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From the Editor
Robots Can Still Do Good Things for People
The past few months has seen a lot of bad news, continued political divisions, and other effects that make you want to tear your hair out. With the election season now over (at least for a week or two before everyone starts speculating about 2024), this is a good time to remind everyone about the good things that robots are accomplishing. Thankfully, this week saw several examples. AMP Robotics raised some more money to help bring its recycling robotics systems to waste and recycling operations to help reduce the amount of recyclable material that ends up in landfills (sadly, still too much of that happens). In the eldercare space, Labrador Systems announced the initial deployments of its in-home robot that can help transport household items more easily to help older humans, those with physical impairments and others. Labrador is a very cool company and I wish them lots of success as they scale their operations. The other cool big news of the week was the results of the Avatar XPRIZE, in which researchers competed to bring new innovations to telepresence and teleoperation robots, which should spawn new companies and products for years to come. And that is good news for everyone.– Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. |
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ResGreen Launches Multi-Color Indicator Lights for Industrial Uses
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ResGreen Group International, which develops mobile robot and software solutions, has announced expanding its wireless automation devices by adding single, multi-color indicator lights for manufacturing facilities and warehouses. The new lights can identify different situations, such as traffic stops, equipment status and safety hazards by displaying millions of different colors and several patterns in one light. The new single industrial lights feature 32 individual LEDs, which can be combined to create an array of colors using the Red, Green, Blue (RGB) color model. Measuring 7.5-inches by 9-inches, the lights can provide years of bright, maintenance-free illumination for rugged environments. |
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Blickfeld Launches Smart Lidar Sensor, Combining Capture and Processing on Single Device
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Blickfeld, a Germany-based manufacturer of lidar sensor solutions, has announced the Qb2 solid-state, software-defined lidar device that enables the capture and processing of data on a single device. This removes the need for additional computers, as well as bringing faster insights, improved response times and better bandwidth availability. The Qb2 device offers improved functionalities and performance parameters, such as enhanced adaptable field of view (FoV), detection range and scan pattern, plus higher resolution, accuracy and an IP67 rating. With Blickfeld’s Percept software, the Smart Lidar solves complex challenges in a variety of applications. |
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Teledyne FLIR Debuts Radiation Detection Drone Payload
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The Teledyne FLIR Defense division of Teledyne has announced the launch of the MUVE R430 drone sensor payload, which can be used remotely to detect and identify radiation sources and radiological hazards across several scenarios. The R430 is an advanced radiation detector purpose-designed for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to help detect, locate, measure, map, and identify radioactive sources from above, Teledyne FLIR said. Using the same technology and algorithms as the company’s identiFINDER series of radionuclide identification devices, the R430 lets users quickly pinpoint and accurately identify sources of radioactivity from a distance. The SkyRanger R70 and R80D SkyRaider drones will serve as the initial deployment airframes for the new sensor payload, The R430 is integrated into the drone’s Mission Control Software, and provides both visible and audible alerts of radioactivity. |
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Pyka Earns Approval to Fly Autonomous Agricultural Sprayer at Night
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Pyka, which develops autonomous and electric agricultural aerial aircraft, has announced securing regulatory approval to fly unmanned aerial spray missions at night with a fixed wing aircraft. Authorized by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) in Costa Rica on July 20, 2022, the Pelican Spray vehicle can now be used by Pyka’s local customers to spray large commercial banana plantations both day and night. The company said this approval takes a monumental step towards the company achieving widespread commercial certification across Central and South America. The DGAC issued its approval based on Pyka’s record of successful missions in Costa Rica to date, as well as a detailed analysis of the aircraft’s capacity for night operations due to its autonomous flight platform and lighting system. |
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Labrador Systems Begins Deployment of Personal Assistance Robots
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Labrador Systems, which develops assistive robots aimed at home care and senior living environments, has announced the first set of deliveries of its Retriever Pro robots. The mobile robots aim to lighten the load of daily activities by physically bringing essential items within reach of humans. Labrador said it will make the Retriever Pro available as a service, creating fleets of robots for care providers to support individuals in several settings. |
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Product Profile: SICK nanoScan3 Safety Scanner
