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From the Editor
If there was any doubt that makers of industrial robots have bounced back from the early days of the pandemic, you only need to check the latest numbers from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), which reported that robot orders in North America in Q2 2021 were up 67% compared to the same period in 2020. For the year, robot orders are up 40% compared to the previous year, showing that manufacturers in several industries are adopting robotic automation. In more good news for robot makers, research firm Interact Analysis predicted that more than 2.1 million mobile robots (either AGVs or AMRs) will be deployed in more than 53,000 warehouses and factories by the end of 2025. This still only represents less than 30% of the entire market, which shows there is a lot of room yet to grow in the space over the next few years.
Keith Shaw, Managing Editor |
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Toposens Launches Location Sensor for 3D Collision Avoidance
Germany’s Toposens GmbH has announced the release of its new Ultrasonic Echolocation Sensor for 3D Collision Avoidance, the Echo One DK. The industrial-grade sensor development kit is based on the company’s 3D ultrasonic technology, which mimics a bat’s echolocation techniques. The sensors can help automated guided vehicles, robots and other industrial applications to avoid collisions. Unlike other sensor technologies that can be negatively impacted by lighting conditions or moisture, including fog, Toposens’ Echo One DK uses echolocation to generate robust, real-time 3D echo location data to guide autonomous systems across several applications. The sensor is also particularly robust in harsh environments (it includes IP67 protection rating), as it is dirt tolerant, and not affected by dust, smoke, and mist. |
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Fluke Process Instruments Launches New Acoustic Imager
Fluke Process Instruments, which develops infrared imaging and thermal profiling solutions for industrial applications, has announced the release of its first acoustic imaging solution, the SV600 Fixed Acoustic Imager. The SV600 enables users to detect, locate and visualize air and gas leaks or changes in sound signatures across their process and equipment in real time before they become costly problems. By using an array of sophisticated sound sensors and the company’s SoundMap technology, the SV600 translates the sounds it hears into a visual representation, allowing users to quickly locate and quantify problem areas. In addition, the SV600 can be used as a payload for Boston Dynamics’ agile mobile robot, Spot. |
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Heidenhain Expands MRS Angular Encoders to Improve Robot Arms
Heidenhain has announced a new MRS encoder module series for robot arms, with redesigned embedded bearings to better withstand outside tilting forces. The new compact and all-inclusive design also significantly simplifies the installation process. The new MRS 2280 and 2281 encoder modules are specially designed for use in tilting and rotary axes with high tilting rigidity bearings, making them ideal for measuring arms and measuring robots, the company said. The MRS 2200 series provides options with an easily mountable ultra-compact design, system accuracy of ±10 inches, and tilt resistance of up to 52 Nm/mrad tilt resistance. |
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UVD Robots Enters Supermarket Space with Disinfection Robot
Denmark’s UVD Robots has announced a global partnership agreement with OCC Commercial Consulting to help bring its UV-C disinfection robots to supermarkets, food service and retail environments. The company also announced receiving a second order of 100 robots from the European Commission, following a 200-robot order in November 2020. The partnership enables OCC to deploy UVD Robots to autonomously disinfect store spaces, including shelves, aisles and checkout areas, providing infection prevention using germicidal UV-C lighting equipment against viruses and bacteria on surfaces and in the air, which kills more than 99.99% of microorganisms, including SARS-CoV2 (coronaviruses) and E.Coli. |
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Sensera Systems Launches New Solar Site Cameras
Sensera Systems, which develops all-in-one compact-solar site cameras, has announced the release of its third-generation camera models. The new models represent seven years of refinement and lessons learned from customers across thousands of job sites, and incorporate advancements to lower pricing, increase reliability, and improve performance and ease of use. The new MC26 fixed position camera model is available at only $1,999, complete with continuous video recording, 1080p live streaming, and high-definition time-lapse capabilities. |
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Geek+ Launches 8-meter-high Flexible Arm Robot for Warehouses
