The supply chain industry has surged its warehouse automation efforts considering the e-commerce boom and labor scarcities. In addition to systems such as headphone-enabled voice-picking and exoskeletons that reduce human effort, mobile robots are proving to be the most prevalent productivity-enhancing solution in the warehousing sector. Worldwide mobile robot shipments to warehouses will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 40% from 2021 to 2030 and exceed 500,000 global shipments in 2030, according to ABI Research. “Productivity technologies can achieve far greater return on investment if correctly combined with other technologies,” stated Adhish Luitel, an industry analyst for…
ABB today said it has expanded its range of SCARA robots with the launch of the IRB 920T. The new robot provides the highest levels of speed, accuracy and repeatability for assembly, picking, and handling tasks, the company claimed. It said the IRB 920T is designed to meet the requirements of the electronics industry for high-speed production in increasingly complex manufacturing processes. “The need for companies to respond quickly to changing consumer demands is making SCARA robots a popular choice for production lines where fast and accurate performance is key to ensuring maximum product quality,” said Antti Matinlauri, head of…
NVIDIA Corp. today announced that it is working with Open Robotics to improve ROS 2 performance on its Jetson platform for artificial intelligence at the edge and its GPU-based systems. The company said this initiative will enable robotics developers to more easily and quickly incorporate computer vision and machine learning functionality into systems based on the Robot Operating System (ROS). “We've been working closely with Open Robotics to bring a host of NVIDIA AI technologies to the ROS community,” said Murali Gopalakrishna, head of product management, autonomous machines, and general manager for robotics at NVIDIA. “We want to make it…
PACCAR Inc. today announced that it has teamed up with Aurora Innovation Inc. and FedEx Corp. to launch a commercial pilot of autonomous trucks in line-haul trucking operations. The companies claimed that their collaboration is the first of its kind among a truck manufacturer, a self-driving technology developer, and a logistics provider, respectively. “PACCAR is pleased to partner with industry leaders FedEx and Aurora on this innovative project,” said John Rich, chief technology officer at Bellevue, Wash.-based PACCAR. The company designs, manufactures, and supports high-quality, light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs…
Thanks to its confluence of academia, government research and development, and corporate investment, Pittsburgh continues to be a leader in automation innovation. Oshkosh Corp., which provides mission-critical vehicles and essential equipment, and Carnegie Foundry, a robotics and artificial intelligence venture studio, this week announced a strategic partnership. Oshkosh is also investing an unspecified amount in Carnegie Foundry to accelerate innovation in autonomy and robotics. “For years, Oshkosh has been developing autonomous technology that delivers greater productivity while reducing total cost of ownership for our customers,” stated John Pfeifer, president and CEO of Oshkosh Corp. “Oshkosh’s strategic investment in Carnegie Foundry…
HAI Robotics, which has developed autonomous case-handling robots, yesterday announced that it has secured $200 million in Series C and D financing. The company said it plans to use the investment to make technical updates to its robot fleet, expand its global operation networks, and optimize its supply chain management and staff. “Our major future orientation will center on expanding the overseas market and localize our service,” said Richie Chen, co-founder and CEO of HAI Robotics. He added that the Shenzhen, China-based company will continue to pursue technological innovation as the primary driver for growth and to continuously create value…
Embark Trucks Inc., which is developing autonomous technology for the trucking industry, last week announced that it has partnered with Ryder System Inc. The companies plan to launch a nationwide network of up to 100 Embark transfer points, where Ryder will provide yard operations, maintenance, and fleet management to support a seamless coast-to-coast autonomous network for Embark fleet partners. “A fully developed transfer point has to include autonomous truck maintenance services and efficient yard operations,” said Alex Rodrigues, CEO of Embark. “By working with Ryder to offer best-in-class truck services throughout our transfer point network, we’re laying the groundwork for…
While many mobile robot providers jumped on the disinfection bandwagon during the COVID-19 pandemic, a few were already involved in cleaning applications. Avidbots Corp. today announced that it has expanded the functionality of its Neo 2 floor-scrubbing robot with a sprayer that can disinfect high-touch surfaces more economically and safely than other approaches. “The days of having single-purpose robots for specific tasks are behind us. A robot must be multi-functional to meet the ever-evolving needs of customers,” stated Pablo Molina, co-founder and chief technology officer of Avidbots. “With the Disinfection Add-On, our customers can disinfect surfaces for a few hundred…
SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. today announced a global partnership with Keenon Robotics Co., which focuses on indoor service robots. The global launch expands on Keenon's announcement last week of $200 million in Series D funding and collaboration with SoftBank Robotics. The companies said they will work together to expand the use of robotics in the service industry. They said that service robots will provide efficiency and productivity gains that will allow businesses to allocate more time and resources for staffers to refocus on customer service. “We are proud to partner with SoftBank Robotics, the leader in the robotics solutions industry,”…
Mujin Inc., a Japanese company that has brought “machine intelligence” to robots across Asia since 2011, today opened its first office in North America. Mujin Corp.'s facility in Sandy Springs, Ga., north of Atlanta, will house its expanding engineering, sales, and support staff, including Ross Diankov, co-founder of Mujin and CEO of Mujin Corp. “Companies that want to automate mundane and repetitive material-handling tasks face a myriad of challenges, from the high costs of developing solutions for their difficult applications to unscheduled downtime and reprogramming costs when things don’t go as planned, or when robots must be reprogrammed due to…
End-user
Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P., or THL, today announced a definitive agreement with Brooks Automation Inc. to acquire its Semiconductor Solutions Group for $3 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2022 upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. “We are excited to be joining forces with THL, with whom we share a vision for the future of our business,” said David Jarzynka, president of Brooks Automation. “We are proud of the leadership position we’ve established in our industry, and THL’s resources and automation expertise will further strengthen our…