Monthly Archives: September 2021

There is a critical mass of innovation and momentum in robotics right now. Global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are investing billions of dollars in development. Industry 4.0 is making cost-effective mass production feasible. Machine learning, internet of things (IoT), and cloud computing are solving the tech and control issues. And there is a labor shortage in the developed world, driving need.

Smart, autonomous, mobile, humanoid robots capable of taking on multiple complex tasks will probably be with us within five to seven years. Elon Musk announced that the Tesla Bothumanoid robot prototype will be launched in 2022.When they arrive, they will change the world.

One of the biggest fears about robots is that they will take all the jobs. Based on a simple high-level analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 67 million of the 163 million jobs in the U.S. today could be performed by a semi-smart humanoid robot or autonomous vehicle. And, because robots can work three or four times as many hours per week as a human worker and take no vacations, they will likely be able to take on three to four jobs each while still leaving plenty of time for charging and maintenance.

Businesses will buy robots in droves

Business adoption of robots will be a financial no-brainer. Even if a robot is replacing just two minimum wage workers in the U.S., a robot's price point of around $200,000 will be ROI positive within three3 years. To put that price tag into perspective, you can already buy the Spot inspection robot from Boston Dynamics for $75,000.

Because manufacturing has largely moved offshore, the tipping point for robot adoption in the U.S. will be when robots are able to perform and are accepted in service jobs. Once they can do that, we will see a dramatic adoption of robot labor.

Robots will help supply keep up with demand

Over the last few years, global growth and the COVID pandemic have created a supply/demand imbalance and a labor shortage. If that continues and/or the global demand for goods and services grows even more, the addition of professional service robots will have only positive effects. Robot labor will replace and displace human labor. Any displaced workers will be quickly re-employed into new jobs created by the growth.

If, however, demand stagnates or declines, human workers will likely be replaced by robots at a greater pace than they can find new jobs. Higher unemployment levels will result. Counterintuitively, the cure for this will be more robots!

Robots will increase leisure time and create new jobs

When personal service robots reach a price point equivalent to a car, the consumer market will explode. Historically consumers have adopted other initially high-priced but desirable labor saving devices extremely rapidly. When they do, the increase in leisure time these devices create leads to a host of business and employment opportunities in jobs that fill that extra leisure time with entertainment, travel, games, and hobbies.

Robots will open and create new markets and opportunities

Robots can work in environments and do things that humans can't. They are physically stronger, less fragile, have more stamina, can work in dangerous conditions, don't need mandatory breaks or safety precautions, and won't sue their employer, strike, or demand more pay.

Things that were previously impossible because of the physical, legal, or financial risk will not only be possible, but cheap and easy. Construction, exploration, commercial fishing, farming, and transportation will all see massive productivity gains and cost reductions. Entrepreneurs will immediately identify new markets and opportunities that can be opened using robot labor that were previously impossible, or at least financially impractical before.

So, yes, robots will take some jobs, but they will also create tremendous economic growth, increase leisure time, and improve living standards across the board.

Damian Smith is the president and CEO of Pepper Foster Consulting, a strategy and execution consulting firm that helps organizations and entrepreneurs figure stuff out and get stuff done and is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company in America.

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The Robots are Coming: Part 3 - How Robots Will Take and Create Jobs - Inc.com

One of Japan's wealthiest men says robots will "liberate" humans from boring work and revitalise Japan's greying economy in the process.

On Wednesday Masayoshi Son, chief executive of the sprawling technology and investment-focused Softbank Group, said his company's Vision Fund was working with 18 companies developing artificial intelligence-enhanced machines.

In July, Softbank announced it was "pausing" production of its own robot, the humanoid Pepper, after poor sales of the machine which was advertised for use as a home companion and customer service assistant.

"We had a grandiose debut event with Pepper several years ago, now it is hanging its head low," Son said, standing in front of a projection of a slumping, switched-off Pepper.

Pepper's commercial failure does not appear to have dampened Son's enthusiasm for robotics.

The SoftBank founder told the virtual audience at Wednesday's Softbank World 2021 conference that "smart robots that will replace not just the manufacturing, industrial working population, but the entire working population."

Son's keynote address was accompanied by videos of Boston Dynamics' humanoid Atlas robots running and jumping, as well as canister-shaped machines cleaning floors.

However, he offered no specifics on new investments or market prices of any of the devices, nor did he not touch on SoftBank's investing pause in China where regulators have dramatically increased scrutiny of technology firms.

