Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.54
…practical standards are a critical next step for robotic automation,” he said. “Our AMR Interoperability Working Group has diligently focused on development and testing of these standards, which are needed now, and we fully expect will evolve as the robotics industry and end-user companies implement them. We encourage buyers to begin looking for the MassRobotics Interoperability Standard compliance badge when making purchasing decisions.” Defining interoperability, scope Since other organizations are also working on AMR interoperability, the MassRobotics working group first had to define its scope. It decided to focus on standards that “will allow autonomous vehicles of different types to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.48
…than truly coexist on the same floor. Still, several third-party competitors are starting to offer software and services to relieve operators of the complexity of managing such mixed environments. In addition, major robotics users such as FedEx are encouraging the development of standards and have joined organizations working on different aspects of the interoperability challenge. Robotics 24/7 spoke with several leading companies about increasing recognition of the need for interoperability, the growth of third-party solutions, and efforts to standardize how warehouse robots are managed. Awareness of the need Many users are just beginning to understand the concept of scaling robotic…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.43
…but scarce labor has persisted as a driver of automation, said Lior Elazary, co-founder and CEO of inVia Robotics, which promoted its software at ProMat DX this week. “The uptick started in May of last year, and some customers have seen the largest volumes than they've ever seen,” he told Robotics 24/7. “They saw peaks much earlier in the year and couldn't get the labor force. Each quarter has been the best ever for inVia in turn.” inVia approaches warehouses holistically “At inVia, we're approaching the problem of modernizing warehouses holistically,” Elazary said. “We've built a platform that programmatically digitizes…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.53
…whose motto is “Live Free or Die.” If the third-party logistics (3PL) industry had a motto these days, it might be “Innovate or Die.” “At NFI, we have followed the guidance ‘if you’re not growing, you’re dying,’” says Sid Brown, CEO. “Throughout each generation since our founding in 1932, we have been strategic and creative in how we grew. Today, innovation is essential in how we grow and enhance the value we bring to customers.” That is especially true of the e-fulfillment side of the industry, where shippers are counting on 3PLs to compete with the behemoths of the e-commerce…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.56
…The post office isn’t alone. Daimler Trucks is testing high-automation trucks on public roads in Virginia, following through on a pledge to make Level 4 automation a reality. In March of this year, the Germany-based Daimler AG accelerated its testing efforts through the purchase of 13-year-old software provider Torc Robotics. Daimler plans to commercially produce heavy-duty trucks that can drive by themselves in most situations within the next five to ten years. “Bringing Level 4 trucks to the public roads is a major step toward our goal to deliver reliable and safe trucks for the benefit of our customers, our…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.66
…This robotic revolution is propelled by technological advances in automation, engineering, energy storage, AI and machine learning. Already, the number of robots in use worldwide multiplied three-fold over the past two decades, to 2.25 million. Trends suggest the global stock of robots will multiply even faster in the next 20 years, reaching as many as 20 million by 2030, with 14 million in China alone. This increase will be challenging for governments and policy-makers as it will impact the economy, the workplace, and society. As a result of robotization, tens of millions of jobs will be lost, especially in poorer…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.08
…offshore technology. ABB will have system responsibility for electrical, automation, instrumentation and telecom solutions. Arctic Offshore Farming is a Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) project. NRS has received development permits that allow the company a total of up to 5,990 tons of salmon at the fish farm location. Design for Harsh Environment The offshore farm consists of two large fish cages that are placed in the Norwegian Sea outside Troms, in an area where weather and wave conditions are far more demanding than inside the fjords, where traditional farms are located. Placing the farm offshore reduces its environmental footprint, while providing…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.49
…many industry participants moving forward with focused investments in automation to help address the challenges. Additionally, after a few years of increasing investment indications for IS solutions, many companies may feel they have a solid IT foundation. “Where the respondents appear to be spending more is on automation such as conveyors and specific applications like vertical lift modules and put walls,” says Norm Saenz, managing director with St. Onge Company, a supply chain engineering and consulting firm. “While there are clear indications for growth in the survey, I believe companies are being tactical about investments. They want investments that will…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.90
…level and then hand order requirements down to the automation layer is not as simple as it used to be. With the complexities of e-commerce fulfillment, the need to orchestrate and optimize operations is driving the need for advanced execution software in the middle of the stack and for more optimization tools. In short, the DC tech stack has changed. It’s no longer just WMS on top, warehouse control system (WCS) software in the middle, and automated materials handling systems at the floor level. The stack has expanded, and while not every DC needs the same foundation, failure to grasp…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.24
…president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). “The automation witnessed by the automotive sector and the electrical/electronics industry comes out top here with a market share of 64%.” Within this context, IFR suggested the rapid automation in China represents a unique development in the history of robotics. The number of industrial robots sold increased by 56% alone last year in comparison to 2013. China is the largest and fastest growing robotics market in the world, with significant potential despite the recent economic downturn. Chinese production industries currently have a robotic density of just 36 units per 10,000 employees. In…