Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.31
March 24, 2022
…year of home-office and remote work because of the COVID-19 pandemic did not slow down innovation, said igus. The company cited 168 product developments, such as motion-plastics gears manufactured via injection molding, with 740 different items available in its online shop. igus' 4-year-old smart plastics business unit launched 12 new products for condition monitoring, preventive maintenance, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in 2021 alone. In combination with real-time cable monitoring for Ethernet cables and the integrated, solar-powered “EC.I” condition sensor, customers can now avoid unexpected machine shutdowns, igus said. RBTXpert enables robot integration As part of digitization support, igus…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.15
March 20, 2022
…Those requirements have always existed, but labor shortages, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising costs of energy and materials have contributed to a shifting business environment. “We have always been focused on creating customer value through the total cost of the system, transforming business processes, improving service, and driving growth and change,” said Kevin Coleman, co-CEO of CJ Logistics America. “Today, our customers are asking us how we can challenge the status quo to deal with the changes in consumer demand patterns.” Part of that shift is a change in focus from handling at the lowest unit cost within a…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.29
March 18, 2022
…has in strengthening the workforce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the so-called Great Resignation. Designing robots with human workers in mind At MIT, Shah is an artificial intelligence researcher and is head of the Interactive Robotics Group. She said the vision behind her lab “is being intentional about developing computing and robotics that enhance rather than replace human capability.” Julie Shah, head of MIT"s Interactive Robotics Group As part of her job, Shah and her team have visited manufacturing plants across Europe and the U.S. to see how they are using robots. When speaking with people running the…
Found in Robotics White Papers & Archives, with a score of 2.96
March 16, 2022
…circumstances facing shoppers, retailers and carriers alike. Ever since COVID-19 brought sports leagues, schools and many businesses to an abrupt halt, economies have been in various stages of recovery and reopening. Preparing for peak season is no longer as simple as increasing headcount. With a labor shortage and warehouse turnover reaching a five-year high in 2020, operations are critically strapped for workers just as e-commerce volumes are reaching new highs. Success this peak season relies on more strategic preparation – and that begins now. Download this white paper for guidance on how to: Embrace automation as a tool to scale…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.26
March 15, 2022
…she'll follow up throughout the day and tomorrow.” The COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of the need for social engagement, said Skuler. “Early customers may have gotten ElliQ for different reasons, but we're now seeing higher alignment with the value of having a roommate they can depend on,” he said. Intuition Robotics partners for additional services ElliQ’s service comes with a series of wellness coach sessions to help older adults define their goals. ElliQ then proactively motivates them to take control of their physical, mental, and social health, said Intuition Robotics. In a recent pilot study, ElliQ was shown to more…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 1.11
March 13, 2022
…is at the top of mind because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A global surge in interest for disinfection systems, social distancing, and robot-assisted surgery promises to expand the accessibility and quality of care. With all the bad geopolitical and economic news lately, it's easy to forget that progress is still being made on multiple fronts. These 10 robotics companies (see slideshow at right or below on mobile) are working to a bright future where doctors can operate remotely, children have robotic friends, and our world is cleaner and healthier than today. About the author Emily Newton is a tech writer…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.53
March 08, 2022
…the demand for AGVs is increasing, Siemens noted. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many industries, especially logistics providers, which have struggled to get essentials to consumers during lockdowns and border closings. The global market for AGVs could grow from $2 billion (U.S.) in 2021 to $3.72 billion in 2028, experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%, forecast Fortune Business Insights. Robots can boost warehousing efficiency and streamline logistics management, as well as lower labor costs, speed up deliveries, and reduce the risk of workplace injury, said Siemens DI. They can also be integrated to achieve digitalization and smart…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.21
March 07, 2022
…in training. Despite ongoing supply chain problems and the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce growth has continued, forcing distribution centers (DCs) to scramble. This has led to both more spending on both workforce development and automation. This two-pronged approach is enabling retailers to keep up with fulfillment volumes. In which areas will you be investing over the next 12 months? Source: Peerless Research “It’s the new landscape,” said Norm Saenz, managing director and partner at St. Onge, a supply chain engineering and consulting company and Peerless' research partner for this project. “I think leaders in operations see the writing on the wall.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.37
March 04, 2022
…it creates empowerment, which drives higher productivity.” While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated e-commerce demand, GXO has been using robots in logistics for some time. “We were using robotics way before the pandemic,” Shaw noted. “We've reduced human touch points. Where handheld scanners were traditionally used, we're now using Cognex cameras. Returns are primarily a qualitative process for sortation, and vision technology is key.” GXO last year opened nine automated sites in the U.S. and three in Europe in 2021, and it plans more for this year. “We have hundreds of people in our human resources team, and we added…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.71
February 25, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new attention to the need for laboratories to add automation at scale. Automata, which serves the life science industry with lab automation and the Eva robotic arm, this week said it has raised $50 million in Series B funding. The London-based company said it plans to use the funding to continue development of its offerings for scientists working across diagnostics, drug discovery, and biotechnology. “At Automata, we have always believed in the power of automation to support a variety of uses especially when deployed at scale,” stated Mostafa El Sayed, CEO of Automata. “We are…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.69
February 22, 2022
…being presented by both widespread labor shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO of RE2 Robotics. “As the market demand for our technology continues to soar, formally partnering with PickNik Robotics allows us to focus on our computer vision and autonomy algorithms, RE2 Detect and RE2 Intellect, knowing that we have a trusted solution for motion planning,” he added. “PickNik Robotics’ deep knowledge of robotics software has been a valuable component in the development of our autonomous systems,” said Dr. Amanda Sgroi, director of computer vision and autonomy at RE2 Robotics. “MoveIt Studio enables us to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 0.78
February 21, 2022
…the fourth quarter of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said a key element of its business strategy is to offer customers opportunities to trial its products, helping it to establish a market share. “Part of my philosophy is that we need to continuously evolve,” said Yap. “Nobody had paid much attention to robotics, but our clients began demanding automation because of the need for contactless access. They had to hire additional people to take temperature readings at entrances, which created a lot of issues and cost a lot of money.” “We were already doing bar-code and…
