Mobile robot maker Seegrid Corp. today announced that its newest autonomous lift truck, the Seegrid Palion Lift, is now available for pre-order. The Pittsburgh-based company said manufacturing, e-commerce, and logistics companies have the opportunity to lock in priority access to the autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Initial customer shipments start in April, according to the company. Equipped with the most advanced generation of Seegrid’s proprietary autonomy technology, Palion Lift is the company’s newest robot. The lift truck made its global debut this week with live demonstrations at MODEX, which claims to be the world’s largest manufacturing and supply chain trade event.…
Softeon Inc., a global warehouse management services company, said it will be featuring its suite of services for automated warehouses at the MODEX supply chain trade show in Atlanta this week. The Reston, Va.-based company said its integrated warehouse management system (WMS), warehouse execution system (WES), and overall supply chain execution technology platform are intended for warehouses looking to upgrade. Softeon offers range of warehouse services Interest has risen in all types of distribution center automation because of labor shortages and rising costs. Softeon said it offers unique approaches to materials handling systems, from highly automated goods-to-person and sortation systems…
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Robot maker Boston Dynamics Inc. has announced Stretch, its newest system designed specifically for warehouses and distribution centers, is now available for commercial purchase. First introduced in the spring of 2021, Stretch has been in pilot testing with a select group of customers the past several months. The company said all units scheduled for 2022 delivery have already sold out thanks to strong demand from those early customers, which include DHL Supply Chain, Gap, H&M, and Performance Team – A Maersk Company. Boston Dynamics said it is now accepting reservations for 2023 and 2024 deliveries. The Waltham, Mass.-based company has…
Big Joe Forklifts (Booths B3219 & B3419) is previewing several new products, including the company’s vision for a new breed of semi-autonomous machines known as “co-bots,” or collaborative robots, that keep humans in the loop within materials handling workflows to deliver maximum value. Nicknamed “BUD,” Big Joe’s User Directed Pallet Mover showcases the company’s User Directed Automation concept. It features a simple onboard tablet and Cloud connection to drive autonomously on custom missions once an operator manually loads a pallet and tells it where to go. “Automation as we know it in material handling is about to be turned upside…
Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation today announced that it has reached a definitive merger agreement to acquire RE2 Robotics., a developer of autonomous and teleoperated mobile robotic systems for use in the aviation, construction, defense, energy and medical industries. The companies said the transactions brings together two leading commercial robotics teams focused on industrial robotic technologies that improve worker safety and productivity. Purchase price of $100 million Consideration for the transaction is $100 million, consisting of $30 million in cash, which Sarcos expects to fund with cash on hand, and $70 million of Sarcos common stock. “We are delighted to…
FORT Robotics Inc. today announced the Nano Safety Controller, or NSC, an embeddable board that allows customers to build FORT wireless safety and communication technology directly into their machines without bolt-on hardware. “Until now, customers who wanted our trusted command technology have had to use our bolt-on hardware. That’s not always ideal for every project,” said Nathan Bivans, chief technology officer at FORT. “With the NSC, we can provide a solution that’s smaller, more flexible, more integrated, and cost-effective for large numbers of machines.” Philadelphia-based FORT Robotics said its mission is to unlock the full potential of mobile robots by…
Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that it has added the Locus Vector and Locus Max to its line of autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs. These new models join the Locus Origin robot to address a broad range of warehouse use cases, said the Wilmington, Mass.-based company. The new AMRs address e-commerce, case-picking, and pallet-picking applications, as well as supply chain scenarios requiring larger, heavier payloads, said Locus. The company acquired Nashua, N.H.-based Waypoint Robotics Inc. in September 2021. “With these new LocusBots, we’re able to help our clients alleviate significant labor challenges and achieve optimal productivity by using the right…
In advance of the MODEX 2022 supply chain trade show, two companies addressed the challenge of automated bagging. Berkshire Grey Inc. and OSARO Inc. last week both announced new products that they plan to show in Atlanta. “Warehouse and logistics operations globally are wrestling with an acceleration of consumer demand and a shortage of labor,” stated Derik Pridmore, CEO of OSARO. “By automating common manual processes such as movement, storage and retrieval, and picking and placing, fulfillment centers and e-commerce operations can become more efficient and cost effective—and improve employee safety.” “Berkshire Grey’s Robotic Pick and Pack with Identification system…
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Mobile robot makers are located around the world, from Waltham, Mass., to Beijing. Many makers of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are relatively young. Most were started in the past decade, if not the past five years. But even though they are young, they are actively reshaping manufacturing and warehouse operations. Interact Analysis reported that about 100,000 mobile robots were shipped globally last year. That's the highest ever sold. That includes automated guided vehicles (AGVs) as well as AMRs. AMR sales strong in response to pandemic, labor shortage The rising adoption of mobile robots is in part because of the COVID-19…
Kindred Inc. this week announced it will bring to market an AI-powered robotic system designed to automate the small parcel induction process. Built on Kindred’s proprietary CORE/AutoGrasp artificial intelligence platform, the INDUCT robotic system is a high-speed workcell that identifies items and determines how to handle them, a process known as induction. The San Francisco-based company said the system accurately picks, maneuvers, and places items onto a moving belt, bomb bay, or tilt sorter. The platform combines AI-powered machine vision, grasping, and manipulation algorithms to handle parcels of varying size, fragility, and materials. INDUCT system to help address shortages The…