Intuition Robotics Ltd. today announced the official commercial launch of its ElliQ digital care companion, which is now available for purchase. The social robot is designed to help older adults be more physically active and socially engaged, enabling them to have happier, more independent lives. “After years of hard work, this day has finally come,” stated Dor Skuler, co-founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics. “Over the course of the pandemic, we’ve seen the devastating effect that loneliness can have on the older adult population.” “At the same time, we’ve seen ElliQ be incredibly helpful to our beta users and put…
More than 1,400 employees worldwide are working together under a new agreement devised by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., BMW Group, and Arriver Software to develop a scalable autonomous driving platform. The cooperation combines BMW’s autonomous driving (AD) technology, Arriver’s Vision Perception and New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) policy products, and Qualcomm’s chips, the companies said. A common goal They will focus on SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), SAE Level 3 automated driving functionalities, and NCAP solutions. The companies will build on top of BMW’s automated driving technology stack, which it launched in 2021 with the release of the BMW…
“The U.S. is short nearly 7 million single-family homes,” said Diamond Age. “Producing more will benefit both home builders and home buyers.” The Phoenix, Ariz.-based company last week said it has raised a $50 million Series A round to advance its automation for the home construction industry and pursue its go-to-market strategy. Diamond Age said its robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) offering combines 3D printing, mechatronics, and robotics to address the labor shortage and reduce construction cycle times from nine months to 30 days. “Affordable housing is impacting people on a global scale,” said Jack Oslan, co-founder and CEO of Diamond Age. “As…
End-user
ABB Group is adding two new lines of large manufacturing robots to its portfolio—the IRB 5710 and IRB 5720. The new robots are suitable for a wide range of production tasks including material handling and machine tending and assembly, as well as specific operations in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing such as battery module picking and placing, high precision assembly, and parts handling, the company said. The IRB 5710 and IRB 5720 are available in range of variants, the company said, with payload options ranging from 70 to 180 kg (154.3 to 396.8 lb.). Reaches range from 2.3 to 3 m…
ENOT.ai, which stands for “Embedded Neural Network Optimization Technology,” today released its optimization technology for developers of artificial intelligence and edge AI. The Riga, Latvia-based company said its framework can make deep neural networks faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient. “Today ... neural networks are widely used in production and applications,” stated Sergey Aliamkin, founder and CEO of ENOT. “Neural networks should be more effective in terms of consumption of computational resources and affordable.” Founded in 2021, ENOT said its team includes seven engineers, among whom are several Ph.D.s in computer science. They are also three-time winners of the global Low-Power…
Misa
Robotics startups are developing innovations for industries ranging from education to construction. No longer confined to factories, autonomous systems can help clean the environment, save lives, and explore new worlds in outer space or deep beneath the seas. Robots have come a long way since the days of Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of automatons. (Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system is named after the Renaissance artist and inventor.) With advances in motion control, sensors, and artificial intelligence, many startups are building, testing, and commercializing the robots of tomorrow. Multiple sectors begin to benefit from robotics STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)…
The robot delivery space has exploded in the past few years, in part due to the global pandemic and the rise of mobile ordering. The global market for delivery robots was valued at $300 million in 2021, according to Quince Market Insights. It’s estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.3% from now until 2030. Top brass in U.S. Many of the top players are based in the U.S., including Starship, Nuro, and Kiwibot. But there is also plenty of activity overseas. Within one year of launch, Alibaba’s XIaomanlv last-mile delivery robots reportedly completed more than…
Two Singapore-based robotics companies are joining forces. Teleoperation software start-up Cognicept Systems this week said it has merged with KABAM Robotics, a subdivision of engineering firm Patec Group. Cognicept combines capabilties Cognicept Systems was founded in 2018 out of a startup generator program funded by Singapore investment firm Antler. Its software platform, which Cognicept calls “A Global Human/Robot Remote Intervention OS” allows its customers to track, guide, identify, and fix issues with their fleet of robots remotely, according to the company’s website. Its tag line is “We step in when robots get confused.” Some of its partners include Savioke, Konica…
Volocopter GmbH last week said it has raised an initial $170 million in its Series E funding round. The Bruchsal, Germany-based said it plans to use the financing to certify its electric, autonomous air taxi and commercially launch it in the first cities worldwide. “This funding round is a testament to Volocopter’s leading position in what is a highly attractive emerging market,” stated Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. “We continue to make significant technical and commercial progress as we work toward bringing urban air mobility to life at scale in cities worldwide.” Volocopter said it is developing a new and…
Kassow Robots ApS today introduced its KR1018 robot to North America. The collaborative robot is strong enough to perform machine tending with heavy metal and plastic parts and precise enough to carry out pick-and-place tasks at high payloads, said the company. “The KR1018 is a very strong, compact cobot with a weight of only 34 kg [74.9 lb.], ideal for performing various jobs at industrial companies,” said Dieter Pletscher, head of global sales at Kassow Robots. “SMEs [small and midsize enterprises] without their own robotics specialists can achieve complex automation and programming cost-effectively and independently with the KR1018.” Kastrup, Denmark-based…