Where Innovation Meets Imagination
As Joni Mitchell once sang, and Janet Jackson reiterated, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.
So it was when Amazon bought Kiva Systems in 2012 for a chart-topping $775 million.
Now one of the world’s largest online retailers, Amazon is also growing its logistics business, with 30,000 Kiva robots working away at its warehouses all over the world. [Read more…] about Logistics robots: The way you move
Funding from iNovia Capital, Caterpillar Ventures, GE Ventures and previous investors will expand new Otto Motors division
Clearpath Robotics, a leading provider of self-driving vehicle solutions, announced today the completion of a $30 million investment led by iNovia Capital with participation from Caterpillar Ventures, GE Ventures, Eclipse Ventures, RRE Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank.
Clearpath will use the funding to grow the company’s industrial division, Otto Motors. Clearpath launched Otto Motors in 2015 to focus on self-driving vehicles for material transport inside manufacturing and warehouse operations.
Matt Rendall, CEO and co-founder of Clearpath, says: “Factories operate like small indoor cities, complete with roads, traffic, intersections and pedestrians.
“Unlike city streets, a factory floor is a controlled environment, which makes it an ideal place to introduce self-driving vehicles at scale. Companies like Google, Tesla and Uber are still testing, whereas our self-driving vehicles are commercially available today.” [Read more…] about Clearpath Robotics raises $30 million to expand Otto self-driving logistics vehicle technology
The cloud based e-mobility charging platform will combine ABB’s vehicle-charging technologies with Microsoft’s cloud services
ABB and Microsoft have launched a new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging services platform which they say is available worldwide.
The companies say the systems combines ABB’s EV charging stations with Microsoft’s Azure cloud-based services and will ensure stability, global scalability and advanced management features for ABB customers.
The collaboration will also take advantage of machine learning and predictive analytic capabilities to drive future innovations. [Read more…] about ABB and Microsoft launch next-generation electric vehicle charging services
Omron Adept has launched what it says is an artificial intelligence-equipped mobile robot.
The new vehicle was developed for indoor use by the company’s US subsidiary, Omron Adept Technologies.
Omron says it will release two variations of the Mobile Robot LD Platform in 33 countries simultaneously on January 20, 2017, as a “step toward realizing harmony between humans and machines in the field of manufacturing”. [Read more…] about Omron launches ‘AI-equipped’ mobile robot for logistics
Bright Box, a specialist provider of connected car solutions, says its new self-driving car system has been trained using a neural network, deep learning and extreme racing computer games, in particular GTA 5.
Bright Box, a European company, says its software is the basis for connected-vehicle applications used by the Nissan Smart Car app in Middle East, and KIA Remoto app.
Bright Box says its autonomous car solution also uses data from real-life examples. [Read more…] about Bright Box launches self-driving car platform trained with extreme driving in computer games
Autoliv, a provider of advanced driver assistance systems, and Volvo Cars, the car maker, have agreed to form a new jointly-owned company to develop next generation autonomous driving software.
The planned new company will have its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, and an initial workforce taken from both companies of around 200, increasing to over 600 in the medium term. The company is expected to start operations in early 2017.
Once finalized, the joint venture will be a new entrant in the growing global market for autonomous driving software systems. It will mark the first time a leading premium car maker has joined forces with a tier one supplier to develop new advanced driver assist systems and autonomous driving technologies. [Read more…] about Volvo and Autoliv to create joint venture to develop autonomous driving technology
Continental is expanding its advanced driver assistance systems business in Asia and expects sales to reach $2.2 billion a year by 2020.
The company says it is on course to achieve €1 billion in sales this year, and is aiming to capitalise on this growth by developing its Asian operations.
Continental says it will increase production capacity for radar sensors in the Philippines and China, and accelerate its knowledge transfer and staff expansion.
Continental is estimated to be the market leader in advanced driver assistance systems, which is in essence autonomous car technology.
[Read more…] about Continental expands advanced driver assistance systems business in Asia
BMW has unveiled a new concept for its Mini model as part of its “Vision Next 100” project to steer the company into the future.
The new Mini Cooperizer is designed as a computerized, electric, connected, and autonomous car, which is meant as part of the company’s own ride-sharing scheme.
BMW plans to locate Minis all over a town for people to hire as and when they want through its app. [Read more…] about BMW reveals new autonomous Mini concept
Ghost Robotics says Minitaur four-legged robot built for highly-precise force feedback applications and movement across unknown, rough and vertical terrains
University of Pennsylvania startup company Ghost Robotics has launched its first patent-pending direct-drive legged robot platform, Ghost Minitaur.
Ghost Robotics specialises in the research and development legged, direct-drive or gearless and proprioceptive robotics technologies.
Founded by University of Pennsylvania PhD candidates, Avik De and Gavin Kenneally, Ghost Robotics is researching and building next-generation legged robots that are superior to wheeled and tracked autonomous vehicles in many field applications. [Read more…] about University of Pennsylvania’s Ghost Robotics launches Minitaur four-legged robot platform for autonomous vehicle applications
Uber rival Grab signs deal with driverless car developer nuTonomy
nuTonomy, a developer of software for self-driving cars, and Grab, which claims to be Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing app, have entered a partnership to expand nuTonomy’s ongoing public trial of self-driving cars in Singapore, believed to be the first such public trial anywhere in the world.
The trial will give select Grab users a chance to experience the full end-to-end experience of e-hailing and riding in a nuTonomy self-driving vehicle.
Combining nuTonomy’s autonomous vehicle software and technology system with Grab’s fleet routing technology and mapping in its app will enable both companies to study the end-to-end user experience of on-demand hailing of driverless vehicles. [Read more…] about nuTonomy and Grab partner to expand public trials of self-driving cars
