Category Archives: Robotics

Industrial professionals know that various types of warehouse robots help get work done in giant facilities. Many customers never know what role the machines play in ensuring they receive items on time and in good condition.

Individuals considering using robots in industrial automation should spend adequate time learning about the capabilities and limitations of these high-tech machines. For example, some types of robots help carry products to different locations in a facility, while others assist with picking and packing items.

People worry robots will take over their jobs. Such anxieties are at least partly justified, especially for individuals in low-skilled roles. However, in the best cases, robotics allow humans to participate more-enjoyable activities that utilize their creativity and brainpower. Robots excel in repetitive tasks but dont have the depth of experience most humans naturally acquire throughout their careers and lifetimes. Some experts argue that robots must ideally support people instead of replacing them.

Regardless of how individuals feel about these machines, the fact remains that robots in industrial automation are here to stay. Here are the types of warehouse robots that typically provide the most value to the decision-makers who invest in them.

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are reliable options for transporting goods from one area to another. Its easy to see how convenient they are in huge facilities like warehouses. AGVs move in dedicated areas by utilizing wires or markings on the floor. Most models have onboard cameras and sensors to help with this task, ensuring they go to the right places while avoiding obstacles.

Engineers working in the warehouse can also program the AGVs to follow predetermined routes at certain times. These types of robots are particularly handy when decision-makers prioritize improving workflows.

In one instance, a manufacturer added AGVs to a generator production line. This improvement reportedly led to a tenfold production increase. Additionally, it boosted the quality of items sent to customers. Company leaders initially considered installing a conveyor belt with six month lead time. However, they ended up going with AGVs since they had a lead time of only two to four months.

Many warehouse leaders have also pursued AGVs to relieve labor-shortage pressures. Such usage of robots in industrial automation frees humans up to do more value-added tasks while the machines handle duties like moving and storing pallets.

People that invest in warehouse robots usually look for highly functional machines. Thats why many models have articulated arms that let them move similarly to human limbs. However, such robots have limited usefulness unless they can also pick up items without dropping them.

Fortunately, engineers have built feasible solutions to accommodate this requirement. A standalone layer-picking robot can lift up to 825 pounds per layer. These machines also tolerate a large temperature range, making them suitable for taking items from freezers or working in spaces without air conditioning.

Experts say that piece-picking robots have massively improved in just a few years. They can handle a wider variety of items than they once could, even if the products are oddly shaped. In 2021, researchers developed a miniature, multifunctional soft gripper inspired by human hands. Lab tests showed their creation could pick up items ranging from snail eggs to metal washers and polystyrene balls without harming them. Such versatility is vital in a warehouse that could have a tremendous assortment of items.

Amazon engineers are also working on a pinch-grasping robot. Tests showed a prototype achieved a tenfold reduction in product damage due to its gentle but secure grip. Many types of warehouse robots used within the e-commerce company also work with machine learning algorithms. Machines can identify certain items within a cluttered environment and determine the best ways to pick them up safely and effectively.

Most grasping robots used in todays warehouses utilize suction cups. They work reasonably well, but complications can result. A machines suction seal can fail, particularly if a robotic arm moves especially quickly or changes its angle. Plus, compensating for the problem by increasing the suction strength could make product packaging tear. The work done by Amazons team could change the future of robots in industrial automation.

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are part of a larger category of robotic technology called cobots. These machines have various safety features that allow them to work around people without staying behind cages or other barriers. Some cobots stop people from suffering long-term arm damage from repetitive and physically taxing tasks.

However, AMRs are usually most valuable for saving people from walking so far during their warehouse shifts. They work similarly to AGVs, but autonomous mobile robots dont need any guides on the floor to influence their travel paths. Instead, they have advanced mapping technology that allows them to learn the specifics of a space, then navigate around it safely. Even better, these robots can handle spontaneous environmental changes, such as a person suddenly walking in front of them.

Some companies use these types of robots to handle various needs in a warehouse. C-StoreMaster, a convenience store distributor, shows a strong example of the possibilities. That business has a 135,000-square-foot distribution center in Alabama. AMRs take center stage there in helping operations run smoothly.

The business uses different kinds to meet various needs. One handles pallets, another transports shelving, and a third places and retrieves totes from shelves up to 15 feet high. This exploration into the various types of warehouse robots came from leaders desire to create the best possible work environment for their team members. That meant keeping the work and site comfortable, air-conditioned, and ergonomically friendly.

