Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 62.96
April 22, 2024
Boston Dynamics recently announced it has retired the hydraulic version of its Atlas humanoid robot, unveiling a fully electric robot designed for real-world applications. As part of its commercialization strategy, the robot will be tested by Hyundai, which acquired a majority stake in Boston Dynamics in June 2021, for automotive manufacturing applications. Waltham, Mass.-based Boston Dynamics said the next generation of its Atlas program builds on decades of research and furthers its commitment to delivering capable, useful mobile robots solving challenges in industry today. Small group of customers to begin testing applications Following the commercial deployment of “robot dog” Spot,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 60.40
September 11, 2023
…announced that it has signed a strategic agreement with Boston Dynamics Inc. to continue automating its logistics operations. The Hamburg, Germany-based e-commerce retailer plans to deploy Boston Dynamics' Spot robots in more than 10 facilities and Stretch robots in more than 20 facilities over the next two years. Otto Group said the deployment will support its efforts to improve safety, increase operational efficiency, and address labor shortages for specific types of warehouse work. Waltham, Mass.-based Boston Dynamics noted that the agreement marks the first time both of its commercially available robots will be deployed together at enterprise scale. “The cooperation…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 60.13
August 08, 2023
…its annual sustainability report that it is working with Boston Dynamics Inc. to release a new robot in 2024. The Hyundai Motor Group units did not specify what type of robot it will be, but they said they expect to tap into their development and manufacturing capabilities. Seoul, South Korea-based Kia has been exploring business opportunities in robotic logistics and automated delivery services, according to the Korea Herald. The automaker also plans to invest 28 trillion won ($21.9 billion U.S.) in air mobility, including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, leading to mass production by 2028, it reported. “[The…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 15.99
April 14, 2023
…included an autonomous pallet unloader from Fox Robotics and Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot, which is capable of lifting individual boxes from a trailer and placing them on a conveyor belt (see video below). But workers should not be afraid of being replaced by robots, according to Kraig Forman, president of e-commerce at DHL. He said the Carhartt facility employs 380 people who work alongside the robots. The use of data is also helping make the facility more efficient, with the use of warehouse analytics resulting in a 30% increase in pick productivity. The region is also serving as a proving…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 17.60
February 14, 2023
…deployments, and service-level agreements.” DHL has relationships with AutoStore, Boston Dynamics, Locus Robotics, and Vecna Robotics, among others. “The balance between existing, fixed infrastructure and flexible automation and ROI [return on investment] is based on the customer,” said Gary Allen, vice president of supply chain excellence at Ryder Supply Chain. “AMRs [autonomous mobile robots] need one and a half years, while an ASRS may take one to two years, depending on volume.” MMH's Bob Trebilcock moderated a session with Drew Bailey, vice president of design engineering at Geodis; Zac Boehm, vice president of innovative systems at Hy-Tek Intralogistics; and Stanislas…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 58.87
February 01, 2023
…said it is the first company to commercially apply Boston Dynamics' Stretch robot to unloading cartons from trucks. “Through our accelerated digitization strategy, we continue to innovate and find creative solutions for today’s supply chain challenges,” stated Sally Miller, CIO of DHL Supply Chain North America. “We are also excited to be able to offer yet another solution to our customers that allows for flexibility in scaling up or down as operational needs change.” DHL is part of Bonn, Germany-based Deutsche Post DHL Group, which claimed it is largest logistics company in the world, with 380,000 employees and offices in…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 51.76
January 18, 2023
Most robotics enthusiasts are aware of Boston Dynamics Inc.'s Atlas humanoid robot, which has performed feats of acrobatics on YouTube and in commercials. But to make its system more humanlike, the company has continued developing its capabilities, as seen in new videos today. Waltham, Mass.-based Boston Dynamics said that “Atlas Gets a Grip” (below) demonstrates a natural progression of the robot's perception, manipulation, and autonomy. It also shows how such robots could eventually assist human workers, in this case by bringing tools up scaffolding. “This video ... is meant to communicate the expansion of the research that we're doing on…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 31.45
October 31, 2022
…added that the retailer recently completed a pilot with Boston Dynamics' Stretch robot for automated trailer unloading in Fishkill and has ordered its first two units to be deployed in Gallatin. “We’re going to start with trailer unloading,” he said. Adoption inches to dark facilities Now, two units in one facility may not sound like a lot. But Gap Inc. started with just a few Kindred.ai robotic putwalls in Gallatin during the 2017 holiday season. Less than five years later, there are more than 240 units at work in multiple facilities across its network. Similarly, Gap launched Exotec in Gallatin…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 24.67
September 30, 2022
…Honeywell Intelligrated's Robotic Unloader and Articulated Arm Loader/Unloader and Boston Dynamics' Stretch. “My opinions is that we have the best approach, but Honeywell's system is impressive,” acknowledged Drumwright. “The suction approach has been tried for 15 years, and it's hard to pick up a box from the top or a single side.” “It's a huge market out there, and Boston Dynamics can find a subset of it,” he continued. “At MODEX, Stretch was operating fairly continuously, and I didn't see it drop anything, unlike every other company, which doesn't even know if something was dropped. We've had 1,000 demonstrations, and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 70.47
September 01, 2022
Boston Dynamics Inc. yesterday announced that it has signed a $10 million agreement with supply chain company NFI as part of a pilot program to see if Stretch is a right fit for the Camden, N.J.-based company. The case-handling mobile robot will initially be used to unload trucks and containers in 2023 at NFI’s warehouse in Savannah, Ga. If all goes well, NFI said it will start placing Stretch machines throughout its North American facilities over the next few years. Boston Dynamics first unveiled Stretch back in March 2021, noting that it was its first robot specifically designed for warehouse…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 47.04
August 05, 2022
…commercial with Sam Adams, and its Spot quadruped robot, Boston Dynamics Inc. is one of the most recognizable robotics companies in the world. At the same time, Boston Dynamics is serious about providing value for industrial applications. Hyundai Motor Group acquired the company from SoftBank Group Corp. in 2021. Since then, Boston Dynamics has demonstrated Spot in many different environments; offered the Stretch robot for unloading trucks; and continued to work with developers, software and sensor providers, and corporate customers. Last month, CEO Robert Playter joined Kiva Allgood, president and CEO of Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corp., at TCs Sessions:…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 69.90
June 29, 2022
Velodyne Lidar Inc. yesterday announced that Boston Dynamics will use the company’s lidar sensors in its robots as part of a multi-year agreement. The San Jose, Calif.-based company said its lidar sensors let mobile robots (AMR) operate autonomously in various conditions. That includes varying temperatures and rainstorms. With its sensors, robots have access to real-time 3D perception data for localization, mapping, object classification, and object tracking, the company said. “Boston Dynamics robots provide advanced mobility, dexterity and intelligence that enable automation in unfamiliar and unpredictable settings,” said Laura Wrisley, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Velodyne Lidar. “Equipped with…
