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Jamba and Blendid unveil robotic smoothie kiosk in Downey, California

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Jamba and Blendid have launched their second robotic smoothie kiosk – called “Jamba by Blendid” – pilot location, now open at the Stonewood Center in Downey, California.

Building on the successful 2020 opening of the first Jamba by Blendid in Dixon, California this is the next step in the effort to open Jamba by Blendid kiosks in additional types of venues – from big box retailers and shopping malls to gyms, hospitals, and college campuses.

Geoff Henry, president of Jamba, says: “After a successful launch of our first Jamba by Blendid kiosk, we’re excited to open a second test kiosk at the Stonewood Center, bringing freshly blended smoothies to mall shoppers. [Read more…] about Jamba and Blendid unveil robotic smoothie kiosk in Downey, California

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

Quest Industrial launches new version of its Box Bot

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Quest Industrial has launched a new version of its palletizing robot, Box Bot.

The company says it is bringing robotic palletizing to more customers and markets with the launch of its new standardized Box Bot, the QB300 series, which is debuting at the ongoing Pack Expo.

The Box Box, a space-saving robotic palletizer with a small footprint, starting at just 8’x10’, allows an operator to design and produce exact pallet patterns quickly and easily from bags to boxes and other product types. [Read more…] about Quest Industrial launches new version of its Box Bot

Italian startup Automationware developing robotic solution for food industry

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An Italian startup called Automationware is developing an integrated robotic solution for the food industry.

The innovative HyFlexyBot project is the result of a partnership between the Venetian mechatronics company Automationware and the Modenese innovation hub Crit.

Described as “an integrated solution that will improve and make more efficient the production and logistics of the food industry”, the HyFlexyBot project is in the top 10 of the Agrobofood-Horizon2020 community program and will be funded by the European Union with €300,000. [Read more…] about Italian startup Automationware developing robotic solution for food industry

Basil Street to launch automated pizza kiosks after raising $10 million

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Gourmet pizza brand Basil Street says it is all set to completely change the way Americans buy one of the most popular takeaway foods.

Over four billion pizzas are consumed in the United States annually according to IBIS World. Coupled with the rise of the global kiosk market driven by consumer demand for affordable food options on the go, Basil Street is looking to change how Americans enjoy the Italian specialty.

Through a patented, automated, cooked-to-order kiosk, and on the heels of a successful 2020 pilot program, the gourmand-focused brand announced today their official Regulation A+ round filing and commencement of their crowdfunding reservation period. [Read more…] about Basil Street to launch automated pizza kiosks after raising $10 million

John Deere acquires Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million

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Deere & Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million.

Founded in 2017, the Silicon Valley-based startup develops autonomous driving technology compatible with existing machines – essentially, it retrofits existing tractors with patented artificial intelligence technology.

Deere says the deal “accelerates the development and delivery of automation and autonomy on the farm” and supports the company’s long-term strategy to create smarter machines with advanced technology to support individual customer needs. [Read more…] about John Deere acquires Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million

Kiwibot and Sodexo launch robotic food delivery services to three university campuses

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Kiwibot, a robotic last-mile delivery company, is partnering with Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company, to expand its robotic fleet to “drive the future of smart university campuses”.

This August, the two companies will make robot deliveries available at three campuses in the US:

  • New Mexico State University;
  • Loyola Marymount University, California; and
  • Gonzaga University, Washington.

Kiwibot says it offers full remote and in-field customer support to businesses and integrates with any business’s point-of-sale to distribute their food products via “powerful, cute-looking robots”. [Read more…] about Kiwibot and Sodexo launch robotic food delivery services to three university campuses

Starship Robots to launch almost 100 delivery robots at multiple new college campuses

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Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services, says it will begin its robotic delivery services on four additional college campuses:

  • University of Illinois Chicago (UIC);
  • University of Kentucky (UK);
  • University of Nevada, Reno (UNR); and
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, Florida campus.

These campuses join the list of college campuses across the US where Starship robots will continue to provide deliveries this fall with its global fleet of over 1,000 robots. [Read more…] about Starship Robots to launch almost 100 delivery robots at multiple new college campuses

Yandex partners with Grubhub to operate delivery robots on college campuses

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Yandex Self-Driving Group, an autonomous vehicles developer owned by Russia’s largest internet search engine company, has agreed a multi-year partnership with Grubhub, an online and mobile food-ordering and delivery platform on college campuses.

The partnership between Grubhub and Yandex SDG will create faster and more cost-effective deliveries on college campuses in the United States.

Yandex autonomous delivery robots will join Grubhub’s robust food delivery platform built specifically for life on campus. [Read more…] about Yandex partners with Grubhub to operate delivery robots on college campuses

Fanuc launches new ‘tabletop’ industrial robot

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Fanuc America, a supplier of CNCs, robotics, and RoboMachines, has introduced the LR Mate 200iD/14L, the 10th model variation of the popular LR Mate series of tabletop industrial robots.  

Since the LR Mate series was launched nearly 30 years ago, it has become one of Fanuc’s biggest sellers, with over 70,000 units installed across the globe.

The popularity of the LR Mate robot series is due to Fanuc’s world-renowned reliability along with a number of unique features including its lightweight, tabletop size, which is often compared to the size of a person’s arm. [Read more…] about Fanuc launches new ‘tabletop’ industrial robot