The robotic workflow means people only have to touch goods three times. The first occurs when products are unloaded from incoming trucks, and the next happens during order picking. Finally, team members handle the goods during order consolidation before shipping. Otherwise, the AMRs do about 80% of the work.

Warehouse robots are increasingly advanced and safe. However, things can still go wrong. One example occurred when three robots collided with each other and started a fire in the London facility of a grocery delivery brand. The incident required 15 fire engines and approximately 100 firefighters to contain.

Most warehouse workers know injury risk comes with their roles. However, they tend to feel safer if they know robots have numerous features to stop them from accidentally hurting humans. All cobots include design choices such as soft components and moving parts that slow or stop when people get too close. Those are essential, but researchers are still pushing the boundaries to see what else is possible.

Work at KTH Royal Institute of Technology involves developing an artificial intelligence-driven system for robots that can respond to contextual clues. It can identify individual workers and their skeleton models. A robot then relies on this information to predict what an employee will do next. The machine would not necessarily need to disrupt the workflow by slowing down or stopping if people get in the way because it could proactively adjust its movements instead.

However, these types of warehouse robots are also commercially available from at least one company. Robust AIs Carter robot looks like a dolly but has a motorized base, touch screen, and periscope with several cameras. It uses cameras to scan its surroundings. However, the robot can also identify workers and try to infer what theyre doing from their poses.

Many decision-makers are on board with the prospect of deploying numerous types of warehouse robots in their facilities. However, they balk at the associated upfront costs. That hesitation is particularly likely when business leaders have no direct experience using robots.

Fortunately, providers that offer robots-as-a-service (RaaS) subscription plans can alleviate that anxiety. The specifics vary by company. Generally, though, customers pay per-usage rates for robots obtained through rental agreements. The client prices also often include essentials like installation costs, repairs, maintenance, and upgrades. When people can calculate what theyre likely to pay month to month and eliminate surprise expenses, theyre much more likely to be open to using robots in industrial automation efforts.

Locus Robotics pioneered this concept back in 2014. Thus, its not a new option but one thats quickly gaining momentum. Thats especially true as more people become familiar with warehouse robots and begin thinking strategically about how they might use them. The companys customers reportedly see full returns on investments within six to eight months of installation.

RaaS contracts typically run from nine months to four years. That means its easy for customers to decide how much of a commitment they want to make before signing a document and sealing the deal.

When decision-makers already feel confident about the payoffs of using warehouse robots, RaaS may not be the best option. However, when doubts remain, paying for the technology via a subscription plan could let people test the waters.

The five robot types discussed here are among those that appear in warehouses most frequently. However, other options exist, too. People are most likely to get the best results from their efforts to use robots if they think carefully about current shortcomings and how high-tech machines could target and improve them.

After they have those areas of focus, theyll be in an excellent position to research the options, evaluate their budgets, and take other practical steps to turn their plans into realities.

Warehouse robots wont solve every problem, but these examples show they can help company leaders make meaningful headway in overcoming obstacles and streamlining processes.

Oh, and warehouse robots dont look as scary as this great robot pic!

Featured Image Credit: Ichad Windhiagiri; Pexels; Thank you!

Emily Newton is a technical and industrial journalist. She regularly covers stories about how technology is changing the industrial sector.

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These Five Types of Robots Support Warehouse Workflows - ReadWrite

Wed, 10/12/2022 - 09:07am | By: Van Arnold

Sea Machines technologies installed on the R/V Ken Barbor as well as remote operator beltpack.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise in Gulfport, Miss., in partnership with Sea Machines Robotics in Boston, Mass., has developed the Maritime Autonomy Operational Seminar through USM's Center of Higher Learning at the John C. Stennis Space Center.

The seminar is the first maritime autonomy training program to allow the federal workforce to train on state-of-the-art, commercial, off-the-shelf autonomous technologies.

Participants plan missions that transform USM's R/V Ken Barbor, from a crewed to an uncrewed system designed to operate in various conditions, from shallow embayment with significant currents out to the open ocean. Learners will obtain an overview of maritime autonomy, how to use mission simulators, and deploy and operate uncrewed systems safely in coastal areas.

