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From the Editor
New Year, New Funding Across Robotics Landscape
Robotics funding news is not necessarily unique these days, as companies developing robots and autonomous technologies continue to make headlines. What was interesting this week was that companies both big and small, addressing customer bases both big and small, received funding from investors. We saw funding go to companies with big technology (Exotec’s large warehouse robotic system, Skypod), as well as small startups looking to disrupt agriculture (Aigen’s solar-powered robots). In between, Formic’s unique robots-as-a-service model was funded to help more small- and midsize businesses get more value out of robotics technology. It’s good to see that investors are spreading the money around to maximize the impact of robotics.
– Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. |
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FANUC Launches New Serial Link Robot to Lift Heavier Loads
FANUC America has announced the M-1000iA robot, which can handle heavy products such as automotive components, construction materials and battery packs for electric vehicles. The robot is its largest serial-link robot to date, with a 1,000 kg payload, a 3,253 mm horizontal reach, and 4,297 mm vertical reach. Production units are expected to ship in Q1 2022. Powered by the R-30iB Plus Controller, the M-1000iA offers features found in other FANUC robots, such as integrated iRVision, force sensing and Zero Down Time technologies. |
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Berkshire Grey Introduces Reverse Logistics Automation to Solve Product Returns
Berkshire Grey, which develops artificial intelligence-enabled robotic solutions for supply chain processes, has announced its Reverse Logistics solution, which aims to help retailers accelerate the resale of returned goods and improve labor utilization. The Reverse Logistics solution from Berkshire Grey aims to decrease markdowns by speeding up returns processing to get goods back into inventory or moved to refurbishment up to 25% faster than manual processing. The system includes Berkshire Grey’s Robotic Product Sortation with Identification (RPSi) and Robotic Shuttle Put Wall (RSPW) systems, which can be specifically configured to process returns. |
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Powermat Launches Wireless Charging for Service Robots
Powermat, which develops wireless power solutions, has announced a full-featured wireless charging solution designed for fleets of service robots, including photovoltaic-powered robots that are used for commercial cleaning, delivery, warehouse operations and medical operations tasks. The new wireless charging platform for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and other commercial robots will eliminate the need for direct contact with pogo-pins entirely, giving operators 90% charging efficiency while enabling flexible charging capabilities. Robots will be able to charge in proximity to their charging station without the need for accurate alignment or direct contact. |
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MOV.AI, Vecow Partner to Accelerate AMR Development
Vecow, which develops embedded AIoT systems, has announced a collaboration with MOV.AI, which helps assist designers with autonomous mobile robot (AMR) development. The partnership will provide an integrated AMR solution that includes Vecow’s ECX-1000 Series Workstation-grade Fanless System with MOV.AI’s Robotics Engine Platform. The combination will help customers develop industrial AMRs to meet a demand of more than 2.1 million mobile robots by the end of 2023. Powered by the Intel Core i7 processor running with a workstation-grade chipset, the Vecow ECX-1000 provides high performance, always-on 5G/Wi-Fi/4G/LTE and Bluetooth mobile availability, smart system manageability, and smart power protection features that are optimized for autonomous operation. |
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Nuro Aims to Scale Autonomous Delivery to Millions; Launches 3rd-Generation Vehicle
Nuro, which develops autonomous zero-occupant delivery vehicles, has announced the third generation of its vehicle. The new flagship model, called Nuro, is part of the company’s plans to scale its autonomous delivery services to millions of consumers across the U.S. The new vehicle is designed to carry more goods and enable more deliveries, with twice the cargo volume of the company’s second-generation vehicle,. The automotive production-grade vehicle will also include modular inserts to customize storage, as well as temperature-controlled compartments to keep goods warm or cool. |
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AutoStore Launches Robot to Handle Larger Items for Warehouses
Norway-based AutoStore has announced the global availability of its R5+ Robot, which will enable warehouses to manage larger items within the AutoStore system. The R5+ can handle bins up to 425 mm, the tallest bins available from AutoStore. Until now, this size was a premium feature available only to AutoStore B1 Robot installations. The new R5+ opens up several markets for the company, such as footwear, semiconductors, and other similar applications. The maximum grid height for AutoStore customers using the R5+ with 425 mm bins will be slightly higher than a grid using 330 mm bins, creating a grid composed of 14 layers of bins at about 6,044 mm tall (about 19 feet). |
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In Case You Missed It
Festo Reports Surging Interest In Magnetic Gripping
Festo has announced surging interest in its electric series (E-series) of intelligent magnetic grippers from Magswitch, based in Lafayette, Colo. Festo has been a Magswitch distribution partner since 2019. The company’s E-Series intelligent magnetic grippers are not electromagnets, nor are they electropermanent magnets (EPMs). Rather, the units contain proprietary switching technology that enables reduced energy consumption, faster actuation, intelligent magnetic gripping, part correct/incorrect feedback capabilities, and 2x to 3x the holding forces of similarly sized electromagnet or EPM, Festo said. Pole shoes that shape the magnetic field are offered in standard and custom configurations to ensure the correct grip for the application. Read More Product Info |
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Featured Article
Formic Technologies Raises $26.5M to Expand Robots-as-a-Service Operations
Formic Technologies, which utilizes a Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model that lets companies pay an hourly rate for robot usage, has announced raising $26.5 million in a Series A financing round. In addition, the company secured access to more than $100 million of debt capital to fund equipment purchases. Formic said it will use the funding to expand its operation to support the rapid deployment of its RaaS offering for U.S. manufacturers. The Chicago-based company gives manufacturers access to on-demand automation without requiring upfront capital investments. Formic provides access to technologies from leading robotic vendors, including Universal Robots FANUC, KUKA, and ABB, to let customers pay by the hour for their usage. Formic aims to reduce complexity and cost of automation by owning, programming, installing and maintaining the robots at its own cost – customers do not pay until the system is deployed and fully operational. Read More |
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Robotics News
- Serve, WeRide Proclaim Robotics Milestones: Do They Matter?