Geek+, a global maker of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), has announced the launch of its RoboShuttle RS8-DA, an eight-meter high flexible arm robot. The new robot is designed to allow customers to maximize the use of their warehouses. RoboShuttle is an efficient and flexible high-density solution that solves the complex logistics scenarios brought on by the rise in e-commerce and the need for systems that can optimize warehouse space intelligently, the company said. Compatible with 8-meter-high racks, tots, cartons or boxes of varying width, the robot can improve space utilization by 5x. |
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Video of the Week
Volocopter Demonstrates FIrst Public Flight of VoloDrone
Volocopter announced that its electric, heavy-lift drone VoloDrone has conducted its first public flight, held at the ITS World Congress 2021 in Hamburg, Germany. With international logistics firm DB Schenker, Volocopter demonstrated the VoloDrone’s seamless integration ito the logistics supply chain with an end-to-end cargo transport demonstration. The three-minute test took off at homePORT Hamburg and reached a maximum altitude of 22 meters. For the delivery simulation, the drone was equipped with a load-box in between its landing gear. The demonstration teams secured a Euro-pallet sized load to the box under the VoloDrone, followed by a takeoff. The aircraft then brought the payload to a DB Schenker Cargo Bike and landed safely. Once the payload was transferred successfully, the Cargo Bike delivered its cargo to the final destination, under the area’s park deck, marking the completion of an entirely electric, multimodal last-mile delivery. Watch the video HERE. |
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In Case You Missed It
Q2 North American Robot Orders Return to Pre-Pandemic Demand, Says A3
Robot orders in North America in the second quarter of 2021 were up 67% over the same period in 2020, showing a return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic demand for automation, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) reported. North American companies ordered 9,853 robots, valued at $501 million in Q2 2021, up from 5,196 robots in Q2 2020, the peak of the pandemic. A3 said the increase represents the third-highest quarter on record for robot units sold overall. Continuing a trend of robots expanding to markets outside of the automotive industry, more than half of the orders during Q2 2021 (5,350) came from non-automotive customers, such as metals, semiconductor & electronics, plastics and rubber, food and consumer goods, and life sciences. For the year, robot orders are up 40.1% when compared with the same period in 2020. Read More |
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Featured Article
2.1M Mobile Robots Will Work in Warehouses, Factories by End of 2025
Research firm Interact Analysis is predicting that by the end of 2025, 2.1 million mobile robots will be deployed in more than 53,000 warehouses and factories. This compares to 2020, in which over 9,000 customer sites had mobile robots deployed. The designation of mobile robots includes both autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) as well as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which are older technology and not autonomous. Even with the 53,000 number seeming high, the firm said it is not even close to reaching the ceiling of market saturation. With 53,000 warehouses and factories having robots, that will still only represent less than 30% of the total market. “Furthermore, those penetration levels do not account for where facilities have multiple types of robots installed, nor the mass rollout of fleets in a single warehouse,” writes Ash Sharma, managing director of intelligent automation at Interact Analysis. “Given that, the opportunity for AGVs and AMRs is even larger.” Read More |
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News for Robot Makers
- MOV.AI Launches Robotics Engine Platform for AMR Development
MOV.AI has announced its Robotics Engine Platform, which lets manufacturers of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automation integrators and manufacturers of manual logistics vehicles to quickly build AMRs suitable for 85% dynamic environments. The platform is the latest version of the MOV.AI software. With demand for AMRs exploding, the company said logistics vehicle manufacturers and new companies interested in building AMRs are finding it difficult to develop AMRs and automated logistics vehicles that meet customer expectations.
- Plus One Robotics, Locus Robotics Partner on Picker-to-AMR Solution
Plus One Robotics, which develops vision software for robotic picking, and Locus Robotics, which develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for fulfillment warehouses, have announced a collaboration to develop an automatic picking solution. The system will combine mobile robots and stationary picking arms designed to boost productivity in e-commerce fulfillment centers. The two companies created a multimodal system in order to further support operators across a range of warehouse tasks performed in e-commerce fulfillment, distribution centers, and parcel operations. With new SKUs entering the mix daily, robot arms equipped with Plus One’s 3D and AI software can continuously learn to recognize new package shapes and types. The robot arms can successfully load and unload goods onto Locus AMRs.