In June the company's Paris-based Softbank Robotics arm announced it would be cutting its 330-strong workforce, citing the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Also in June, SoftBank sold its 80 per cent stake in Boston Dynamics, maker of the dog-like "Spot", to South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group for $1.1 billion (930 million).

On Wednesday Son said SoftBank remained a collaborating partner with Boston Dynamics, and that from Pepper will come a generation of more functional smart robots - or what he called "sumabo", a contraction of "smart" and "robot" in Japanese.

Such machines will have the potential to revolutionise the workforce, as one smart robot can do 10 times the daily output of a human, Son said. In Japan, that means 100 million robots could do the work of one billion people, he added.

"Humans can be liberated from boring work," he said. "(They) can work on something that has more added value."

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Softbank's Masayoshi Son says 'smart robots' will replace the entire working population - Euronews

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The British Army has outlined its intent to make greater use of robotics and autonomous vehicles working in combination with human soldiers to ensure it is equipped for the battlefield of tomorrow.

According to the Ministry of Defence, over the next few years the armed forces will increasingly deploy human-machine teams, in which soldiers are paired with automated technologies and artificial intelligence tools.

Examples cited include uncrewed, computer-driven vehicles, which the MoD said could play a valuable role in combat zones to provide situational awareness or deliver aid to remote regions.

They will also be able to rapidly deploy counter-drone capabilities to survey areas of land and use a wide range of sensors and effectors that can see, shift or shoot across the whole battlefield, the ministry added.

The Army is currently rolling out its Future Soldier initiative, through which it aims to evolve and adapt to what it terms the grey zone, in which much international conflict now takes place.

This is where state and non-state actors operate against the UK without a full declaration of war, and so the line between war or peace becomes more blurred, it said.

As part of the Future Soldier programme, it will also map out strategies and priorities for the use of technology. This will include the soon-to-be-published approach to electrification, a 15-year plan to increase use of battery-powered, electric, and hybrid vehicles.

These can provide significant advances in stealth mode capabilities with reduced thermal and noise signature, the MoD said.

A total of 10m has already been spent on equipping the Armys Man SV, Jackal, and Foxhound fleet of vehicles with hybrid electric drives.

The performance of these drives is currently being assessed, as are options for recharging uncrewed vehicles.

Colonel Simon Ridgway, assistant head of plans for round manoeuvre capability, said: [The] approach to electrification will set out how the Army intends to take advantage of the opportunities provided by sustainable technology for land capabilities. It will ensure the Armys electrical infrastructure is ready to meet the electrical demand required on the battlefield of the future. Delivering effect needs the right power, in the right place, at the right time and using hybrid vehicles will make it easier to get the power to where it needs to be.

Chief of the General Staff, Sir Mark Carleton-Smith added: The future British Army will draw on innovation, cutting-edge technology and play its part in Defences ambition to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Our Future Soldier initiative will see more versatile and increasingly deployable land forces in the face of evolving threats.

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Army cites importance of robotics and autonomous vehicles on 'battlefield of tomorrow' - PublicTechnology

First Product LIFTBOT Addresses Safety and Labor Shortages; Reduces Inefficiencies

MUNICH, Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KEWAZO, a leader in construction robotics, today announced it has closed a $5 million series A funding round, bringing the total amount raised to $9 million. The round was led by True Ventures. Existing investor MIG AG, a Munich-based venture capital firm and one of the founding investors in BioNTech, also participated in the round. KEWAZO is digitizing construction with robotics and data analytics. The startup offers robotic material hoist LIFTBOT for construction sites and industrial plants.

Initially, KEWAZO is focused on scaffolding assembly a $50 billion industry. During the building or dismantling of scaffolding, more than 80 percent of projects are still done completely manually. LIFTBOT makes assembly more efficient by automating manual material transport. Using LIFTBOT saves up to 44 percent of man-hours, which directly addresses the labor shortage, a long-term problem in the industry. The robot reduces the risk of accidents and improves the working conditions on-site. With minor adjustments, the technology can be applied to additional tasks such as insulation, painting and other on-site material transport.

LIFTBOT also collects operational data and provides it to customers in the form of a data analytics platform. Those insights aid planning and improve profitability, and customers benefit from faster, more predictable projects.

"We're excited to have found a partner in True Ventures that understands our vision of bringing robotic technology to the construction industry," said Artem Kuchukov, CEO of KEWAZO. "With the new investment we aim to expand our robotic fleet in Europe and the U.S., to introduce the RaaS model, and to enable further digital services. LIFTBOT improves worker safety, makes jobs more efficient, and drastically cuts the amount of man-hours projects take, all while saving money."

