Mobile robots, data, and artificial intelligence promise to make automation easier than ever for warehouses to adopt. But we're not yet at automation nirvana, and operators should still carefully evaluate their own processes, vendors, and integrators before proceeding. Trimble Autonomy offers positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analytics technologies linking hardware and software. The Westminster, Colo.-based company said it can add capabilities for automotive, construction, and agricultural applications, among others. Robots and autonomous systems that can generate their own high-definition maps in real time can not only more easily navigate complex environments, but they can also help optimize fleets and provide…
Your next cup of coffee could be in part thanks to robots. ForwardX Technology Co. last week said that it has collaborated with DHL Supply Chain to deploy assisted picking systems in a flagship warehouse that provides daily replenishment for about 600 chain coffee shops in a single city. “By leveraging our solution, the DHL warehouse has empowered itself with the steadfast ability to expand in capacity and elasticity, a formidable force prepared to conquer the challenges of a rapidly expanding business,” stated ForwardX Robotics. Founded in 2016, ForwardX said it has more than 250 employees from leading universities and…
Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that it will showcase its autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, and present at two sessions at the Logistics Summit on Oct. 11 and 12 in Dusseldorf, Germany. “We're excited to showcase Locus's transformative warehouse technology again at this premier European logistics event,” stated Denis Niezgoda, vice president for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC), at Locus. “Our robots deliver the ultimate in productivity and flexibility, optimizing warehouse operations today while rapidly scaling to meet future business needs,” he said. Wilmington, Mass.-based Locus Robotics said its AMRs collaborate with human workers, eliminating…
Hai Robotics Co., which produces Autonomous Case-handling Robots, or ACRs, today announced the launch of the telescopic Grapple Hook ACR, the HaiPick A42T-E2, and the HaiPick System 3. The Shenzhen, China-based company said its latest innovations can increase storage density and performance with a smaller warehouse footprint. “Businesses nowadays are struggling to not only optimize their warehouse space, but also strike a balance between automation and leaving room for growth,” said Peter Guan, general manager for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Hai Robotics, in a release. Hai Robotics claimed that its HaiPick system, independently developed in 2015,…
More robots are coming to commercial landscaping. Environmental Management Inc. has begun deploying Autonomous Mowing Robots, or AMRs, developed by RC Mowers. Columbus, Ohio-said EMI said the technology will help it deal with labor shortages. “The future of mowing is here, and we're proud to be one of the early adopters of the AMRs,” stated Mark Wehinger, president of EMI. “This new technology is revolutionary as we look for solutions to offset the labor shortage. This allows us to scale our business with less labor, and it enables our high-value talent the opportunity to do more high-value work.” When Wehinger…
Equipped with snow jackets, gloves, and luggage containing a host of cameras and sensors, Professor Hanumant Singh and a team of Northeastern University robotics researchers recently traveled to the Arctic with the goal of helping to address the climate crisis. Using a robot boat, known as an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV), Singh’s team created 3D models of two glaciers to determine if they could track them melting in the span of hours and days. That timeframe will help shed new light on how fast they are dissolving, Singh noted. In addition, the robot provided the researchers with the opportunity to…
Sarcos Defense, a subsidiary of Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corp., this week announced that it has received a $13.8 million contract from Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. The award came out of an AFWERX AFVentures call for its Strategic Funding Increase, or STRATFI, program. Sarcos said the contract will support the development, integration, and validation of its AI Computational Service. That service is a framework for success-based reinforcement learning in the Sarcos Guardian robots. The Salt Lake City-based company said it designs, develops, and manufactures advanced mobile robots and software “to enable the…
As supply chain operations bring in or add mobile robots, they quickly learn that adding hardware is only part of the process. Integrating and updating software, analyzing data, and building productive partnerships are crucial to ensuring a return on investment, noted industry experts. Robotics 24/7 previously examined how mobile robots can add flexibility to end-user operations. We continued our conversations with the following executives on how companies can get the most out of new or growing deployments: Jane Heffner, vice president of sales at Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) Jim Lawton, vice president and general manager for robotics automation at Zebra…
From warehouses to wind farms, Combilift has expanded its offerings as it marked its 25th anniversary this week. During the celebrations at its headquarters in Monaghan, Ireland, the company launched a new product designed to meet the load-handling demands of manufacturers of large-scale offshore energy systems. “We are thrilled to have launched this new product—the Combi-LC—and we hope it will act as a gateway for us to further progress within our venture into the wind energy sector,” stated Josh Moffett, heavy equipment manager at Combilift. “The scale of offshore wind projects around the world leads to a very unique set…
One of the biggest selling points for mobile robots is that they are not fixed infrastructure like conveyor belts and can thus change routes depending on seasonal volume, shifting workflows, or new products. In addition, increasingly sophisticated software promises to pick the best robots, manual and autonomous forklifts, and human workers as agents for a particular task. But this is easier said than done. As much as 70% of North American warehouses and distribution centers have yet to add any automation, industry experts have told Robotics 24/7. Even businesses that have robotics experience can run into problems growing their fleets…