USM is a global leader in uncrewed maritime systems certifications. The five-week Uncrewed Maritime Systems Tier 1 and Tier 2 Certification Classes offered by USMs School of Ocean Science and Engineering have been a fantastic success for NOAA, USACE, and NAVOCEANO employees at Stennis Space Center.

The addition of the Maritime Autonomy Operational Seminar builds on the tradition of success established by these academic credit classes as well as Ocean Enterprise's Stennis-based operational seminars (Maritime Cyber, Maritime Data Analysis, and Maritime Uncrewed Systems).

"By being very surgical and designing for enrollment in multiple sessions with adaptable content, we believe we can rapidly reach hundreds of potential learners, especially transitioning military personnel looking to enter the uncrewed systems field for the first time, said Dr. Jason McKenna, Director of RDT&E and Training for the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at USM. Furthermore, this new eight-hour self-paced/eight-hour in-person operational seminar Ocean Enterprise is offered through CHL and complements our three existing operational seminars by providing hands-on training for those interested in exploring maritime autonomous technology.

Added McKenna: By getting some stick time, on a state-of-the-art optionally crewed vessel, federal employees will be better prepared to integrate uncrewed autonomous capabilities into their fleet."

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is the home to significant operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Navy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a result, it provides numerous opportunities for collaboration between USM, Government, and industry.

"NOAA is highly supportive of USM's workforce development efforts, specifically focused on uncrewed maritime systems (UMS). We partner with USM's Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise on several projects, and we believe that offering these types of very hands-on, short-duration training to the federal community along the Gulf Coast will help meet the real, growing need for this workforce development in this area both regionally and nationally," said Philip Hoffman, Uncrewed Maritime Systems R&D Coordinator for NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Matthew Thompson, Technical Lead, Hydrographic Department, Naval Oceanographic Office, notes that opportunities provided by USM's Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise are enabling his team to field more efficient and effective operational capabilities in support of U.S. interests.

"As the Naval Oceanographic Office continues pursuit of Uncrewed Maritime Systems (UMS) for oceanographic and seafloor characterization, it is critical that we collaborate with academia, industry and other federal organizations to advance technology and expertise, said Thompson.

Erik Hedval, Business Development Manager Government, Sea Machines Robotics, points out that working with USM has been a logical and important next step for Sea Machines as the demand for operator training increases.

The adoption of autonomous systems continues to grow in the government and commercial sectors, and it is important to us to help support the infrastructure surrounding it with the appropriate education and tools, said Hedval.

Hedval continued: Sea Machines various teams are comprised of several Mariners and Captains, so we understand the real-world applications and benefits in terms of productivity and safety and are excited to continue to expand this knowledge with USM.

For more information on this and other maritime operational seminars, please visit The Center for Higher Learning at The University of Southern Mississippi https://www.chl.state.ms.us/usm-maritime-systems-seminars. Each seminar is "on demand" and can be made available to interested parties beginning in September 2022. Costs vary depending on the number of students, fuel costs, etc. For questions, contact Jason McKenna at jason.mckennaFREEMississippi or Keith Long at keith.longFREEMississippi

About the Roger F. Center for Ocean Enterprise

Ocean Enterprise is a comprehensive research and development partnership program focused on uncrewed maritime systems and blue technology innovation that provides the facilities, equipment, access, support, and expertise to advance new technologies to the market.

About Sea Machines Robotics

Headquartered in Massachusetts, Sea Machines is the leader in pioneering autonomous command and control and advanced perception systems for the marine industries. Founded in 2015, the company builds autonomous vessel software and systems, which increases the safety, efficiency, and performance of ships, workboats, and commercial passenger vessels. Learn more about Sea Machines at http://www.sea-machines.com.

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USMs Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise and Sea Machines Robotics Launch Maritime Autonomy Operational Seminar - The University of Southern...

Visitors will be able to watch and interact with mixed palletizing robots.

September 29th, Seattle, WA Today, CMES Robotics and BHS robotics announced that they will be demonstrating mixed case palletizing of various box sizes utilizing an ABB midrange 6-axis robot at Pack Expo International 2022. The event will take place October 23 -26 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Until now, robotic automation has faced technical challenges with conventional palletizing, as it can only manage a limited number of case sizes with known stacking sequences, said Alex Choe, President of CMES Robotics. CMES Robotics has created a flexible and dependable solution for mixed case palletizer by providing a software that works with popular industrial robots.

