Business-to-Business publisher WTWH Media announced that Kyle Vogt, Co-Founder, President and Chief Technology Officer of Cruise, will deliver a keynote presentation at the Robotics Summit & Expo. The Robotics Summit, an international event focused on the technical issues involved with the design, development, manufacture and delivery of commercial-class robots, takes place June 5-6 at the…
Techmetics introduces robot fleet to U.S. hotels and hospitals
Singapore-based Techmetics has started offering its lineup of mobile robots to hotels and hospitals in the U.S. They’re only a portion of its product line, which is designed to serve multiple industries.
Growing the robotics industry requires partnerships, says MassRobotics at ESC
At the Embedded Systems Conference, a MassRobotics co-founder explained where developers and investors should look for successful commercial robots.
RightPick2 integration with put-wall sorting earns RightHand Robotics recognition
RightHand Robotics is reaching for new areas of goods-to-person automation with its RightPick2 system, whose flexibility and integration with put-wall sortation systems won an innovation award at ProMat 2019.
AdventHealth is first in Florida to use TransEnterix surgical robot for gynecological procedures
Robot-assisted surgery is growing, as new technology enables applications for additional operations. AdventHealth for Women in Florida is an early user of TransEnterix’s Senhance for gynecological procedures.
Robotics investments recap: April 2019
Despite a few high-profile failures, robotics investments kept going strong in April 2019, with funding flowing to companies working on self-driving cars, supply chain automation, and robots in healthcare.
Locus Robotics raises $26M for warehouse robots, partners with Zebra
Locus Robotics plans to use its latest funding to expand its sales and distribution worldwide and further scale up production.
Uber ATG gets $1B to accelerate toward self-driving car production
Uber’s Advanced Technology Group unit is partnering with Toyota, DENSO, and SoftBank to accelerate development and commercialization of self-driving cars. This deal is the latest in a well-funded race.
OnRobot acquires Blue Workforce assets, robotics developers
Two more Danish robot makers merged, as OnRobot acquired the intellectual property and some staffers from bankrupt Blue Workforce. OnRobot plans to become a one-stop shop for collaborative robots.
Automate/ProMat 2019: 10 takeaways for robotics developers
Collaborative robots, mobile platforms, and the enabling hardware and software were all on display at Automate/ProMat, but what was new and noteworthy?
Amazon acquires Canvas Technology for safe mobile robot navigation
Canvas Technology, which uses sensors and SLAM software for safe navigation indoors and outdoors, was acquired this week by Amazon. How will the deal affect supply chain automation?
Productive Robotics adds ‘human senses’ to OB7 teachable robot
Productive Robotics is displaying its expanded line of OB7 collaborative robots at Automate this week. It says they are cheaper and easier to use than other cobots.
Epson Robots’ VT6L, IntelliFlex, LS robots focus on ease of use
CHICAGO — At Automate 2019 here this week, Epson Robots announced three different products designed to make industrial automation easier to use. The company said that its VT6L six-axis robot, IntelliFlex parts-feeding system, and four new models in the LS SCARA series are intended to bring precision and affordability to robotics users of all sizes.…
Robotiq shows new vacuum grippers, sanding kit at Automate 2019
CHICAGO — Automation is widely viewed as the solution to worsening labor and skills shortages in manufacturing, but adoption has been relatively slow, especially among small and midsize businesses, according to several exhibitors at Automate 2019 here this week. A common theme that has emerged in discussions is that robots need to be designed for…
Waypoint Robotics launches MAV3K heavy-duty omnidirectional AMR
MERRIMACK, N.H. — Waypoint Robotics Inc. today announced the launch of MAV3K (pronounced Māy-vick), the newest member of its industrial-grade autonomous mobile robot product line. MAV3K can carry up to 3,000 lb. and has omnidirectional mobility that enables smooth and precise materials movement for manufacturing. “MAV3K is the product of more than three years of…
Musashi AI consortium aims to quickly apply AI to Industry 4.0
Musashi AI is a new consortium combining AI and manufacturing expertise to accelerate the development of Industry 4.0 products.
Danish robot maker Blue Workforce files for bankruptcy
Blue Workforce, a Danish maker of robots for SMEs and food processing, has declared bankruptcy, but that’s not cause for concern about the robotics industry.
Robotics investments recap: March 2019
Investments in robots, autonomous vehicles, and related systems totaled at least $1.3 billion in March 2019, down from $4.3 billion in February. On the other hand, automation companies reported $7.8 billion in mergers and acquisitions last month. While that may represent a slowdown, note that many businesses did not specify the amounts involved in their…
Universal Robots founder Esben Østergaard steps down
Esben Østergaard, the co-founder and chief technology officer of Universal Robots A/S, today announced on LinkedIn that he is stepping down. “Today is a very special day for me — it was the last day I was working at Universal Robots,” he began in a brief video. “It is a company I founded 14 years…
Daimler Trucks picks up self-driving software firm Torc Robotics
Lyft’s $2.2 billion IPO is getting a lot of attention, but it’s far from the only news in transportation today. Daimler Trucks and Buses Holding Inc., a unit of German automaker Daimler AG, has acquired a majority share in Torc Robotics Inc., which develops software for autonomous vehicles. “With the ever-rising demand for road transportation,…
Does AI need a humanoid form to interact with us? Some pros and cons
When most people think about robots, they think of the humanoids and androids of science fiction. Those with more real-world experience can cite industrial robots, drones, or nascent autonomous vehicles. While an expansive definition of robotics can include artificial intelligence and virtual assistants, do smart appliances such as Amazon Alexa need a humanoid form to…
HELUKABEL launches new robotic PROFINET cable
WEST DUNDEE, Ill. — HELUKABEL USA Inc., one of the leading global manufacturers and suppliers of cable, wires, and accessories, recently announced that it has added a new PROFINET cable to its broad portfolio of Industrial Ethernet cables — HELUKAT PROFINET Type R Torsion. PROFINET standards have traditionally be divided into three classifications — Types…
Autonomous mobile robots grow beyond car manufacturing, get heavier loads
Last year, more than 20,000 autonomous mobile robots were shipped globally — more than double the amount in 2017, according to the latest quarterly report from Interact Analysis. Although all regions saw growth, Asia and China in particular were the largest drivers, noted Ash Sharma, research director for commercial drone and robotics research at Interact…
Drone inspection software, services from SiteAware offer construction quality control
An unmanned aerial vehicle recently flew around Salesforce Tower, the tallest building in San Francisco. Drone inspections are a growing alternative to other methods of inspection, but they need sophisticated software to make sense of the data gathered. Building owner Boston Properties Inc. turned to SiteAware Systems Ltd. for the drone inspection of Salesforce Tower.…
Mobile robots in e-commerce: Experts weigh in on tech advances, demand
Growing demand for rapid e-commerce order fulfillment is a major driver for the development and adoption for mobile robots. However, the market and the technologies that serve it are changing rapidly. The Robot Report asked the following four experts in mobile robotics about their observations (their responses have been edited for length): Tom Galluzzo, founder…