Found in
Velo3D Inc. today said that it and Launcher Inc., which develops high-performance rockets for small satellites, are proving the value of 3D printing for cost-effectively and flexibly delivery these satellites to orbit. In April, Launcher purchased a metal additive manufacturing system to print Inconel parts, and it recently added another one that prints titanium. “Rocket engine turbopump parts typically require…
Found in
The autonomous driving race includes technology companies in addition to major automakers. Electronics vendor Xiaomi Corp. today announced its financial results and said it has acquired autonomous vehicle company Deep Motion Technology on Aug. 25. Beijing-based Xiaomi starting to diversify into automotive technologies. Founded in 2010, Xiaomi manufactures consumer electronics and claimed that it was the No. 2 company in…
Found in
In addition to agriculture, delivery, and mining, another popular field robotics application is commercial lawn mowing. The U.S. commercial lawn mower market could reach $4 billion by 2024, according to Research and Markets. RC Mowers makes remotely operated robotic lawn mowers that can operate in landscapes that are hazardous to human workers. Suamico, Wis.-based Embankscape Equipment LLC, which does business…
Found in
Manufacturers in the United States account for almost 12% of the total output in the economy, according to a recent study by the National Association of Manufacturers. Over the next decade, 4 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed, and 2.1 million are expected to go unfilled if the country does not inspire more people to pursue modern manufacturing careers.…
Found in
Motional Inc. and Hyundai Motor Group today announced the IONIQ 5, Motional’s next-generation robotic taxicab. Based on the all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicle, which launched last year, the IONIQ 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle that can safely operate without a driver. The robotaxi will have zero tailpipe emissions, and the combination of electrification and autonomy could…
Found in
Velodyne Lidar Inc. and MOV.AI today announced that they are collaborating to provide robot manufacturers with systems for mapping, navigation, obstacle avoidance, and risk avoidance. The MOV.AI Robotics Engine Platform, combined with Velodyne’s Puck lidar sensors, will meet the growing demand for automation in dynamic collaborative environments such as e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing, and hospitals, they said. “MOV.AI’s mission is to…
Found in
In June, the Eastern Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute, or eKAMI, opened a new Robotics Center to offer hands-on retraining with robot arms and mobile robots used in industry. The Paintsville, Ky.-based institute was founded in 2017 and is dedicated to addressing the skills gap in U.S. manufacturing. Among the technologies at the event was an Ohmni telepresence robot from OhmniLabs…
Found in
Gatik today announced that it has raised $85 million in Series B funding. The company said it plans to continue developing its technology, scale its fleet of autonomous box trucks across North America, and hire more employees. In addition, Gatik said it is expanding its operations in Texas. “With our exclusive focus on structured autonomy, we have unlocked lower costs;…
Found in
The International Space Station today received a delivery of astronaut supplies, experiments, and a robot arm from GITAI Japan Inc. The Dragon capsule with 4,800-lb. (2,177-kg) payload traveled into orbit on the 23rd SpaceX mission. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration plans to test the robot for general-purpose tasks around October. Founded in 2016, GITAI said it is developing robotics…
Found in
Integrated Supply Network (ISN) has become the nation’s largest independent automotive tool and equipment distributor serving resellers and professional DIYers throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Having worked with Körber Supply Chain’s WMS successfully over the past ten years, ISN turned to Körber and its autonomous mobile robot (AMR) partner, Locus Robotics, to drive continued improvements throughout the warehouse.…
Found in
Online retailers, grocery chains, and manufacturers are looking to get the most productivity out of limited or expensive real estate. A number of automation providers have emerged to serve this need, but one challenge is distinguising their unique value proposition. Attabotics last week filed a claim in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts against Urbx Logistics alleging that it violated…
Found in
Autonomous vehicles are moving from testing to production. Nuro Inc. last week announced that it is spending $40 million to develop a closed-course test track and an end-of-line manufacturing facility in southern Nevada. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company said the new facilities will enable it to commercialize and scale production of its third-generation autonomous vehicle. “This is a significant moment…
Found in
Automation for Manufacturing Keeps Evolving
Found in
Cost and complexity are major barriers to the adoption of automation by small and midsize manufacturers. Vendors and systems integrators are increasingly offering robotics as a service, but there may still be financial risks. Formic Technologies Inc. has launched to offer customized robots at a low hourly rate, with guaranteed uptime and no upfront costs. The startup, which has an…
Found in
Schnuck Markets Inc. last week announced that it will expand its deployment of Simbe Robotics Inc.'s Tally mobile robots to all 111 of its locations across the U.S. The St. Louis, Mo.-based company claimed that it will be the first grocer in the world to use artificial intelligence-powered inventory management technology at scale. “We are facing a ‘new normal’ in…
GENISOM AI makes ICRA debut at conference in Vienna
World's first omni-modal evaluation including tactile sensing for…
Ultrasonic sensing enhances robotics perception
North America’s largest automation and robotics event takes place June 22-25
