Russia’s Skybot F-850 robot highlighted the ambitions and shortcomings around humanoid robots in space and for other applications.
Voyage Auto raises Series B of $31M to grow self-driving car fleet
Rather than wait for fully autonomous vehicles to hit the roads today, Voyage Auto is developing self-driving shuttles for retirement communities.
Cartica and Moodify join Toyota AI Ventures’ investment portfolio
Toyota AI Ventures has invested in Cartica AI, which is developing a perception platform for autonomous vehicles, and Moodify, which applies scents to affect drivers’ moods.
Open Robotica launches, aims to ease robotics software development
Blue Workforce is a Danish startup that wants to make open software development for industrial robotics easier.
XAIN brings blockchain, data privacy to Porsche vehicles
XAIN is applying FedML, or federated machine learning, to its ANDY system for protecting privacy while analyzing data from vehicles including self-driving cars.
Remote surgery using robots advances with 5G tests in China
One of the most promising uses of 5G networking technology is in robotic remote surgery. China has led the way with several demonstrations, adding to U.S. concerns about international competitiveness.
Robotics investments recap: August 2019
Automation transactions in August 2019 included a major surgical robotics acquisitions, as well as funding for welding robots, cleaning drones, AI, and autonomous trucks.
Mobile picking partnership to demonstrate end-to-end solution
6 River Systems, which makes the Chuck AMRs and Mobile Sort smart kiosks, and Soft Robotics, which makes compliant grippers and the SuperPick system, have integrated their offerings for mobile picking.
Labor and robotics needed for the future of manufacturing, says KUKA exec
Labor and automation aren’t forces in opposition, notes KUKA CRO Joe Gemma. He says that industry needs to understand the benefits of robotics, and academia and government need to work more closely together.
Seegrid celebrates 2M autonomous miles driven without a safety incident
Seegrid, which makes autonomous mobile robots for materials handling in dynamic environments, celebrated 2 million miles driven without personnel safety incidents.
Blue Ocean acquires Beam telepresence robot from Suitable Technologies
Blue Ocean Robotics has continued its evolution to being an international provider of service robots with its purchase of the Beam telepresence robot from Suitable Technologies.
VOXL from ModalAI helps Uber Eats test BVLOS drone delivery of food
ModalAI’s VOXL platform used 4G connectivity to communicate between a drone and Uber Elevate Cloud Service, enabling a BVLOS food delivery.
DoorDash acquires Scotty Labs for teleoperation of food deliveries
DoorDash, a leader in on-demand food deliveries, is acquiring Scotty Labs, which is working on teleoperation of vehicles as a combination of human judgement and self-driving cars.
CARMERA builds HD maps for autonomous vehicles in Brooklyn
Self-driving cars are not yet a common sight in New York City, but CARMERA, a company building centimeter-level street maps, is part of autonomous vehicle trials in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Attabotics brings vision of ant-like efficiency to supply chains
Attabotics, which recently raised Series B funding, applies biologically inspired models to AS/RS for modern commerce fulfillment.
Exosuit successfully makes the transition from walking to running
Harvard and University of Nebraska Omaha researchers have developed a lightweight exosuit that assists both walking and running, highlighting the potential for wearable robots outside the lab.
Phillips partners with Universal Robots for cobot CNC machine tending
Phillips Corp. and Universal Robots are working together to help small and midsize manufacturers apply UR collaborative robots to tending Haas Automation CNC machines.
LA R&D office opens new chapter for gripper maker OnRobot
OnRobot, which nakes grippers for cobots and industrial robots, is opening a new R&D office in LA. We spoke with the former CEO of Perception Robotics about OnRobot’s strategy.
Exoskeleton developers must keep improving capabilities, cost, says maxon manager
Even as the enabling technologies for exoskeletons have improved, there is much work yet to be done, says maxon’s Otto Oneichen.
The Robot Report August 2019 issue on exoskeletons
In this month’s issue of The Robot Report, a special print insert in Design World, we examine exoskeleton design, development, and uses in healthcare and industry.
FoldiMate equity crowdfunding campaign to support laundry folding robot appliance
FoldiMate has turned to equity crowdfunding as a bridge between initial trials of its laundry-folding robot and Series A fundraising.
Robot operations control needed to accelerate adoption, says InOrbit CEO
Robot operations, especially in industries that are just starting to automate or must manage multiple robots, can be a hurdle to adoption, says the CEO of InOrbit, which offers a cloud-based service.
Robotics investments recap: July 2019
In July 2019, investments in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and drones increased, despite a decline in the number of transactions.
Trust is key to service robot design, says SoftBank Robotics
The key to social and service robots isn’t making them more humanoid, but making them useful and inspiring customer trust, explains SoftBank Robotics’ HRI lead.
Tooling from XYZ Robotics designed to adapt to challenging warehouse cases
XYZ Robotics offers standalone vision systems for integrators in addition to turnkey solutions in addition to a compliant tool head for end users.