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From the Editor
Robots Ready to Explore Planets, While Also Clean Up This One
This week we saw the return of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which successfully orbited the Moon in testing for future manned missions (along with robotic rovers and other robots). In addition, a robot company from Denmark demonstrated that its robots can help reduce waste being dumped into rivers (and eventually oceans). This showcases the scope of how robots can help the world in more ways than just delivering food orders, building cars or protecting soldiers (which we also saw related news this week). Overall it was a pretty good week for robots. Bonus item: You may notice that our Robotics-World website (just click on a news item to go there) has a new look! We’ve updated our back-end publishing system and gave ourselves a facelift at the same time. Let me know if you like the new look, or if you have additional ideas on how we present news. It also helps if you visit the websites of some of our sponsors, too! – Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. |
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Stereolabs Launches 3D Camera Optimized for Outdoor Robots
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Stereolabs, which develops 3D computer vision systems, has announced the launch of the ZED-X, a stereo camera specifically designed for robotic navigation and process automation in indoor and outdoor environments. The company said one of the most difficult problems for autonomous robots is how to safely navigate complex environments. Traditional navigation systems rely on expensive arrays of lidar sensors and cameras, which have limited fields of view, low resolution and difficulty recognizing objects. Stereolabs said it helps solve this problem by giving robots more powerful artificial intelligence camera-based surround vision. |
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Cenozoic Robotics Unveils The World’s First Spot-Cleaning Robot
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Cenozoic Robotics’ newly launched cleaning robot, Spot-Cleaner 50 (SP 50), is designed to clean like a professional. With its proprietary Artificial Intelligent (AI)-powered algorithms, it can detect the stains and/or debris on the floor, and automatically adjust the cleaning mode and run the spot-cleaning as a human professional would. Leveraging the advanced Nvidia Xavier AI edge computing chips and multi-channel 3D LiDAR, it can pass through the high traffic areas while assuring a clean floor. Finally, as it is capable of detecting stains on the floor, it can do a cleaning result checkup, and will repeatedly clean the same area to ensure the job is completed satisfactorily. |
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Danish Robot Collects Tons of River Waste in Demonstration
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All In On Green has announced that its robot waste collector, SeaProtectorOne, collected more than 100,000 pieces of waste from a river in Denmark over the course of 20 months. Installed at the mouth of the river in Aarhus, Denmark, where the river flows into the harbor and wider sea, the robot collects waste such as plastic cups, face masks and pizza boxes before it can pollute the sea. At the same time, the robot allows boats and other marine vessels to pass by. |
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Cleo Robotics to Develop Tactical Drone for U.S. Army
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Cleo Robotics, which develops the Dronut aerial vehicle platform, has announced a contract with the U.S. Army to deliver several prototype Tactical Dronut (TacDronut) systems to be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks. The $2.5 million contract was awarded by the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Crticial Technologies Office (RCCTO) following an Army Innovation Day competition of other disruptive and innovative technologies. |
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SiLC Technologies Launches Compact Machine Vision System
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SiLC Technologies, Inc. (SiLC), recognized for advancing the state of machine vision, has announced the launch of the Eyeonic Vision System, a compact and powerful coherent vision system. SiLC said the new system features the highest resolution, precision and longest range while remaining the only FMCW LiDAR solution to offer polarization information. The Eyeonic Vision System integrates the company’s photonics technology into a turnkey vision solution – a highly flexible subsystem that reduces time to market for manufacturers seeking to incorporate machine vision into their products. |
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Product Profile: Faulhaber L Series Linear Actuator
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Faulhaber’s new 22L/32L Linear Actuator L series designed for applications in the industrial automation and also optics and photonics sectors. The linear actuator L series can be combined with a range of DC motors, 4-pole and 2-pole brushless motors or stepper motors and are optimized for the torque and speed range of different Faulhaber motor families. It is suited to a wide range of applications including robotics, industrial machines and laboratory equipment. |
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In Case You Missed It
NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Executes Picture-Perfect Uncrewed Splashdown
