Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.25
For anyone interested in industrial innovation, there's a lot in the news right now about uses of autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, in manufacturing and supply chain processes. Companies are figuring out many ways to improve or scale operations with these types of systems. Thanks to improving perception, artificial intelligence, and fleet management tools, AMRs are finding new uses on factory floors, in distribution centers, and elsewhere. Let's look at some of the ways in which businesses are modernizing their operations with the latest mobile robots. 1. Mobile robots can make work more ergonomic Manufacturers often need to plan how…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.26
Technology continues to innovate various industries, but it comes with a mixture of enthusiasm and fear. Businesses are understandably excited about the prospect of greater efficiency, while some workers worry they'll be replaced by robots. The retail industry is a prime example. Who hasn't walked to the front of their local grocery or big-box store recently and been confronted with the option to do self-checkout? Retail has experienced some major forms of automation over the past several years, but that doesn't necessarily mean all workers will be shown the door. Make no mistake, the future of retail careers will be…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 40.79
A week after Amazon.com Inc. provided a peek at the robots it is currently testing, Agility Robotics Inc. confirmed that Amazon's research and development center near Seattle will begin testing its Digit bipedal robot. “Digit’s size and shape are well-suited for buildings that are designed for humans, and we believe that there is a big opportunity to scale a mobile manipulator solution,” explained Emily Vetterick, director of engineering at Amazon. “Collaborative robotics solutions like Digit support workplace safety and help Amazon deliver to customers faster, while creating new opportunities and career paths for our employees.” Agility Robotics noted that the…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 34.86
Amazon.com Inc. uses many robots in addition to those it acquired with Kiva Systems a decade ago. The Seattle-based e-commerce company noted that it has more than 750,000 robots working with its employees to relieve them of repetitive tasks. Amazon today announced that it is launching a new robot to help fulfill customer orders for the upcoming holiday shopping season. It is also testing Agility Robotics' mobile manipulation system. The new system, Sequoia, is already operating at an Amazon fulfillment center in Houston. Based on a series of research and development efforts at Amazon, Sequoia integrates multiple robots to containerize…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.22
Generative AI and “cloud-native” APIs and microservices are coming to the edge, said NVIDIA Corp. The company today announced major expansion to two frameworks in the NVIDIA Jetson platform for robotics and artificial intelligence on the edge: NVIDIA Isaac ROS has entered general availability, and it is expanding NVIDIA Metropolis on Jetson. “Generative AI is bringing the power of transformer models and large language models to virtually every industry,” wrote Amit Goel, director of product management for autonomous machines, in a blog post. “That reach now includes areas that touch edge, robotics, and logistics systems: defect detection, real-time asset tracking,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.08
McMurray Stern and Addverb Technologies Pvt. today opened a warehouse automation Tech Center to industry stakeholders, partners, and technology enthusiasts. The partners said they have spent years planning for this grand unveiling. “We are thrilled to open our Tech Center in Santa Fe Springs, [Calif.],” stated Pat Fitzpatrick, vice president of sales and marketing of McMurray Stern. “This facility represents our commitment to delivering cutting-edge storage solutions that can transform businesses and organizations. We invite everyone to come and explore the future of storage technology with us.” McMurray Stern said its teams include factory-trained employees, capable of professionally managing automated…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.70
PickNik Robotics today announced that it has raised $2 million in a pre-seed investment round. The Boulder, Colo.-based company said it plans to use the funding to further develop its MoveIt Studio platform, which is designed to enable developers to create robot applications. “This investment marks a pivotal moment in our journey from a bootstrapped company that could only innovate incrementally,” stated Dave Coleman, CEO of PickNik. “We’re now committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with robot arms faster.” PickNik Robotics described itself as “the unstructured robotics company,” solving complex challenges to bring robots out of factories and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.38
Interroll AG last week announced an expansion to its light conveyor platform, or LCP, designed to facilitate the handling of lightweight goods with autonomous mobile robots from Mobile Industrial Robots ApS, or MiR AMRs. The companies said the integrated offering will serve as a flexible bridge between fixed conveyor systems and production lines, empowering customers worldwide to streamline internal logistics. “Selecting MiR as a partner for the LCP AMR top module was a strategic choice,” stated Jens Strüwing, executive vice president for product and technology at Interroll Group. “Like Interoll, MiR is a global market leader in material handling.” “After…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.29
One of the biggest selling points for mobile robots is that they are not fixed infrastructure like conveyor belts and can thus change routes depending on seasonal volume, shifting workflows, or new products. In addition, increasingly sophisticated software promises to pick the best robots, manual and autonomous forklifts, and human workers as agents for a particular task. But this is easier said than done. As much as 70% of North American warehouses and distribution centers have yet to add any automation, industry experts have told Robotics 24/7. Even businesses that have robotics experience can run into problems growing their fleets…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.67
IAM Robotics this week announced that it has changed its name to Onward Robotics, with a new logo, visual identity, and website. The Pittsburgh-based company said it has evolved from a developer of mobile manipulation systems to a provider of software and hardware for person-to-goods automation. “This transition has been an exciting and transformational process for us,” said CEO Lance VandenBrook in a press release. “Onward Robotics better reflects the organization’s strong forward trajectory, our bold and purposeful team, and most importantly, our commitment to moving our clients and the global supply chain forward.” Founded in 2012, IAM Robotics had…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 12.10
Conigital last week said it has secured an offer of £500 million ($619.3 million U.S.) in Series A+ funding. The Birmingham, U.K.-based company said the investment will enable it to advance its self-driving technology and driver safety products. “Following over a year of discussions, we're thrilled to secure an offer of £500 million in Series A+ funding,” stated Don Dhaliwal, CEO of Conigital. “This monumental achievement signifies not only our unwavering commitment to transforming transportation, but also the remarkable growth and commercial success we've achieved alongside a strong pipeline.” “This substantial capital infusion will empower us to attract top-tier talent,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.64
Labor shortages have affected large parts of the world and various industries, including security. Ascento Robotics yesterday announced pre-seed funding of $4.3 million and the launch of its Ascento Guard autonomous robot for outdoor patrols. “The global security industry is facing mounting challenges,” said Allesandro Morra, co-founder and CEO of Ascento. “Labor shortages mean a lack of qualified personnel available to do the work, which involves long shifts during anti-social hours or in bad weather.” “To compound matters, there is high staff turnover in the industry—as much as 47% annually,” he asserted in a release. “By providing a robotics-as-a-service [RaaS]…