Combining technologies of CMES Robotics robot vision and AI algorithm, BHS Robotics depalletizing platform and an ABB IRB 2600 robot, the mixed palletizing solution can handle almost any type of boxes, cartons, bags, and pallet types. Additionally, the mixed palletizing software helps address labor shortages and reduce worker injuries related to stressful and tedious manual labor.

Customer requirements are changing when it comes to mixed packages and the ability to properly palletize and de-palletize skids of products with varying sizes, said Christopher Clark, President of BHS Robotics. Robotic automation needs to be technically advanced using robots, vision, software and hardware together to make a smart and flexible system to handle this challenge.

CMES Robotics Palletizing Solutions consist of:

CMES Robotics Vision Sensor & AI Software

BHS Robotics Palletizing Platform Design and Integration

ABB IRB 2600 with a reach of 1.65 meters and payload of 20 kilograms

Capable of 600 Cartoons per Hour (CPH)

Fast Mobile Deployment

To learn more about CMES AI Vision solution, visit them at PackExpo booth #N-5469 and check out https://www.cmesrobotics.com

About CMES Robotics Inc. (Seattle, WA)

Powered by AI, CMES Robotics enables 3D vision for factory robots. CMES AI vision software enables robots to recognize unstructured, flexible, or deformed objects, pick them up, and loading, and unloading. CMES Vision software has been deployed worldwide for random palletization and depalletization along with void filling applications. CMES Robotics automates your warehouse, logistics and supply chain. CMES Robotics is the North American subsidiary of CMES Inc. For more information, please visit: cmesrobotics.com or email [emailprotected].

About BHS Robotics (Hanover Park, IL)

BHS Robotics, founded in 1910 as Chicago Electric, has always been a leader in drive and control technology. Now a leader in automation systems, robot & logistic solutions, integration including electronic guided vehicles, automated Vision-Guided robotic pick and place systems and complete machine solutions to improve productivity. Our extensive experience with a broad range of innovative Industrial 4.0 solutions, enables us to provide custom automation solutions for a wider range of industries including corrugated, ecommerce, logistics, packaging, medical, automotive, and heavy-duty manufacturing. With thousands of systems installed worldwide, BHS Robotics has the knowledge and experience to make our customers more productive. For more information, please visit: bhs-robotics.com or email [emailprotected].

About ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation (Auburn Hill, MI)

ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation is a pioneer in robotics, machine automation and digital services, providing innovative solutions for a diverse range of industries, from automotive to electronics to logistics. As one of the worlds leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, we have shipped more than 500,000 robot solutions. We help our customers of all sizes to increase productivity, flexibility and simplicity and to improve output quality. We support their transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the future. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation employs more than 11,000 people at over 100 locations in more than 53 countries. For more information, please visit: go.abb/robotics.

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CMES Robotics & BHS Robotics to Demonstrate Mixed Case Palletizing Solution at Pack Expo 2022 - Food Industry Executive

Researchers from the University of Graz, Czech Technical University, and the Middle East Technical University are working towards "ecosystem hacking" via robotic honeybees, infiltrating a colony and interacting with its queen to influence the behavior of the entire colony.

"Honey bees live in colonies of thousands of individuals, that not only need to collaborate with each other but also to interact intensively with their ecosystem," the researchers explain in an article brought to our attention by MIT Technology Review. "A small group of robots operating in a honey bee colony and interacting with the queen bee, a central colony element, has the potential to change the collective behavior of the entire colony and thus also improve its interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Such a system can be used to study and understand many elements of bee behavior within hives that have not been adequately researched."

Researchers are experimenting with robotic bees, designed to offer a route to "ecosystem hacking." (: Tim Landgraf/Hiveopolis)

While the idea of making robotic bees isn't new and turned out to have some unpleasant consequences when explored in the fictional dystopic anthology series Black Mirror the team's approach doesn't aim to replace nature with robotics outright. Instead, the researchers propose a "minimally invasive form of conservation" in which a small number of robots operate within the colony to impact the dynamics of the queen bee's court not only allowing for the bees' behavior to be monitored in more detail than ever before but directly influenced.

