Robotics & Automation News

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Starship Technologies raises $100 million in 30 days as demand for delivery robots skyrockets

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Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services, has raised $100 million in the last 30 days, including a new $42 million Series B funding round.

The Series B funding will help Starship further scale its service and meet increasing demand for its autonomous delivery service by launching in tens of new cities and campuses, including Pleasanton in the Bay Area as well as University of Tennessee, Knoxville and University of Idaho.

Some of this funding is immediately going to support people by donating directly to the Red Cross in Ukraine, says Starship. [Read more…] about Starship Technologies raises $100 million in 30 days as demand for delivery robots skyrockets

Verdant Robotics launches multi-action agricultural robot for ‘superhuman farming’

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Verdant Robotics has launched what it says is “the first multi-action autonomous farm robot for specialty crops” which will enable “superhuman farming”.

To meet farmers’ demands for more sustainable and profitable growing practices, Verdant Robotics has expanded its robot-as-a-service (RaaS) model to ensure access for more specialty crop farmers.

Founded in late 2018 by a leading roboticist, a software engineer, and a California farmer, Verdant has raised $21.5 million to develop the industry’s first multi-action, autonomous farm-robot capable of millimeter-accurate spraying, laser weeding, and AI-based digital crop modeling. [Read more…] about Verdant Robotics launches multi-action agricultural robot for ‘superhuman farming’

Almost 50,000 robots expected to be shipped to warehouses by 2026

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More than 47,000 collaborative robots are expected to be shipped to warehouses by 2026, according to ABI Research, which included the estimate in its report, 38 Technology Stats You Need to Know for 2022.

The Covid-19 pandemic quickened the pace of digital transformation, placing technologies at the very center of how people live and work – and that pace shows no signs of slowing down.

In its new white paper, 38 Technology Stats You Need to Know for 2022, global technology intelligence firm ABI Research has identified and highlighted the most impactful forecasts that illuminate the direction in which digital transformation is truly heading. [Read more…] about Almost 50,000 robots expected to be shipped to warehouses by 2026

Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

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The other day, I got an email asking me to participate in a survey regarding robots in hotels. Basically, the people behind the study wanted to gauge how comfortable respondents were about letting robots and AI systems take care of different aspects of their stay.

Would they be happy to check in without ever speaking to a human? What about having a robot clean their rooms?

The reason this survey stuck with me is that it posited the possibility that hotels would be staffed by robots in the near future. I wondered if it would be people coming to stay in hotels who would delay this from happening due to technophobia. This is in spite of the fact that mechanisation itself is not fully automated in many industries. [Read more…] about Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

STIHL acquires stake in line-marking robot maker TinyMobileRobots

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German industrial group STIHL, a manufacturer of chainsaw power tools, forestry machinery and robotic lawn mowers, has made a significant investment in the Danish robotics company, TinyMobileRobots.

STIHL says its robotic lawn mowers “share a strong technical kinship” with the advanced and fully autonomous line-marking robots produced by TinyMobileRobots, which are intended for use in sports fields, road construction, agriculture and other sectors.

STIHL Group has been closely following TinyMobileRobots’ rapid international growth in recent years, as the company has doubled in size each year. [Read more…] about STIHL acquires stake in line-marking robot maker TinyMobileRobots

Kuka wins order for 700 robots from Ford Otosan

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Industrial robotics and automation specialist Kuka has won an order from Ford Otosan in Turkey for the delivery and installation of a very large number of robots.

The two companies have signed a new framework contract for supplying more than 700 robots for Ford’s next generation electrical and connected commercial vehicle projects in Ford’s plants in Kocaeli, in the north-east of Turkey, just south of Istanbul.

Kuka says the contract marks a continuation of the companies’ partnership which has been in place for more than 20 years. [Read more…] about Kuka wins order for 700 robots from Ford Otosan

Schaeffler acquires precision gearbox maker Melior Motion 

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Schaeffler, a billion-dollar German company which supplies bearings and other components to the automotive and aerospace industries, has signed an agreement to acquire all of the shares of Melior Motion.

The acquisition of this supplier of precision gearboxes for robotics and other applications in automation expands the robotics portfolio of the Schaeffler Group’s industrial division.

As automation of simple, repetitive tasks as well as complex mounting and manufacturing processes is progressing rapidly, Schaeffler’s industrial division is expanding its position as a supplier for robotics components and systems. [Read more…] about Schaeffler acquires precision gearbox maker Melior Motion 

Kivnon’s AGV ROI Calculation Starts on Product Delivery Date

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By Mike Kotzian, managing director, Kivnon USA

Modex 2022 in Atlanta March 28-31 will feature many AGV vendors who cannot deliver product this year. Too much emphasis has been placed on features, advantages, and benefits; too little attention has been paid to delivery dates.

AGV vendors must promise a delivery date with a guarantee not to exceed 180 days from purchase order to delivery. Failing to provide that commitment is unacceptable.

Solving the immediate challenges in production by delivering product by Q3 2022 and mitigating the hiring constraints plaguing industries must be the top priorities. The current state of the supply chain has exacerbated the situation. [Read more…] about Kivnon’s AGV ROI Calculation Starts on Product Delivery Date

Swisslog to deliver another AutoStore to Bring Parcels’ major venture in Copenhagen

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In early 2021, Swisslog signed a framework agreement with Bring Parcels for the supply of warehouse automation for the logistics company’s new fulfillment solution “Shelfless”.

A decision has now been made to build the fully automated fulfillment solution also in Køge outside Copenhagen.

It is now clear that Bring will build its third automated AutoStore facility, this time in Køge outside Copenhagen. The facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. The service already operates in Oslo and a facility is under construction in Stockholm. [Read more…] about Swisslog to deliver another AutoStore to Bring Parcels’ major venture in Copenhagen

2022 Healthtech Forecast: Record-Breaking Technology Expansion

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Artificial intelligence (AI) research has become one of the most active areas in computer science, with an expectation that AI will help to solve many problems in healthcare.

The use of AI technology in healthcare is poised to dramatically improve medicine over the next few years as researchers find new ways to integrate it into patient care and clinical operations.

In 2021, WHO issued its first report on Artificial Intelligence in health. The report is the result of 2 years of consultations held by a panel of experts. [Read more…] about 2022 Healthtech Forecast: Record-Breaking Technology Expansion