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From the Editor
No Humbug: I Could Have Used a Robotic Exoskeleton Last Week…
Over the past 10 days I’ve been volunteering as a tech crew member for a regional production of A Christmas Carol that my daughter is performing in. Part of my job is to raise and lower different drops, as well as move heavy set pieces around on stage. With last weekend’s shows completed (there are still four more this weekend), I realized I could have used the assistance of a robotic-powered exoskeleton, similar to the one that German Bionic announced this week. I’m a big fan of any type of robotic system that can help reduce injury, lower the risk of injury, and this category certainly qualifies. As technologies improve and costs drop through adoption, I’m pretty sure that future theater productions will include these types of suits for their tech crew that need to do a lot of lifting and pulling.
– Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. Read More |
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ABB Expands OmniCore Robot Controllers for Faster and Energy Efficient Manufacturing
ABB has announced the addition of two new members of its OmniCore controller family to help meet the demand for faster, more efficient production. Available for a range of robots across the company’s portfolio, the E10 and V250XT controllers offer best-in-class motion control, as well as 20% energy savings and future-proofing through built-in digital connectivity and more than 1,000 additional functions to meet changing requirements. ABB said the new controllers extend the possibilities for enhanced robot control in several industries, ranging from electronics assembly to automotive, logistics, and general manufacturing usages. |
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Kärcher, Brain Launch Professional Autonomous Robotic Vacuum
Brain Corp, which develops artificial intelligence for creating core technology in robotics, has announced the launch of an autonomous vacuum cleaner, the KIRA CV 60/1, with Kärcher, a leading provider of cleaning technology. The autonomous vacuum is the first robotic machine released in partnership between Brain and Kärcher, the companies said in a statement. Powered by Brain’s proprietary operating system, BrainOS, the KIRA CV 60/1 can safely vacuum large-scale buildings, including hotels, schools, airports, offices, and convention centers. |
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Newsight Imaging Launches Depth Sensor for Outdoor Robots, Automobiles
Israel-based Newsight Imaging has announced the NSI1000A0M, an optimized version of its NSI1000 sensor designed for outdoor 3D imaging and low reflectance applications. The new sensor is already being integrated with select customers in the smart city, automotive and industry 4.0 markets. The NSI1000A0M supports both enhanced time-of-flight (eTOF) and multi-triangulation technologies with 32 lines of 1,024 pixels, enabling 32 simultaneous triangulation points extracted from a single frame using the sensor’s global shutter, or 1,024 by 32 concurrent eTOF depth points. The power-efficient sensor provides multiple added-value features, including automatic peak detection, multiset, and auto exposure. |
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German Bionic Launches 5th Generation of Cray X Exoskeleton
German Bionic, which develops connected robotic exoskeletons, has announced the fifth generation of its Cray X power suit. The exoskeleton will ship worldwide in early 2022, and will be demonstrated at next month’s CES in Las Vegas. The new version includes enhancements such as active walking assistance, IP54 waterproofing, as well as a more powerful 40-volt battery and completely revamped energy management system. The system’s onboarding assistant makes getting started straightforward, and a Smart Safety Companion – an AI-based early warning system for ergonomics – maximizes workplace safety. The system provides up to 66 pounds (30 kg) of support per lifting movement to help protect the lower backs of workers involved in heavy lifting. |
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Berkshire Grey Launches New Robot Sortation System
Berkshire Grey, which develops artificial intelligence-enabled robot solutions to help automate supply chain processes, has announced its next generation Robotic Product Sortation (RPS) system for order fulfillment. The high-capacity automation solution robotically picks, sorts, and packs individual items into outbound order containers without the need for operator interaction. The latest version of the RPS includes new features, such as a unique dual wing design that increases speed by more than 25%, and doubling the simultaneous order processing capacity. Berkshire Grey said this approach augments human labor to provide additional order processing capacity in existing operations, as well as facilitating a lights-out operations for customers looking to transform their fulfillment operations in the face of increasing labor shortages. |
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Meet Phil, Iron Ox’s Latest Greenhouse Robot
Iron Ox has announced its second greenhouse robot, named Phil, which will assist the company and its goals of optimizing plant yield, expanding growth cycles and maximizing crop quality. The robot’s sensor technology can identify trends in each module’s water and nutrient mix, measuring nutrient content and pH levels with speed and precision, Iron Ox said. The robot also has ultraviolet LEDs for quick and efficient sanitizing without producing waste. The company said this results in “delicious, nutritious, locally sourced fruits and vegetables with substantially lower environmental impacts.” |
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Video of the Week
HausBots Launches Wall-Climbing Robot to Help Reduce Workplace Accidents