As companies continue to grow, innovate and deploy their robotics and autonomous technologies, certain milestones are met. This week, two companies made announcements regarding achieving new goals – sidewalk delivery firm Serve Robotics said it was the first autonomous vehicle company to complete commercial deliveries at Level 4 autonomy; and WeRide announced it reached 10 million kilometers (6.2 million+ miles) of autonomous driving on public roads, with 2.5 million km in fully driverless mode.
- J.B. Hunt, Waymo Via to Expand Autonomous Trucking Collaboration
J.B. Hunt Transport Services has announced a long-term, strategic alliance with Waymo Via aimed to advance innovative efforts to integrate commercial autonomous driving technology in transportation and logistics. The goal is to complete fully autonomous transport in Texas within the next few years, the companies said. The expanded collaboration will include multiple pilots to further analyze the operational capacity of Waymo Via, the company’s autonomous Class 8 trucking unit powered by Waymo Driver software, to address customer needs in realistic scenarios. The two companies completed their first trial runs last year, moving freight along Interstate 45 in Texas for one of J.B. Hunt’s leading customers.
- Brain Launches Mobile App for Remote Access to Robot Fleets
Brain Corp, which develops artificial intelligence software for robotics, has announced the launch of BrainOS Mobile, a mobile application that connects operators and managers directly with their BrainOS-powered robot fleets. The company said the app provides real-time visibility on machine locations, status and performance. Currently available for iOS devices (with Android coming soon), the app supports all of Brain’s Brain-OS-powered floor care machines across manufacturers, and will soon also support applications.
- 6 River, Ricoh Drive New Robot Support Service
Ricoh USA and 6 River Systems have announced a new initiative designed to support warehouse efficiencies. Under the agreement, Ricoh’s Service Advantage will complement 6 River’s existing service team for its collaborative robots – called ‘Chucks’ – and expand its geographical reach to provide technical support to customers faster. The Chuck autonomous mobile robots from 6 River empower warehouse associates to work faster and more efficiently as they pick items from warehouses. By adding Service Advantage and its technical and customer support infrastructure, Ricoh adds a high level of experience and expertise that lets 6 River continue to scale up and expand quickly as automated fulfillment needs continue to surge.
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Robotics Funding
Exotec Raises $335M to Expand Warehouse Robotics System
France-based Exotec, which builds warehouse robotic automation systems, has announced raising $335 million in Series D funding at a $2 billion valuation. The company said it plans to use the funding to continue large-scale deployments of its technology in North America, Europe, and Asia for global brands, as well as hire 500 new research & development engineers by 2025 to accelerate the development of its high-performance warehouse automation technology. The company’s signature offering is the Skypod system, which uses robots that can reach a height of 36 feet to enable high-density inventory storage and retrieval. The company supports more than 30 industry brands that span the e-commerce, grocery, retail, manufacturing and third-party logistics sectors. Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Growth Equity business led the financing round, with follow-on investments from 83North and Dell Technologies Capital. Read More |
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Aigen Raises $4M to Spur Solar-Powered Soil Regeneration Robots
Aigen, a startup developing a scalable solar-powered robotics platform for agriculture and soil regeneration, has announced raising $4 million in a seed round, led by NEA with participation from AgFunder, Global Founders Capital, and ReGen Ventures. The company said it will open the doors of a new lab space in Kirkland, Wash., as well as ramp up in 2022 to launch their platform to help regenerate soil at a planetary scale. The company is building an autonomous, solar-powered robotics platform that manages plants without the chemical inputs that can undermine soil’s carbon storage potential. By bringing affordable alternatives to conventional practice, Aigen said its platform will regenerate soil health and help farmers deal with manual labor shortages, as well as give them data, analysis and take action without using diesel or pesticides. Read More |
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LG Launches CLOi ServeBot For U.S. Market
LG Business Solutions USA has announced that its LG CLOi ServeBot, a mobile commercial service robot, will come to the U.S. market in early 2022. The ServeBot (model LDLIM21) has earned UL 3300 certification for safe operation in complex commercial environments, including restaurants, retail stores and hotels. The ServeBot mobile robot allows workers to safely use robot assistants that can navigate busy environments while carrying up to 66 pounds of food or goods, helping with workloads and enabling better customer service, LG said. |
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Cyngn, Columbia Vehicle to Build Fleet of Autonomous Industrial Vehicles
Cyngn, which develops autonomous driving software for industrial and commercial enterprises, has announced it will team up with Columbia Vehicle Group to kick off production of a fleet of autonomous Columbia Stockchasers powered by Cyngn’s Enterprise Autonomy Suite (EAS). The vehicle fleet will be equipped with technologies that integrate autonomous driving capabilities into industrial vehicles, such as lithium-ion batteries with upgraded chargers and electrified vehicle controls. The companies said they are jointly developing intellectual property and making end-of-line adjustments to streamline the autonomous vehicle process. |
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