Agile Robot Technology Co. last week said it had completed a $220 million Series C funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The robotics software startup claimed to be “the only unicorn in the intelligent robotics field with a valuation exceeding US$1 billion globally.” Agile Robots said it will use the financing for product development, mass production, and sales expansion. “With the unique technology by combining a robotic OS [operating system] and the world's leading sensitive robots, Agile Robots is seeking fundamental breakthroughs in robotics,” said Dr. Zhaopeng Chen, the founder of Agile Robots. He added that it is…
Plus last week announced that it will collaborate Teledyne FLIR LLC to explore the addition of thermal cameras to the sensor stack used with Plus’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology. “We are excited to be working with the team at Plus as they explore the integration of thermal cameras into their current sensor suite, creating even safer autonomous commercial vehicles,” stated Paul Clayton, general manager of components in the Industrial Technologies Segment at Teledyne FLIR. “By combining thermal imaging with visible light cameras, lidar, and radar, Plus can create more comprehensive and redundant systems, allowing these vehicles to more readily…
Last-mile logistics can be a costly but important component of the extended supply chain. Goods must move from restaurants, fulfillment centers, retail stores, and other points of origin before traveling to customers or users. They most go through a complex series of transitions to successfully reach their final destinations. These items are not just parcels—they could be perishables such as groceries or food for dinner that evening. Typically, last-mile delivery requires a fleet of vehicles as well as workers who must drive the vehicles and get out to bring orders right to the end users, wherever they may be. In…
In remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the tragic terror attacks on American soil, X-Bots Robotics Inc., an award-winning, community-based high school robotics team operating under FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), said it will launch a pilot expansion of its X-Bots Robotics Mobility Program across six sites in California on Saturday, Sept. 11, through its partnership with PPG Foundation and Boys & Girls Club (BGC). September 11th is Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance, a day in which individuals are asked to find a volunteer opportunity and address a critical need in the community. The X-Bots Robotics…
Contrary to popular belief, manufacturing and other industries are still very labor intensive. In fact, there are about 345 million people on the factory floor today, but only less than 2 million industrial robots. In this 21st century, humans still handle about 72% of manufacturing tasks (so-called “last mile” in factories). We are far from Industry 4.0 and smart factories. The problem with our labor-driven factories is its reliance on an ample and constant supply of human capital. That supply is eroding at an alarming rate — labor shortage does exist, particularly in developed nations, even though it may not…
3D Systems Inc. yesterday announced that it has agreed to acquire Oqton, the creator of the Manufacturing Operating System, for $180 million. The MOS platform is designed for flexible production environments that increasingly use a range of advanced manufacturing and automation technologies, including additive manufacturing. “We are excited about joining with 3D Systems and look forward to leveraging their knowledge, resources, and ability to continue to innovate and deliver solutions that help companies accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing in production environments,” stated Dr. Ben Schrauwen, co-founder and CEO of Oqton. “At the same time, we bring our deep expertise…
Decathlon SA and PAL Robotics yesterday announced that they have launched a global partnership. The sporting goods retailer had already rolled out PAL Robotics’ StockBot inventory tracking and data collection system across its stores in multiple countries. StockBot has improved in-store operations and efficiencies, freeing teammates to dedicate more time to improving the customer experience and product availability rates, said the companies. “At PAL Robotics, we are delighted to be working with Decathlon, a long-established global retailer, to help them improve their inventory tracking and operations so they can focus more on customer experience,” stated Dr. Jordi Pagès, head of…
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Helping startups succeed, from inception to initial public offering, has been an integral part of Amazon Web Services (AWS) since our beginning. Today, more startups build on AWS than any other cloud provider, and many of our customers started using AWS at an early stage to help scale their business and drive innovation. For example, Lunar Outpost, a pioneer in lunar surface robotics, uses AWS RoboMaker to test and validate robotics software in a simulated lunar environment, enabling it to speed up robot delivery and reduce software bugs in deployment. Let's look at how AWS Robotics is helping robotics startups…
Geekplus Technology Co. today announced the successful deployment of sorting robots in the warehouse of Athinaiki S.A., a logistics and transport service provider specializing in last-mile delivery in Greece. “We are very excited to see our sorting robots provide Athinaiki S.A. with the speed and accuracy needed for excellent last-mile delivery services,” stated Jackson Zhang, vice president of Geek+ Europe. “With Geek+ and FDL, intelligent automation is easily accessible to Greek companies.” Founded in 2015, Geek+ applies robotics and artificial intelligence to warehouse operations and supply chain management. The Beijing-based company said it has more than 1,500 employees and 300…
In August 2021, the number of robotics investments, mergers, and acquisitions fell slightly from the previous month, but the reported dollar amount fell. Robotics 24/7 tracked 75 deals last month, worth a total of about $3 billion. In comparison, robotics, drone, and autonomous vehicle companies were involved in 115 transactions worth $8.6 billion in July 2021. As usual, self-driving cars and trucks led the way in August 2021, with more than $1.1 billion in 14 deals, a drop from the $1.8 billion of the previous month. Other technologies that received funding last month included 3D printing, with $820 million in…