Robotics & Automation News

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Japan Post and Yamato to test delivery robots in Tokyo

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Logistics and snail-mail delivery giant Japan Post is partnering with Yamato, one of Japan’s largest door-to-door delivery service companies, to test delivery robots on the streets of Tokyo, according to Nikkei.

The robot the two companies are using was built by a local company called ZMP, which appears to specialise in autonomous mobile vehicles, be they delivery robots or cars.

This particular one is called “DeliRo” (main picture), probably short for “delivery robot”. [Read more…] about Japan Post and Yamato to test delivery robots in Tokyo

ZMP starts shipping its logistics support robot CarriRo in Korea

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ZMP has started shipping its logistics support robot CarriRo in South Korea. The Japanese company is operating within a joint venture with Anro. (see video below.)

ZMP says it will begin shipping CarriRo in Korea from the end of November 2019.

The sales company in Korea will be T-Robotics, which is engaged in the robot business in Korea, and Anro. [Read more…] about ZMP starts shipping its logistics support robot CarriRo in Korea

ZMP partners with Tokyo taxi operator to launch self-driving cabs for 2020 Olympics

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ZMP’s RoboCar MiniVan, a self-driving Toyota Estima Hybrid car
A TV camerawoman films a laser scanner on ZMP’s RoboCar MiniVan, a self-driving Toyota Estima Hybrid car, after a joint news conference between ZMP and Hinomaru Kotsu in Tokyo, Japan June 15, 2017. Reuters / Toru Hanai

Japanese robotics maker ZMP has partnered with a taxi operator in Tokyo, as part of its plans to launch a self-driving taxi in the city in time for the 2020 Olympics, said CEO Hisashi Taniguchi.

Japan’s taxi industry, faced with a labour crunch due to an ageing population, has been looking at new technologies to drive growth. The sector may also have to deal with more competition in the future if the government allows ride-sharing services such as Uber to operate across the country.

“Autonomous taxis and the taxi industry can grow and prosper together,” Taniguchi told reporters, after announcing ZMP’s partnership with Hinomaru Kotsu.  [Read more…] about ZMP partners with Tokyo taxi operator to launch self-driving cabs for 2020 Olympics

ZMP starts taking orders for autonomous car

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zmp robocar
ZMP Robocar. The company is taking orders already

While many people in the rest of the world are wondering when autonomous cars will be technically proficient enough to be given clearance for operation by the authorities, a Japanese company has already started taking orders on its robotic cars. 

ZMP is accepting orders for the automatic operation technology development platform RoboCar MiniVan for public roads package for research and development. The company says the vehicle is equipped with various sensors computers for the public roads.

This product, the automatic operation technology development platform RoboCar MiniVan, is based on commercially available hybrid minivan, integrated laser scanner for sensing the ambient stereo camera, GPS and inertial sensor for measuring the position and behavior of the vehicle, the acquired sensor data.  [Read more…] about ZMP starts taking orders for autonomous car