Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Humanoids

HERA partners with UBTECH to develop humanoid robots

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The Human Empowering Robots Alliance (HERA) has agreed a strategic partnership with UBTECH Robotics to jointly offer intelligent humanoid service robots to the most tech-savvy businesses in Europe.

HERA consists of Génération Robots, Intuitive Robots and Avatarion, three European pioneers in humanoid robot software development, announced

In a joint press release, the two sides highlighted some of the technologies that will form the basis of their partnership. [Read more…] about HERA partners with UBTECH to develop humanoid robots

Promobot to ‘mass produce’ humanoid robots

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Russian robotics company Promobot says it is launching “mass production of life-like robots that look like humans”.

Promobot is mainly known as a manufacturer of autonomous service robots and the new humanoid “Robo-C” is the first of its kind from the company.

Promobot calls the android “a robot companion”, and says Robo-C is “the world’s first humanoid android, which not only copies the appearance of a person, but is also able to integrate into a business environment”. [Read more…] about Promobot to ‘mass produce’ humanoid robots

Sharp sends 36 tiny humanoid robots to Japanese hotel to help guests

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Electronics company Sharp has sent 36 tiny humanoid robots to a hotel in Osaka, Japan to help guests with various information requirements.

The Henn na Hotel Kansai Airport took delivery of the three dozen communication robots called “RoBoHoN”.

Each room has a seating type “RoBoHoN lite”, which provides information on hotel facilities and guest rooms. [Read more…] about Sharp sends 36 tiny humanoid robots to Japanese hotel to help guests

CloudMinds partners with Sprint to develop 5G humanoid robot

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CloudMinds has unveiled the XR-1, which it describes as “one of the first intelligent 5G humanoid robots”.

CloudMinds Technology is a provider of cloud artificial intelligence architecture that makes robots and businesses smarter.

The company demonstrated its “revolutionary” XR-1 robot interact with guests at the Sprint exhibit at Mobile World Congress Los Angeles this week. [Read more…] about CloudMinds partners with Sprint to develop 5G humanoid robot

Russians demonstrate robocop for security work

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It’s probably not the best time for the Russians to be unveiling a “robocop”, what with all the paranoia about Russians meddling in previous US elections and influencing candidates for future ones, but that is what a Perm-based company called PromoBot has done, according to Daily Star. 

The authoritative news outlet, which mainly features pictures if buxom women on its home page, says the new Russian robotic cop will be used for fingerprinting and background checks.

However, since it’s a humanoid robot, it’s flexible enough to be reconfigured for a variety of uses, including carrying firearms. [Read more…] about Russians demonstrate robocop for security work

Campaign to Stop Killer Robots sends peace envoy robot to United Nations

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The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots – an actual political and social group run mostly by humans – has sent a peace envoy robot to deliver a letter to the United Nations building in New York, in the US.

According to the Guardian newspaper, the campaign group will give UN diplomats a letter in which it is demanding that the world stops the development of autonomous war machines.

These can include, but are not limited to, technologies such as drones, tanks and other other machinery controlled by an autonomous computer which is running artificial intelligence systems that decide whether to kill people or not. [Read more…] about Campaign to Stop Killer Robots sends peace envoy robot to United Nations

Diligent Robotics raises $3 million seed funding to launch Moxi the hospital robot

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Startup company Diligent Robotics has raised $3 million in seed funding to launch “Moxi”, the company’s hospital robot.

Diligent Robotics describes itself as an artificial intelligence company which builds socially intelligent robots that help people with their jobs.

Its first product, hospital robot assistant named Moxi, is now out of beta and into market, beginning with the roll-out of Moxi into a Texas hospital starting October 2, 2019. [Read more…] about Diligent Robotics raises $3 million seed funding to launch Moxi the hospital robot

Panasonic’s exoskeleton to be used at Paralympics

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Panasonic, an Official Worldwide Paralympic Partner, says it will be providing its Power Assist Suit – an exoskeleton – for use at World Para Powerlifting events and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The suits will be worn by spotter / loader personnel tasked with moving weights and spotting lifters during the competition.

The suits feature built-in sensors that detect limb movements and motors synchronized to provide wearers with mechanized power for performing strenuous tasks easily and safely. [Read more…] about Panasonic’s exoskeleton to be used at Paralympics

Boston Dynamics bring its canine robot to market

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Boston Dynamics is making its canine robot, Spot, available to the market in limited numbers and to select customers. (See video.)

This is the first time Spot will be on sale and most of Boston Dynamics’ robots are still in various stages of research and development, most famously perhaps its humanoids, but also its unusual “Handle” material handling robot, which is basically a robotic arm on two wheels.

Boston Dynamics describes Spot as “a nimble robot that climbs stairs and traverses rough terrain with unprecedented ease, yet is small enough to use indoors”. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics bring its canine robot to market

Comau features its exoskeleton in Pack Expo robotics showcase

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Comau, an industrial automation company and part of the Fiat Chrysler Group, is presenting its Muscular Aiding Tech Exoskeleton (Mate) in the all new Robotic Zone (booth N-850G) at Pack Expo Las Vegas.

Visitors to Comau’s interactive booth will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefit of incorporating exoskeletons into material handling processes by wearing a Mate in a typical pick and place operation.

Mate has been designed to improve work quality in an efficient and highly ergonomic manner by providing consistent and advanced movement assistance during prolonged overhead, as well as daily tasks. [Read more…] about Comau features its exoskeleton in Pack Expo robotics showcase