"Our model is intended to serve as an AI-enhanceable coordination software for future robotic court bee surrogates and as a hardware controller for generating nature-like behavior patterns for such a robotic ensemble," the team explains. "It is the first step towards a team of robots working in a bio-compatible way to study honey bees and to increase their pollination performance, thus achieving a stabilizing effect at the ecosystem level."

Proposals from researchers include the replacement of a queen's court with robots, to improve colony health. (: Stefanec et al)

The work is taking place in two separate but related programs, dubbed Hiveopolis and RoboRoyale. The former focuses on the creation of "a modern society of honey bee colonies, which is fully adapted to present-day challenges such as pesticides, parasites, climate change, or urban environments" through technology including "an inbuilt dance robot" designed to direct forager bees away from harmful food sources and towards better locations; the latter works to create technologies, both robotic and biological, which can support the queen bee's well-being in everything from feeding and grooming to pheromone transfer.

The team's model is explained in detail in the journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI under open-access terms; additional information on Hiveopolis and RoboRoyale are available on their respective websites.

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Researchers Propose AI-Assisted Robotics to Help "Hack" Honeybees, Improve the Ecosystem - Hackster.io

OurWomen in Roboticslist turns 10 this year and we are delighted to introduce you to another amazing 50 women in robotics you need to know about as we also celebrateAda Lovelace Day. We have now profiled more than 300 women AND non-binary people making important contributions to robotics since the list began in 2013. This year our 50 come from robotics companies (small and large), self-driving car companies, governments, research organizations and the media. The list covers the globe, with the chosen ones having nationalities from the EU, UK, USA, Australia, China, Turkey, India and Kenya. A number of women come from influential companies that are household names such as NASA, ABB, GE, Toyota and the Wall Street Journal. As the number of women on the list grows so does the combined global impact of their efforts, increasing the visibility of women in the field who may otherwise go unrecognized. We publish this list to overcome the unconscious perception that women arent making significant contributions. We encourage you to use our lists to help find women for keynotes, panels, interviews and to cite their work and include them in curricula.

The role models these 50 women represent are diverse, ranging from emeritus to early career stage. Role models are important. Countess Ada Lovelace, the worlds first computer programmer and an extraordinary mathematician, faced an uphill battle in the days when women were not encouraged to pursue a career in science. Fast forward 200 years and there are still not enough women in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). One key reason is clear: the lack of visible female role models and so we continue to run ourwomen in robotics photo challenge, to showcasereal women building real robots. Women in STEM need to be equally represented at conferences, keynotes, magazine covers, or stories about technology. Although this is starting to change, the change is not happening quickly enough. You can help. Spread the word and use this resource to inspire others to consider a career in robotics. As you will see there are many different ways the women we profile are making a difference.

We hope you are inspired by these profiles, and if you want to work in robotics too, please join us atWomen in Robotics. We are now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, but even so, this post wouldnt be possible if not for the hard work of volunteers and the Women in Robotics Board of Directors.

Want to keep reading? There are more than 300 other stories on our 2013 to 2021 lists (and their updates):

Please share this and cite Women in Robotics as the author. Why not nominate a woman or non-binary person working in roboticsfor inclusion next year! Tweet this.

Women In Robotics is a global community for women working in robotics, or who aspire to work in robotics

Andra Keay is the Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, founder of Women in Robotics and is a mentor, investor and advisor to startups, accelerators and think tanks, with a strong interest in commercializing socially positive robotics and AI.

Jeana diNatale is a Board Member of Women in Robotics

Sue Keay is Chief Operating Officer for the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision

Link:

50 women in robotics you need to know about 2022 - Robohub

This acquisition comes at a critical time as the market for robotics is experiencing 25 percent and higher growth per year in certain industries, said Tony Wisniewski, CEO at T.I.E.

LAVERGNE, Tenn. (PRWEB) October 13, 2022

T.I.E. Industrial, the leading aftermarket supplier of CNC parts, refurbished Industrial robots and general automation repair, announces today it has acquired Robots.com and the RobotWorx name. The asset acquisition expands the T.I.E. brand family, leveraging decades of experience in robotic equipment sales, repair and service to position Robots.com as an end-to-end partner in manufacturing automation. Robots.com is one of the worlds most popular resources to research and source automation solutions from multiple manufacturers. T.I.E.s tradition of excellence in robot refurbishment and customizing hardware and software makes integration faster, easier and more cost effective for smaller manufacturers looking to automate.