- Citadel Defense Expands Counter-Drone Offerings
Citadel Defense announced it has expanded their intelligence and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS, or counter-drone) with a suite of new solutions under the Titan brand. The family of C-UAS solutions are designed to keep the U.S. military ahead of the threat curve through industry-leading autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Citadel provides low size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C) solutions that have been operationally validated across fixed, mobile, and dismounted missions, the company said. Best known for their full spectrum Titan system, Citadel launched new solutions including the Titan Drone Finder (DF), Titan Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), and the Titan Multi-Sensor (MS) to address emerging requirements. View Video
- Pony.ai to Begin Driverless Tests on Beijing Public Roads
Pony.Ai has announced it has been authorized to conduct driverless tests on public roads in China’s capital city, Beijing. The company is one of the two autonomous software companies to receive a Beijing permit. Prior to receiving the Beijing permit, it received a permit to conduct tests on certain sections of Beijing’s highways, in July 2021. The company said it was among the first groups to obtain this permit. Pony said it is now authorized to conduct driverless testing in an area of about 20 square kilometers in a pilot zone for autonomous driving vehicles. The area includes major subway stations, residential areas, and technology parks, which allows the company to test its autonomous technology in some of the most challenging road conditions.
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Robotics Research
Pitt Autonomous Racing Team Earns Support from Pittsburgh Robotics Community
A student-led team of robotics experts will participate in the penultimate event later this week for an international challenge that could pave the way for future breakthrough innovations in the world of autonomous vehicles. Sound familiar? It should, given Pittsburgh universities’ history of performing well in challenges such as the DARPA Grand Challenge, DARPA Urban Challenge or the 2012-2015 Robotics Challenge. But this time it’s not a Carnegie Mellon University-led team that is preparing – it’s a student group of roboticists from the University of Pittsburgh readying itself for next week’s Indy Autonomous Challenge finals on October 23rd. The goal of the challenge is a race around the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway in self-driving cars – the grand prize of $1 million is up for grabs. Read More |
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WPI Researcher Leverages Robot for Less Invasive Larynx Surgery
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) researcher Loris Fichera has developed a flexible, slimmed-down robotic laser probe for endoscopic larynx surgeries that could reduce recovery time for patients and cut health care spending by shifting procedures from hospitals to doctors’ offices. The prototype probe’s thin optical fibers and bendable design allow it to reach small folds of tissue that existing rigid instruments cannot reach, which could expand the number of patients whose larynx pain and conditions could be treated with minimally invasive procedures rather than general surgery, said Fichera, an assistant professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering. Fichera is developing the new laser probe under a $438,939 two-year National Institutes of Health grant. Read More |
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Funding News
Saildrone Raises $100M to Advance Ocean Data Intelligence
Saildrone, which develops ocean data, mapping, and maritime intelligence solutions, has announced closing a $100 million Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to $190 million. The company said new funding will be used to grow its data insight teams and scale go-to-market functions to meet rapidly growing demand for ocean domain intelligence. The company’s products are based on data collected from a fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) that are powered primarily by renewable wind and solar power. The Saildrone USVs have sailed more than 500,000 nautical miles, and have clocked more than 15,000 days at sea in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. Read More |
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Dexterity Raises $140M to Expand Warehouse Picking System
Dexterity, which creates intelligent robotic systems for logistics, warehouses, and supply chain companies, has announced it raised an additional $140 million in Series B equity funding and depth. The company said it will use the new capital to support the growth of the company as its first thousand robots are deployed into production. The latest funding raises Dexterity’s total capitalization over $200 million with a valuation of $1.4 billion. The company’s intelligent robotics approach enables logistics providers to automate some of the most complicated tasks in the warehouse without needing to modify their existing infrastructure. The robotic software-as-a-service product solutions equip commodity robots with vision, touch, and contextual intelligence to handle unstructured piles of goods with human-like dexterity and speed. Read More |
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Reliable Robotics Raises $100M to Expand Remotely Piloted Cargo Operations
Reliable Robotics, which develops automated aircraft systems, has announced raising $100 million in a Series C funding round, led by Coatue Management. The round brings the total funds raised to more than $133 million for the company and its Remotely Operated Aircraft System, designed to expand safe, flexible and efficient air transportation services. The company said it will use the capital to scale its team to support its first aircraft certification program and expedite the launch of commercial cargo operations. Reliable also said it is positioned to unlock access to thousands of underutilized regional and municipal airports in all corners of the country, greatly expanding air transportation options for cargo and eventually passengers. Read More |
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