Birmingham, U.K.-based HausBots, in partnership with WMG at the University of Warwick, has announced the availability of its wall-climbing robot. The robot can climb vertical surfaces and be used for inspection and maintenance tasks, such as building and infrastructure inspection, surveying, painting or removing graffiti. One of the key uses of the HausBots is to help reduce the number of workplace accidents, in the U.S., 85,000 workers fall from heights every year, of which 700 of them will be fatal. The accidents also cost insurance companies more than $1 billion in claims every year. By reducing the number of accidents, companies can incur a huge economic savings in addition to lowering injuries and trauma. Watch the video HERE. |
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In Case You Missed It
Symbotic to Become Public Company via SoftBank SPAC merger
Symbotic, which develops AI-enabled technology for supply chain companies, and SVF Investment Corp. 3, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by an affiliate of SoftBank Investment Advisers, has announced a definitive merger agreement expected to make Symbotic a public company listed on Nasdaq. Upon completion of the merger, which is expected in the first half of 2022, the combined company will operate under the “Symbotic Inc.” name and will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “SYM.” The transaction values Symbotic at a pro forma enterprise value of $4.8 billion, representing 4.8x Symbotic’s forecast 2023 calendar year end estimated revenues, and a pro forma equity value of approximately $5.5 billion. Powered by a fleet of autonomous robots with AI-enabled software, Symbotic is a product movement technology platform that can adapt to several use cases, and power a customer’s entire supply chain technology platform. Read More |
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Featured Article
Ryder to Acquire Fulfillment Provider Whiplash in $480M Deal
Ryder System, Inc., which performs supply chain, transportation and fleet management operations, has announced it will acquire Whiplash, a national provider of omnichannel fulfillment and logistics services, for approximately $480 million in cash. The City of Industry, Calif.-based Whiplash provides e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment solutions for more than 250 different brands. The company includes 19 dedicated and multi-client warehouses that total nearly 7 million square feet, and provide access to key port operations and gateway markets. Ryder said the transaction is accretive to shareholders, and is expected to add about $480 million in gross revenue to Ryder’s supply chain solutions business segment in 2022, and provide incremental growth to Ryder’s earnings in 2022. The companies said they expect to complete the transaction in late December 2021 or early January 2022, subject to satisfaction of antitrust approvals and customary closing conditions. Read More |
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Industry News
- Robot Operations Group Announces RobOpsCon 2022
The Robot Operations Group (ROG), a global community of experts in scaling the application of advanced robotics, has announced the first-ever RobOpsCon, which will take place in October 2022 in Silicon Valley. The conference aims to bring together practitioners and a leading panel of multi-disciplinary speakers across industries, including logistics, supply chain, agriculture, hospitality and healthcare. Additional details will be announced shortly. The ROG (pronounced “rogue”) said it has been meeting virtually for more than two years, with occasional in-person meetings as the pandemic allowed. With almost 150 members based across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, the group’s monthly virtual meetings and RobOps Masters interviews have included renowned experts such as Aaron Prather from FedEx, Lawrence Ibarria of Verdant Robotics and Daniel Theobald, Chief Innovation Officer and founder of Vecna Robotics.
- Asylon Robotics Set to Demonstrate Security Capabilities with DroneDog
Asylon Robotics, an American robotic perimeter security company, has announced it will demonstrate DroneDog live on Wednesday, Dec. 15. During the demonstration, two guests will have complete control over the DroneDog – physically located in Norristown, Penn. – without leaving their respective offices around the country. Earlier this year, Asylon said it partnered with Boston Dynamics, creators of the Spot quadruped unmanned ground vehicle (Q-UGV) to create the DroneDog system. The complete system includes additional hardware and software components that are set to be unveiled during the event. Asylon said it developed capabilities that include live video monitoring, teleoperation, 20x optical zoom, infrared (thermal) vision for night operations, and automated charging for a “set and forget” system. While most ground robots run on wheels or tracks, DroneDog’s leg design allows it to travel over uneven and unpredictable terrain with organic, life-like motion, the company said. An organization can have multiple DroneDogs that work in combination to employ an automated security task force to guard locations 24/7. View Live Demo
- Japan Certifies H3 Dynamics’ Hydrogen-Powered Drone
The Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (MITI) granted approval for a hydrogen-powered drone equipped with H3 Dynamics’ AEROSTAK hydrogen fuel cell system, developed by Drone Works and with integration support by Nexty Electronics, H3 Dynamics has announced. The cooperation between the companies led to the first certified hydrogen fuel cell multi-rotor drone test flight in Japan. The new drone is equipped with a small composite container for high-pressure hydrogen developed by JFE Container Co. The fuell cell system is manufactured by H3 Dynamics, which is also working with Toyota Group member Toyota Tsusho Nexty Electronics for technical integration in Japan.
