Design
Paris-based Enchanted Tools is hoping to set itself apart from other humanoid robot makers with its Pixar-inspired mobile manipulators, Miroki and Miroka. Featuring pointy ears and expressive cat-like faces, Miroki and Miroka were designed to be used in places like hospitals, nursing homes, and hotels to assist with the movement of items. Miroki and Miroka function the same, but Miroki was designed to look like a boy, and Miroka was designed to look like a girl. Using specially designed handles, the robots can grasp items with a 97% success rate, according to Enchanted Tools. They feature a “rolling globe” to…
Labrador Systems Inc. is at CES again this year, showing off its healthcare robot designed to help older adults and those who are movement impared navigate their homes. The company has teamed up with Amazon for one of its demos and has placed an Amazon Echo Show 10 on top of its Labrador Retriever robot to showcase its ability to be integrated with other technologies. “On its own, the Echo Show 10 is an HD smart display with the Alexa. The device can rotate toward a person when they say the wake word (“Alexa”), helping the screen stay in view…
If 2022 was the year when supply chain operations and e-commerce demand started to stabilize in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 will be the year when companies double down on their use of automation for predictive analytics and real-time decision making, according to Siena Analytics. To put it more bluntly: Companies are increasingly becoming more proactive rather than reactive, and that trend will continue over the next 12 months, said the Franklin, Mass.-based company. Siena Analytics said its customers are seeking more granular data as automation is used in more and more supply chain processes. The company claimed that…
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Operators are turning to robotics to help transition away from just-in-time inventory management practices to more flexible supply chain operations. Part of the move has been driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. With disruptions to the global supply chain, many manufacturers and distributors struggled to find adequate components, particularly in automotive and electronics. Now, they are looking to have more parts on hand in cases of disruptions and to plan ahead. Robotics suppliers said they can provide customers with greater tools that allow for more efficient onsite management and predictive data analytics. For example, Attabotics claimed that its products can help…
Robotics software developer Intrinsic Innovation LLC is acquiring Open Source Robotics’ commercial division for an undisclosed amount. Intrinsic CEO Wendy Tan White announced the news in a company blog post today. “At Intrinsic, we’re aiming to accelerate a new generation of robotics developers,” she wrote. “We want to make programming intelligent robotic solutions as simple as standing up a website or mobile application.” “To realize this vision, we’re welcoming Brian Gerkey, former CEO and co-founder of the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF), and his team to Intrinsic by acquiring the business of its commercial subsidiary, the Open Source Robotics Corporation…
Design
Baseball players are always looking for ways to improve their batting performance. A lot of their gains come from practices between games. Toronto-based Trajekt Sports has developed a robotic pitching system designed to make those training sessions even more valuable. Using trajectory data collected from major league pitchers, machine learning, high-precision motors, image processing, and ball-tracking technology, the team at Trajekt has developed Arc, a pitching machine that can emulate the speed and pitching style of professional players. The system is already being used by seven major baseball teams, including the Chicago Cubs, according to Trajekt CEO Joshua Pope. Pope…
Recycling robot provider EverestLabs has signed a contract to install up to eight of its recycling robotic cells at the Sims Municipal Recycling Sunset Park Materials Recovery Facility, or SMR, in Brooklyn, New York. The company announced the deal in a release published today, noting that the facility has been using four EverestLabs robotic cells since the spring. Fremont, Calif.-based EverestLabs said it helps manufacturing recycling facilities, or MRFs, recover more recyclable martials by combining artificial intelligence, data analytics, and robotics. Its flagship product is its operating system, RecycleOS. SMR is EverestLabs’ largest customer SMR is a commingled recycling facility,…