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Vecna Robotics expands partnership with UniCarriers Americas on automated materials handling equipment

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Vecna Robotics, an automation provider in the materials handling space, has expanded its partnership with UniCarriers Americas, part of the Mitsubishi Logisnext family companies – the third largest forklift manufacturer in the world.

Through this partnership, UniCarriers will manufacture and promote their best-in-class pallet jacks running Vecna Robotics’ Pivotal automation software.

With UniCarriers’ manufacturing capabilities, this alliance enables Vecna Robotics to satisfy soaring demand for automation solutions amongst their customer base, including the largest retailers, third-party logistics (3PLs) and manufacturers in North America. [Read more…] about Vecna Robotics expands partnership with UniCarriers Americas on automated materials handling equipment

Pony.ai raises $400 million from Toyota for autonomous driving development

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Pony.ai, an autonomous driving company, has raised $400 million from Toyota to deepen and expand the two companies’ collaboration in mobility services.

The investment comes as an extension of a business partnership that was formed between Pony.ai and Toyota in 2019.

Building upon the foundation established last year, both companies will further advance their joint efforts in autonomous driving technology development and mobility service deployment. [Read more…] about Pony.ai raises $400 million from Toyota for autonomous driving development

NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

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NXP Semiconductors has agreed a lead partnership role with Arm for Ethos-U55 microNPU (Neural Processing Unit), a machine learning accelerator targeted at resource-constrained industrial and IoT edge devices.

As an industry-leading innovator of microcontrollers (MCUs), NXP intends to implement Ethos U-55 in its Cortex-M based microcontrollers, crossover MCUs and real-time sub-systems in applications processors.

The expansion builds on the company’s growing ML offerings including the recently announced i.MX 8M Plus applications processors with a dedicated NPU. [Read more…] about NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

ABB and Covariant partner to deploy integrated AI robotic solutions

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ABB, one of the world’s leading supplier of industrial robots, and Silicon Valley AI start-up, Covariant, have formed a partnership to bring AI-enabled robotics solutions to market, starting with a fully autonomous warehouse order fulfilment solution.

ABB says the partnership brings together two companies with a shared vision for robotics enabled by AI, where intelligent robots work alongside humans in dynamic environments, “collectively learning and improving with every task completed”.

Given the accelerated global growth experienced in the e-commerce sector, ABB identified a significant opportunity for AI-enabled robotics solutions across a broad range of applications including logistics, warehousing, and parcels and mail sorting. [Read more…] about ABB and Covariant partner to deploy integrated AI robotic solutions

Essentium and Vorum partner to develop 3D printing solution for prosthetics

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Essentium, a provider of 3D printing solutions for manufacturing industries, and Vorum, a CAD/CAM processes company specialising in the orthotics and prosthetics market, have agreed an exclusive global partnership to develop 3D printing for the medical sector.

Essentium + Vorum, a 3D print solution for O&P customers worldwide, offers practitioners a “SurePath” to success for the production of mass-customized O&P devices at speed and scale, say the companies.

It also provides a proven transition methodology including proof of concept mapped to individual customer business goals, design, deployment path, training, installation and support. [Read more…] about Essentium and Vorum partner to develop 3D printing solution for prosthetics

Universal Robots partners with DLL to launch financial services leasing program

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Universal Robots, the largest collaborative robot manufacturer in the world, has launched a new cobot leasing program in partnership with DLL, a global vendor finance company.

The new agreement enables all manufacturers, regardless of size or capital equipment budgets, to reap the benefits of automation without worrying about cash flow and seasonal fluctuations.

Klaus Vestergaard, CFO at Universal Robots, says: “We’re leveling the playing field by enabling all manufacturers to immediately put cobots to work without an upfront capital investment. [Read more…] about Universal Robots partners with DLL to launch financial services leasing program

Locus Robotics agrees reseller partnership with HighJump

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Warehouse automation company Locus Robotics has agreed a partnership with HighJump, a global provider for supply chain solutions.

Locus and HighJump will work together to facilitate the development of integration tools that will allow for faster, seamless implementations to improve productivity and efficiency for shared retail and third-party logistics (3PL) customers.

The partnership also makes HighJump a licensed reseller of Locus’s autonomous, multi-robot solution for warehouse fulfillment. [Read more…] about Locus Robotics agrees reseller partnership with HighJump

ThyssenKrupp and Wilhelmsen to develop additive manufacturing solutions for shipbuilding

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ThyssenKrupp is collaborating with Wilhelmsen, one of the largest maritime products and services provider in the world, to jointly develop additive manufacturing enabled commercial solutions for the maritime industry.

Under the Memorandum of Agreement signed by both companies, ThyssenKrupp and Wilhelmsen’s Marine Products division will collaborate on providing 3D-printed components for maritime vessels, leveraging on ThyssenKrupp’s expertise in additive manufacturing alongside Wilhelmsen’s in-depth maritime expertise and direct ongoing experience of developing 3D printing as a service for vessels.

The collaboration will also leverage on the capabilities of the recently inaugurated ThyssenKrupp Tech Center in Singapore and its Global Additive Manufacturing Tech Center in Mulheim, which has been awarded the Approval of Manufacturer certificate by leading quality assurance and risk management firm DNV GL. [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp and Wilhelmsen to develop additive manufacturing solutions for shipbuilding

Hitachi completes acquisition of JR Automation

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Hitachi has completed the acquisition of the robotic system integration business mainly operated by JR Automation from funds managed by Crestview Partners.

The agreement to acquire JR Automation was announced on April 23, 2019 and the companies have now brought this deal to a successful conclusion.

JR Automation and Hitachi have been closely engaged throughout the integration process leading to the closing, working together to ensure a “seamless transition” for their customers. [Read more…] about Hitachi completes acquisition of JR Automation

Fanuc partners with Soft Robotics to integrate new gripper solutions into its industrial robots

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Fanuc, the world’s largest manufacturer of industrial robots, is partnering with Soft Robotics to develop new gripper solutions. (See video below.)

Soft Robotics, a startup which has produced much-discussed end-effectors that are soft and capable of handling soft products that may be of variable shape, says the strategic partnership with Fanuc will accelerate the adoption of integrated soft robotic solutions into high-growth automation markets worldwide.

Soft Robotics’ “mGrip” modular gripper system and automation solutions have enabled implementation of robotic applications in the highly variable and unstructured environments of consumer goods manufacturing, food processing and packaging, and e-commerce supply chain automation. [Read more…] about Fanuc partners with Soft Robotics to integrate new gripper solutions into its industrial robots