Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.26
May 10, 2022
…delivery robots, autonomous defense systems, and more. From the Amazon Astro consumer device and the Perseverance rover on Mars to wireless factories, robots “promise to make our lives easier, but many challenges remain,” noted Dev Singh, senior director of business development and head of autonomous robotics, drones, and intelligent machines at Qualcomm. “We've made a $70 billion investment in compute, AI, and 5G,” he said in a press briefing. “Our expanded roadmap of solutions will help bring enhanced AI and 5G technologies to support smarter, safer, and more advanced innovations.” Qualcomm announced the new platforms for the “connected intelligent edge”…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 13.03
May 09, 2022
With springtime comes new life. Last month, e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc., already a major user and developer of robots, announced its new $1 billion Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. Among the first five startups to receive investment was Vimaan Robotics Inc., which is developing systems for real-time visibility into inventory across the entire warehouse. “We were not actively soliciting an investment when approached, but when one of the largest and most innovative supply chain companies in the world recognizes the value in our solutions for the entire supply chain inventory management industry, it is easy to get excited,” stated S.K. (“KG”)…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.55
May 06, 2022
…orchestrated in a very concise and precise way,” he said. VandenBrook said interoperability is “critical” as companies such as Amazon and Shopify continue to invest billions to build up fulfillment centers. “As an ecosystem, clients are going to demand the best point solution for their operation in order to give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace,” he said. “I don’t see that changing in the future.”
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.12
May 04, 2022
…mobile robot maker Kiva Systems, which was acquired by Amazon and rebranded to Amazon Robotics. He is currently Sony’s AI America director and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2020. Rick Faulk: CEO of Locus Robotics and former CEO of Quiet Logistics, with more than 30 years of experience in the logistics industry. Elaine Chen: a well-known roboticist, currently director of the Derby Entrepreneurship Center at Tufts University and former entrepreneur in residence at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Amar Sawhney: a prolific serial entrepreneur in the medical devices industry, currently CEO of Pramand…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.24
May 03, 2022
…and location near DCs operated by the likes of Amazon created labor challenges even before the pandemic. Adam Greenberg, founder and CEO of NorthShore Care Supply, opted for high levels of automation when he opened a new 173,000-sq.-ft. facility in 2020. The centerpiece was a robot-to-goods picking system designed by Numina Group that used autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from Waypoint Robotics, since purchased by Locus Robotics. The ability of Waypoint's AMRs to carry up to 700 lb. was essential because NorthShore Care ships full cases of product to its customers. Those cases were delivered to an automated packing, labeling, and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.89
April 22, 2022
…robots, and refine their capabilities, said the company. New Amazon fund joins investors DCVC and Playground Global led Agility Robotics' Series B round. Previous investors, including MFV Partners, ITIC, Robotics Hub, Safar Partners, Sony Innovation Fund, and TDK Ventures, also participated. “We’re deepening our investment in Agility Robotics because their robots solve the labor shortages plaguing businesses and wreaking havoc on supply chains,” said Matt Ocko, co-managing partner of DCVC. “Agility’s robots are designed to free people from repetitive or unpleasant tasks, allowing them to take on the more fulfilling work they can do better than any robot.” “Agility is…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.46
April 21, 2022
…mobile robot (AMR) manufacturers including Canvas Technology (acquired by Amazon) and Seegrid have developed AMRs with varying degrees of vision-based navigation. The trend towards vision is being driven by the need for: 3D visual perception, Increased robustness, and Reduced cost. Ultimately, to achieve truly intelligent autonomous behavior, navigation systems need to deliver human-level, 3D visual perception. For example, because they can detect texture and color, cameras are able to distinguish between the edge of a surface or line. This can create significant safety advantages for many types of robots because the robot can use this visual information to precisely navigate…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 19.95
April 21, 2022
Amazon.com Inc. is not only a major user and developer of robotics, but it is also now an investor. BionicHIVE, which has developed an autonomous robot that works with existing warehouse infrastructure, today said it has received unspecified funding from the new Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. “With Amazon’s funding and support, BionicHIVE is growing its team and operations, establishing [a] U.S. footprint to expand its customer base and scale go-to-market, as well as increasing R&D,” said Ilan Reingold, CEO of BionicHIVE. “We couldn’t have asked for a better company whose investment is a validation of the unique approach and capabilities…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.57
April 18, 2022
…still, both retailers reported an overall increase in sales. Amazon posted a $206 million operating loss for the 4th quarter of 2021 and a 1% drop in revenue at its online stores. Amazon! Now, I don’t think we’re all going to go racing back to stores for everything, given the convenience of shopping online. But it made me wonder how the dynamism of this market might impact the implementation of micro-fulfillment centers, or MFCs. Those are defined as those systems put in 5,000 to 10,000 square feet in the back of a grocery store or big box retailer; or facilities…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.51
April 07, 2022
…pandemic, and last but not least, the opportunity for greater visibility into operations. Most importantly, delegations from corporations including Amazon, CVS, General Electric, Target, and more were at MODEX, scouting out the latest tools, comparing notes, and looking to make deals on the show floor or at many dinners around Atlanta. In fact, some robotics vendors told me that they have already booked orders through next year. This was Robotics 24/7's first year at this event. After more than 50 appointments last week, here are some robotics takeaways from MODEX 2022 (see right, or below on mobile). Did I miss…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.55
April 04, 2022
…warehouse for reasons of safety. It was homogenous. After Amazon bought Kiva, we saw a whole new set of robot-to-goods solutions from companies like Locus Robotics, 6 River Systems, and Fetch Robotics. However, like Kiva, they were homogenous solutions. They did one thing and did it well, but they were “islands of automation.” At this year's MODEX, we saw vendors such as Addverb Technologies, Geek+, or Mujin showing off their robot portfolios. Or, we saw vendors like RightHand Robotics, HAI Robotics, or Tompkins Robotics demonstrating how all of their different robot types could work together. For instance, RightHand showed its…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.66
March 31, 2022
…PickNik said it helps organizations such as NASA, Google, Amazon, and Samsung address the technical, cost, and time challenges associated with the development of advanced robotics applications. The Boulder, Colo.-based company also supports and collaborates with the worldwide open-source robotics movement and is the lead developer of the MoveIt motion-planning framework. Sierra Space works on Dream Chaser “At Sierra Space, our mission is to build a platform in space to benefit life here on Earth,” said Steve Lindsey, chief strategy officer at Sierra Space and a former astronaut who has flown five missions for NASA. “To fulfill that mission, we…
