|
From the Editor
Mobile Robots Ruling Now, but Don’t Discount Humanoid Robots
This past week has seen new products and announcements from autonomous mobile robot (AMR) companies, mainly in the warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment spaces, as companies continue to deal with workplace shortages and a stretched global supply chain on the eve of the holiday shopping season (hoo boy, will that be interesting). We’re also seeing evidence that AMRs are helping warehouses improve their productivity. A case study cited by Locus Robotics and Körber Supply Chain noted that robot deployments at one warehouse improved productivity by 266%. While AMRs are hot at the moment, the future may belong to humanoid robots, especially if their computer vision and perception continues to improve. In our latest Q&A, we chatted with Immervision’s Patrice Roulet Fontani about advances and improvements in the humanoid robot sector. Interestingly, humans may also need to change their perception (pun intended) about these robot types in order to advance. — Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. |
|
|
|
ROHM Launches 75W High Optical Output Laser Diode for Lidar
ROHM Semiconductor has announced the development of a high optical output laser diode, the RLD90QZW3, designed for applications such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), service robots in the industrial equipment sector, and consumer robot vacuums that incorporate lidar for distance measurement and spatial recognition. With the growth of lidar being adopted in applications that need to be automated to precisely measure distance and for spatial recognition, the company said there is a need to improve the laser diodes when used as light sources to increase detection distance and accuracy, while reducing power consumption. ROHM said it meets this market requirement by establishing original patented technology to achieve narrower emission width. This contributes to a longer range and higher accuracy in lidar applications. |
|
|
OKI Launches Ultrafine Diameter Robot Cable for Confined Spaces
OKI Electric Cable, a subsidiary of Japan’s OKI Group, launched sales of its Ultrafine diameter robot cable, ORP-30F, and Ultrafine diameter cable, OFV-30F. The cables offer industry-leading fineness for wiring in confined spaces inside industrial robots and machine tools. The ORP-30F Cable is designed for use in the moving parts of industrial robots and machine tools. It incorporates a special elastomer insulation material developed by OKI Electric Cable to impart both toughness and outstanding sliding characteristics, realizing the high durability required of movable wire to accommodate all machine movements, including bending, sliding and twisting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hyundai Mobis Launches Foldable Steering System
Hyundai Mobis has announced it has developed a foldable steering system technology that enables the folding and unfolding of a steering wheel inside a vehicle. The technology is being optimized for future mobility vehicles as it can allow for more space in the driver’s seat area, bringing about additional design innovation. The Hyundai Mobis foldable steering system features a steering wheel that can move forward and backward up to 25 cm. The company said the development of the technology took two years to complete, as it is a new technology that has never been globally commercialized before, with the company currently filing patents globally. To develop the system, Hyundai Mobis designed new core parts of a steering system, including a column and a reaction force control device, and applied a sliding rail mechanism, securing system durability and reliability. |
|
|
Military Exploring How Lidar Can Enhance EOD Operations
RedTail LiDAR Systems, which develops microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror-based light detection and ranging (lidar) technology, has announced delivering six lidar systems to the 707th Ordnance Company, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The systems will provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians an opportunity to assess how lidar can be used to enhance their operations. The RedTail LiDAR Systems RTL-450 was integrated onto a Teledyne FLIR SkyRaider unmanned aerial system (UAS) to address a broad range of the EOD community’s 3D mapping needs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GelSight Launches New Mobile 3D Measurement Device
GelSight, which develops tactile imaging and sensing technology, has announced the latest version of its GelSight Mobile probe, the Series 2. The new generation of GelSight’s mobile device offers a sleek form factor that is one-third lighter and less than half the volume of its predecessor, allowing it to scan surfaces in tighter spaces while maintaining accuracy, speed, and field of view. The company’s non-destructive elastomeric 3D imaging systems are used to improve quality control processes in aerospace, automotive, and other high-value industries. The technology that was invented at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology provides extremely detailed and rapid surface measurements and robotic sensing capabilities. |
|
|
MiR, CSi palletising Team up to Integrate Pallet Transfer
Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) has announced a new integration partnership with CSi palletising, a Netherlands-based company that provides end-of-line palletizing solutions for consumer packaged goods (CPG) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. The collaboration will include CSi’s high-level infeed layer palletizer integrated with MiR’s MiR1350 autonomous mobile robot (AMR) to fully automate the transport of heavy pallets of materials within CPG/FMCG facilities. CSi’s Taros palletizer has previously integrated with multiple conveyors for the transport of finished goods into warehouses and empty pallets towards the machine. The company will now integrate the AMRs from MiR for transporting pallets to a single conveyor for storage or a position at the infeed of a pallet wrapper, with the full solution working seamlessly with the customer's automation systems (either ERP or WMS). |
|
|
|
|
|
Video of the Week
Teledyne FLIR Debuts ION M640x Next-Gen Tactical Quadcopter
Teledyne FLIR has announced the launch of its ION M640x tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS). The American-designed, developed and manufactured UAS builds on the capabilities of the ION M440, and aims to provide military and other government customers with best-in-class capabilities for their unique missions. The ION M640x includes a 640 by 512 infrared sensor that provides twice the resolution of similar UASs, and a near-infrared (NIR) laser illuminator. The NIR illuminator enables operators to pinpoint objects of interest for increased coordination and visibility for other mission participants. The M640x also includes new smart object tracking that lets operators designate an object for the aircraft to detect and track while it moves. Watch the video HERE.