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The SICK nanoScan 3 is the smallest safety laser scanner from SICK. It is designed for the protection and localization of mobile platforms. Its safeHDDM scan technology delivers reliable, high-precision measurement data and is extremely resistant to light, dust or dirt. SICK’s Safety Designer configuration software and the smart integration options of the nanoScan3 offer a high level of flexibility for applications while also saving time. The nanoScan3 offers top performance and is available in a compact housing, thereby securing system productivity. |
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In Case You Missed It
German Team NimbRo Wins $5M in Avatar XPRIZE Competition
Team NimbRo, based in Bonn, Germany, was named the $5 million grand-prize winner in the four-year ANA Avatar XPRIZE, which aimed to discover new technologies for telepresence and teleoperation robotics. NimbRo’s technology was selected by a panel of judges at the conclusion of the public testing event held in Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 4 and 5. Second place went to Pollen Robotics, of Bordeaux, France ($2 million winner); and Team Northeastern from Boston was awarded third prize ($1 million). The judges said the winning teams integrated multiple emerging technologies to develop a physical avatar system, through which operators can see, hear, and interact with objects in a remote environment, transporting the operator as if they were truly there. Read More |
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Featured Article
DARPA, Sikorsky Demonstrate Autonomous Black Hawk Helicopter
Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have successfully demonstrated to the U.S. Army how an unmanned Black Hawk helicopter flying autonomously can safely and reliably perform internal and external cargo resupply missions, as well as rescue operations. The demonstrations were performed in October (12, 14, and 18) as part of the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) experiment. The flight aimed to show how existing and future-piloted utility helicopters could one day fly complex missions in a reduced crew or autonomous mode. This would give Army commanders and aviators greater flexibility in how and when aircraft and pilots are used, especially in limited visibility or contested environments. Read More |
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Industry News
- GreyOrange Deploys Robots to South American Fashion E-Commerce Operation
GreyOrange, which develops automated robotic fulfillment solutions, has announced an agreement with Latin American fashion e-commerce platform Dafiti. The agreement aims to enhance warehouse productivity for Dafiti’s operations in Chile through the GreyMatter fulfillment orchestration platform and mobile robot deployment. The GreyMatter platform helps enable GreyOrange’s Ranger MoveSmart (RMS) robots to deliver scalable and agile conveying and sorting systems, which in turn results in greater fulfillment efficiency and accuracy, the company said. GreyOrange partnered with Sistemo, a South American consulting and implementation firm, to help Dafiti serve its customers faster through the use of the RMS robots and orchestration software.
- Ouster, Velodyne Propose Merger to Accelerate Lidar Adoption
Ouster, which develops high-resolution digital lidar, and Velodyne, which develops lidar sensors and solutions, have announced entering into a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction. The proposed merger aims to drive significant value creation and results in a strong financial position through robust product offerings, increased operational efficiencies, and a complementary customer base in fast-growing end-markets, the companies said.
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Robotics Funding
AMP Robotics Raises $91M for Recycling Automation
Denver-based AMP Robotics, which develops artificial intelligence and robotic systems for the waste and recycling industry, has announced raising $91 million in corporate equity in a Series C financing. The new funding follows a $55 million Series B round in January 2021. AMP said it will use the latest funding to scale business operations while also continuing international expansion for its systems, which includes retrofitting existing recycling infrastructure with robotics applications. Read More |
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Galen Robotics Raises $15M to Advance Soft Tissue Surgical Robot
Galen Robotics has announced it completed the first close for an oversubscribed Series A round with $15 million in funding, including investment from Ambix Healthcare Partners. The company is developing a new collaborative soft tissue surgical robot, which is intended to address unmet needs in the market. The company is also looking to launch an “as-a-service” model for the robot, using a per-usage disposable model. Termed Digital-Surgery-as-a-Service, the new approach aims to clear the way to capture surgical data and promote continuous improvement of surgical techniques, outcomes, and the training of residents. Read More |
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THINK Surgical Raises $100M to Accelerate Orthopedic Surgical Robots
THINK Surgical, which develops orthopedic surgical robots, has announced that KDB Investment Global Healthcare of Korea, a new investor, has invested $100 million to enable a faster commercial launch of several new products. The company said the new investment will allow it to bring new products to market, offering a common planning solution across multiple robotic platforms along with a choice of implants from different manufacturers. It will also allow the company to “achieve its full potential as a leader in the orthopedic surgical robot space with a differentiated business model.” THINK said its plan to advance robotic systems for joint replacement surgery feature an open implant library, offering customers an alternative to closed systems that are limited to a single manufacturer’s implants. Read More |
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