Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 50.76
Pudu Robotics, a commercial service robotics organization, announced the launch of its KettyBot Pro, the next generation of its delivery and reception robot. Enhancements in the new generation include immersive engagement and personalized advertising, cutting-edge cameras that allow for navigating even narrower passageways, smart tray inspection based on visual sensors and more color options. In 2024, restaurant and retail customers expect seamless experiences tailored to their preferences by brands that can anticipate their next desire. Businesses facing an unprecedented labor shortage are turning to robots to deliver such an experience. In addition to delivering food and returning items, KettyBot can…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 75.14
Pudu Robotics, which specializes in commercial service robotics, will showcase a new cleaning robot (the PUDU CC1) at the ISSA Show North America in Las Vegas from Nov. 13-16. According to the company, the cleaning industry, facing an uncertain economy and persistent staff shortages, is embracing automation to make operations more efficient, fill job vacancies, and reduce costs. Robots are solving recruitment challenges and high personnel turnover. The PUDU CC1, an intelligent all-in-one cleaning solution, has proven effective in various commercial environments, including office buildings, retail stores, hotels, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, according to the company. “Property managers and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 43.65
Alphabet's robotic subsidiary Intrinsic Innovation LLC has laid off 40 employees, which makes up about 20% of its workforce. The Information broke the news and was backed up by multiple sources including TechCrunch, which received a statement from the company. “Intrinsic’s leadership has made the difficult decision to let go a number of our team members,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch. “We have communicated the news directly with them. We fully acknowledge how hard this will be and are offering as much proactive support as possible.” Alphabet's X Development LLC innovation unit launched Intrinsic in 2021. The Google Inc. parent company…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 83.05
Pudu Robotics is celebrating the success of its partnership with supermarket retailer Carrefour, which recently deployed BellaBot units, Pudu’s smart delivery robot, at two of its retail stores in Warsaw, Poland. The service shelf robot, also known as Kerfus, is being used to promote and deliver Pepsi products. Pudu noted customers have enjoyed interacting with the robot and have posted about their experiences with it on social media. Memeing a robot “Through the collaboration between Carrefour and Pepsi, Kerfuś has become a source of popular memes on social media, particularly on Twitter, where Kerfuś fans have been actively engaged in…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 21.75
Fast-food and fast-casual restaurants are serious about investing in robotics. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. yesterday said that its Cultivate Next venture fund is investing in Hyphen Technologies Inc., which is developing automation for kitchen operations, and Meati, which is developing processes for proteins made from mushroom root. Newport Beach, Calif.-based Chipotle said its $50 million Cultivate Next fund “intends to make early-stage investments into strategically aligned companies that further the company's mission to 'Cultivate a Better World.'” Hyphen and Meati are part of its first cohort. Chipotle had over 3,000 restaurants as of March 31 in the U.S., Canada, the…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 82.85
Pudu Robotics this week unveiled its newest commercial service shelf robot designed for deliveries, the PuduBot 2. The PuduBot 2 features a seven-layer adjustable tray to be used for a variety of service tasks in industrial facilities, leisure and entertainment venues, retail stores, supermarkets and more, the company said. Shenzhen, China-based Pudu claimed that the PuduBot 2’s high-performance lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery can provide up to 24 hours of operational battery life on a three-hour charge. Besides the increased sustainability, the PuduBot 2 also comes with an upgraded system that increases driving stability by 30%, it said. The company…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 22.77
The past few weeks have been difficult for the robotics industry, with several announcements of layoffs and shutdowns. At the same time, however, robot sales, funding, and demand continue to set records. What's really going on? The setbacks included the following: Argo AI LLC—This Pittsburgh-based autonomous driving developer announced last week that it is was laying off 150 employees, about 5% of its global workforce of more than 2,000 people, according to TechCrunch. Ford Motor Co. and others have invested in Argo AI, which last year launched self-driving deliveries with Walmart Inc. in Miami; Austin, Texas; and Washington, D.C. The…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 29.46
Keenon Robotics was ranked highly in a recent report from International Data Corp., or IDC, entitled “Market Share of Commercial Service Robots in China Catering Industry.” The company was ranked No. 1 in market share and growth in China’s commercial service robots for the catering industry for 2021. The Shanghai-based company had a growth rate of 153.4%, with a market share of 48.6%, almost twice as large as the second largest, Pudu Robotics. “The demand for service robots, such as delivery robots, is growing significantly across many industries, especially catering,” IDC reported. “The catering industry has become one of the…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 25.43
Robotics developers have been hearing about the potential benefits of 5G networks for a few years but have been constrained by available hardware. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. today unveiled its expanded road map of 5G and edge artificial intelligence systems, including its new Qualcomm Robotics RB6 Platform and the Qualcomm RB5 AMR Reference Design. The San Diego, Calif.-based company said its new products will enable innovations in industrial automation, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), drones, urban air mobility (UAM), delivery robots, autonomous defense systems, and more. From the Amazon Astro consumer device and the Perseverance rover on Mars to wireless factories, robots…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 75.65
…the demand for service robots has surged, according to Pudu Technology Inc. The Shenzhen, China-based company this month completed its C2-series financing, only four months after it raised C1 funding. Pudu Robotics said it has raised a total of $155 million. The startup is committed to the “spirit of invention” in its mission to improve productivity, efficiency, and smart living, said Felix Zhang, founder of Pudu Robotics. The company is hiring, he added. Founded in 2016, Pudu said tens of thousands of its commercial service robots are in use in more than 60 countries and regions worldwide. Its robots have…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 32.75
…the Yizhuang Development Area. It had already made 11,000 robotic deliveries in the Shunyi District with two vehicles within a distance of about 6 km (3.7 mi.). The electric vehicles reportedly could complete five orders per trip, and a second generation was recently launched. Meituan has been working on autonomous vehicles since 2016, and it launched contactless deliveries with its “Magic Pods” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Xia Huaxia, chief scientist and head of AI platform at Meituan, said he hopes to take advantage of 5G networking as soon as it becomes more widely available. The company has been testing delivery…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 42.80
Pudu Technology Inc. yesterday announced that it has closed Series C financing of 500 million yuan ($78 million U.S.). The Shenzhen, China-based company provides mobile robots for service applications including delivering food in restaurants, monitoring security, and disinfection. PuduTech said it will use its latest funding for technology research, expanding its product line, and developing domestic and foreign markets. The company, which was founded in 2016, noted that half of its 1,000 employees are devoted to research and development and that it has applied for more than 600 patents. “The spirit of the inventor” is the first principle of Pudu's…