Intel unveiled its 8 million-neuron neuromorphic system codenamed Pohoiki Beach today at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Electronics Resurgence Initiative in Detroit. Consisting of 64 Loihi research chips, Intel claims Pohoiki Beach can be up to 1,000 times faster and 10,000 times more efficient than CPUs for autonomous driving, robotics and other applications.…
CloudMinds files for $500M IPO for cloud-based service robots
CloudMinds, which has developed a cloud-based infrastructure for making service robots smarter, filed for a $500 million IPO.
Filter gives robots greater spatial perception for 6D object pose estimation
Robots are good at making identical repetitive movements, such as a simple task on an assembly line. Pick up a cup. Turn it over. Put it down. But they lack the ability to perceive objects as they move through an environment. A human picks up a cup, puts it down in a random location, and…
MIT robot performs Bottle Cap Challenge
You’ve probably already seen, or even participated in, the Bottle Cap Challenge. It’s the viral challenge of the week where people try to unscrew a bottle cap with a 360-degree kick. MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) didn’t want to be left out. So it got in on the fun using its RoboRaise…
XoSoft exoskeleton gives users quasi-passive actuation
A lot of people have lower limb mobility impairments, but there are few wearable technologies to enable them to walk normally while performing tasks of daily living. XoSoft, a European funded project, has brought together partners from all over Europe to develop a flexible, lightweight and resource-efficient soft exoskeleton prototype. Frail elderly, incomplete spinal cord…
R-Series actuator from Hebi Robotics is ready for outdoor rigors
Hebi Robotics’ new R-Series actuators are designed to be modular, sealed, and lightweight for custom rugged applications.
Automated system from MIT generates robotic actuators for novel tasks
When designing actuators involves too many variables for humans to test by hand, this system can step in.
Volkswagen invests $2.6B in Argo AI for self-driving cars, expands pact with Ford
Volkswagen is becoming an equal partner with Ford in Argo AI, which is developing self-driving car technology. The companies will also be working on developing electric vehicles and vans for Europe.
Universal Robots launching 50 authorized training centers
Universal Robots (UR) is launching Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) that offer classes spanning basic to advanced programming of UR cobots. UR is planning 50 fully authorized ATCs worldwide, 13 of which will be in North America. The first few ATCs in the U.S. have already been authorized and are now offered by the following UR…
Artificial muscles based on MIT fibers could make robots more responsive
New MIT system of contracting fibers could be a boon for biomedical devices and robotics.
Luminar raises $100M to scale LiDAR for autonomous vehicles
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Luminar raised $100 million in funding that will help it scale production of LiDAR sensors for autonomous vehicles. This raises Luminar’s total amount of funding raised to more than $250 million. Luminar also unveiled a sensing and perception platform called Iris that has been in stealth development for the last three years.…
Exyn Technologies closes $16M Series A for aerial autonomy
Exyn Technologies, a Philadelphia-based developer of aerial autonomy software for drones, has raised $16 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Centricus, with Yamaha Motors Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Corecam Family Office, and Red and Blue Ventures newly participating, and IP Group Plc reinvesting. Exyn’s total funding to date is now over $20 million.…
Geek+ raises another $150M for global expansion of autonomous mobile robots
Geek+ has raised more funding as it expands production and sales of its autonomous mobile robots for supply chains.
ABB cobots to be used in non-surgical healthcare systems
ABB announced today that it will introduce collaborative robots to medical laboratories as it opens a new healthcare hub at the Texas Medical Center (TMC) innovation campus in Houston, Texas. The facility will be ABB’s first dedicated healthcare research center when it opens in October 2019. ABB’s research team will work on the TMC campus with…
Programmable soft actuators show potential of soft robotics at TU Delft
Researchers at TU Delft have developed soft actuators that could help soft robots collaborate with humans.
Robotics investments recap: June 2019
Reported robotics investments in June 2019 focused on transportation, AI and software, manufacturing, and healthcare.
20 largest robotics investments during 1st half of 2019
Robotics companies have raised more than $15.6 billion during the first half of 2019. According to the robotics investments tracked and verified by The Robot Report, more than $2.6 billion has been raised on average per month. The year started slowly with $644 million raised in January, but there has been at least $1.3 billion…
Top 10 robotics stories during first half of 2019
We’re more than halfway through 2019, and there’s been a lot to talk about. Here are The Robot Report‘s picks for the top 10 robotics stories during the first half of 2019. Please share your thoughts below via the survey or the comments section. 1. Consumer robotics company Anki shuts down The struggles of consumer…
Connected Robotics raises $7.4M Series A for service, cooking robots
Connected Robotics will use the funding to expand sales channels, enhance marketing of cooking robots and other services, and hire employees.
Cowen, MassRobotics collaborating on robotics & AI research
Cowen Inc. and MassRobotics today announced a collaboration to bring together their extensive market knowledge to advance research into the emerging robotics and artificial intelligence industry. Based in the Boston area, MassRobotics is a global hub for robotics, and the collective work of a group of engineers, rocket scientists, and entrepreneurs focused on the needs…
Vegebot robot applies machine learning to harvest lettuce
Engineers at the University of Cambridge have developed Vegebot, which is designed to use machine learning to pick a common but challenging agricultural crop.
4 Overheating solutions for commercial robotics
To prevent robots from overheating, engineers have a number of options, including some emerging technologies.
Self-driving cars may not be best for older drivers, says Newcastle University study
A study at Newcastle University in the U.K. found that some levels of autonomy can help older drivers, but they had difficulties in taking back control of self-driving cars.
Prescribing a Robot ‘Intervention’
According to Australian Centre for Robotic Vision Research’s Nicole Robinson, research studies on the impact of social robot interventions there have been few and unsophisticated. There is good news… the results are encouraging. As our world struggles with mental health and substance use disorders affecting 970 million people and counting (according to 2017 figures),…
Waymo self-driving cars OK’d to carry passengers in California
Waymo has been testing its self-driving cars in California for years. Now Alphabet’s self-driving car division has been granted a permit to carry passengers in the Golden State. Waymo is now part of California’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service pilot program, joining Autox Technologies, Pony.ai and Zoox. The permit, which was granted by the California Public…