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From the Editor
Research Advances Robotics, but Certifications Will Help Create Job Opportunities
Robotics news last week included a potpourri of different announcements in the research space (UPenn’s soft robotics advances, as well as Vanderbilt’s connected car studies), but we are also seeing new robotics certification programs that will help people get started in a career in robotics. In the funding space, we saw several companies continuing to earn venture funding to expand their existing robotics companies. Like our Robotics World tagline says, “from design through deployment”, there’s always something interesting going on in the robotics sector.
– Keith Shaw, Managing Editor. |
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Monarch Tractor Launches MK-V Electric, Driver-Optional Tractor
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Monarch Tractor has unveiled its MK-V tractor, which combines electrification, automation, and data analysis to help farmers reduce their carbon footprint, improve field safety, streamline farming operations, and increase their bottom lines. Constellation Brands, a fine wine and craft spirits producer and largest U.S. beer importer, has bought the first six Founder Series MK-V tractors. This will reportedly be followed by additional customer shipments to family farms and other large multinational corporations. |
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Aerobotix, FerRobotics Launch Robotic Tool for Precision Application of Masking Tape
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Two leading robotics companies based in the U.S. and Austria, respectively, have announced a partnership on a new solution for automated precision application of masking tape. Collaboration between engineers from Aerobotix and FerRobotics has led to the development of a new End of Arm Tooling system. After months of prototypes and testing during the pandemic, the new Active Taping Kit (ATK) tool was completed, with FerRobotics’ patented Active Compliant Technology (ACT) enabling a robot to use varying pressure when applying tape to an aircraft. The tool allows for smooth masking on parts varying in shape and puts down perfectly straight tape lines. |
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Igus Launches Online Robotic Components Marketplace
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igus, which manufactures engineered components to increase the service life of customers' machines, has launched Robotics Marketplace 2.0. The newly designed platform includes enhancements that make it easy for users to develop a low-cost robotics solution that matches their requirements and budget. The platform also aims to enable robotics component suppliers to present their products to a larger public in a new marketplace. |
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Duality Robotics, AWS Unveil City-Scale Simulator
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Duality Robotics, working with Amazon Web Services (AWS), unveiled an exciting new visualization of high-fidelity, city-scale simulation. Showcased at AWS re:Invent 2022, the “Rush Hour Emergency and Response Simulation in Smart Cities” demo illustrates what Falcon, Duality’s digital twin simulator, can achieve when integrated with AWS SimSpace Weaver, AWS’s newly debuted fully managed compute service that helps customers build, operate, and oversee large-scale spatial simulations. |
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Velodyne Launches Vella Software to Ramp Up Lidar Applications Development
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Velodyne Lidar has announced the beta launch of its Vella family of software products, which are designed to help customers accelerate lidar applications development. The Vella software includes sensor management, calibration, perception and cloud software offerings. Velodyne serves industries including robotics, industrial markets, intelligent infrastructure, autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Vella software enables Velodyne’s customers to accelerate development of lidar-based vision solutions for autonomous applications. |
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Product Profile: Bishop Wisecarver’s LoPro Linear Motion Systems
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Bishop Wisecarver (BW) delivers linear motion systems for use in harsh and extreme conditions. LoPro linear actuators are actuated linear motion systems based upon DualVee guide wheel technology designed for smooth and quiet motion over long lengths. Actuation options include the AT series belt, ANSI roller chain, lead screw, and ball screw. LoPro’s low profile is achieved by mounting two lengths of hardened steel track to a low profile milled aluminum track plate. |
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In Case You Missed It
SME Introduces Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals Certification
SME, a nationally recognized certifying body in manufacturing, announced today that it has developed and will offer the Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) credential. The new Industry-driven nationally recognized certification is designed for students, dislocated workers, and new-to-the-industry employees. The certification focuses on assessing a candidate's comprehension of fundamental robotics concepts and may be used by those currently looking to upskill or reskill into manufacturing careers before pursuing equipment-specific or career pathway-specific training in robotics. Read More |
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Featured Article
Making Soft Robotics Stronger Improves VR Gloves, Opening New Applications
Soft robots, or those made with materials like rubber, gels and cloth, have advantages over their harder, heavier counterparts, especially when it comes to tasks that require direct human interaction. Robots that could safely and gently help people with limited mobility grocery shop, prepare meals, get dressed, or even walk would undoubtedly be life-changing. However, soft robots currently lack the strength needed to perform these sorts of tasks. Making soft robots stronger without compromising their ability to gently interact with their environment has limited the development of these devices. Penn Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science have devised a new electrostatically controlled clutch that enables a soft robotic hand to be able to hold four pounds, 40x more than the hand could otherwise lift. This required 125 volts, a third of the requirement for current clutches. Read More |
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Industry News
- Asahi Kasei to Showcase Autonomous Mobility at CES 2023
Japanese multinational company Asahi Kasei announced it will present automotive industry solutions at CES 2023, ranging from raw materials and production technologies to the usage of recycled and recyclable materials, all of which are part of its mission to support the transition to electrified, autonomous and more sustainable mobility.
