Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 32.24
May 25, 2021
…the challenges facing factories and warehouses as they adopt robots is the use of unique or proprietary operation systems, navigation systems, and fleet management software. An interoperability layer is emerging, with several software vendors, standards groups, and integrators taking on the challenge of getting equipment and systems to communicate. Real-Time Innovations today announced that 634AI Ltd. has selected RTI Connext DDS to connect its MAESTRO and autonomous mobile robots. “The motivation for creating our MAESTRO system was helping our customers transform the way they fulfil everyday indoor tasks,” stated Onn Fenig, CEO of 634AI. “RTI Connext DDS helped us create…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 18.60
May 25, 2021
…creation of its Blue Labs internal research and development group. The Pittsburgh-based robotics supplier said it expects the group to build on its proprietary, artificial intelligence to accelerate its expansion in the manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics sectors. Seegrid provides autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), the Fleet Geek and Supervisor software, and services for connected materials handling automation. It also offers product design, deployment, change management, user training, and data consultation services. “Blue Lab’s team of talented researchers anticipate quickly revealing additional pathways to transform material handling for incorporation into Seegrid AMR and software solutions,” stated Todd Graves, chief technology officer of…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 15.83
May 19, 2021
…from interventions. An operator can also remotely operate the robot from a control station, and a single operator can manage 10 or more robots at a time. Source: Third Wave Automation “There's a lot of opportunities in this space,” said Arshan Poursohi, CEO of Third Wave. “Shared autonomy keeps people in the loop. They're still there to teach robots how to do things, like with Phantom Auto.” “However, our autonomous system can learn from our remote control system,” he told Robotics 24/7. “If a robot gets stuck, it can ask for help and learn how to pick up a pallet…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 13.58
May 18, 2021
…centers and factories should be left to fully autonomous robots, freeing humans for more enriching jobs. The company's Driven by Balyo technology includes autonomous guidance systems to enable standard lift trucks to autonomously navigate inside buildings without the need for additional infrastructure. The company has subsidiaries in Boston and Singapore and serves customers in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. BALYO has also entered into partnerships with KION and Hyster-Yale Group and offers warehousing robots for palletizing, stacking, reach, and very narrow aisle (VNA) applications. It reported €21.7 million ($26.5 million U.S.) in revenue in 2020. By switching to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.46
May 14, 2021
…involved, like knowing how to phase them into an operation and identifying automated or semi-automated applications that make the most sense. Robots as a share of lift-truck sales While the COVID-19 pandemic has driven up unemployment in the past year, it remains challenging to secure enough workers—including skilled lift truck operators—to keep goods flowing to consumers. Automation sales stand to benefit under these conditions. “The market environment in terms of employment has shifted somewhat versus last year, but over the longer term, the labor availability issue is a concern that will help drive this market segment,” said Ash Sharma, managing…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 25.10
May 14, 2021
As more warehouses and distribution centers add robots to keep up with e-commerce demand and compensate for staffing turnover and shortages, new challenges have arisen. Who should manage them, how will they communicate with enterprise systems and one another, and what happens when people and robots from different vendors must collaborate? Many autonomous mobile robot (AMR) makers now offer software and remote operations centers to manage warehouse fleets. As robots become more specialized, the ability to effectively deploy them is becoming a greater differentiator than the hardware. “When people think about self-driving vehicles or robots moving something from Point A…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 22.64
May 13, 2021
…worker safety, supply chain resilience, and enterprise agility. “Remote operation unlocks amazing operational efficiencies for our customers,” said Brian Markison, senior director of automated guided vehicle (AGV) sales at Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas (Marengo). “Our partnership with Phantom enables them to achieve unprecedented oversight and control over their material handling equipment, even with the vehicle operators located states or continents away.” Founded in 2017 by a team of real-time communication and robotics experts, Phantom Auto specializes in remote operation of all types of unmanned vehicles and has customers around the world. The South San Francisco-based company said its system enables people…
Found in Robotics Companies & Businesses, with a score of 28.65
May 13, 2021
Ultraseal International Group Ltd. is a Quaker Houghton company. From the development and manufacture of best-in-class sealants and impregnation systems, through to a global network of service centers and the provision of fully managed on-site facilities, the Coventry, U.K.-basd company said it is focused on meeting its customers’ porosity sealing challenges. Conshohocken, Pa.-based Quaker Houghton Corp. said it is a global leader in industrial process fluids. With operations in more than 25 countries, the company's customers include thousands specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies. Quaker Houghton has 4,000 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 13.68
May 11, 2021
Distributed control and monitoring of autonomous and remote-controlled robots, drones, and vehicles must work even when connectivity is unreliable. This is critical for systems in mining, underwater, and aerospace applications. Real-Time Innovations Inc. today announced the release of RTI Connext 6.1, the latest version of its software framework for cyber-physical systems. Real-Time Innovations (RTI) said Connext shares data directly, connecting artificial intelligence algorithms to real-time networks of devices. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said its software has more than 1,500 designs and runs over 250 autonomous vehicle programs, coordinates combat management for U.S. Navy ships, and is used in medical robotics.…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 13.10
May 07, 2021
…examine the technology's potential usefulness in search and rescue operations, scientific exploration, and healthcare and medicine. However, one professor wants to ensure that such interest leads to a thriving discipline as well as commercially viable applications. “Some new, rapidly growing fields never take root, while others become thriving disciplines,” said Elliot Hawkes, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His own robots have garnered interest for their bioinspired and novel locomotion and for the new possibilities they present. To help guarantee the longevity of soft robotics research, Hawkes and colleagues Carmel Majidi from Carnegie Mellon University…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 31.16
May 07, 2021
Youai Zhihe Robot, or Youibot, today announced that it has received financing of RMB 100 million ($15.5 million U.S.). The Shenzhen, China-based company was founded in 2017 and provides mobile robots, software, and services for indoor and outdoor applications. In addition to research and development for its robots, Youibot said it focuses on supporting customer's actual needs with its automation. Autonomous systems are only part of what industry needs, it said. The company's robots are used for materials handling, inspection, and disinfection. “It's just the first step of factory upgrading and transformation to realize unmanned operation via mobile robots,” stated…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 22.35
April 30, 2021
…processing for decades, produce handling has been difficult for robots to do. Not only are fruits and vegetables variable in size and shape, but they must also be handled delicately to avoid bruising. Scientists have recently made progress in developing tactile sensors to enable robots to approach or surpass human-level motor skills and meet growing industry needs. Researchers at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) have been working with the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a prototype collaborative robot with tactile sensor technology. The ability to grasp, lift, and place food items without…
