United Parcel Service of America Inc. yesterday listed the ways in which it is using technology to improve package flow and the overall efficiency of its network. UPS also described its use of robotics and automation to reduce repetitive tasks and physical stress for its employees. Founded in 1907, the company claimed that it has a long history of driving innovations for logistics. Atlanta-based UPS noted that its use of automation and digital technologies has accelerated with advances in artificial intelligence. “UPS has been a technology company since its founding. Innovation is in our DNA,” stated Carol Tomé, CEO of…
Advanced Navigation this week announced a new high-tech facility for robotics and autonomous systems at the University of Technology Sydney Tech Lab in Botany, New South Wales, Australia. The facility will scale up production of Advanced Manufacturing's artificial intelligence navigation for GPS-denied environments. “Determined to be the catalyst of the autonomy revolution, we are commercializing technologies that are key to addressing some of humanity’s biggest challenges” said Chris Shaw, co-founder and CEO of Advanced Navigation, in a release. “We are honored to partner with UTS, who has a reputation for supporting multidisciplinary research and opening access to next-generation technologies.” Shaw…
Cyngn Inc. this week said it is starting to deploy its DriveMod Stockchasers at a Fortune 100 heavy equipment manufacturer's facility in North America. Cyngn will also attend the American Automotive Summit next month. The agreement, first announced in July, is part of the manufacturer's plan to adopt more automation in its operations. The deployment will include Cyngn's DriveMod technology, which uses artificial intelligence to automate repetitive driving tasks. Its goal is to help the customer mitigate labor shortages while increasing efficiency and safety at the facility. “This deployment demonstrates Cyngn's ability to accommodate the growing industry demand for autonomous…
Geekplus Technology Co. and Adidas AG last week jointly announced the grand opening of an automated distribution center in Suzhou, China. The partners said the “state-of-the-art” facility “sets a new industry standard with its high degree of speed and flexibility in warehousing logistics.” “With the establishment of this center, Adidas aims to ramp up supply chain responsiveness, boost operational efficiency, and elevate the consumer experience,” said Harm Ohlmeyer, global chief financial officer of Adidas, in a release. “We envision these logistics advancements to provide valuable insights for Adidas' global expansion.” Founded in 1949, Adidas provides athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories.…
Robotics has added to increasingly complex production environments, driving demand for tools to enable plant managers to collect and use data gathered as a side product of automation, said ABB Robotics. It has released its new modular OptiFact software, which is intended to streamline data collection, visualization, and analysis in automated facilities. The number of robots sold worldwide has almost tripled over the past decade, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). “Digitization, the acceleration of sustainable manufacturing, and the pandemic have all contributed to the increased demand for automation,” said ABB in a release. “Across industries, we see…
While robots have become more common in warehouses and distribution centers, certain tasks have been challenging to automate. Dexterity Inc. yesterday announced that it is collaborating with FedEx Corp. to apply artificial intelligence and robotics to the loading of boxes into trucks and trailers. “Our culture of innovation is driven by a desire to help our team members and customers succeed,” stated Rebecca Yeung, corporate vice president of operations science and advanced technologies at FedEx, in a release. “Based on feedback from our operations team, we have been looking for a solution that helps alleviate the challenges of truck loading,”…
Systems integrator RobotLAB today announced has signed its first franchise partners in North Carolina. Business partners and cousins Chetan and Neel Patel have acquired exclusive RobotLAB franchising rights to the entire Charlotte territory, which encompasses more than 31,000 businesses and nearly 900,000 residents. “We’ve watched Charlotte grow rapidly over the last decade, and as local business professionals ourselves, we recognize how robots can be used to modernize businesses, solve staffing problems, and correct operational inefficiencies,” said Chetan Patel in a release. “We are excited to begin our franchise journey with RobotLAB and pave the way for expanded access to robotics…
Boston Dynamics' AI Institute today announced that it has hired Dr. Kate Darling to lead its study of ethics and societal impact in relation to robotics and artificial intelligence. In this role, she will lead a team of researchers to explore key societal questions related to the development of intelligent machines. “All new technologies offer opportunities and risks,” said Marc Raibert, executive director of The AI Institute, in a release. “Our goal in establishing the ethics team at the Institute is to maximize the opportunities that robotics and AI can offer, while minimizing the risks.” “We are excited to have…
Despite lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic constraints, and geopolitical conflict, global adoption of robotics is continuing to grow. The new World Robotics 2023 Industrial Robots and Service Robots report said that 553,052 industrial robots were installed in factories around the world in 2022 – a year-over-year growth rate of 5%. By region, 73% of all newly deployed robots were installed in Asia, 15% in Europe, and 10% in the Americas, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). “The world record of 500,000 units was exceeded for the second year in succession,” stated Marina Bill, president of the…
Robots offer the possibility of more efficient and profitable recycling, keeping more waste out of landfills. The Can Manufacturers Institute today said it is using an innovative financing model to deploy a robot at a Caglia Environmental material recovery facility, or MRF, in California. Ardagh Metal Packaging and Crown Holdings, two members of the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), will fund a two-year equipment lease for a robot from EverestLabs. The companies said they expect the robot to capture more than 1 million used beverage cans (UBCs) a year at the Caglia MRF, which sorts single-stream recyclables. Caglia will share with…
The energy sector plays a key role in Norway's robotics and automation industry. Investments in renewable sources could boost demand for automation, according to a recent market report from HowToRobot.com and the Norwegian Society of Electric and Automatic Control, or NFEA. “The Norway findings underscore a global shift: Robots and automation aren't limited to manufacturing anymore,” stated Søren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot. “Often, they align with sectors that hold significant economic weight in their respective markets, like energy in Norway.” Founded in 2020, HowToRobot.com is a global marketplace to connect buyers with automation suppliers. The Copenhagen, Denmark-based company, which has…