NASA said its Orion spacecraft successfully completed a parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 9:40 PST, 12:40 EST on Sunday, Dec. 11, as the final major milestone of the Artemis I mission. Engineers performed several additional tests while Orion was in the water and before powering down the spacecraft and handing it over to the recovery team aboard the USS Portland. Navy divers and other team members approached the spacecraft in inflatable boats, then attached a winch line and additional tending lines to the spacecraft. The winch pulled Orion into a specially designed cradle inside the USS Portland’s well deck. Once Orion was positioned above the cradle assembly, technicians drained the well deck and secured the capsule on the cradle. The spacecraft will be taken to U.S. Naval Base in San Diego and then to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for inspection in Florida. Technicians will thoroughly inspect Orion, retrieving recorded data, removing onboard payloads, and more, the space agency said. Read More |
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Featured Article
A 3D Printer Named Max ARCS Now Recognized Nationally as a Builder
SQ4D’s 3D printer Max ARCS has been formally inducted into the Long Island Builders Institute, marking a first of its kind for a construction 3D printing company to be peer-recognized as a builder. As a leader in the construction technology space, SQ4D has developed its patent-pending ARCS (Autonomous Robotic Construction System) technology to robotically build a structure’s footings, slab, foundation walls, interior walls, exterior walls, and roof. All of this is printed on-site and accounts for over 50% of the total construction. SQ4D said it aims to revolutionize the field of construction by combining automation, additive manufacturing, and sustainable building methods to produce cost-efficient structures, while improving worker safety. The official induction demonstrates the rapidly growing adoption of 3D printing technologies within the construction industry. Read More |
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Industry News
- IFR: China Overtakes U.S. in Robot Density
China’s massive investment in industrial robotics has put the country in the top ranking of robot density, surpassing the U.S. for the first time, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of workers hit 322 units per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry. Today, China ranks in fifth place. The world’s top five most automated countries in manufacturing 2021 are: South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Germany and China.
- Foton Daimler Deploys Comau Robots for High-End Truck Production
Comau has announced it built an advanced automated welding solution for Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd (BFDA), a joint venture between Daimler Trucks AG and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor. In doing so, Comau said it is helping support BFDA’s first localized heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.
- Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Receives $30M from Canadian Government for General-Purpose Robots
Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corp., a company that develops human-like intelligence in general-purpose robots, announced it received a $30 million Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) contribution to advance its technology and address labor-related challenges in the economy. The contribution comes from the government of Canada. SIF projects promote the long-term competitiveness of Canadian industries, clean growth, and the advancement of Canada’s strategic technological advantage.
- Motional Launches First Robotaxi Service on the Uber Network
Global driverless technology firm Motional and Uber Technologies announced the launch of their public robotaxi service in Las Vegas. For the first time, Uber customers can hail an autonomous ride using Motional’s all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5-based robotaxis. Motional and Uber said they are launching with vehicle operators now to lay the groundwork for a fully driverless commercial service, with the goal of launching the driverless service to the public in 2023.
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Last-Mile Robotics
Grubhub and Kiwibot Partner for Robot Delivery on College Campuses
Grubhub and Kiwibot, which develops last-mile robotic delivery services, have announced they will provide robot delivery services on college campuses across the U.S. Robot delivery will first be available at the University of North Dakota before rolling out to additional schools next semester, the companies said. Kiwibot joins Grubhub’s existing partners, including Cartken and Starship, on nearly a dozen campuses offering robot delivery. Read More |
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Starship Technologies, Teal Aim to Improve Delivery Robot Reliability on Campuses
Teal and Starship Technologies have announced a partnership to provide connectivity and reliability to automated delivery robots around the world. Starship offers deliveries with autonomous robots that are designed to deliver food, groceries, and packages locally in minutes. Keeping its delivery robots reliably and securely connected is critical to maintaining the continuity of operations as the company plans to expand into new markets. The partnership means Starship gains access to any global network with a single eSIM coupled with a management platform that ensures its robots are always connected. Read More |
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