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From robotic tire changers, to Amazons iRobot acquisition, to Hyundais new Boston Dynamics AI Institute, there was no shortage of exciting robotics news last month.
Here are the 10 most popular robotics stories on The Robot Report in August. Subscribe to The Robot Report Newsletter to stay updated on the robotics stories you need to know about.
Will Astro,Amazons underwhelming consumer robot, soon be able to clean floors? Probably not. But Amazon upped the ante in its consumer robotics game by announcing its acquiring iRobot, maker of the popular Roomba robot vacuum series, for about $1.7 billion. Amazon will acquire iRobot for $61 per share in an all-cash transaction, including iRobots net debt. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Read More
GrayMatter Robotics announced that it has raised $20 million in Series A funding. The companys Scan&Sand system is a flexible robotic sander that can quickly adjust to objects with complex geometry. Scan&Sand works in high-mix, high-variety manufacturing facilities,and aims to increase productivity and enhance quality consistency while saving costs. The system stands out from typical robotic sanders that only work in mass production scenarios. Read More
Everyone wants to be innovative, but rarely is innovation a lightning strike of genius especially within the robotics industry. Instead, it is an intentional process and methodology. This process is refined and modified over time to enable an organizations ability to think creatively and execute effectively. This is particularly important when you are solving problems in robotics that have many variables and cannot be clearly defined. Read More
DHL is using robotics to support numerous warehousing and logistics tasks. DHL innovates its logistics workflow and the tools and technologies deployed in DHL distribution centers around the world, as the company continually improves its efficiency. Sally Miller, DHL Supply Chains chief information officer for North America, recently spoke toThe Robot Report about the types of robots the company uses and the innovation cycle it employs to find the most effective solutions. Read More
iRobot, the maker of the popular Roomba robot vacuum, is laying off 10% of its staff, or about 140 employees. The layoffs are part of a restructuring that iRobot said will save the company up to $10 million in 2022 and between $30-$40 million in 2023. iRobot announced the layoffs on August 5, 2022 in its Q2 earnings results. This was the same dayiRobot announced it was being acquired by Amazon for $1.7 billion. Read More
RBR50 2021 honoree Ottonomy.IO completed its seed round funding of $3.3M. Connetic Ventures, Deeptech fund pi Ventures, and Branded Hospitality Ventures participated in this round. The company also announced an updated version of its autonomous delivery robot called Ottobot 2.0. With the closing of the seed round,Ottonomy.IO has raised a total of $4.9M. The company has a wide range of investors across the hospitality sector. Read More
There have been significant layoffs atSeegrid, a Pittsburgh-based developer ofautonomous mobile robots(AMRs). Jim Rock, CEO of Seegrid, said about 90 employees were let go.The Robot Reporthas also seen multiple now-former employees post about the layoffs on LinkedIn. One of them said the layoffs were part of a company restructuring. Read More
A decade after Amazon made its first foray into robotics with its acquisition of Kiva Systems, the e-commerce giant isacquiring iRobot for $1.7 billion. While completion of the transaction is still subject to customary closing conditions, the deal expands Amazons already extensive robotics portfolio. Heres a look at the companys robotics acquisitions, some of its investments and its notable robots developed internally. Read More
Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai) announced the launch of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute. Hyundai andBoston Dynamics are making an initial investment of more than $400 million to make fundamental advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and intelligent machines. The institute will be led by Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics. Hyundai said the name of the institute could change after its corporate registration is complete. Read More
RoboTire announced that its installed and started operating its system at a Discount Tire in Fountain Hills, Arizona. The system can replace four tires on a passenger vehicle in less than 25 minutes. At the Discount Tire, the RoboTire System will remove, lift and install tire and wheel assemblies. RoboTire hopes that its system will reduce technician injuries that can be caused by repetitive heavy lifting. The system will be overseen by Discount Tires technicians, who will also provide pressure monitoring and balancing services. Read More
Read more:
Top 10 robotic stories of August 2022 - Robot Report
