Robotics & Automation News

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Plymouth State University receives $1 million funding for new robotics lab

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is sending $1 million in federal funding to Plymouth State University (PSU) to aid in the construction of a new robotics laboratory to be located on the fourth floor of the Draper & Maynard Building at the Plymouth campus.

In fall 2021, PSU became the first New Hampshire institution to offer a Bachelor of Science in Robotics degree program.

PSU President Donald L. Birx, PhD says the university plans to use the funds to develop the next generation robotics workforce and machine-learning manufacturers with a new, state-of-the-art robotics lab. [Read more…] about Plymouth State University receives $1 million funding for new robotics lab

Industrial robot costs to drop by half in the next three years

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Karthee Madasamy, founder and managing partner at MFV Partners

According to ARK Invest research, industrial robot costs will drop by 50-60 percent by 2025. This dramatic drop in costs, combined with other factors such as the global pandemic’s acceleration of industries embracing automation, has resulted in a situation where interest in robotics has reached a fever pitch.

In fact, in the first year of the pandemic venture firms poured $6.3 billion into robotics companies, up nearly 50 percent from the $4.3 billion they invested over the same period a year earlier.

Further, in North America, industrial robot sales had their strongest year ever in 2021. With this activity it’s not surprising that the global market is forecasted to reach $31 billion by 2028. [Read more…] about Industrial robot costs to drop by half in the next three years

Opinion: What does the future of robot-human interaction look like?

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Michel Spruijt, GM and VP of BrainCorp Europe, looks at how robots are being integrated into the working environment and how these intelligent machines will operate alongside the human workforce

Technology has seen significant progress over the last half a century, with artificial intelligence playing an important role.

Robots are now no longer a thing of fantasy but instead are being integrated into businesses across multiple industries.

They are making inroads across facilities as the need for greater efficiency in operations becomes a priority. [Read more…] about Opinion: What does the future of robot-human interaction look like?

4 Ways to Fuse the Power of People and Technology to Sustain Competitiveness in Manufacturing

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By Eric Whitley, L2L

The manufacturing industry is in the middle of the fourth industrial revolution.

Today’s smart factories produce high-quality products at competitive prices which can dominate the market and give the manufacturer an advantage over its competition.

This ability to dominate the market is known as competitiveness. [Read more…] about 4 Ways to Fuse the Power of People and Technology to Sustain Competitiveness in Manufacturing

Sarcos Robotics ‘merges’ with Rotor Acquisition

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Shareholders in Rotor Acquisition, a publicly-traded special-purpose acquisition company, have approved what’s being described as a “business combination” – possibly meaning a merger – with Sarcos Robotics, a maker of exoskeletons.

Upon completion of the transaction, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, Rotor will change its name to Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation.

The post-closing company’s common stock and warrants are expected to commence trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “STRC” and “STRCW” respectively. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics ‘merges’ with Rotor Acquisition

SME and CESMII partner to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption

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SME, a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing manufacturing, and CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute, are partnering to drive smart manufacturing further and faster by aligning their resources and educating the industry, helping companies boost productivity, build a strong talent pipeline, and reduce manufacturers’ carbon footprint.

Robert Willig, CEO, SME, says: “The past decade has revealed an unprecedented flattening and even decline in our manufacturing productivity by (per average) worker.

“Together, CESMII and SME will optimize our strengths and resources to accelerate the transformation and democratization of the smart manufacturing ecosystem and jumpstart productivity.” [Read more…] about SME and CESMII partner to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption

Webinar: Reuters looks into healthcare supply chains

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Register here for the free and live webinar now on Tuesday 18th May, 11am EDT
Webinar: How Automation Can Hold the Key to Increased Efficiency for Healthcare Fulfilment, on Tuesday 18th May (11am EDT)

Healthcare supply chains have been placed under huge stress over the past 15 months given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with warehouse operations having been heavily affected due to demand fluctuations and workforce capabilities.

Supply chain leaders from healthcare providers and distributors must ensure that they have the capabilities to deliver in line with the ongoing volatile nature of the market. [Read more…] about Webinar: Reuters looks into healthcare supply chains

Sole Source Capital acquires Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion

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Sole Source Capital, an industrial-focused private equity firm, has acquired Peak-Ryzex from Keystone Capital and Optical Phusion from its founders, two leading providers of automatic identification, data capture and factory automation solutions.

The companies will be merged and led by Peak-Ryzex CEO Juliann Larimer, CFO Michele Adams and Optical Phusion president Tony Rivers. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

The combination will yield significant technological and operational synergies as well as deliver enhanced cross-selling opportunities to a broad set of clients ranging from small and medium sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies – all seeking supply-chain logistical support. [Read more…] about Sole Source Capital acquires Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion

GE Digital upgrades its industrial control offerings for ‘modern’ workers

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GE Digital has unveiled enhancements to its Cimplicity and Tracker software that “provide critical decision support for operators to make them more efficient”, says the company.

Cimplicity is GE’s name for its human-machine interface and supervisory control and data acquisition (HMI/SCADA) solution, which provides client-server visualization to monitor and control operations.

Tracker, part of GE Digital’s Proficy Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) offering, automates routing and sequencing to accelerate time to market, reduce warranty and recall exposure, and support Lean operations and building right the first time. [Read more…] about GE Digital upgrades its industrial control offerings for ‘modern’ workers

May Mobility partners with umbrella group for trucking associations

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Autonomous vehicle developer May Mobility is working with an umbrella group for trucking associations, the Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity (PTIO).

The PTIO says that May Mobility has joined the coalition and its mission is to study the impact of autonomous vehicles on the workforce to ensure that the implementation of the technology will “improve quality of life and economic opportunity for all Americans”.

Rohit Bery, May Mobility vice president and chief of staff, says: “Planning for a workforce of the future is a critical component to May Mobility’s mission to support cities with safe, clean, and accessible autonomous shuttles. [Read more…] about May Mobility partners with umbrella group for trucking associations