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Insight: How neural networks are powering autonomous delivery

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By Tanel Pärnamaa, deep learning engineer at Starship Technologies

Artificial neural networks are one of the main tools used in machine learning to convert unstructured, low-level data into higher level information. As the ‘neural’ part suggests, they are brain-inspired systems intended to replicate the way that humans learn.

At Starship, we are building a fleet of autonomous delivery robots using trainable units, including mostly neural networks, where code is written by the model itself. The robots are recording and processing large sets of data in order to recognise surroundings and how to react in real time as each situation requires.

To begin with, the robots start by gaining a sense of the world through radars, a multitude of cameras and ultrasonics. However, this poses challenges because most of this knowledge gained is low-level and non-semantic.  [Read more…] about Insight: How neural networks are powering autonomous delivery

Industrial technology provider JMP Solutions acquires Alfacon assets

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JMP Solutions, industrial technology provider to Fortune 1000 companies, has acquired the assets of Alfacon Solutions, a 35-year-old custom material handling solution provider based in Milton, Ontario.

The employees of Alfacon now form JMP’s material handling division and the company says it is “excited about the value this will bring to their customers”.

Scott Shawyer, JMP president and CEO, says: “We are very happy the Alfacon team has decided to join us at JMP. Their capabilities are world class and allow us to provide our customers with very high quality, made-in-North-America advanced material handling solutions.  [Read more…] about Industrial technology provider JMP Solutions acquires Alfacon assets

World’s first commercial installation of all-electric, autonomous truck

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DB Schenker and Einride have launched the installation for the first commercial use of a T-pod – an all-electric, autonomous truck – at a DB Schenker facility in Jönköping, central Sweden.

The T-pod will travel continuously to and from a warehouse, paving the way for a sustainable transition of road freight transportation.

Einride’s T-pod has no driver’s cab but is supervised and can be teleoperated by a human operator, from hundreds of miles away.

[Read more…] about World’s first commercial installation of all-electric, autonomous truck

Vecna Robotics raises new investment and launches in new direction

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Vecna Robotics now a standalone company, separates from Vecna Technologies

Vecna Robotics, a developer of autonomous material handling technologies including warehouse robots, has separated from Vecna Technologies, creating two distinct companies.

As a standalone business, Vecna Robotics plans to play a major role in the coming transformation of industrial automation and robotics.

Powering this transformation, Vecna Robotics finalized an investment led by Drive Capital this summer to chart a new direction that will maximize both robotics and human workflow in the industrial sector.  [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics raises new investment and launches in new direction

Volvo Trucks provides autonomous transport solution to Brønnøy Kalk

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Volvo Trucks has signed a landmark agreement with Brønnøy Kalk AS in Norway to provide its first commercial autonomous solution transporting limestone from an open pit mine to a nearby port.

The solution consists of limestone being transported by six autonomous Volvo FH trucks on a five kilometre stretch through tunnels between the mine itself and the crusher.

Tests of this solution have been carried out successfully and will continue throughout 2018 to become fully operational by the end of 2019.

[Read more…] about Volvo Trucks provides autonomous transport solution to Brønnøy Kalk

Geek Plus Robotics raises $150 million in ‘world’s largest Series B financing in logistics robotics’

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Supply chain automation solutions company Geek Plus Robotics has completed a Series B financing round in which it raised a staggering $150 million. 

The company says this is “the world’s largest financing in artificial intelligence-enabled logistics robotics”.

As of the closing of this round of financing, Warburg Pincus has committed a total of approximately $100 million in Geek Plus through a series of investments since 2017, which had also been participated by other existing shareholders including Volcanics Venture and Vertex Ventures.

Founded in 2015, Geek+ is a leading AI a robotics company that integrates robotics, AI, big data, cloud computing, and IoT technologies to provide “intelligent robotics solutions and one-stop supply chain services”.  [Read more…] about Geek Plus Robotics raises $150 million in ‘world’s largest Series B financing in logistics robotics’

FedEx acquires 1,000 Chanje electric vehicles

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FedEx Corp. is expanding its fleet to add 1,000 Chanje V8100 electric delivery vehicles, buying 100 of the vehicles from Chanje Energy Inc and leasing 900 from Ryder System, Inc.

The purpose-built electric vehicles will be operated by FedEx Express for commercial and residential pick-up and delivery services in the United States.

The vehicles are manufactured by FDG in Hangzhou, China, and purchased through Chanje Energy Inc., the company’s subsidiary for global business. Ryder System, Inc. will provide support services for all of the vehicles.

[Read more…] about FedEx acquires 1,000 Chanje electric vehicles

IAM Robotics raises $20 million to expand market for its mobile picking robot

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IAM Robotics has raised $20 million from an investor called KCK to expand the market for its “Swift” system.

IAM claims Swift is “the world’s most advanced autonomous mobile picking robot”.

IAM says it is responding to the growing need for flexible automation systems in logistics environments.  [Read more…] about IAM Robotics raises $20 million to expand market for its mobile picking robot

ZF gets green light for drone deliveries in Germany

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ZF is the first company in Germany to receive official approval for automated drone flights over factory premises. A drone prototype has recently started flying spare parts such as sensors or control cards from the central warehouse to workshops.

As soon as the test flights are complete and drones properly deployed, such flights will relieve vehicle traffic at the plant and save time on the up to one kilometre-long delivery routes that are often on the upper floors of buildings.

In the long term, packages could even be delivered outside of factory premises, for example to facilitate package delivery in residential areas that are difficult to access.

[Read more…] about ZF gets green light for drone deliveries in Germany