Data is the key to everything, especially when it comes to automation systems and robotics. End users are always looking for more data and the right data. What if there was a way to utilize the data collected in facilities now - in some cases using robots already deployed - to improve operational efficiency for years to come? Brain Corporation, a software developer for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), expanded its product offerings based on feedback from its customers to address a new use case - inventory management. Not only did it create multiple options to suit different business operations, it…
ProGlove
Contoro Robotics, an Austin, Tx.-based robotics company, and Go! Retail Group have announced a partnership that will see Contoro robots unloading Go! containers to enhance warehouse operations. Go! Retail Group has over 650 stores nationwide and this collaboration marks a significant step in the company’s mission to improve efficiency, reduce labor costs and boost worker safety. Central to the partnership is Contoro's advanced robotic offering, which automates the offloading of floor-loaded shipping containers - one of the most challenging tasks in warehouse operations. With container temperatures reaching up to 140 degrees during Texas summers, this task has been both physically…
San Francisco based food preparation robot provider Chef Robotics, which recently announced the launch of its flexible, scalable, AI-enabled robot arm, has released a new feature for its system. Placement QA, a computer vision feature that will supplement the quality assurance at Chef Robotics’ operated food facilities, will allow food companies to see images of every meal assembled by Chef robots (and down the line by human depositors too) in their facilities, highlighting the placement of each ingredient deposit within each meal’s container. Placement QA provides more quality control Quality assurance plays a crucial role in the food preparation industry.…
End-user
At IMTS 2024 in Chicago, Kawasaki Robotics released Astorino, a unique and affordable educational robotics platform for industrial/technical education providers. Astorino offers the capabilities of a modern industrial robot at a fraction of the cost of other robots for the educational market, enabling educators to more easily equip students with the foundational, real-world skills needed as manufacturing continues to evolve. Named after the popular open-source Arduino platform and development partner ASTOR, Astorino leverages Kawasaki Robotics’ technology expertise, including hardware, firmware, control system, application software and training. The platform also supplies STL files so students can rapidly print 3D replacement parts…
After announcing a major relaunch and rebranding two weeks prior, Rethink Robotics unveiled a full portfolio of new robotics products at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2024. The trade show was held Sept. 9-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The company unveiled seven Rethink Reacher collaborative robots (cobots), two Rethink Ryder autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and the Rethink Riser mobile manipulator robot (MMR). Industry insiders may remember Rethink’s former flagship cobot, Sawyer, because of its seven-axis robot arm architecture, hand-wrist camera, and smiling eyes. The company said it has grown and learned in the last years, claiming today’s…
When Universal Robots (UR) recently surveyed 1,200 manufacturers across North America and Europe about their use of technology and future investment plans, over 50% of the respondents indicated they are now using AI and machine learning in their production processes. At IMTS 2024, UR showed a machine-tending application with new AI-based perception capabilities running on NVIDIA Jetson and Isaac acceleration libraries integrated into UR’s new PolyScope X platform. This combination enables dynamic path planning, ensuring the robot takes the most effective, collision-free paths in and out of the machine without requiring extensive user configuration. UR plans to make this technology…
Kawasaki Robotics launched its new CL Series of intelligent collaborative robots (cobots), at IMTS 2024 in Chicago. The CL Series of cobots are available for order in multiple payloads. Kawasaki’s new industrial robotic options at the show represent applications such as welding, machine tending and material removal give manufacturers flexibility and advanced capabilities when choosing automation to meet their diverse needs. CL Series creates “new era” of collaborative automation Developed in partnership with NEURA Robotics, the CL Series cobots challenge the current understanding of collaborative robots, according to the companies. The CL Series offer full-on industrial scale performance and speed…
PickNik Robotics, a Colorado-based developer of advanced robotic software offerings, announced the launch of MoveIt Pro Release 6, a platform the company says is “designed for the AI era.” This latest release enables organizations to quickly tackle robotics applications that previously were not possible or economically feasible with previous generation systems. PickNik says that MoveIt Pro 6 has a new high fidelity simulation engine for digital twins, powerful real-time control algorithms and support for mobile manipulation. Further funding, innovation from PickNik The company, which received $2 million in a pre-seed investment round in October 2023, has expanded its MoveIt platform.…
Engineer
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Robotics 24/7, the web’s most comprehensive resource for robot and automation system news in manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, warehouses and other industrial applications, and parent company Peerless Media, have announced the speaker and session lineup for the 2024 Robotics Application Conference (RAC ‘24). RAC ’24 is a virtual, one-day event where speakers from throughout the robotics landscape will provide thoughtful and insightful commentary on robotics applications, deployments and trends across industries where robots and automation are in use. RAC ’24 is the third virtual summit hosted by Robotics 24/7 and Peerless Media, and will begin at 12:00…