This acquisition comes at a critical time as the market for robotics is experiencing 25 percent and higher growth per year in certain industries, said Tony Wisniewski, CEO at T.I.E. Our company is uniquely positioned to take advantage of that growth with a proven, repeatable solution to help ease supply chain delays and labor shortages. Automation increases productivity and worker safety for manufacturers of all sizes. According to Zion Market Research, the global industrial robotics market is estimated to grow to $81.4 billion by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11.8 percent. Customers will need resources like Robots.com to explore robotic equipment and T.I.E. Industrial is ready to assist users in adopting or expanding automation in their factories.

T.I.E. directly contributes to the circular economy by reusing, recycling and refurbishing robotic equipment and parts providing a cost advantage to users. T.I.E. is the worlds largest supplier of refurbished FANUC Robot and CNC parts at fanucworld.com. The companys Integration Ready approach to refurbished robot sales helps lower cost of ownership while deploying faster automation and seamless installation. T.I.E.s tradition of excellence spans 35 years expertly diagnosing and repairing CNC and general automation parts from FANUC, Siemens, Mitsubishi, ABB and more than 200 top manufacturers.

NCT, Inc. President, Norbert Christ stated, T.I.E. is our main supplier for refurbished and new robotics equipment. We have partnered with them for three years and depend on their responsiveness, technical support and on time delivery to remain competitive. With current very long lead times at most robotics companies, T.I.E. Master Robotics has most of what we need in stock or can deliver it within pre-COVID lead times.

T.I.E. acquired MASTER Robotics in 2018 and The Parker Group of Companies in 2016 expanding its capabilities among the largest OEMs in the industry. Learn more at https://tieindustrial.com/.

ABOUT T.I.E. INDUSTRIALHeadquartered in LaVergne, Tenn., T.I.E. Industrial is a leading aftermarket supplier of FANUC CNC component parts and repair services. T.I.E. has a tradition of excellence for 35 years offering the worlds largest supply of refurbished FANUC Robot and CNC parts at fanucworld.com. T.I.E.s Integration-Ready approach to refurbished robot sales lowers cost of ownership. In 2022, T.I.E. acquired Robots.com and the RobotWorx name becoming the end-to-end partner in manufacturing automation.

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T.I.E. Industrial Expands Brand Family with Purchase of Robots.com and RobotWorx Name - PR Web

X1 serves indoor environments where there is a need for automated food service, including restaurants, hotels, cafes, and office buildings

The Scrubber 50 Pro's 4-in-1 solution will work alongside commercial cleaning teams scrubbing, sweeping, dust mopping, and sanitizing

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SoftBank Robotics America (SBRA), the North American arm of the global leader in robotics solutions, and Gausium, a leading solutions provider of autonomous cleaning and service robots, today announced their partnership to deploy indoor automated robotic solutions to the U.S. market. The partnership will focus on helping companies successfully adopt, integrate, and scale robotic solutions within their organizations.

X1 and the Scrubber 50 Pro (S50) are the first two solutions being deployed to support companies struggling with labor shortages or entering the next phase of transforming the way work is done.

These collaborative robots work alongside employees to alleviate menial and repetitive tasks so employees can focus on higher-value responsibilities, resulting in a boost in efficiency, improved employee and customer satisfaction, streamlined operations, and reduced employee turnover.

X1, an autonomous food service solution for the hospitality industry, is equipped with three serving trays that can hold up to 30 kilograms. Its collision-free and spill-proof technology allows X1 to run food and beverages to several tables at a time, charting the most efficient path to tables or back to the kitchen while navigating customers, employees, furniture, and other robots. The robot's advanced shock mitigation mechanisms ensure a smooth and stable delivery experience of drinks or liquid dishes. In addition to assisting with food running, X1 also helps servers more efficiently bus tables so they can spend more time with customers and turn over tables quicker.

The partnership has successfully deployed its first fleet of X1's to The Hall On The Yard, a unique 12,250-square-foot full-service food hall featuring nine restaurants in Orlando, Florida.

