rideOS has raised $25 million in Series B funding for its cloud-based fleet-management platform that pulls mapping, traffic and detection data for self-driving vehicles in a given area. The platform, essentially an traffic control system for vehicles, also works with human-driven vehicles and transportation services. Designed to assist in the global roll-out of next-generation transportation fleets, rideOS’…
inVia Robotics raises $20M Series B round for Picker warehouse robots
inVia Robotics, a Los Angeles-based maker of warehouse robots for e-commerce fulfillment centers, raised $20 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Point72 Ventures along with ongoing investments from Upfront and Embark Ventures. inVia Robotics raised a $9 million Series A round in February 2018, bringing its total funding to date to $29 million.…
Clearpath Robotics offering ROS-enabled cobot arms from Universal Robots
Clearpath Robotics, a global provider of mobile robots for research and development, is now a Universal Robots Certified System Integrator (CSI). With this new relationship, the UR3, UR5 and UR10 collaborative robot arms will be available from Clearpath Robotics with out-of-the-box ROS functionality and support. Clearpath Robotics is a manufacturer of mobile robot platforms and has…
5 must-ask questions when developing robots
During the Robotics Summit & Showcase, Jabil VP of Global Automation and 3D printing John Dulchinos discussed during his keynote the challenges robotics companies face during product development. Is your team thinking big picture during early stage planning? Are they looking beyond specific product details to focus on how the product functions in the system…
Helping computers perceive human emotions
Personalized machine-learning models capture subtle variations in facial expressions to better gauge how we feel. MIT Media Lab researchers have developed a machine-learning model that takes computers a step closer to interpreting our emotions as naturally as humans do. In the growing field of “affective computing,” robots and computers are being developed to analyze facial…
Could the US-China trade war be good for robotics?
You’ve heard it over and over again: No one wins in a trade war. As the trade war between the US and China continues to escalate, the tariffs and barriers on imported products threaten to slow business activity, create supply chain friction, and dampen international trade – not only between the two countries themselves, but…
Universal Logic Announces New Neocortex DIY Software
Universal Logic has announced a new version of its signature Neocortex artificial intelligence product designed for do-it-yourself engineers. Neocortex DIY software allows engineers to configure and deploy AI-based robot cells for variable picking in both manufacturing and consumer products supply chains. Based on the Neocortex platform, Neocortex DIY extends perception, directs grasping, and guides robots,…
Rethink Robotics Continues Growth with New Global Distribution Partners
Rethink Robotics has announced that it has signed deals with seven new distribution partners throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific to increase the availability of its smart, collaborative robots and allow manufacturers to automate more. Rethink’s current global network – including select partners in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, Korea, Japan, and…
Waymo, Walmart offer glimpse into commercializing self-driving cars
Waymo has partnered with Walmart other businesses in the Phoenix, Ariz. area to expand tests of its self-driving cars. The 400 members of Wamyo’s “early riders” program can now take a self-driving car to and from the Walmart in Chandler, Ariz. when they purchase groceries from Walmart.com. Those who go to Walmart in Waymo’s self-driving cars…
Q&A: Intuitive Surgical chief medical officer Dr. Myriam Curet
Robots are making their way into operating rooms around the world, acting as extensions of the surgeon. Intuitive Surgical, a mainstay in the robotic-assisted surgery field, has positioned its technologies as helping surgeons boost their performance and offer minimally-invasive options to patients. The company’s chief medical officer, Dr. Myriam Curet, shared her experience as a…
Embark self-driving trucks raise $30M Series B
Embark self-driving trucks received an infusion of $30 million in Series B funding. The round, led by Sequoia Capital, raises the total funding to $47 million since the Embark self-driving trucks debuted in 2016. The funding will help increase the fleet from five to 100 Embark self-driving trucks and help purchase the cameras, LiDAR and…
A.I.-Equipped Robots Develop Situational Awareness in Earth’s Most Uncertain Environment
Underwater robots to take on task of inspecting the nation’s aging piers, bridges, pipelines and dams at a time when people’s relationship with water is changing. Waves, winds, currents, wakes from passing boats and eddies swirling around structures make water one of the most complex environments for experienced boat captains, let alone robots. Now,…
Teaching humanoid robots to use their hands to prevent falls
A famous viral video (watch below) about the DARPA Robotics Challenge shows all sorts of humanoid robots clumsily falling down. Bipedal movement is rather unstable, which is not only a problem for a robot trying to complete its task, but also because falling can damage a very expensive piece of machinery. Roboticists across the globe…
