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Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. last week announced the release of its LoadMate Plus robot cell. The Vernon Hills, Ill.-based company said the system is designed to be easily moved and is targeted at manufacturers that want to be more efficient and more productive. Manufacturers that face labor shortages for CNC (computer numerical control) machine applications can benefit from the LoadMate…
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Woven Planet Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp., said yesterday that it has agreed to acquire Level 5, the self-driving division of ride-hailing company Lyft Inc. This marks the first major deal for the newly established Woven Planet and continuing consolidation in the autonomous vehicle space. Woven Planet Group launched in January 2021 as an expansion of the…
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Plus One Robotics, which provides vision software for logistics robots, today said it has raised $33 million in Series B funding. The San Antonio-based company said the funding will support its ongoing expansion in the U.S. and Europe, as well as continued product development. “We’re fortunate to work with customers at the leading edge of warehouse automation who share our…
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Agriculture has become increasingly mechanized over the past few centuries. As people migrate to cities and suburbs for better-paying, less strenuous and seasonal work, automation is essential to making up for the shortfall in labor. Robots, drones, and artificial intelligence are starting to help farmers plant seeds; apply water, fertilizer, and pesticides; and harvest with more efficiency and less waste…
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Federal regulations, increasing levels of autonomy, and a desire for fast, contactless delivery have converged to propel drone delivery services. As test flights continue, data about consumer adoption is encouraging. During Thanksgiving week last year, residents of Christiansburg, Va., received a survey via mail. The postcard had an image of a yellow-winged drone carrying a small cardboard box. It was…
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Brooks Automation Inc. today announced that it has agreed to acquire Precise Automation Inc., a provider of collaborative robots and automation subsystems, for about $70 million. The companies said they expect the transaction to close by the end of this month, depending on working capital and customary closing conditions. “Precise provides Brooks with a product offering and technology portfolio that…
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Autonomous vehicles are coming to farms faster than to roads, partly because such environments are more structured and less crowded and thus safer to automate. Cognitive Pilot last week announced that it is working with Bryanskselmash, one of Russia's leading agricultural equipment manufacturers, to serially equip combines with artificial intelligence. The partners claimed that their agreement is the world's first…
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Among the challenges facing people whose legs have been amputated above the knee is a lack of sensory feedback from most commercially available prostheses. Researchers at ETH Zurich recently found that artificial neural feedback from a sensorized bionic leg can help users as well as designers of robotic assistive technologies. The scientists conducted their study at the Laboratory for Neuroengineering,…
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The enabling technologies for exoskeletons and other wearable robotics have been steadily improving. However, bringing such systems to market for industrial or therapeutic use poses challenges in scaling up for production. Sarcos Corp. this month marked a significant milestone as it announced a merger with Rotor Acquisition Corp., which will provide $496 million in capital. Robotics 24/7 spoke with Ben…
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Velodyne Lidar Inc. this week announced a multi-year sales agreement with Gatik, which uses Velodyne’s lidars as a key part of the sensor suite for its autonomous vehicles (AVs). Gatik said it delivers orders safely and efficiently among micro-fulfillment centers, so-called dark stores, and retail locations in middle-mile logistics. “Velodyne’s sensor solutions have the proven performance, reliability, and resilience our…
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The need to quickly, safely, and accurately sort recyclable materials from the waste stream is growing in urgency, as landfills fill up, international shipping of such materials decreases, and governments and citizens focus on sustainability initiatives. Just in time for Earth Day 2021, AMP Robotics Corp. yesterday announced that it has deployed six robotic sorting systems with recycler Evergreen. Founded…
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The Allen Institute for AI today announced Release 3.0 of its AI2-THOR embodied artificial intelligence framework, which now includes ManipulaTHOR for active object manipulation. The organization described ManipulaTHOR as “a first of its kind virtual agent with a highly articulated robot arm equipped with three joints of equal limb length and composed entirely of swivel joints to bring a more…
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Desktop Metal Inc. yesterday announced that its Production System is qualified to use 316L stainless steel. The system uses patent-pending Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) technology to achieve the fastest build speeds in the metal additive manufacturing market, claimed the Burlington, Mass.-based company. “The qualification of 316L stainless steel with leading mechanical properties on the Production System platform is part of…
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Meituan Inc. yesterday said that it has raised $10 billion, which it plans to invest in research and development of autonomous vehicles, drone delivery services, and other technology innovation. The Beijing-based company describes itself as a “one-stop platform for food, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment.” Meituan Select's business model “involves neighbors jointly purchasing groceries in bulk online at discounted prices…
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SoftBank Robotics Corp. and its SB Logistics Corp. subsidiary, along with Berkshire Grey Inc., announced yesterday that they have partnered to offer “the most technically advanced” third-party logistics service for e-commerce fulfillment. SB Logistics said its 3PL offering includes Berkshire Grey’s Intelligent Enterprise Robotics systems, including robots using artificial intelligence to autonomously pick, place, and pack customer orders for the…
GENISOM AI makes ICRA debut at conference in Vienna
World's first omni-modal evaluation including tactile sensing for…
Ultrasonic sensing enhances robotics perception
Cybernetix Ventures’ event kicks off Robotics Tech Week 2026 slate of events