Following the successful commercialization and deployment of Whiz, an autonomous vacuum cleaner, SBRA is expanding its portfolio of cleaning robots and deepening its commitment to a smarter, clean and healthier environment with the introduction of the S50 Pro. S50 Pro is a 4-in-1 scrubbing, sweeping, dust mopping, and sanitizing solution. S50 Pro can simultaneously clean and disinfect floors, automatically spot clean by detecting and removing stains before they spread, and can send messages to operators when it encounters large wastes that require additional cleaning support.

"Gausium's technology is at the forefront of commercial service robots. Their products are smart, safe, and simple, enabling customers to easily adopt them into their businesses," said Brady Watkins, President of SoftBank Robotics America. "To truly solve the labor shortage many industries are facing, we are helping companies go beyond adoption and focus on the integration and scaling of their technology to maximize the value our solutions offer."

"SBRA is the right partner to bring our products to market throughout the U.S.," said Allen Zhang, Chief of Overseas Business of Gausium. "Their holistic customer support continues after the point of sale and ensures all adopters are receiving the expected return on experience and investment when utilizing our robots."

About SoftBank Robotics America

SoftBank Robotics America is the North American arm of SoftBank Robotics. SoftBank Robotics is driving technology forward by becoming a worldwide leader in robotics solutions. Rapidly expanding with offices in Tokyo, San Francisco, Boston, London, Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Singapore, Sydney, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

SoftBank Robotics is constantly exploring and commercializing robotics solutions that help make people's lives easier, safer, more connected, and more extraordinary. SoftBank Robotics' robots are used in more than 70 countries worldwide and we offer innovative applications relevant in the fields of retail, tourism, healthcare, finance, education, facilities management, cleaning, warehouse, and logistics. For more information on SoftBank Robotics America, please visit us.softbankrobotics.com.

About Gausium

Gausium (alias "Gaussian Robotics") is a leading smart solutions provider of AI-integrated autonomous service robots. Currently, Gausium's products and services include commercial floor cleaning robots, indoor delivery robots and supplementary accessories like docking stations, cloud platform and application software.

Founded in 2013, Gausium built its class-leading autonomous navigation based on advanced SLAM technology and integrated it into cleaning machines in 2017. It has since committed to providing total solutions of autonomous floor cleaning for extensive applications across industries and scenarios, and managed to set the industry benchmark with currently the world's most comprehensive commercial cleaning bot portfolio consisting of Vacuum 40, Scrubber 50, Scrubber 75 and Sweeper 111. In 2021 and 2022, Gausium launched its first autonomous delivery robot "X1" and the groundbreaking new cleaning product line "Phantas", marking the strategic expansion of its service robot ecosystem.

By 2021, Gausium's cleaning robots have been deployed in over 40 countries across 6 continents, recognized by thousands of satisfied customers with millions of autonomous operational hours accrued and billions of square meters covered.

With a vision to lead the smart digital transformation of the service sectors, Gausium will continue to bring more disruptive innovations to the world and empower more people to work smarter and lead happier lives with the products and services we provide.

Press Contact

SoftBank Robotics America [emailprotected]

SOURCE SoftBank Robotics America

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SoftBank Robotics America and Gausium Announce Partnership to Expand Automated Robotic Solutions Across the U.S. Market - PR Newswire

The Dextrous Robotics lab in Crosstown Concourse looks like something out of a spy movie. The floor-length tinted windows reveal vague shadowy figures moving around inside, and the door is sealed with an electronic keypad next to it, no intercom.

From the outside you would never guess that the company makes robots for moving packages. But thats exactly what the DX-1, Dextrous main project, is for. The robot was made to help unload trucks and shipping containers with human-like dexterity.

CEO Evan Drumwright and his team found inspiration for the robot from an unlikely source.

We were inspired by human chopsticks to get this strategy of being able to select all these different objects and shapes, sizes, materials, weights, in all different kinds of environments,he said.

The DX-1 is slated for release in the spring of 2023. Dextrous is already in talks with several logistics companies about leasing the machine and implementing it in warehouses and distribution centers, though they were not at liberty to give specifics about which companies.

Drumwright, who has been working in robotics for more than 20 years, started Dextrous three years ago with the goal of developing robots that can do dangerous and physically demanding tasks currently done by humans. Now, he has built a robot that can perform these tasks withsuper-human speed and efficiency.

