RSL is in the process of building out a different kind of network, with a different style of fulfillment center. Receiving: RSL receives an advanced ship notification (ASN) for all incoming product. When it’s received (1) at the facility, it is counted twice and then scanned into RSL’s proprietary warehouse management system (WMS). Product is placed into the storage bins used in picking, and storage can be at the single bin level or at the pallet level. Putaway: Newly received product can be stored in a reserve storage location (2) or a pick location (3). The lowest storage locations within…
The International Robotic Sailing Regatta (SailBot) is a robotic sailing competition held in North America in which teams of university, college and high school students compete. The first event, in 2006, was hosted by Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and took inspiration from a successful senior project at the University of British Columbia that built a robotic sailboat. Since 2008 teams have annually competed throughout the U.S. and Canada, traveling from as far away as Europe and Brazil. The goal is to create an unmanned sailboat that navigates through a variety of challenges with limited, if any, human control. Students…
3D Systems and TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG), a wholly owned subsidiary of TOYOTA Motor Corporation, announce they have entered a partnership to change automotive engineering. Through this partnership, the companies intend to develop manufacturing solutions, including 3D printers, materials and software—to change automotive design and production. “TMG has chosen 3D Systems for this partnership because they share our pioneering spirit—exhibited by the fact that they introduced the world to 3D printing. We see the unparalleled potential of combining 3D Systems’ expertise and know-how with that of TMG to create technologies and define new additive manufacturing innovations in the automotive industry,”…
A new generation of transport providers may be making some forms of temperature control system irrelevant, says the upstart drone company, Flytrex. Along with the drone services firm, Causey Aviation Unmanned, it has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to begin food deliveries by drone in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Flytrex will soon begin its on-demand, unmanned food delivery via commercial drones for local residents, says Yariv Bash, CEO and Co-Founder of Flytrex. “Given the expediency of drones for food delivery, Flytrex requires no additional technology to preserve perishable cargo,” he adds. “Once up and running, flight time…
BigRep introduces the latest in its growing line of large-format 3D printers, the STUDIO G2. This model is designed for use with abrasive and engineering-grade materials not suitable for use in most 3D printers. A combination of new extrusion nozzles and more precise temperature control offer faster throughput and higher resolution. The German-engineered and manufactured STUDIO G2 is specifically designed for industrial applications, with a sleek exterior suited for anywhere from the design lab to the shop floor. The exterior stands 1,765 mm. The new fully closed build envelope boasts a print volume of 500x1,000x500 mm, which means in practical…
Imprint Energy announces the expanded availability of its developer’s kit for its ultrathin, safe, flexible, printed batteries. Imprint’s batteries are suited for new types of high-volume applications such as smart labels, smart tags and more. The batteries pack the power to communicate over short or long distances, and were especially designed to power IoT devices integrated with Semtech’s LoRa devices for low-power wide area networks (LPWAN), as well as working with Bluetooth Low Energy and other standards. The Imprint Battery Developer’s Kit (BDK) gives product developers new degrees of freedom in product design and capability, helping them quickly prototype new…
Senvol announces that its president, Zach Simkin, has been elected to serve as chairman for SME’s Additive Manufacturing (AM) Community. SME’s AM Technical Community Advisors serve as the primary resource for guidance to SME and its members on AM technologies, including materials, processes, industrial base and workforce. The primary responsibility of the SME AM Advisory Committee is to advise SME on initiatives, activities, policy, and strategy related to AM. “AM continues to be a major strategic initiative for SME and a vital emerging sector for manufacturing as a whole,” says Suzy Marzano, product development manager at SME who oversees SME’s…
The use of robotics in warehousing, manufacturing and other sectors is increasing. Some countries, such as Japan, have long embraced robotics for a variety of uses. At the same time, there has also been a rise in “robophobia,” brought on by science fiction writers and filmmakers. Robophobia vs. fear of change Robophobia describes an irrational anxiety about robots and other advanced automation machines. Many famous figures, including Steve Wozniak and Elon Musk have expressed their concerns about robots taking over. Even the late Stephen Hawking told the BBC in 2014 that “development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end…
WIN Enterprises, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of embedded x86 motherboards and appliances for OEMs, announces the WIN MB-65040 Mini-ITX motherboard for IoT gateways, robotics and industrial control. MB-65040 supports the Intel Skylake-S CPU and Intel H110 chipset. The device features six COM ports and other robust I/O, making it a good fit in IoT gateways. The S-series 6th generation Intel Core processor family with the Intel H110 express chipset delivers performance, according to the company. The device features Ultra HD 4K display resolution capability and enhanced security. Optional TPM via LPC pin header means communications are disallowed with any…
Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has begun in-process inspection of additive manufactured parts using a customized digital radiology vault and specialized additive manufacturing systems designed by Auburn University researchers. The new system was acquired through a $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded to Auburn's Center for Additive Manufacturing. Auburn's Center for Additive Manufacturing was formed in 2015 and now includes extensive collaboration between Auburn, NIST, NASA and the global standards organization ASTM International. The nationally recognized organization conducts research, trains and educates graduate and undergraduate students, and develops and promotes technological innovations…
GreyOrange, a global software and robotics company that leverages AI and machine learning to optimize supply chains, today formally announced partnerships with eight warehouse industry leaders in the United States. Avik Services, Bricz, Hy-Tek, Info-Sun, McCombs-Wall, S&H Systems, TREW and UST Global will join forces with GreyOrange to help sell, deploy and service GreyOrange technology. “We partner with some of the most prominent warehouse logistics and supply chain organizations in the world, and our goal is not simply to optimize their operations, but to co-create a warehouse automation system that can scale to fit the needs of their desired future…
People and Robots When Gregory Moss walks into work at a California-based fulfillment center and approaches his work station for the day, 15 robots are by his side, delivering bins of items for him to sort, stow, or count. Moss is also one of 25-30 people in his shift who wear a robotics tech vest, allowing him to send a signal to the robots on the floor so he can safely move around the building. The vest uses advanced sciences, like AI and sensors, to draw an access path around Moss, so the robots automatically slow down or update their…