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5 Rules for Giving the Best Constructive Feedback to Your Employees

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With current attention focused on its flaws and general fallacies, feedback is sometimes seen as a feared and challenging corporate need.

However, despite being a difficult subject, feedback has the ability to alter (for better or worse) the culture, growth, and productivity of any business.

This essay will define feedback, explain how it affects motivation, and establish the groundwork for learning how to give and accept criticism that is both truly helpful and honest. [Read more…] about 5 Rules for Giving the Best Constructive Feedback to Your Employees

Halodi Robotics uses Ansys to simulate humanoid robots

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Halodi Robotics is using Ansys simulation software through the Ansys Startup Program to develop its humanoid robots designed to work among humans in everyday environments.

Humanoid robots can help alleviate the growing labour shortage, and free critical personnel to focus on tasks that require their high-level skills.

These robots will perform jobs such as patrolling buildings at night, stocking grocery shelves, and executing logistical tasks at hospitals. With Elite Channel Partner EDRMedeso, Ansys enabled Halodi Robotics to shorten development time by months. [Read more…] about Halodi Robotics uses Ansys to simulate humanoid robots

Getting your warehouse holiday-ready: How technology can help you ride the tide during the busiest time of the year

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By Pieter Feenstra is the CEO of Addverb Technologies’ EMEA region

The holiday season is right around the corner and hype is in the air. With customers in their deal-hunting mode getting ready to score the best deals, and businesses offering competitive discounts for limited periods to trigger a sense of urgency, it sure is the busiest time of the year.

Customers are starting their holiday shopping earlier than usual this year to spread their spending across more paychecks to minimise financial strain.

This also means that those who facilitate the smooth running of operations during this peak season are under considerable pressure to meet growing demands, largely propelled by e-commerce sales. [Read more…] about Getting your warehouse holiday-ready: How technology can help you ride the tide during the busiest time of the year

Reinforcing the value of simulation: Teaching dexterity to a real robot hand

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Nvidia researchers show how training in simulation enables the transfer of complex manipulation skills to a robot hand with project DeXtreme

The human hand is one of the most remarkable outcomes of millions of years of evolution. The ability to pick up all sorts of objects and use them as tools is a crucial differentiator allowing us to shape the world around us.

For robots to work in the everyday human world, the ability to deftly interact with our tools and the environment around them is critical. Without that capability, they will continue to be useful only in specialized domains such as factories or warehouses.

While it has been possible to teach robots with legs how to walk for some time, robots with hands have generally proven to be much trickier to control. A hand with fingers has more joints, and they must move in specific coordinated ways to accomplish a given task. [Read more…] about Reinforcing the value of simulation: Teaching dexterity to a real robot hand

Micropsi Industries’ AI software now compatible with Fanuc robots

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Micropsi Industries says its artificial intelligence-based software MirAI is now compatible with numerous robots produced by Fanuc, the world’s largest supplier of robotics and factory automation.

With MirAI, Fanuc customers can now add valuable hand-eye coordination to multiple Fanuc industrial and collaborative robots (cobots) to handle difficult-to-automate functions such as cable plugging and assembly.

Using AI, the MirAI controller generates robot movements directly and in real-time. Robot skills are trained, not programmed, in a few days through human demonstration, without requiring knowledge of programming or AI. [Read more…] about Micropsi Industries’ AI software now compatible with Fanuc robots

Flexiv robot used in avant-garde art installation

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Flexiv, a maker of general-purpose robotics solutions, has collaborated with internationally renowned artist Stavros Didakis in the creation of his latest art installation, Xenoforms.

As an academic, researcher, and artist, Professor Didakis’ work focuses primarily on technological futures with a particular emphasis on architectural augmentation, sensorial interfaces and technological frameworks as extensions of human environments.

His latest piece features a Flexiv Rizon 10 adaptive robot which randomly selects a 3D printed model, places it on a pedestal, and then replaces it in its original position. [Read more…] about Flexiv robot used in avant-garde art installation

How 3D Rendering Services are Transforming and Progressing Industries

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A 3D rendering service can take your designs and turn them into 3D renders. This may not seem impressive when can probably render your own 3D models on your computer.

However, if your model has many intricate parts, if it is highly detailed, or even if it is a model with many layers and features, it can take quite a while for your computer to create the model.

This is especially true if there is lots of detail on the model and lots of calculations that need to be done. Added to which, your company may require several thousand renders take place per day. If this is the case, then hiring an outside company to do your 3D rendering is downright essential. [Read more…] about How 3D Rendering Services are Transforming and Progressing Industries

Pickle Robot raises $26 million to develop robotics for unloading trucks

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Pickle Robot, a startup developing robotic automation systems that unload trucks, says it has “live pilot implementations” which are unloading tens-of-thousands of packages per month at customer sites in the greater Los Angeles area.

The company says it has also raised $26 million in series A funding led by Ranpak, JS Capital, Schusterman Family Investments, Catapult Ventures, and Soros Capital.

Additionally, Pickle Robot has added growth-oriented industry veterans to its leadership team to accelerate commercialization of the company’s flagship robotic unload systems. [Read more…] about Pickle Robot raises $26 million to develop robotics for unloading trucks

Apptronik signs partnership with NASA for humanoid robots

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Apptronik, an Austin, US-based company specializing in the development of versatile, mobile robotic systems, has agreed a partnership with NASA to accelerate commercialization of its new humanoid robot.

The robot, called Apollo (main picture), will be one of the first humanoids available to the commercial markets.

At Apptronik’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, the first prototype of Apollo is now complete, with the expectation of broader commercial availability in 2023. [Read more…] about Apptronik signs partnership with NASA for humanoid robots

Foundry workers given ‘robotic’ glove to improve grip and protect hands

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Waupaca Foundry is using an innovative adaptive technology to support workers who manually grind iron castings in the foundry. The “Ironhand” glove is claimed to be the world’s first soft exoskeleton designed for the human hand to improve grip strength and reduce effort.

The system was tested at the iron casting supplier’s Etowah, Tennessee casting finishing plant and is currently in trials at the Marinette, Wisconsin ductile iron foundry.

The system consists of a glove covering all five fingers, and a power pack worn in a backpack or hip-carry. It is activated when the operator starts moving his/her hand to perform a task, using sensors located on the palm and on the fingers. [Read more…] about Foundry workers given ‘robotic’ glove to improve grip and protect hands