PRODUCT INFO. |
|
|
|
In Case You Missed It
AMR Deployment Sees 266% Productivity Jump, Says Locus, Körber
Locus Robotics and Körber Supply Chain have announced that a deployment of 49 autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) across the Integrated Supply Network (ISN) has resulted in a productivity increase of 266%. The deployment of the robots was initially implemented in ISN’s Atlanta location in about 90 days, and will soon be expanded to include warehouses in Fresno, Calif., and Indianapolis. The companies said picking quality, accuracy, and speed were significantly improved – from 30 to 110 picks per hour. ISN said the robots also significantly reduced travel times for workers, freeing them up to carry out other critical tasks. Read More |
|
|
Featured Article
Q&A: Immervision’s Patrice Roulet Fontani on Humanoid Robot Perception
When most people think about humanoid robots, they instantly imagine robots like C-3PO from Star Wars, Rosie from The Jetsons, or Star Trek’s Data, which can all handle multiple tasks. This compares to non-humanoid robots that are seeing success in being able to do one task over and over again, usually faster than a human. Much of the work being done with humanoid robots, however, is dealing with advanced machine perception, in getting robots to understand the world around them better than before. One of the leaders in this space is Immervision, which launched the JOYCE robot as a way for computer vision experts to improve how machines can gain human-like perception. Earlier this year, Immervision teamed up with Hanson Robotics, creator of the humanoid robot Sophia, to find ways to improve robot vision. Robotics World chatted with Patrice Roulet Fontani, the co-founder and vice president of technology at Immervision, about the future of humanoid robots and machine perception. Read More |
|
|
News for Robot Makers
- InOrbit Creates Developer Portal, Expands RobOps Ecosystem With Partnerships
InOrbit, which last month launched a Free Edition of its cloud-based robot operations (RobOps) platform, has announced the launch of its Developer Portal as well as a number of partnerships with other robotics companies and developers. The Development Portal is a centralized collection of development tools that aims to help software engineers and roboticists build scalable robotics solutions. The Developer Portal is an online toolbox that includes application programming interface (API) endpoints, software development kits (SDKs) and no-code embeds that augment a company’s branded experiences. The portal also includes link to a growing number of InOrbit’s open-source contributions, such as support for interoperability standards and a sample integration for Google Chat.
- Toyota Research Publishes Machine Learning Advances at Vision Conference
The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) has announced the acceptance of six research papers in the field of machine learning at the International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV). The research advances understanding across various tasks crucial for robotic perception, including semantic segmentation, 3D object detection, and multi-object tracking. Over the last six years, TRI said its researchers have made significant strides in robotics, automated driving and materials science, largely due to machine learning – the application of computer algorithms that constantly improve with experience and data.
- Ouster to Acquire Sense Photonics, Establish Automotive Group
Ouster has announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sense Photonics, which develops digital solid-state lidar sensors for automotive applications. Upon closing of the all-stock acquisition, Ouster said it will establish Ouster Automotive, a new functional division of the company that focuses on driving mass-market adoption of digital lidar in consumer and commercial vehicles. Following the close of the translation, Ouster Automotive will be led by current Sense CEO Shauna McIntire.