- Brief: NVIDIA's venture arm invests in autonomous weeding startup Carbon Robotics - AgFunderNews - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- 7 Robotics Stocks to Bet On for Reliable AI-Powered Returns - InvestorPlace - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- NSF and USDA join forces to boost innovation in agricultural robotics - Future Farming - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Meet The Swiss Start-Up Taking On The Tech Giants In Robotics And AI - Forbes - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- LimX Dynamics' W1 robot can stand, walk and roll on its hind 'legs' - Interesting Engineering - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Lear Corporation's acquisition showcases the industry's use of robotics and AI for efficiency and innovation - CBT Automotive News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- OMRON and NEURA Robotics Partner to Unveil New Cognitive Robot at Automate 2024 - Automation.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Community briefs: Ravenswood robotics at world championship, Bike to the Library Day - The Almanac Online - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- JCHS Robotics shimes at VEX World Competition | Community News - The Tomahawk - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Carbon Robotics to Help Revolutionize Farming with AI, Using Investment from NVentures - Business Wire - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Nvidia's DrEureka outperforms humans in training robotics systems - VentureBeat - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Humanoid Robots: The Next-Generation Robotic Workforce - Tech Briefs - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- PHOTOS Motiva helping fund Port Arthur ISD robotics and engineering - Port Arthur News - The Port Arthur News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Kiwanis Club of Miami helps fund McMillan MS robotics team trip - Miami's Community Newspapers - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- The Interplay Between Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing | RoboticsTomorrow - Robotics Tomorrow - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Doosan Robotics releases its longest reach cobots with PRIME SERIES - Robot Report - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- KION North America and Fox Robotics Announce Non-Exclusive Strategic Partnership - Automation.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Ag tech startup Carbon Robotics lands Nvidia investment - The Business Journals - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Mars Robotics offers chance to drive Mars rover on Saturday - Butler Eagle - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Comparative analysis of robot-assisted language learning systems and human tutors in English conversation lessons - EurekAlert - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Valencia College to more than double students training in semiconductors, robotics and optics - The Business Journals - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- DeepMind is experimenting with a nearly indestructible robot hand - New Scientist - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Five Things to Consider Before Adopting Robotics for Warehouse Automation - Automation.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Nvidia and Alphabet's Intrinsic aim to revolutionize next-gen robotics - VentureBeat - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- NVIDIA and Alphabet's Intrinsic Put Next-Gen Robotics Within Grasp - Automation.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- STEM robotics team celebrates 10 years and remembers hero who saved lives - Denver 7 Colorado News - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Zero-shot learning helps Intrinsic pave the future for robotics - FierceElectronics - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- EN robotics team demonstrates real-world learning | News Sun | kpcnews.com - KPCnews.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Future Innovators Challenged to Design Nuclear Fission and Fusion Decommissioning Robots - Automation.com - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Meet Pepper and Bernard: The robots shaping AI research at SDSU - Daily Aztec - May 11th, 2024 [May 11th, 2024]
- Gene Haas Foundation Partner Hosts FIRST Robotics District Competitions - Kettering University - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- NASA Showcases Innovations at the 2024 FIRST Robotics World Championships - NASA - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Robots are invading the San Carlos Branch Library - San Diego Community Newspaper Group - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Wyoming-Based Company Makes High-Tech Robots To Go Where Humans Don't Want To - Cowboy State Daily - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Anzu Robotics launches U.S.-based clone of DJI Mavic 3 - Robot Report - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute begins developing drones to fight wildfires - CBS Pittsburgh - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- 3 Robotics Stocks That Could Be Multibaggers in the Making: Spring Edition - MSN - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Hopkinton teams advance to Robotics World Championships - Hopkinton Independent - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- "Big Cat Robotics" team from Wellsville returns from VRC World Championship - THE WELLSVILLE SUN - THE WELLSVILLE SUN - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- PropStream-Sponsored Robotics Team Places in Competition - RisMedia.com - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Bellefontaine Robotics Team Travels to World Championship Peak of Ohio - peakofohio.com - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- ASL Aviation Holdings Inks Deal with Reliable Robotics for 30 Aircraft Autonomy Systems - Business Wire - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Global Nano Robotics Market Projected to Surge to