Where Innovation Meets Imagination
Rapid Robotics, creator of what it says is “the first ready-to-work robotic machine operator”, has raised $36.7 million in Series B funding.
The funding round was led by Kleiner Perkins and Tiger Global, with existing investors NEA, Greycroft, Bee Partners and 468 Capital also participating.
The latest round is Rapid’s third in less than a year, bringing its total funding to $54.2 million. [Read more…] about Rapid Robotics raises $37 million in new investment
MassRobotics, a hub for entrepreneurs starting robotics and automation companies, has launched a new partnership with consumer goods multinational Procter & Gamble to collaboratively explore technologies around automation and manufacturing-related applications.
The goal of the partnership is to develop ideas to improve productivity, drive increased value for consumers, accelerate agility from more automation, and allow more flexibility in meeting the manufacturing deadlines of customers.
In addition to exploring and accessing innovations from resident startups, MassRobotics’ overall community will help P&G remain on the cutting-edge of the robotics and automation industry and more closely collaborate with existing P&G robotics partners in Massachusetts. [Read more…] about MassRobotics partners with Procter & Gamble to develop automation and manufacturing-related applications
By Thomas R. Cutler
Much attention has been paid to the small and mid-sized manufacturer. As local and regional job creators that attention has been well-deserved.
However, the reality is large manufacturers continue to represent a significant portion of jobs within the sector, and new solutions geared to their needs are among the most innovative and dynamic.
Project Business Automation (PBA) is a new category of business systems built specifically to support large project-based manufacturers from end-to-end. [Read more…] about Project Business Automation: Large Manufacturers Learn to Integrate Disparate Systems
With the advancement in technology ever since the first car came into existence, things have changed drastically. Not just for the driver but also for manufacturers. The way we have learned to automate our tasks is remarkable.
We created machines that helped us create more machines. That is essentially what car manufacturing is these days. We don’t need huge human labor to achieve our task, we could just use robots. Robots have been used for automotive manufacturing for over 50 years now. They have lots of advantages.
These robots give the manufacturer a big competitive advantage over their competitors. You cannot expect an automaker to pump millions of vehicles per year by creating all of them by hand. [Read more…] about Robots in automotive manufacturing: Top 7 applications
Path Robotics, a Columbus-based artificial intelligence robotics company producing the world’s first truly autonomous robotic manufacturing system, announced plans to expand its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, creating 140 new jobs.
Hiring for software development, engineering and product positions is under way.
Path Robotics plans to expand personnel throughout Columbus at both its existing facility at 524 Maier Place, as well as at its additional facility at 3950 Business Park Drive. [Read more…] about Path Robotics expands headquarters and production, creating 140 new jobs
OnPoint Digital Solutions, a subsidiary of Koch Engineered Solutions, has agreed a collaboration with Amazon Web Services to co-develop an intelligent process optimization platform (IPOP).
The platform – designed to enable OnPoint’s solutions – will utilize cloud and edge digital infrastructure to provide advanced machine learning and industrial computing capabilities for OnPoint’s connected ecosystem, enabling industrial operators and their preferred partners to integrate and act upon the best available knowledge anywhere, anytime, at scale.
Manufacturers worldwide are modifying operations to address the Industry 4.0 revolution and the associated infrastructure necessary to integrate smart technologies. This unique collaboration between OnPoint and AWS will leverage and complement AWS’s generally available infrastructure services, IoT, advanced analytics and machine learning. [Read more…] about Koch Industries’ OnPoint Digital and AWS collaborate to develop industrial engineering platform
By Dominik Wee, managing director manufacturing and industrial, Google Cloud
While the promise of artificial intelligence transforming the manufacturing industry is not new, long-ongoing experimentation hasn’t yet led to widespread business benefits. Manufacturers remain in “pilot purgatory,” as Gartner reports that only 21% of companies in the industry have active AI initiatives in production.
However, new research from Google Cloud reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic may have spurred a significant increase in the use of AI and other digital enablers among manufacturers.
According to our data—which polled more than 1,000 senior manufacturing executives across seven countries—76% have turned to digital enablers and disruptive technologies due to the pandemic such as data and analytics, cloud, and artificial intelligence (AI). And 66% of manufacturers who use AI in their day-to-day operations report that their reliance on AI is increasing.
The top three sub-sectors deploying AI to assist in day-to-day operations are automotive/OEMs (76%), automotive suppliers (68%), and heavy machinery (67%). [Read more…] about Google research reveals ‘what’s needed for AI acceleration in manufacturing’
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning continue to be the greatest driving forces powering the manufacturing industry today.
Over 60% of manufacturing companies have already adopted AI technology to increase operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and deliver high-quality products that meet unique consumer demands.
According to Global AI in Manufacturing Market Trends, the market is projected to reach $16.7 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 57.2% during the forecast period. [Read more…] about Top 5 Cases to Use AI in Manufacturing
Comau, an industrial robotics and automation specialist, has designed and developed a “high-volume module manufacturing line” to produce new generation lithium-ion batteries for Leclanché, a provider of energy storage solutions for the heavy transportation, naval and railway industries.
Comau says the “state-of-the-art, highly automated line” is the result of a simultaneous engineering process and combines industrial robots, vision systems, laser welding, and the automated in-line validation of joints via artificial intelligence. Priority was given to ensuring multi-module configurability, full traceability and the highest level of safety.
The line includes the latest quality and process control technologies, thus setting the foundation for the transition towards Industry 4.0 principles. It will also allow Leclanché to produce up to six times the company’s current capacity, reaching an output of more than 60,000 modules per year. The solution is also expected to reduce costs by up to 20 percent, support 50 different product configurations and save Leclanché valuable time when introducing new formats into the manufacturing line. [Read more…] about Comau designs ‘highly automated, high-volume’ battery manufacturing line
Zebra Technologies, a provider of software and hardware systems for supply chains, is to acquire Fetch Robotics, a developer of warehouse robots and related technologies.
Fetch’s Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are used for optimized picking in fulfillment centers and distribution centers, just-in-time material delivery in manufacturing facilities and automating manual material movement in any facility.
Fetch features the largest portfolio of AMRs in the industry and offers seamless integration with warehouse and manufacturing systems without the need for changes to facilities or infrastructure. [Read more…] about Zebra Technologies to acquire Fetch Robotics
