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The big AMR fleet computing debate: Distributed vs centralized

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By Limor Schweitzer, CTO and founder, MOV.AI

A shift in mobile robot computing needs

Over the past year, we have seen the growing adoption of centralized computing in Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) fleets. In this article, we ask if this trend is the best approach, especially in advanced deployments with a large number of AMRs and dynamic, non-sterile environments.

Past generations of AMRs, or more accurately Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), operated in sterile environments, with physically marked fixed routes and simple, predefined tasks. The computing requirements were almost nonexistent. [Read more…] about The big AMR fleet computing debate: Distributed vs centralized

Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots

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With growing labour availability issues, how can grocery logistics operations significantly boost performance? Vincent Jacquemart, CEO at French autonomous mobile robot designer and manufacturer iFollow, offers a solution.

Faced with the likelihood of long term staff shortages and resulting rises in pay rates, warehouse and distribution centre operators in grocery and many other sectors are turning sometimes belatedly to automation. This is certainly an option but not all solutions deliver really significant productivity improvements.

Labour shortages in logistics have been building for some years, by no means just because of Brexit, and the inability to fulfil orders reliably is becoming an existential threat for many firms.

Logistics UK in October claimed that “13 percent of traders are reporting severe warehouse staff shortages”; in November the Cold Chain Federation noted “10 percent to 20 percent shortage rates” among its members. [Read more…] about Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots

Sesto Robotics raises $5.7 million for its autonomous mobile robots

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Sesto Robotics, a Singapore-based autonomous mobile robotics company, has raised $5.7 million funding from institutional investors Trive, Germany-based World Trading Inovation, and the Singapore government-backed Seeds Capital. 

Chor Chen Ang, CEO of Sesto Robotics, says: “Having WTI as a strategic investor at this stage of our company’s development helps us to expand into the important European and German market that is the home of Industry 4.0.

“WTI has a strict investment policy and the investors are entrepreneurs who have built and scaled businesses themselves and believe in investing in the right management team to create successful businesses. [Read more…] about Sesto Robotics raises $5.7 million for its autonomous mobile robots

Tennant’s robotic cleaning machines give Glad Group a winning edge

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Building services contractors are strengthening their cleaning capabilities in the retail sector, among others, with ever-improving robotics technology.

At a time when hygiene, efficiency and the smart use of labour have never been more important in the building services space, the case for robotic cleaning machines is clear.

Robotic floor scrubbers, in particular, are increasingly in demand. Widely used in American retail chains such as Walmart, there is growing interest in Australia for the autonomous solutions in shopping centres, commercial offices and industrial sites.

“We’re experiencing a lot of interest from the retail space, especially,” says Dave Miller, national head of strategic accounts at Tennant. “Robotics had a foray into the Australian market about four years ago, but the machines weren’t where they needed to be. Now Tennant has come into the market a little later but with machines that can do the job.” [Read more…] about Tennant’s robotic cleaning machines give Glad Group a winning edge

ABB invests in autonomous mobile robot startup Sevensense

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ABB is investing in, and entering into a strategic partnership with, Swiss-based start-up Sevensense, founded in 2018 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich.

ABB says the partnership will enhance its new autonomous mobile robotics offering with artificial intelligence and 3D vision mapping technology.

It adds that the technology will “offer customers unprecedented levels of flexibility as mobile robots will be able to navigate autonomously in complex, dynamic indoor and outdoor environments close to people”. [Read more…] about ABB invests in autonomous mobile robot startup Sevensense

Geek+ introduces robotic picking for e-commerce operations at CEVA warehouse

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Geek+, a maker of autonomous mobile robots, says it has successfully installed its AMRs in a CEVA Logistics warehouse in Truganina, located in Melbourne, Australia.

CEVA is a global third-party logistics (3PL) provider looking for new and innovative automation solutions to better serve its Australian e-commerce clients.

Implemented by Körber Supply Chain, the project “greatly improves efficiency and productivity” in the warehouse, ensuring smoother order fulfillment for CEVA’s customers, says Geek. [Read more…] about Geek+ introduces robotic picking for e-commerce operations at CEVA warehouse

Seeing the wood for the trees: Why natural feature matching navigation works so well for mobile robots

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For automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots to operate, they need to know where they are, where they need to go, and how to get there.

While simple “line following” technologies have their place, they have high installation overheads and, because they require changes to permanent infrastructure, do not lend themselves to adaptation to new requirements.

Natural feature matching navigation is based on using permanent features along the route of the AMR, is easier to install and more flexible for future needs. But how does it work and why does it work so well? [Read more…] about Seeing the wood for the trees: Why natural feature matching navigation works so well for mobile robots

Tennant launches ‘industry’s first’ robotic floor scrubber for large spaces

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Tennant Company, a company which designs and manufactures industrial cleaning systems, is launching its newest and largest autonomous floor cleaning machine, the T16AMR Robotic Floor Scrubber.

This industrial-grade autonomous scrubber is “ideal for larger facilities”, says the company, adding that it is the first of its kind.

Featuring a wider scrub path and higher tank capacity, it allows for consistent, efficient cleaning while reducing total cost of ownership. This is the third AMR in Tennant’s lineup and the industry’s first AMR built on an industrial scrubber platform. [Read more…] about Tennant launches ‘industry’s first’ robotic floor scrubber for large spaces

Seegrid gives select customers early access to its new autonomous lift truck

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Seegrid, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for material handling, is giving select customers early access to Seegrid Palion Lift AMR, the company’s newest AMR – and “the only autonomous lift truck with 3D perception in the industry”.

The select customers receiving first priority access to the highly anticipated Palion Lift are part of the Seegrid Technology Early-Access Program (STEP).

Participants in STEP receive a dedicated Seegrid team, gain exclusive opportunities to experience and provide feedback on new Seegrid technology, obtain insights into product roadmaps, and have the ability to impact innovative new products like the Palion Lift, an AMR that uniquely addresses major supply chain challenges. [Read more…] about Seegrid gives select customers early access to its new autonomous lift truck

Vecna Robotics’ latest cloud release delivers ‘industry’s fastest and safest’ autonomous mobile robots

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Vecna Robotics, a developer of pallet-handling autonomous mobile robots and workflow orchestration, announced at Pack Expo its latest innovation designed to deliver the best AMR performance in the industry.

The new Mark 3 software release helps warehouse, distribution and manufacturing organizations double fleet performance to improve efficiency and throughput, while continuing to exceed industry safety standards.

According to a recent Peerless Research Group industry report, 24 percent of organizations plan to implement AGV or AMR technology within the next year. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics’ latest cloud release delivers ‘industry’s fastest and safest’ autonomous mobile robots