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"Since our Seed-Investment in 2018, Kewazo has come a long way from prototype to the marketable and robust LIFTBOT system. Having True Ventures now leading the Series A round takes the company to the next level and we are proud to further support KEWAZO's international development", states Matthias Guth, MIG Venture Partner and Kewazo Board member.

The first batch of LIFTBOTs has been successfully delivered to key customers in the EU markets. Prospective projects worldwide include scaffolding assembly at greenfield projects and maintenance jobs at construction sites, oil and gas refineries, power plants, and shipbuilding yards. KEWAZO has completed more than 40 pilot and test projects, and has delivered robots to major customers like Bilfinger, a leading European industrial service provider, on oil and gas sites in Germany.

"We have tested LIFTBOT during ongoing operations and immediately recognized the potential of the solution," said Alexander Brod, branch manager of Bilfinger Arnholdt in Gelsenkirchen. "With innovative technologies from the fields of robotics and automation, we offer our industrial customers an even safer and more efficient service."

"So many aspects of the construction industry stand to benefit immensely from robotic intelligence and RaaS offerings," said Puneet Agarwal, partner at True Ventures. "The KEWAZO team has a strong track record and proven solution that addresses a significant need in a critical part of the industry. We're excited to fund this team and help them expand to new verticals in construction and other markets."

About True Ventures Founded in 2005, True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early stage technology startups. With more than $2.8 billion under management, True provides seed and Series A financing to entrepreneurs in today's fastest growing markets. To date, True has helped more than 300 companies launch and scale their businesses, creating over 25,000 jobs worldwide. To learn more, visit http://www.trueventures.com.

About MIGMIG Verwaltungs AG (MIG AG) is one of the leading German VC investors. MIG investsthrough the MIG funds in young deep tech and life sciences companies in German-speakingEurope and beyond. The company has so far invested over 600 million in over 40 companies. MIG's portfolio companies develop innovations in areas such as biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence / machine learning, quantum technologies, digitization / IoT, precision medicine and digital health. The MIG investment portfolio currently consists of 30 companies. For additional information, visit http://www.mig.ag.

About KEWAZOMunich-based robotics company KEWAZO is digitizing construction with robotics and data analytics. The company integrates robotics platform LIFTBOT on-site to enable further digital services. In scaffolding, LIFTBOT saves up to 44 percent of labor costs, addresses labor shortage, and improves safety. Alongside the robotic system, KEWAZO provides its customers with a data analytics solution, enhancing higher levels of transparency and better project management. The company works closely with large scaffolding companies and industrial service providers. For more information please go to http://www.kewazo.com

Media Contact for KEWAZO Escalate PR kewazo@escalatepr.com617-312-5942

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Construction Technology Startup KEWAZO Raises $5 Million Series A Funding From True Ventures To Scale Robotic Fleet In The $50 Billion Scaffolding...

Advanced Handling Systems' (AHS) third-party logistics and e-commerce warehouse customers can now choose to deploy robotic solutions from Berkshire Grey for their facilities.

AHS, which integrates fulfillment and distribution solutions and counts many Fortune 100, e-commerce, and 3PL companies among its clients, said Berkshire Grey's (NASDAQ: BGRY) artificial intelligence-enabled automation will help its clients address labor shortages and logistics challenges that are threatening the supply chain.

"Berkshire Grey's Intelligent Enterprise Robotic (IER) solutions set the industry standard they have the most robust robotics portfolio, handling the broadest range of SKUs," said Drew Eubank, senior director of engineering at AHS. "AHS brings a 40-year customer portfolio that spans Fortune 100 brands to emerging e-commerce leaders and they know that robotic automation is core to their supply chain strategy if they're going to remain competitive. That's why we're partnering with Berkshire Grey to accelerate the integration of next-generation robotic solutions into our customers' warehouses and facilities."

Berkshire Grey has said that only about 5% of warehouses have any automation installed today, representing a large opportunity as e-commerce takes a greater percentage share of the retail economy.

Related: Read: SPAC in focus: Berkshire Grey ready for its debut Read: Berkshire Grey shows next-generation fulfillment robots

Among its robotics systems are solutions offering various weight capacities and capabilities. The robots typically operate on grids that allow movement at high speeds within inches of each other. A robotic product sortation system can pick and load totes in the warehouse and autonomously deliver those totes to waiting vehicles. It introduced its latest generation of IER picking and mobility robots in June. They utilize artificial intelligence to offer lower-cost points and shorter delivery times while expanding the number of SKUs the robots can pick.