- Nextera Robotics Teams With Gilbane to Automate Construction Management
Nextera Robotics and Gilbane Building Company have announced a joint-venture partnership to develop an artificial intelligence platform that utilizes a fleet of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to track construction progress and provide safety monitoring at job sites. The new platform, dubbed “Didge”, provides autonomous “eyes on site” 24/7 by obtaining detailed visual data at construction sistes, creating a bridge to the field between design models, digital twins and plans. In addition, it boosts transparency, safety monitoring, and expediting progress tracking. The platform is designed to be customizable and multifunctional, including features such as 360-degree video capture and daily laser scanning in order to automate a field-to-BIM (building information modeling) connection. The platform can also monitor environmental conditions and enhance security surveillance on project sites.
|
|
|
Funding News
BRINC Raises $25M to Expand First-Response Security Drone
BRINC, an American technology company building a new class of drones in response to active, mass shooter situations, has announced it raised $25 million in Series A funding to expand its mission to keep people safe in dangerous situations. Founded by Blake Resnick, the company’s drone aims to fill a specific market gap and customer need for drones that fly inside of structures and serve first responders. The technology can fly safely indoors using lidar, where GPS does not work, and provide live, two-way communication to give responders the eyes and ears they need to mitigate risk and save lives. Read More |
|
Skyline Robotics Raises $6M to Expand Window-Washing Robot
Skyline Robotics has announced it has secured $6 million in funding to expand and deploy its Ozmo window-cleaning robots in North America. The company also announced the appointment of Michael Brown as CEO and chairman of the board, and Ross Blum as the company’s chief operating officer. The company’s flagship robot, Ozmo, is a high-rise window-cleaning robot that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision with the latest robotics and sensors to deliver a smarter, faster, and safer alternative to human window washers. The company looks to disrupt the $40 billion window cleaning industry. Read More View Video |
|
|
Funding News
RoboTire Raises $7.5M to Expand Robotic Tire Changer for Auto Shops
RoboTire, a Detroit-based automotive robotics and automation startup, has announced closing a $7.5 million Series A investment round, led by The Reinalt-Thomas Corporation, which does business as Discount Tire and America’s Tire. RoboTire’s patented system uses robots to change tires in a fraction of the time human operators can – reducing multiple-hour experiences to under 15 minutes. The company said introducing this manufacturing-level automation to traditional automotive repair shops transforms financial and operational considerations used by fleet operators and automotive service providers for tire and wheel services. Read More |
|
Rendered.ai Raises $6M to Expand Synthetic Data Framework
Rendered.ai, a platform provider for physics-based synthetic data, has announced raising $6 million in a seed round, led by Space Capital. The company said the funding will help expand staffing and operations to scale up its platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that supports data scientists, engineers and business innovators who want to use synthetic data to investigate, validate, and expand AI-based technology and business opportunities. AI solutions require large datasets for training, which is often a limiting factor when building AI capabilities, Rendered.ai said. Real-world datasets based on physical sensor-based collection can be expensive, have bias and gaps, or even be impossible to obtain. Simulated or synthetic datasets can power AI applications for industries such as satellite reconnaissance, robotics, medical imaging, and security applications where real-world data is limited. Read More |
|
Tech Paper
How Crossed Roller Bearings Give Helping Hand to Exoskeletal Robot
Robots and exoskeletons are seen as a big way to address the growing need for post-stroke rehabilitation, given that deaths caused by strokes are decreasing, and approximately 700,000 people survive a stroke. IKO International has published a blog post discussing how Harmonic Bionics, which creates rehabilitation robotics platforms for clinical markets, developed an upper-limb exoskeletal robot to enable patients to relearn how to use limbs that are often left paralyzed by a stroke. Read More Read Case Study |
|
Consumer Robot
STEM Kit Lets You Build an Autonomous Batmobile
A new Kickstarter campaign from CircuitMess, a Croatian startup, lets you build and code your own Batmobile. The kit is designed to teach children aged seven and up about engineering and autonomous driving. CircuitMess has created several educational products that aim to have kids and adults create rather than consumer. This includes MAKERbuino (a do-it-yourself game console), MAKERphone (a DIY mobile phone) and STEM Box, a STEM projects subscription service. Read More |
|
About Us Unsubscribe Privacy Policy |
This email was sent to @. |
|