- Point One Navigation, Quectel, Bring Precision Location to Robotics, Agriculture Markets
Precision location firm Point One Navigation and Quectel Wireless Solutions, a supplier of IoT modules and antennas, have announced the LG69T-AM, the latest addition to the LG69T Module Series. The Point One positioning engine powers the LG69T-AM, enabling centimeter-level global accuracy by integrating augmented GNSS in an affordable module with an open-source API. The new module features STMicroelectronics’ TeseoV dual-band L1/L5 positioning receiver platform with 80 tracking and four fast acquisition channels, compatible with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS and NAVIC. The LG69T-AM leverages Point One’s RTK and SSR technology for centimeter-level accuracy and ultra-fast convergence time. It is designed for easy integration with minimal e-BOM modification and is well-suited for mass market adoption without the need for an expensive external co-processor. Due to its small package size, light weight, and excellent power consumption, it is ideal for applications such as robotics and precision agriculture. Product Info
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Robotics Funding
Robotics Research Raises $228 Million to Scale its Autonomous Vehicle Technology
Robotic Research, which develops autonomous mobility and robotics technologies, has announced raising $228 million in Series A funding – the first outside capital the company has raised. The capital will be used to expand the company’s commercial division, RR.ai, which focuses on autonomous driving solutions for commercial truck, bus, drayage and logistics vehicles. The company said it has successfully deployed autonomous and robotics solution on roadways around the world, as well as in harsh, unstructured industrial environments. Its vehicle-agnostic autonomy kit, AutoDrive, has been integrated in several vehicles, including a heavy-duty transit bus, Class 8 trucks, and yard trucks. Robotic Research said AutoDrive can be used on-road, off-road, or in the yard, making it suited for autonomous driving solutions that spans a variety of complex operational design domains. Read More |
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Petra Raises $30M to Develop Robotic Tunneling Tech for Utilities
Petra, a robotics company that can create tunnels through hard geologies for utilities, has announced the completion of a 20-foot demonstration tunnel through the hardest rock on earth, as well as a Series A funding round of $30 million. Petra’s hard rock boring robot aims to transform the way all utilities are buried underground by tackling the hardest problem in underground construction – how to bore utility tunnels reliably and cost-effectively through nightmare geologies. The non-contact, thermal-drilling method can uniquely bore 60-inch diameter micro tunnels through hard rock, making it possible to bore utility tunnels through previously impenetrable geologies, said Petra. Conventional micro-tunneling machines are purpose-built for a single diameter, but Petra can bore a range of diameters between 20 and 60 inches, reducing the costs. The company said it also offers the first reverse-tunneling technology, making machine maintenance and cutter head rescue possible. Read More |
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Robotics News
StradVision Provides Camera Perception for LG ADAS Camera System
StradVision, which develops artificial intelligence-based vision processing technologies for autonomous vehicles and advanced driving and assistance systems (ADAS), has announced it provides its camera perception software, SVNet, for LG Electronics’ latest ADAS Front Camera System. The company said it cooperated closely with LG to support the development of an algorithm implementing various ADAS functions. For the various safety functions delivered by the ADAS Front Camera System, StradVision offered full customization of its object detection and free space detection features. Read More |
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Heliogen Demos AI-powered Robot to Maintain Solar Plants
Heliogen, which provides AI-enabled concentrated solar power, has announced a new breakthrough in the production of low-cost renewable energy. In field tests at Heliogen’s Lancaster, Calif., facility, the company demonstrated an autonomous field maintenance system. The Installation & Cleaning Autonomous Robot & Utility Station (ICARUS) is expected to reduce the time to deploy Heliogen’s concentrated solar facilities, as well as the costs associated with construction and ongoing maintenance. The company’s solar facilities employ arrays of mirrored heliostats that require upkeep and cleaning to ensure peak optical performance and a high level of energy generation efficiency. At traditional solar plants, conventional manual cleaning methods can be expansive and labor intensive, and are usually completed once every few months. Read More View Video |
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MORAI, dSPACE to Co-Develop Autonomous Driving Validation Simulator
MORAI, which develops full-stack autonomous driving simulation technology in Korea, has announced a partnership with dSPACE Korea to work together to develop co-simulation solutions. In addition to developing simulation technologies, MORAI said it also has built interfaces to connect with different simulation platforms. The new partnership will see MORAI collaborate with dSPACE in developing co-simulation solutions that will create a toolchain that draws from the strengths of both companies, MORAI siad. Read More |
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