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Service robots

Basil Street partners with Celestica to meet ‘strong demand’ for its automated pizza kiosks

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Basil Street Pizza, a startup which has built an automated pizza kiosk, is partnering with Celestica, an engineering company.

The companies will work together to meet what Basil Street says is “strong demand” for its automated pizza kiosks as well as “growing consumer interest for automated pizza kitchens”.

In anticipation of its nationwide rollout slated for Fall 2021, Basil Street says Celestica is a leader in design, manufacturing and supply chain solutions for the world’s most innovative companies. [Read more…] about Basil Street partners with Celestica to meet ‘strong demand’ for its automated pizza kiosks

Blendid closes second oversubscribed crowdfunding campaign, raising total of $20 million

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Blendid, a food automation and robotics company which has built a robotic kiosk (see video below), has closed its latest oversubscribed round of crowdfunding. 

Hitting its $2 million target via 1,475 individual investors during a four-month campaign on StartEngine, Blendid has now raised a total of $20 million in investment through a combination of traditional venture capital, strategic investors and crowdfunding.

During its crowdfunding effort, Blendid signed a commercial agreement with a major commercial food service operator, which also made a strategic investment in the company, to help scale its manufacturing and operations so Blendid can achieve its mission of making healthy food more personalized and accessible nationwide. [Read more…] about Blendid closes second oversubscribed crowdfunding campaign, raising total of $20 million

Hobot Technology unveils new window-cleaning robot

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Hobot Technology has officially launched its new window-cleaning robot, the Hobot-2S. The US launch date is scheduled for October 1, 2021.

Hobot says its window cleaning robots “have been recognized as the world’s standard in robotic technology”, adding that it’s the “most trusted brand of US consumers” due to quality, reliability, and customer support. [Read more…] about Hobot Technology unveils new window-cleaning robot

OrionStar launches ‘Lucki’, the robotic waiter

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OrionStar, a service robot solutions company, has launched Lucki, which the company claims is “the world’s first” AI powered, interactive delivery robot designed for restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals and more.

The company says its robot improves delivery efficiency and increases revenue for businesses through customer attraction, dynamic advertising and personalized interactions, offers a Covid-safe contactless delivery, as well as addresses the restaurant and hospitality industry labor shortage.

OrionStar says it is “redefining restaurant delivery robots” and standing out from competitors, adding that Lucki offers consumers a personalized and engaging experience, providing memorable moments for any occasion. [Read more…] about OrionStar launches ‘Lucki’, the robotic waiter

Denver schools bring in robots to clean floors

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Brain Corp, a developer of software for robots, says that Denver Public Schools, one of the nation’s largest school districts, has selected BrainOS-powered robotics scrubbers, manufactured by Tennant Company, to enhance cleanliness and sanitation at some of its more than 200 schools.

Denver Public Schools made the decision to invest in a large fleet of self-driving floor cleaners to give its facility management employees increased bandwidth to work on other higher-value tasks, such as cleaning between classes and other in-depth cleaning. The machines will be deployed this summer at various high schools in the 90,000-student district.

Rich Archuletta, director of facility operations at Denver Public Schools, says: “These new autonomous floor cleaners are a critical technology investment that will help us enhance cleanliness at 14 of our largest buildings, mainly our 10 comprehensive high schools. This is a huge benefit to our students, while maintaining future operating costs. [Read more…] about Denver schools bring in robots to clean floors

Toyota Research Institute reaches ‘new technical milestones in robotics’

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Toyota Research Institute (TRI) says it has reached “new technical milestones in robotics”. The company has unveiled new robotics capabilities aimed at solving complex tasks in home environments.

Specifically, TRI roboticists were able to train robots to understand and operate in complicated situations that confuse most other robots, including recognizing and responding to transparent and reflective surfaces in a variety of circumstances.

As TRI demonstrates in a new video (see below), this robust system allows robots to make generalizations in a range of scenarios, including in different homes. [Read more…] about Toyota Research Institute reaches ‘new technical milestones in robotics’

Scythe Robotics launches with $18.6 million funding to ‘transform commercial landscaping with autonomous mower’

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Scythe Robotics, a builder of commercial-grade autonomous robotic solutions for the landscaping industry, has emerged from stealth with its first offering: an all-electric, fully autonomous mower, designed completely in-house to be “the most advanced, reliable, and sustainable commercial-grade mower in the industry”.

Scythe has also completed its $13.8 million in Series A funding led by Inspired Capital with participation from existing investors True Ventures, Zigg Capital, and Lemnos, bringing the company’s total funding to $18.6 million.

The new investment will be used to grow the company’s existing operations in Texas, Florida and Colorado, expand with new customers, and accelerate development of further products to revolutionize how commercial landscape contractors care for outdoor environments. [Read more…] about Scythe Robotics launches with $18.6 million funding to ‘transform commercial landscaping with autonomous mower’

Robot Applications in Auto Manufacturing

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Robots have been used in automotive assembly lines for over 50 years. And now, automakers are using robotics in even more processes.

Why robots? They are efficient and dependable in production lines. They also bring supply chain automation to the automotive industry and make it one of the largest users of robots. [Read more…] about Robot Applications in Auto Manufacturing

OrionStar showcases Qualcomm-enabled 5G service robots at MWC Shanghai

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OrionStar, the robotics company invested in by telecommunications company Cheetah Mobile, has developed three service robots embedded with Qualcomm’s 5G solutions and processing capabilities.

The company showcased some of its technologies at the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2021.

By adding 5G connectivity, the robots get a powerful boost in AI performance to provide an even higher level of stability, consistency, responsiveness, coordination and remote control capabilities. [Read more…] about OrionStar showcases Qualcomm-enabled 5G service robots at MWC Shanghai

Global service robots market forecast to reach $110 billion by 2027

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The global professional service robots market is expected to be valued at $109.91 billion by the end of 2027, growing at an annual rate of 24.5 percent from 2020 to 2027, as highlighted in a report published by Coherent Market Insights.

Rising funding for research and development in robotics is expected to drive growth of the global professional service robots market during the forecast period.

Since professional service robots are being used in a variety of fields, many sectors (both public and private) have started investing in robotics research and development. [Read more…] about Global service robots market forecast to reach $110 billion by 2027