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Seegrid partners with Applied Intuition for warehouse robot simulations

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Seegrid, a maker of autonomous mobile robots for material handling, and Applied Intuition, a simulation and software tools provider for autonomous vehicle development, have reached an agreement to collaborate on creating 3D virtual warehouses, factories, and distribution centers in support of accelerating advancements in autonomous technology for the material handling industry.

The partnership involves a significant investment by Seegrid and will enable Seegrid to quickly validate product innovations in more environments and use cases across the supply chain than feasible with manual testing.

Seegrid launched several new robot models in 2021 including the company’s newest AMR, Palion Lift, which the company says is “the only autonomous lift truck in the market with industry-leading 3D perception”. [Read more…] about Seegrid partners with Applied Intuition for warehouse robot simulations

Freebirds and Now Cuisine partner to develop robotic kiosks to serve hot meals

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Restaurant technology developer Now Cuisine and the Freebirds burrito company are partnering to build robotic kiosks that serve hot meals.

Now Cuisine and Freebirds World Burrito say the pilot program will be available at new locations throughout the Dallas area using Now Cuisine’s robotic Takeout Stations.

Now Cuisine’s Takeout Stations are compact, fully-automated, AI-enabled kiosks that can be placed nearly anywhere to serve freshly made-to-order hot meals in minutes, 24/7. Freebirds has issued a purchase order to Now Cuisine which will allow its food to be served in multiple Takeout Stations in Texas as part of the pilot. [Read more…] about Freebirds and Now Cuisine partner to develop robotic kiosks to serve hot meals

Foxconn invests in wireless power startup’s $25 million Series B funding round

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Powermat Technologies, a wireless power technology startup, says Foxconn has made a “significant investment” as part of a $25 million Series B round.

Foxconn Interconnect Technology, the contract manufacturing giant’s connectivity solutions developer,took part in the funding round along with Hudson Sustainable Group, a founding shareholder of Powermat.

Powermat’s innovative wireless power technology is a critical enabler of the smart mobility, autonomous robotics, industrial drones, medical devices, telecom, and internet of things industries, where Powermat is experiencing exponential growth. [Read more…] about Foxconn invests in wireless power startup’s $25 million Series B funding round

Benefits of Hiring an Offshore Development Team

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The use of offshore development teams began back in the late eighties. The companies that use them today have seen tremendous success. The ones that have not switched over need to catch up with the times.

Professionals from around the world all agree that new startups need to take the time to find an offshore development team to help them gain traction, and to ensure that they make a profit quickly.

Fortunly has found that 54 percent of all companies use offshore teams, and out of those 78 percent of them feel that it has had a positive impact on them. [Read more…] about Benefits of Hiring an Offshore Development Team

Sarcos Robotics ‘merges’ with Rotor Acquisition

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Shareholders in Rotor Acquisition, a publicly-traded special-purpose acquisition company, have approved what’s being described as a “business combination” – possibly meaning a merger – with Sarcos Robotics, a maker of exoskeletons.

Upon completion of the transaction, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, Rotor will change its name to Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation.

The post-closing company’s common stock and warrants are expected to commence trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “STRC” and “STRCW” respectively. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics ‘merges’ with Rotor Acquisition

Supply chain automation startup Symbotic valued at $5.5 billion

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Symbotic, a robotics and automation technology platform for the supply chain, and SVF Investment Corp 3, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of SoftBank Investment Advisers, have agreed a definitive merger agreement expected to make Symbotic a public company listed on Nasdaq.

Upon completion of the merger, which is expected in the first half of 2022, the combined company will operate under the “Symbotic Inc” name and will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “SYM”.

Symbotic is a product movement technology platform that is adaptable to a wide range of use cases. The company says it has “rebuilt the traditional warehouse”, using a fleet of autonomous robots with artificial intelligence-enabled software, to create a “first of its kind” physical structure that can power a customer’s entire supply chain technology platform. [Read more…] about Supply chain automation startup Symbotic valued at $5.5 billion

Robotic Research raises $228 million in Series A funding round

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Robotic Research, a developer of autonomous mobility and robotics solutions, has raised $228 million in its Series A funding round – the first outside capital the company has raised.

This funding will drive further innovation and expansion of Robotic Research’s commercial division, RR.AI, which is focused on delivering comprehensive autonomous driving solutions for commercial truck, bus, drayage and logistics vehicles.

Investors in the Series A round include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Enlightenment Capital, Crescent Cove Advisors, Henry Crown and Company, and Luminar Technologies. [Read more…] about Robotic Research raises $228 million in Series A funding round

Activ Surgical completes first in-human procedures to demonstrate impact of its surgical intelligence and sensing platform

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Activ Surgical, a digital surgery company, has completed its first in-human surgery clinical trial utilizing the company’s technology-as-a-service bundle – the ActivInsights augmented reality-based software suite and the ActivSight imaging module.

Procedures for the study at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) were led by Dr Erik Wilson, professor in the Department of Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and a leading bariatric, endoluminal and robotic general surgeon; and Dr Shinil Shah, associate professor at UTHealth Houston and a preeminent general surgeon with expertise in advanced gastrointestinal surgery.

The safety and feasibility study was conducted across bariatric, colorectal and gallbladder procedures – surgeries in which intraoperative assessment of perfusion and anatomic structures are critical to prevent costly and life-threatening complications. [Read more…] about Activ Surgical completes first in-human procedures to demonstrate impact of its surgical intelligence and sensing platform

Supply chain robotics developer Photoneo raises $21 million in Series B funding

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Photoneo, a developer of robotics for warehouse tasks, has raised $21 million in new funding.

The new funding was from AI Capital, IPM Group, Earlybird, Venture to Future Fund, and Credo Ventures as well as all investors who participated in previous investment rounds.

The newly raised capital will accelerate 3D Sensor business and enable expansion of its fully automated fulfillment solutions for warehouses and dark stores – called BrightPick. [Read more…] about Supply chain robotics developer Photoneo raises $21 million in Series B funding

Delivery robot startup Serve Robotics raises $13 million in seed funding round

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Serve Robotics, an autonomous sidewalk delivery robot company, has closed a $13 million expanded seed funding round.

The companies participating were strategic investors Uber Technologies; Delivery Hero backed DX Ventures; 7-Eleven’s corporate venture arm, 7-Ventures; and Wavemaker Partners’ food automation focused venture studio Wavemaker Labs.

The new round extends Serve’s previous seed funding and includes participation by existing seed investors Neo, Western Technology Investment, and Scott Banister among others. [Read more…] about Delivery robot startup Serve Robotics raises $13 million in seed funding round