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.
Immune response to implants mitigated in soft robotics breakthrough
A international team of researchers said their discovery could enable devices such as pacemakers, breast implants, biosensors, and drug-delivery devices to last longer and function better.
3D printed organs get SWIFT vascularized building blocks at Wyss Institute
Sacrificial ink-writing technique developed at Harvard allows 3D printed organs to include large, vascularized building blocks.
TransEnterix hopes to raise $20.3M in public offering for surgical robotics
TransEnterix is publicly offering stock after regulatory approvals of its Senhance robotic surgical system and disappointing financial results.
Mill 19 in Pittsburgh hosts new ARM headquarters, Catalyst Connection
The collaborative space at Mill 19 shared by ARM, Carnegie Mellon University, and Catalyst Connection. The organizations plan to use it to drive the future of U.S. manufacturing with robotics and workforce development.
Vecna Robotics CEO Dan Patt steps down
Dan Patt has stepped down as CEO of Vecna Robotics, the Waltham, Mass.-based maker of autonomous tuggers, pallet jacks, and conveyors. Daniel Theobald, who co-founded parent company Vecna in 1998, will take over as CEO of for the foreseeable future. Patt joined Vecna Robotics in January 2018 after spending nearly six years at the Defense Advanced…
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.
Stryker acquires Mobius Imaging, Cardan Robotics for $500M
Stryker, a leading medical technology company based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, acquired Mobius Imaging and its subsidiary Cardan Robotics for $500 million. The deal includes a down payment of $370 million in cash and $130 million that will be paid based on development and commercialization milestones. Shirley, Mass.-based Mobius develops point-of-care imaging technology. Its Airo TruCT…
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.
MassRobotics startup Ori raises $20M for robotic furniture
Ori, the MassRobotics resident The Robot Report profiled just yesterday, raised $20 million in Series B funding for its robotic furniture. Ori said the funding will allow it to partner with “architects and builders on designing urban housing and spaces that are flexible, intelligent, sustainable and affordable.” The investors who participated in the Series B…
Apple hires former Anki exec for Special Projects Group
Hanns Tappeiner, who founded Anki with Mark Palatucci and Boris Sofman in 2010, has been named Director of Product Development at Apple’s Special Projects Group. Tappeiner within the last few days updated his LinkedIn profile, which indicates he started working at Apple’s Special Projects Group in August 2019. Apple scooped up several other former Anki employees…
Webinar: Robotics development, simulation and testing tools – September 19
September 19, 2019 2 pm ET / 11 am PT The development of robots and robotic technology requires the mastery of multiple disciplines – primarily software development, mechanical and electrical engineering. Robotics development is made even more difficult as it is limited by embedded and real-time constraints. Commercial viability adds additional burdens for…
Ori brings robotic furniture to life
Boston-based startup Ori is making it its mission to ensure downsizing in square footage no longer means sacrificing functionality or experience. Founded in 2015 by a team of MIT engineers, Ori is developing robotically controlled furniture that saves space and allows people to “live large in a small footprint.” Ori raised a $6 million Series…
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.
Disassembly demonstration key to robotic remanufacturing
Engineers at the University of Birmingham have successfully designed a robotic system that can perform an important task in disassembling component parts.
Reach Robotics shuts down consumer robotics business
Reach Robotics, a Bristol, United Kingdom-based consumer robotics company, has shut down its consumer robotics business. Reach Robotics Co-Founder Silas Adekunle made the announcement on LinkedIn. The Robot Report emailed Reach Robotics Co-Founder John Rees and received an automated response that said, “the decision has been made to close the business and appoint administrators, effective as…
How Harmonic Bionics designs lightweight, upper-body exoskeletons
In human anatomy, the shoulder presents one of the most challenging and complex physical problems for physicians and therapists. Shoulders and their intricate anatomical patterns also provide a unique test for developers of exoskeletons, who need to keep their units light and compact while incorporating an extensive range of movement. Those were the challenges faced…
Order fulfillment tipping point reached for mobile robots, says Interact Analysis
A new research report predicts that order fulfillment operations will install more than 500,000 autonomous mobile robots within the next five years.
‘Roboats’ from MIT can now autonomously change configurations
MIT researchers have added capabilities to ‘roboats,’ allowing them to form pop-up bridges, stages, and other structures.
Obstacle avoidance to get sharper vision with UMass Amherst research
In the Introspective Vision for Obstacle Avoidance, UMass Lowell researchers are using a Jackal UGV from Clearpath to train machine learning for obstacle avoidance.
Soft pneumatic actuators could get smaller with high-res 3D printing process
Researchers in Singapore and China have proposed a process flow to guide 3D printing of miniature soft pneumatic actuators. Robots with integrated prints could have applications in jet-engine maintenance and minimally invasive surgery.
KBR revs up with AWS, NASA for fully autonomous vehicle race
KBR, a provider of technology and services to the government and energy industry, worked with Amazon Web Services and NASA to stage a race of fully autonomous vehicles.
RT Corp raises $3.8M for Foodly lunch-packing humanoid
RT Corp., a Tokyo-based developer of service robots founded in 2005, raised 400 million yen ($3.8 million) in Series B funding for its food-picking collaborative robot Foodly. RT said it will use the funding RT to strengthen its business structure and hire personnel. Foodly is designed to work alongside people in food factories. RT said…
How environmental factors can affect robotic joints
In this contributed piece, Kollmorgen engineers describe environmental factors to watch for that could affect the performance of robot motors, gears, and sensors.
Titan Medical raises $3M for surgical robotics platform
Titan Medical raised $3 million via stock sale to Aspire Capital Fund. This is part of a deal in which the Chicago-based, long-only investment fund has committed to purchase up to $35 million of common shares of Titan Medical through February 28, 2022, according to the SEC filing. According to the agreement, Toronto-based Titan Medical…