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"Partnering with AHS allows us to deliver a comprehensive robotic automation portfolio, accelerate the adoption of AI and robotics and enable warehouse supply chains across industries to scale and grow," James Hendrickson, director of strategic partnerships and global alliances at Berkshire Grey, said.

Berkshire Grey said its intelligent fleet of mobile robots can:

Integrate robotic picking with mobile robots to increase automation levels and fulfillment speeds.

Transform any facility into a high-throughput fulfillment system with minimal disruption to existing operations. Facilities can deploy the new robot systems in both existing and new fulfillment centers in one-third of the time of legacy systems.

Handle greater SKU coverage than legacy systems including heavier items, non-conveyables, and challenging items like shrink-wrapped packages (e.g., dog food bags, glass and water bottle packs).

Perform faster and more flexibly than traditional approaches conducting agile any-induct-to-any-discharge organization of goods and incorporating intelligent on-field storage supporting many use cases.

Dually utilize storage locations as robot highways and handle diverse SKUs directly the new robots can rotate and adjust positions, pass under shelves and conveyor belts, and function without a tray or tote container all of which enable speedier throughput and reduced process costs.

The AI-based software allows the robots to work collaboratively and helps them "learn" over time.

Click for more Modern Shipper articles by Brian Straight.

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Advanced Handling Systems' E-Commerce, 3PL Shippers Have New Robotic Options - Yahoo Finance

Back in college, Adam Lloyd Cohen had a vision.

It was 1985, and he was in Paris working on a documentary about ancient robots as a project during his senior year in college. After steeping himself in the history of automation during the day and dining on French cuisine at night, he began to think about how we might use robots to make food.

The combination of good food and making a film on robotics stimulated the idea that, hey wouldnt it be great if we could somehow democratize access to very high-quality food?' Cohen told me in a recent interview. And there seemed to be no way to do that except with automation.

But it was still the eighties, and robotics were a far cry from the AI-powered machines of today, so when Cohen graduated, he decided to set aside his vision of the future and get a job.

Still, as he navigated what would become a successful career in the 3D printing industry that included founding and selling a company, Cohen never forgot his idea about food automation and, by 2018, he decided it was time to give it a try.

I started to hear about people working in this area, and I realized, well, the time has come.

And so he got to work, eventually building a beta prototype of a food-making robot that he and his new company Now Cuisine trialed in late 2020. That trial helped him secure a deal with a popular burrito chain in Texas called Freebirds World Burrito, announced today, to run a three-month pilot with six new automated robotic kiosks called Takeout Stations. The robots will be deployed in different office buildings and multifamily housing units throughout Dallas.

The idea behind putting automated fresh-food-making kiosks in different locations goes back to Cohens original vision of making good food accessible through automation. Its a vision his company now calls (and has trademarked) Distributed Dining.

From the announcement:

Through its vision of Distributed Dining, Now Cuisine seeks to democratize access to delicious, healthful, affordable food, making it ubiquitous and always nearby: wherever people live, work, and play. Through a connected network of Takeout Stations, Now Cuisine is working to improve nutrition, shrink food deserts, save precious time, and reduce waste, traffic, and emissions.

The new generation robotic kiosks will operate autonomously and assemble up to three dozen bowls per day, each taking about two minutes to assemble. Theyll also make a lot more than burrito bowls.

There are all sorts of things we could be doing with the next generation, said Cohen. Certainly burrito bowls are of great interest, but grain bowls are fantastic. Theres potential for rice bowls, noodle bowls, and pokey bowls.

But before the pilot program and the rest of this vision for the future can take place, Now Cuisine has to raise money to build the robots. To do that, Cohen is looking at venture capital, but hes also considering crowdfunding.

Im intrigued by crowdfunding, said Cohen. Especially given the success some other folks have had in this space. But Im going to start with more conventional approaches.

Cohen is confident he can raise funds since hes done it before. For my last company, I raised about $17 million.

Once funded, Cohen believes that it will take about ten months until the first Takeout Stations are deployed. The plan is to build the first six or so robots by hand so the engineering team can learn and stabilize the design.

From there, the idea is to transition it to a contract manufacturer to make a lot of them, said Cohen.

With Cohens long-term plan falling into place, hes closer than ever to achieving the vision he first had while making a documentary in Paris about the future of robots.

Speaking of the documentary, whatever happened to it?

I didnt have enough money to finish it, said Cohen.

Now a successful entrepreneur and no longer an aspiring documentarian, Cohen hopes for a different outcome as he works to build the future of democratized, automated food production he first envisioned had almost four decades ago in Paris.

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After Almost 40 Years, Adam Lloyd Cohen is Bringing His Vision for Food Robots to Life - The Spoon