US$ 19.86 Billion by 2032: Healthcare Trends Catalyzing Nano ... - GlobeNewswire - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- 'Afghan Dreamers' | Film about Afghan girls robotics team to be screened on May 15 - Piedmont Exedra - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- 3 Robotics Stocks That Could Be Multibaggers in the Making: Spring Edition - InvestorPlace - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- The Rise of the Navy Robots - Signal Magazine - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Elon Musk Keeps Talking About the Future of Robotics With Optimus, but This Phenomenal Growth Stock Has Already ... - The Motley Fool - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Robosen Robotics Teams Up with Hasbro to Debut the Worlds First Auto-Converting Decepticon Megatron! - aNb Media - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- John P. Stevens Robotics Team Wins Excellence in Technology at Innovators Awards - TAPinto.net - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Nala Robotics and Re-Up partner to develop AI-powered robotic chef - Robotics and Automation News - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- LCSD1 to Host Final Robotics Competition of the School Year Tomorrow - The Cheyenne Post - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- GMV showcases its robotic inspection capabilities Robotics & Automation News - Robotics and Automation News - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Trine's armored robot finishes 4th in national combat - Trine University - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Female robotics founders discuss their journeys in the industry - Robot Report - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Hanwha Robotics, B-Robotics join hands on restaurant automation project - Aju Press - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Dishchii'bikoh Community School Robotics Team Heads to VEX World Championship - White Mountain Independent - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- ETH unveils space-hopping robot for asteroid exploration - Robotics and Automation News - May 5th, 2024 [May 5th, 2024]
- Nickelytics and Starship release robots at UCLA and Utah universities - Robotics and Automation News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Next-Level Robotics: Enhancing Accuracy with Advanced Multisensory Interfaces - AZoRobotics - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Death of Lake Orion teen on robotics trip determined to be suicide, Houston police say - Detroit News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Niqo Robotics Raises $9 Million In Funding Round Led By Brida Innovation Ventures: Report - Outlook India - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Mission to 'Holy Grail of Shipwrecks' Will Employ Robotics - USNI News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Kiwibot acquires Auto Mobility Solutions Robotics & Automation News - Robotics and Automation News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Untethered soft actuators for soft standalone robotics - Nature.com - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Robotics in the restaurant industry are here to stay: Carlos Gazitua - Fox Business - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- It's time for UK business to embrace robotics - Design Products & Applications - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Meet the `One Percenters' - The Top Ranked Robotics Group from Franklin - Franklin Observer - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Atlas, forefather of humanoid robots, gives way to next generation - Marketplace - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- BlueBotics releases new version of its server fleet management software - Robotics and Automation News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- U.S. manufacturers invested heavily in robotics in 2023, finds IFR - Robot Report - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- This is a unique time: ARK Invests chief futurist tackles tech innovation from AI to robotics - CNBC - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- U.S. Companies Invest Heavily in Robots - IFR Preliminary Results EMSNow - EMSNow - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- MiR launches new autonomous mobile forklift-type robot - Robotics and Automation News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Rutland Area Robotics' IBOTS compete in FIRST World Championships finals for first time - Rutland Herald - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Micropsi Industries introduces new AI-vision software Robotics & Automation News - Robotics and Automation News - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Robots on a Roll: The Future of Farming Is Here Now - Growing Produce - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Grand Force, Grand Forks' only FIRST Robotics team, returns from world championship with good memories - Grand Forks Herald - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Reston Robotics Team Wins National Competition At Tech Conference - Patch - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- CapSen Robotics Introduces CapSen PiC 2.0 Bin-Picking Software - Supply and Demand Chain Executive - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Gecko Robotics and Al Masaood Energy Partner to Help ADNOC Gas Revolutionize Asset Operations and ... - Business Wire - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]