Tally shelf-scanning robot adds RFID, machine learning
Simbe Robotics announced this week integration of RFID and machine learning into its Tally shelf-scanning mobile robots. Tally now captures more than 700 RFID product tags per second with higher than 99% accuracy, according to the company. So Tally can now determine inventory levels for products that use RFID or that don’t sit on a standard…
Visumatic adds cobot fastener feed and drive package
Visumatic has launched the VCM-3X.2 collaborative robot module, a complete assembly feed and drive end of arm tooling (EOAT) package for use by machine builders. The VCM-3X.2 module includes an automatic screwfeeder, drive system, skeleton robot program, and end effector for direct mounting to a collaborative robot wrist. The lightweight VCM-3X.2 allows maximum robot movement…
Connectivity for cryogenic systems
Intelliconnect has introduced a new division, CryoCoax, specializing in connectors, cable assemblies and other components for cryogenic systems. CryoCoax cabling and connectors are used across many applications and industries including instrumentation, medical and material research and cryogenic systems including dilution refrigerators, superconducting magnet systems, low-temperature detector systems, and infrared array systems. The CryoCoax connector offering […]
4 robotics trends to watch from a machine vision expert
Automatica 2018 was all about smart automation and robotics for a fast-changing industry. I visited Automatica in Munich, the leading exhibition for smart automation and robotics in Europe. This year, the trade fair had 890 exhibitors and more than 46.000 visitors. These are my main takeaways. For successful automation, robots must become more flexible, easier to…
Honda R&D Co., Ltd selects GE Additive for consulting services
GE Additive announced its first AddWorksT additive consulting services engagement in Japan with Honda R&D Co., Ltd, Aircraft Engine R&D Center (Honda Aircraft Engine R&D Center). This agreement aims to further Honda Aircraft Engine R&D Group’s additive application development for its future generation aircraft engines. GE Additive provides additive machines, materials and AddWorks engineering consultancy […]
July 2018 Issue: Making embedded systems clock steady
We can use our brains better At the recent AICD annual conference in San Antonio, Holly G. Green of The Human Factor Inc. gave a fascinating talk about our brains, and how we can retrain them to work better on the job. While the world has evolved at amazing speed over the last decade and…
How robots can help local fisheries
New England is known for being an excellent source of lobster and other seafood. But while fishing is done locally, much of the processing is outsourced to other countries. A lack of local manpower means scallops caught off the coast of Massachusetts might travel to China or India for processing before they appear on your…
Xometry announces acquisition of MakeTime, adds additional $25MM in funding to fuel growth
Xometry, an on-demand manufacturing platform, announced that it has acquired MakeTime, another leading on-demand manufacturing company. This acquisition brings together the country’s two top manufacturing network platforms. The combined company will operate under the Xometry brand name and have offices in Maryland and Kentucky. The acquisition will allow Xometry to grow its national partner network […]
maxon motor high-performance sensorless control for brushless motors
maxon motor has developed a sensorless speed and torque control solution called High-Performance Sensorless Control (HPSC). This new technology allows FOC (field oriented control) for brushless motors without sensors from full stop to full speed under load. [Related: maxon motor introduces exoskeleton joint actuator] The maxon motor HPSC uses a sophisticated signal injection algorithm which…
New eBook: Utilizing Advanced Manufacturing Methods across the Product Development Life Cycle
Across every industry, the product development life cycle is an integral business function that brings quality products to market. From inception to production, developing new products requires streamlined solutions to get to market faster. In this eBook, we discuss five stages of the product development life cycle and key manufacturing methods, like 3D printing and…
ReWalk Robotics ReStore soft exoskeleton expands clinical trials
Clinical trials for the ReWalk Robotics ReStore soft exoskeleton are expanding to five research centers in the United States. The centers involved in the ReWalk Robotics ReStore trials include the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Chicago), Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (Boston), the MossRehab Stroke and Neurological Disease Center (Elkins Park, PA), TIRR Memorial Hermann (Houston), and the Kessler Foundation (East…
Canrig Robotics developing oil drilling robots
Canrig Robotics has developed robots with the goal of achieving a fully-automated drill floor operation of oil rigs. The company is based in Stavanger, Norway, a central city in the European oil drilling industry. Canrig Robotics’ primary piece of equipment is a heavy-duty, seven-axis robot with a load capacity of 1,500 kilograms, which is handled by a…