Time and convenience are essential for customers of quick-serve restaurants, or QSRs. Tel Aviv, Israel-based Flytrex Inc. today announced Autonomous Pickup. The company said it enables a fully autonomous delivery process—from order placement through pick-up and delivery to customers’ yards. Flytrex claimed that its new capability can cut delivery times to about five minutes from the time orders are ready, creating growth opportunities for QSRs and family-owned restaurants. “What’s so unique about this innovation is its real potential to move the needle, with more and more businesses getting on board with an undeniably seamless and cost-effective process,” stated Yariv Bash,…
OTTO Motors today announced the OTTO 1200, which it claimed is the highest-performing, heavy-duty mobile robot for compact environments. It can safely move payloads of up to 1,200 kg (2,650 lb.), said the Kitchener, Ontario-based company. The autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is equipped with patented adaptive fieldset technology to quickly and safely maneuver around people in narrow spaces, claimed OTTO Motors. The company said it delivers the same reliability, productivity, and durability as its other products, now in a compact package. “Nearly a decade ago, OTTO Motors introduced the first heavy-class AMR for material handling,” stated Matt Rendall, co-founder and…
Last week, the Association for Advancing Automation, or A3, announced that robot orders declined for the second quarter in a row after record purchases in the past two years. Despite widespread concerns about high interest rates and tightened access to capital, the overall outlook for the industry is strong, said the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based organization. Last year, sales of industrial robots in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico rose by 12%, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). In the first half of this year, North American orders totaled 16,865 robots, down 29% in comparison with the same period last…
Developers have been working to free robots, first from being bolted down, then to being tethered to a power outlet, and now from needing to return to a dock to recharge. CaPow, which said it delivers perpetual power to robotic fleets, today announced its expansion in the U.S. with help from partner JLC Robotics LLC. “We are honored to be partnering with CaPow,” stated Jamie Callihan, president of JLC Robotics. “Their vendor-agnostic perpetual power solution for mobile robot fleets is a true game-changer.” JLC Robotics is a leading distributor of materials handling systems including the Thouzer automated guided vehicle (AGV).…
Why aren't robots more ubiquitous? Ease of use has been one obstacle to more widespread adoption, but several hardware and software providers are trying to overcome it. Mujin Corp. said its MujinController enables integrators and end users to set up palletizing and other applications. The Tokyo-based company said its technology can also be used in bin picking and truck unloading. Mujin yesterday announced that it had raised a Series C round of $85 million. Funding came from sources including SBI Investment Co. and James Kuffner, CEO of Woven by Toyota. The global market for just palletizing robots could expand by…
Labor shortages have become one of the most pressing challenges for small and midsized enterprises in member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD. The International Federation of Robotics last week announced Go4Robotics, a new online platform to provide independent guidance in manufacturers' journey to automation. “The lack of skilled labor is a strong driver for automation in many countries,” said Dr. Susanne Bieller, general secretary of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), in a release. “In fact, statistics from the EU say that three quarters of all companies across the EU have a problem attracting…
As in many sectors, agriculture is suffering a shortage of skilled labor, so farmers are increasingly turning to automation. Apex.AI today announced a project with Bernard KRONE Holding SE & Co. KG and Lemken GmbH to jointly develop commercial-ready autonomous farming systems. Their 'Combined Powers' concept vehicle can autonomously plow, cultivate, sow, mow, turn, and swath. The companies said they are transitioning the carrier vehicle from prototype to series production with Apex.AI's software development kit (SDK), which consists of Apex.Grace and Apex.Ida. During the prototype stage, the functional models did not use any middleware, said Michael Nienhaus, a developer at…
Nurses and other care staffers have come under tremendous stress, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. German Bionic today officially introduced its Apogee+ powered exoskeleton to the North American healthcare market. The company said it designed the technology as a “personal lift assist.” “With its full range of features, our new Apogee+ power suit is designed to help ease the extremely demanding working conditions in these system-critical professions, making the jobs safer and more sustainable,” said Armin G. Schmidt, founder and CEO of German Bionic, in a release. “Based on our early success in the European market, we firmly believe that…
The U.S. Surgeon General recently said that loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. As healthcare providers and governments seek remedies, Intuition Robotics has developed the ElliQ companion, which uses artficial intelligence to engage with older adults. The company today announced that it has secured $25 million in the first closing of its latest funding round. “We’ve seen the direct impact that loneliness has had on our aging community, but we’ve also seen the positive results our AI and technology have on the older adult population,” stated Dor Skuler, co-founder and CEO of Intuition…
igus recently announced that it has partnered with the MassRobotics Associated Network. The motion plastics leader said the association aligns with its ongoing commitment to fostering advances in robotics technology and expanding services for small and midsize enterprises, or SMEs. “Being part of the MassRobotics Associated Network is a step forward in our mission to facilitate affordable, cutting-edge automation solutions to SMEs worldwide,” stated Jan Hennecke, low-cost automation product manager at igus. “We are thrilled to work with more robotics startups and receive recognition in the community.” Motion plastics are high-performance polymers that can eliminate the need for lubricants and…
Apptronik Inc. today unveiled Apollo, which it claimed is “the world's most capable humanoid robot.” The Austin, Texas-based company said the robot is designed for friendly interaction, mass production, performance, and safety. “As labor challenges and employment trends continue to impact our economy, we need to fundamentally change the way we think about work, particularly in the warehouse and the supply chain,” said Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, in a release. “People don’t want to do robotic, physically demanding work in tough conditions, and they shouldn’t have to,” he added. “Humanoid robots are not just an answer to…
Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that its autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, have now been involved in more than 2 billion picks, reinforcing its position as a leading robotics provider for warehousing and logistics. The company noted that this milestone came on Aug. 18, only 11 months after it reached an “industry-first” landmark of 1 billion picks. “Achieving the 2 billion picks milestone is an incredible accomplishment for our company and for our customers,” stated Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “This event is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our incredible team and the dramatic productivity improvements…