Robotics & Automation News

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Logistics

Amazon to open logistics facility in New York

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Amazon, the online retail giant with a growing range of business units, one of which is Amazon Robotics, is opening a new logistics facility in New York.

The Staten Island warehouse will create 2,250 new jobs for humans but it’s not clear how many robots Amazon will integrate into the facility.

So far, Amazon is said to have manufactured 100,000 logistics robots, which are small autonomous vehicles used to move boxes and shelf units around.  [Read more…] about Amazon to open logistics facility in New York

‘World’s first’ fully automated port terminal opens in Melbourne

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The Port of Melbourne is the site of what is said to be the world’s first fully automated container handling terminal.

The system was developed and delivered by Kalmar, part of Cargotec, and Navis, part of Kalmar Business Area within Cargotec.

The automation solution is called OneTerminal, and was supplied to International Container Terminal Services Incorporated at the Port of Melbourne, Australia.  [Read more…] about ‘World’s first’ fully automated port terminal opens in Melbourne

Canvas Technology launches ‘world’s first self-driving carts’ for factories and warehouses

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A company called Canvas Technology has launched what it claims is the world’s first self-driving industrial cart.

The company says the logistics robot brings driverless vehicles to workplaces “long before self-driving vehicles hit street”.

Canvas says its carts are also the first self-driving vehicles to use 3D vision to map and navigate dynamic indoor workplaces.  [Read more…] about Canvas Technology launches ‘world’s first self-driving carts’ for factories and warehouses

Coca-Cola orders robotic warehouse system from Swisslog

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Swisslog has secured an order for the first of its PowerStore intralogistics systems from Coca-Cola Malaysia.

As part of Coca-Cola Malaysia’s investment of RM500 million ($119 million) to expand the size and production capacity of its current plant at Bandar Enstek, the company has commissioned Swisslog for a flexible, robotic, data-driven automated warehouse for intralogistics.

This will make it the first Swisslog PowerStore system in South East Asia.  [Read more…] about Coca-Cola orders robotic warehouse system from Swisslog

Flytrex launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous drone delivery system in Reykjavík

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A company called Flytrex claims it has launched the world’s first autonomous drone delivery system in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Flytrex says there is currently “sushi in the skies of Iceland” as the drone logistics company partners with Aha.is to launch what it says is the “world’s first fully operational autonomous drone delivery system”.

Drone technology company Flytrex is partnering with Aha, Iceland’s largest online marketplace, for the on-demand urban drone delivery service.  [Read more…] about Flytrex launches ‘world’s first’ autonomous drone delivery system in Reykjavík

Kuka expected to roll out collaborative robot on autonomous platform in more factories

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Kuka is expected to make its mobile collaborative robot available to more factories, partly as a result of its takeover by Midea, the Chinese home appliances manufacturer. 

Midea has many large factories where a mobile robot which can also pick and place objects would be very useful.

Kuka’s collaborative robot is called iiwa, and it’s already in use at various large companies, including automotive giant BMW.  [Read more…] about Kuka expected to roll out collaborative robot on autonomous platform in more factories

DHL uses Effibot logistics robot to deliver Formula E racing cars

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Logistics giant DHL called on the Effibot autonomous vehicle to help with the logistics demands of delivering all 40 fully-electric racing cars which took part in the recent Formula E Championship decider in Montreal, Canada.

Along with the cars, DHL also delivered lithium-ion batteries, charging stations, garage equipment and track infrastructure for the 10 teams that will compete for the title.

With the season finale, DHL also concludes its third season of delivering logistics solutions for the only fully single seater electric car racing series around the globe.  [Read more…] about DHL uses Effibot logistics robot to deliver Formula E racing cars

Amazon has 100,000 robots working at its warehouses worldwide

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Amazon is estimated to have a total of 100,000 robots working at its numerous locations worldwide, according to a report on the Seattle Times website. 

And so far this year, the company has produced 55,000 of the little machines.

The world’s largest online retailer bought logistics robot-maker Kiva Systems in 2012 and has since built a separate business unit – Amazon Robotics – based on the technology it acquired.

The main robot is a small mobile platform for use in warehouses, and it’s manufactured in Amazon Robotics research and production facility in North Reading, Massachusetts, in the US (video below).

Surgere partners with Fetch Robotics to launch cycle-counting logistics robot

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Surgere has partnered with Fetch Robotics to launch what it calls a “Robotically Optimized and Balanced Inventory” system – or, in other words, a logistics robot called Robi.

The companies say Robi is designed to help automate cycle counts and improve overall accuracy of on-hand inventory within automotive manufacturing and warehouse environments.

Automated and autonomous warehouse management systems are becoming an increasingly important differentiator as competition in the logistics sector intensifies as a result of growing online shopping worldwide.

Surgere is a provider of visibility and control systems within a digitized supply chain – radio frequency identification, location and environment sensors, and advanced data analytics, and so on.  [Read more…] about Surgere partners with Fetch Robotics to launch cycle-counting logistics robot

There will be 35 million autonomous trucks on the road by 2020, says Frost

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Business consultancy Frost & Sullivan expects 35 million connected and autonomous trucks will be on the roads by 2020.

Connected trucks will be integral to future logistics and freight operations as smart trucks will be a necessity in smart cities, says Frost.

And in what may be a controversial prediction Frost says: “By 2020, 35 million trucks are expected to be connected with digital freight solutions and autonomous technologies, transforming the trucking industry into a smarter, efficient and more productive sector.”  [Read more…] about There will be 35 million autonomous trucks on the road by 2020, says Frost