Robotics & Automation News

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Rockwell Automation and OSIsoft extend digital data partnership

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Rockwell Automation has extended its 15-year partnership with industrial data platform provider OSIsoft to “ensure continued” value for industrial manufacturing customers by enabling informed, data-driven decisions.

OSIsoft’s PI System is the market-leading operations data management platform for industrial organizations meeting next-generation demands for efficiency, reliability, security, sustainability, and resilience.

The agreement reinforces the companies’ joint commitment to drive outcome-based digital transformation solutions for customers across essential industries, including energy, mining, oil and gas, utilities, pharmaceuticals, transportation, and more. [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation and OSIsoft extend digital data partnership

Delivery robot company Refraction AI raises $4.2 million

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Refraction AI, the robotics startup and creator of the REV-1 autonomous delivery robot, has raised $4.2 million in new seed funding led by Pillar VC.

The company says the capital will be used for customer acquisition, geographic expansion and product development.

Founded in July 2019, Refraction AI solves last-mile delivery logistics with a practical, economical and sustainable application of mobile robot technology. [Read more…] about Delivery robot company Refraction AI raises $4.2 million

Ava says its telepresence robot ‘revolutionizing real estate industry’s digital capabilities’

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Ava Robotics says its telepresence robot is “revolutionizing real estate industry’s digital capabilities”. (See video below.)

In response to the severe limitations created by Covid-19 lockdowns, Ava Robotics, a leader in creating intelligent robots for the workplace, partnered with Austrian real estate company SIGNA and Cisco partner FRINK Advanced Services to create a fully digital, remote sales experience powered by Ava’s telepresence robots.

Ava Telepresence assists realtors and clients in remote, contactless home tours that allow the customer to have more control and better access to viewing a property and interacting with a sales agent. [Read more…] about Ava says its telepresence robot ‘revolutionizing real estate industry’s digital capabilities’

Using technology to boost business efficiency

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These are challenging times for small businesses, with everything moving online and teams needing to work remotely.

Operational efficiency is a top priority — but how can you maximize it? In the end, your biggest asset is technology.

The rising technological tide lifts all boats, of course, as is immediately obvious to anyone who’s followed the immense success of home theater equipment and gaming consoles. [Read more…] about Using technology to boost business efficiency

Blue Yonder launches inaugural ‘AI 50 List’ of world’s most influential artificial intelligence leaders

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Software developer Blue Yonder launched its inaugural AI 50 List today, highlighting people who the company believes are the “top thought leaders, innovators, and influencers working to advance the development and adoption of artificial intelligence globally”.

Identified by its team of hundreds of data scientists and machine learning (ML) experts, Blue Yonder sought out the most prominent AI players across a myriad of industries and geographies to honour their profound impact on advancing the business value and understanding of AI.

Uwe Weiss, executive vice president – machine learning at Blue Yonder, says: “While the world continues to navigate uncertainty, AI continues to help people and the planet, by enabling companies to make better predictions and business decisions, saving time, money, and waste. [Read more…] about Blue Yonder launches inaugural ‘AI 50 List’ of world’s most influential artificial intelligence leaders

ABB launches new range of ‘next generation’ collaborative robots

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ABB is expanding its collaborative robot portfolio with the new GoFa and SWIFTI cobot families, offering higher payloads and speeds, to complement YuMi and Single Arm YuMi in ABB’s cobot line-up.

These stronger, faster and more capable cobots will accelerate the company’s expansion in high-growth segments including electronics, healthcare, consumer goods, logistics and food and beverage, amongst others, meeting the growing demand for automation across multiple industries.

GoFa and SWIFTI are intuitively designed so customers need not rely on in-house programming specialists. This will unlock industries that have low levels of automation, with customers able to operate their cobot within minutes of installation, straight out of the box, with no specialized training. [Read more…] about ABB launches new range of ‘next generation’ collaborative robots

Verizon to acquire autonomous mobile robot software company

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US telecommunications giant Verizon has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire incubed IT, the creator of a software platform providing autonomous navigation tools to administer, manage and optimize mixed fleets of robots in industrial settings.

Rima Qureshi, chief strategy officer at Verizon, says: “This acquisition further demonstrates Verizon’s commitment to developing new and innovative businesses and use cases leveraging the power of 5G.

“Mobile robot orchestration is a real and emerging challenge faced by enterprises today. By integrating incubed IT’s autonomous software with Verizon’s 5G platform, we will have the ability to power robotic automation at scale. [Read more…] about Verizon to acquire autonomous mobile robot software company

Device Fingerprinting Benefits for Business in 2021

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Device fingerprinting is a relatively new “cookie-less” activity capture method that tracks your device OS, screen dimensions, fonts, clock, browser version, and other info for marketing purposes.

Unlike cookies, fingerprinting data isn’t stored on users’ devices, which means that it cannot be deleted that simply.

Device fingerprinting looks quite controversial for many users, but is there actually anything to be aware of or is it the next-gen user activity tracking method with lots of benefits for business? [Read more…] about Device Fingerprinting Benefits for Business in 2021

Kia to develop autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery in Singapore

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Kia is planning to develop a variety of technologies including autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery in Singapore.

The company has begun to lay the groundwork for its “Purpose Built Vehicle” (PBV) business, partnering with cold chain start-up S.lab Asia to break into Singapore’s last-mile delivery market.

The two companies have signed an agreement aimed at launching a pilot project in Singapore using the e-Niro and evaluating the potential for a future PBV-based business model. [Read more…] about Kia to develop autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery in Singapore

Getting Projects off the Ground with Outsourcing

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What works for the largest businesses doesn’t necessarily work for the smallest ones.

Startups in particular often lack the resources to pursue ideas for completely new projects and services because they may not have accumulated funds, or an experienced team, in order to begin development on the scope they desire.

Companies that want to increase their project output tend to benefit a lot from outsourcing development as a way to get around this. [Read more…] about Getting Projects off the Ground with Outsourcing