- Micropsi: MIRAI Software Now Compatible with FANUC Robots
Micropsi Industries announced that its artificial intelligence-based software MIRAI is now compatible with numerous robots produced by FANUC and its U.S. subsidiary, FANUC America. With MIRAI, FANUC customers can now add hand-eye coordination features to several FANUC industrial and collaborative robots (cobots) to handle difficult-to-automate functions, such as cable plugging and assembly.
- Hyundai Mobis Deploys Mobile Cobots and Logistics Robots in South Korea
Hyundai Mobis, which is developing smart mobility solutions, has announced it completed the development of mobile collaborative robotic and logistics robotic systems based on autonomous driving. The robots have been implemented in a pilot program for its Ulsan plant in South Korea. The new robots can be utilized in manufacturing or distribution bases, as well as in service locations, the company said. Hyundai Mobis also said it is developing an exclusive integrated controller and control system. The mobile robots with articulated arms move autonomously in different environments, such as factories or offices, performing tasks in collaboration with humans in charge.
- Researchers Test AI-Equipped Cars to Ease Traffic Jams, Save Fuel
A consortium of researchers from several universities, Nissan North America and the Tennessee Department of Transportation have completed a five-day, open-track experiment that aims to increase fuel savings and ease traffic through the use of artificial intelligence. The group said a single AI-equipped vehicle influenced the speed and driving behavior of up to 20 surrounding cars, causing a positive ripple effect to help smooth human-caused congestion.
- Aurora, Uber Freight to Autonomously Haul Holiday Goods in Texas
Uber Freight, a logistics platform and partner for shippers and carriers, and Aurora Innovation, which develops autonomous vehicles, have announced the expansion of their autonomous pilot with a new commercial lane between Fort Worth and El Paso, Texas. The 600-mile lane launched in October and is supporting Uber Freight customers as they prepare for the 2022 holiday season.
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Robotics Funding
Verdant Robotics Raises $46.5M to Advance Agriculture Robotics
Verdant Robotics, which develops advanced robotics technology for automated agriculture applications, has announced raising $46.5 million in Series A funding. The funding will be used to scale its technology and accelerate the broad adoption of its regenerative and precision agriculture systems. The company’s commercial robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) serves a wide variety of specialty crops on thousands of acres, with orders pending for tens of thousands of additional acres, the company said. The new funding lets Verdant rapidly scale its fleet while developing next-generation products to increase the RaaS efficiency. Read More |
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Locus Robotics Raises $117M in Series F Funding, Brings Valuation to $2B
Locus Robotics, which develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for fulfillment and distrution warehouses, has announced raising more than $117 million in a Series F funding round. The latest round was led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and G2 Venture Partners. With more than 230 sites under contract around the world – some having as many as 500 LocusBots per site – the Locus solution orchestrates the operation and management of multiple robot form factors, and provides forward-looking, real-time business intelligence, critical for optimizing productivity, proactively managing labor, and managing costs, the company said. Read More |
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Bionaut Labs Raises $43M To Advance Microscale Robots
Bionaut Labs, which uses microscale robots to revolutionize the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and disorders, has announced raising $43.2 million in a Series B round of financing. Led by Khosla Ventures, the new funding round brings the company’s total financing raised to date to $63.2 million. The company’s Bionaut treatment platform deploys remote-controlled microscale robots that can deliver therapies locally to previously inaccessible disease areas in the midbrain. Read More |
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NASA Awards ICON Lunar Construction Contract
NASA has announced a contract for ICON, located in Austin, Texas, to develop construction technologies that could help build infrastructure such as landing pads, habitats, and roads on the surface of the Moon. In recent years there has been a lot of buzz about harvesting resources on the Moon to supply human habitats, from converting brackish water ice known to exist there to consumable water, oxygen and rocket fuel, to mining mineral resources. How will humans live on the moon to do this kind of work? Read More |
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