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In the pseudo-warehouse space at the back of the lab, the team has built a testing area for the robot filled with dozens of different-sized boxes. To the side of this area are several monitors and a keyboard that Chief Technology Officer Sam Zapolsky uses to control the robot.

Once Zapolsky fires it up, the DX-1 starts by scanning a package and building a digital 3-D model to estimate its dimensions, orientation and location. Then, it creates a plan of movements needed to lift and move the package and executes it using two thin, pointed arms, which Drumwright aptly calls "chopsticks."

Currently, the robot must be remotely operated by a person, but the plan is for it to become fully automated and capable of operating independently.

Looking at the numbers, the DX-1 averages 2,000 parcel picks per hour at maximum speed and lifts up to 100 pounds. In comparison, a human worker will average up to 300 with the use of a conveyance system, as a 2017 white paper from Westernacher Consulting found.

Dextrous' release comes as many large logistics companies, including FedEx, are investing more and more in robotics for various reasons including hiring shortages and to cut labor costs.

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However, Drumwright sees the DX-1 going beyond just the logistics industry. He said the technology could eventually be implemented in many different industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.

"These are things that people are essentially trading their physical effort for money, which is really not sustainable in the long-term because its just something thats going to be replaced by a machine,he said.

Niki Scheinberg is the FedEx and logistics reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at monika.scheinberg@commercialappeal.com.

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Dextrous Robotics creates robot to unload trucks: Here's how it works - Commercial Appeal

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Peoples fear of a future where robotic dogs hunt us down while drones fly overhead have prompted several leading robotics companies to pledge not to weaponize their robots.

Axios reports that Boston Dynamics, the most famous robotics company and makers of Spot the Robot, have signed a pledge along with five other companies in order to assuage concerns over their products.

Along with Agility Robotics, ANYbotics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics and Unitree Robotics, Boston Dynamics signed an open letter to the robotics industry and our communities, saying that General Purpose Robots Should Not Be Weaponized.

The full letter says that the companies will not weaponize their general-purpose robots, nor the software they develop for advanced robotics, and they will not support others to do so. In the pledge, they say they will review what their customers are buying robots for in order to prevent potential weaponization.

Also read: French Army Starts Testing Spot The Robot In Combat Training

We understand that our commitment alone is not enough to fully address these risks, and therefore we call on policymakers to work with us to promote safe use of these robots and to prohibit their misuse. We also call on every organization, developer, researcher, and user in the robotics community to make similar pledges not to build, authorize, support, or enable the attachment of weaponry to such robots. We are convinced that the benefits for humanity of these technologies strongly outweigh the risk of misuse, and we are excited about a bright future in which humans and robots work side by side to tackle some of the worlds challenges, says the Boston Dynamics letter, which you can read in its entirety on Axios.

Meanwhile, Oculus founder Palmer Luckeys new company, Anduril, just proudly announced the weaponization of their drones.

In the field of robotics, some people also got extremely creative, as is the case with the Russians who ordered a robot dog on AliExpress and strapped a submachine gun to it.

Also read: This App Lets People Control Spot the Robot Dog On A Rampage And Boston Dynamics Are Not Ok with It

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Boston Dynamics and Other Robot Makers Pledge Not to Weaponize Their Robots - TechTheLead

This way the creators of the robotic hand are able to generate the required pneumatic pressure (to move its different parts) without employing any heavy external air pumps. As the pressure inside the balloons changes, the mesh tubes contract or expand accordingly. Moreover, the robotic hand has a total of 36 artificial muscles.

Similar to the muscles of a normal human hand, the artificial muscles also have 27 degrees of freedom, meaning that the robot's thumbs and fingers can move, rotate, and hold just like the way their human counterparts do. The Clone Robotics team suggests that In the future, their artificial hand could be used as an appliance to perform various tasks in homes, factories, and laboratories, plus, it also has the potential to make humanoids more advance than ever.

Robotic arm holding a tennis ball.

The engineers at Clone Robotics didnt achieve success in creating the V15 robotic hand on their first attempt. Getting the hand work without air pumps was just one challenge. Initially, the hand weighed 18.3 lbs (8.3 kg), contained only 20 muscles, and could work for up to 5000 cycles. The engineers kept on improving their model until they were able to reduce its weight to 9.47 lbs (4.3 kgs).

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Video: This strange robotic arm has all the talents of a real human hand - Interesting Engineering