Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 United States Presidential Election, Association for Advancing Automation (A3) President Jeff Burnstein penned a letter to the President-Elect and his administration. The letter was posted on Burnstein’s LinkedIn page and A3 website as an appeal to the 47th President to focus on robotics and automation to bolster American manufacturing. Burnstein letter to President Trump To: President-Elect Donald Trump From: Association for Advancing Automation (A3) We congratulate you on your election as the 47th President of the United States of America. As an association dedicated to leadership in automation, we very much appreciate your…
MassRobotics, in collaboration with Chewy, a trusted destination for pet parents and partners everywhere, announced the launch of the CHAMP (Chewy Autonomous Mobile Picking) Challenge. This innovation challenge invites robotics developers and innovators to tackle a pressing issue in warehouse automation: designing a system that efficiently grasps, lifts and places heavy, awkwardly shaped items in confined warehouse spaces. CHAMP Challenge details The CHAMP Challenge focuses specifically on the challenges of grasping and picking large, bulky items, such as bags, boxes and pails of dog food and cat litter. The goal is to improve operational efficiency, support worker safety, and advance…
Cambridge, Mass. based Pickle Robot, a developer of “Physical AI” delivering robotic automation systems that unload trucks, announced it has raised $50 million in Series B funding with participation from a strategic customer, Teradyne Robotics Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Ranpak, Third Kind Venture Capital, One Madison Group, Hyperplane, Catapult Ventures and others. Additionally, Pickle announced that it received orders from six customers in the third quarter of 2024 for over 30 production robots. The company expects these robots to deploy in the first half of 2025. Funding will be used on current, new technology The new orders include pilot conversions, existing…
FANUC America introduced its new M-950iA heavyweight industrial robot, capable of lifting 500 kg, including automotive components, construction materials and EV battery packs. The new robot, according to FANUC, fits between the company’s M-900iB and M-1000iA families. The company says its serial-link structured M-950iA/500 offers a wider range of motion than standard parallel-link robots, offering flexibility that easily adapts to tight workspaces and variable layouts. Expanded payload and reach in new robot A high-rigidity design makes the new robot suited for payloads up to 500 kg and its reach of 2,830 mm is paired with a range of motion on…
Industrial inspection robot provider ANYbotics recently opened an office in San Francisco, Calif. to help deliver its autonomous quadruped inspection robots in North America. The company recently launched operations in the U.S. Building on U.S. customer success and partnerships with global technology companies, ANYbotics said it is elevating its service and support in the U.S. by providing turnkey robotics solutions and continuous support to U.S. operators. The company said this expansion will help ensure faster integration and boost efficiency and safety. “We’re excited to offer North American customers personalized support, faster deployments, and tailored solutions, helping them drive efficiency and…
Bipedal humanoid mobile manipulation robot (MMR) provider Agility Robotics recently announced motion components provider Schaeffler Group has made a minority investment in the company. In addition to the investment, the companies have signed an agreement in which Schaeffler intends to purchase humanoid robots from Agility Robotics for use across the whole global Schaeffler manufacturing and warehouse network. “We, at Schaeffler, will integrate this technology into our operations and see the potential to deploy a significant number of humanoids in our global network of 100 plants by 2030,” said Andreas Schick, Schaeffler AG COO. “We look forward to the collaboration with…
Flexible material handling automation systems provider Vecna Robotics recently announced it has brought on Karl Iagnemma as CEO and closed $14.5 million in additional funding from existing investors. Proceeds of the funding round are earmarked to accelerate technology and product enhancements, which Vecna said will help address the automation needs of operators in automotive, general manufacturing, high-volume warehousing. Vecna had previously closed a $100 million series C funding round and appointed Michael Helmbrecht as COO. Iagnemma brings CEO experience from nuTonomy, Motional Iagnemma is an entrepreneur and knowledgeable developer in the commercial robotics industry, with a career history that blends…
