the way our world works, and it’s probably already a part of your daily life.

Even the ways you watch TV and shop are likely influenced by automation, from artificial intelligence-powered suggestions on what series to begin next, and algorithms that conveniently present you with ads for your favorite brand of sneakers. [Read more…] about Ready to Automate? 5 Expert Insights on the Warehouse of the Future

How Automation is Influencing the Automotive Industry Today

by Leave a Comment

Last year, robot orders were up by 67 percent in comparison to the previous year. And according to the International Federation of Robotics, 1 in every 2 industrial robots sold globally is bought by US automakers. This goes to show just how much the auto industry appreciates the benefits of automation.

Automakers have always been pioneers of automation; they started using sensor technology and industrial robots in their assembly plants years ago to increase efficiency and productivity. Want to know how automation is influencing the automotive industry today? Read on. [Read more…] about How Automation is Influencing the Automotive Industry Today

Majority of US businesses looking to bring production closer to home

by Leave a Comment

Some 70 percent of US businesses are looking to bring production closer to home, according to a survey by industrial automation giant ABB.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical disputes, raw materials shortages and trade issues that have rocked global economies and supply chains, a majority of US-based companies are planning to relocate production closer to their facilities in America.

Surveying 1,610 executives in the US and Europe, ABB found that 70 percent of US businesses are planning changes in their operations, with 37 percent planning to bring production back home and 33 percent looking to nearshore and shift their operations to a closer location. [Read more…] about Majority of US businesses looking to bring production closer to home

Eyewear retailer brings in robot from Osaro to keep up with e-commerce orders

by Leave a Comment

Osaro, a developer of advanced robotics for e-commerce, has partnered with Zenni, an online eyewear retailer, to automate the “last meter” of Zenni’s fulfillment center in Novato, California.

Three Osaro Robotic Bagging Systems will take on the responsibility of readying eyewear orders for shipment to US customers.

The implementation is also an industry first. This is the first time a robot will be assigned the responsibility of working with an automated mechanical bagging system to ensure a customer’s unique order is placed into the correct bag for shipment. [Read more…] about Eyewear retailer brings in robot from Osaro to keep up with e-commerce orders

Industrial inspection startup Gecko Robotics raises $73 million

by 1 Comment

Gecko Robotics, a leader in robotics and industrial asset management software, has revealed details of its Series C funding round of $73 million, led by XN with participation from Founders Fund, XYZ, Drive Capital, Snowpoint Ventures, Joe Lonsdale, Mark Cuban, Gokul Rajaram, and others.

The company says this latest funding round accelerates Gecko’s stated mission, “To protect today’s critical infrastructure, and give form to tomorrow’s”.

Co-founded by Jake Loosararian, CEO, and Troy Demmer, chief product officer, Gecko focuses on essential industries such as power generation, oil and gas, heavy manufacturing, and defense. [Read more…] about Industrial inspection startup Gecko Robotics raises $73 million

How to Land a Robot-Proof Job

by Leave a Comment

What do burger flippers, call center workers, and many car wash workers have in common?

Over the past decade, a vast majority of their jobs have been taken over by robots. In fact, the more repetitive, routine, and simple a task is, the more susceptible that job is to takeover by an automated device.

Whether you call a machine that makes fast-food items on order at a rapid pace a robot or an automated food preparation device doesn’t matter. [Read more…] about How to Land a Robot-Proof Job