Tomahawk Robotics Receives Award from Department of Defense

"We're excited to work with DIU, an organization that values and recognizes the speed of technological change," said Tomahawk Robotics' CTO, Matt Summer.

Tomahawk Robotics is among 7 companies receiving this award on behalf of the DoD.

"This investment in the defense industrial base is intended to provide critical battlefield capabilities across the spectrum of conflict, including on-demand reconnaissance which augments service members' capabilities and increases their survivability, lethality, and mission flexibility," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy Jesse Salazar.

See full release here.

About Tomahawk Robotics

Tomahawk Robotics is the leading innovator of common control solutions that transform how humans and unmanned systems work together to make the world more safe and secure. From the battlefield to remote industrial sites, our products and technology safeguard users working under the most extreme and stressful conditions. Designed from the ground up with the user in mind, Kinesis is the only multidomain, cross-architecture, AI-enabled control system that unlocks intuitive interaction with remote environments from across the room or around the world.

Learn more at https://www.tomahawkrobotics.com

CONTACT: Tracey Maslow, [emailprotected]

SOURCE Tomahawk Robotics

https://www.tomahawkrobotics.com

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Tomahawk Robotics Receives Award from Department of Defense to Strengthen the Domestic Small UAS Industrial Base - PRNewswire

VODA.ai expands its award-winning decision-support to AI-guided wastewater asset management, partnership with RedZone.

VODA.ai's daVinci ML machine learning engine supports RedZone Robotics' commitment to expert decision-making through a wide range of products and services for customers to improve their operations, construction, and maintenance projects. Many utilities choose which pipes to inspect and replace based on pipe age, failure history, or material. These educated guesses are significantly less accurate than rankings produced by the daVinci ML engine.

"Managing wastewater infrastructure is tricky business. Asset managers have their work cut out for them when it comes to knowing where to look first," says Dave Petrosky, CEO of RedZone Robotics. "Some sewer systems have thousands of miles of pipe. With VODA.ai, we can now help utilities with limited infrastructure budgets accurately pinpoint exactly where to inspect first. We can also determine, with a high degree of accuracy, the condition of segments of the system that are difficult to access and inspect."

The daVinci MLtechnology identifies infrastructure segments more likely to fail in the future, provides tools to help calculate and understand the consequence of failure and the associated business risk, and provides the remaining useful life for every pipe in a network. With these insights, utilities can prioritize rehabilitation or replacement and target areas for monitoring or condition assessment. Furthermore, utilities can use reports powered by daVinci ML to understand how much capital investment they will require over the long term and where to target resources to reduce service disruptions and failures. This makes it easier for utilities to plan their operating and engineering programs by tailoring their course of action and focusing their resources on the highest-risk assets.

"The team at RedZone Robotics is a great partner for us. Their industry leadership will help VODA.ai with greater market access and delivery of additional benefits to utilities. By creating this partnership, we will work with their talented team to support smarter decision making and continue to serve utilities," said George Demosthenous, CEO at VODA.ai.

About RedZone RoboticsRedZone Roboticswas founded in 1987 with a commercial focus on condition assessment robots in support of mining, nuclear, and other industries with partners like the US Departments of Energy and Defense, NASA, several major universities, national laboratories, and numerous diverse commercial entities.They are leaders in delivering technologies, systems, and components that make collecting information easier and more beneficial to utilities and their customers.

For more information, visit redzone.com/integritypro.

About VODA.ai: VODA.aiuses artificial intelligence to virtually assess the condition of water and sewer mains helping water utilities make smart decisions based on science. VODA.ai's patent-pending technology discovers patterns from infrastructure and enables science-based decision-making. VODA.ai is a Software as a Service company serving utilities worldwide and it's headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information, visit http://www.voda.ai or send an inquiry to [emailprotected].

SOURCE VODA.ai

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VODA.ai Announces New Products, Partnership with RedZone Robotics to Support Decision-Making Through Artificial Intelligence - PRNewswire

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reliable Robotics, a leader in automated aircraft systems, announced today a $100 million Series C funding round led by Coatue Management. Coatue joins past investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Eclipse Ventures, Teamworthy Ventures and Pathbreaker Ventures to bring total fundraising over $133 million. With its innovative airframe independent technology, Reliables Remotely Operated Aircraft System is designed to expand safe, flexible and efficient air transportation service to more locations. The capital raised enables the company to scale its team to support its first aircraft certification program and expedite the launch of commercial cargo operations.

We believe Reliable Robotics is a leader in aircraft automation for commercial aviation, said Jaimin Rangwalla, a Senior Managing Director at Coatue. We were impressed by the team's clear vision, measured certification progress and track record of industry achievement. We are proud and excited to support Reliables goal to be the first to deliver FAA-certified, remotely piloted systems to market.

Reliable Robotics is positioned to unlock access to thousands of underutilized regional and municipal airports in all corners of the country, greatly expanding air transportation options for cargo and eventually passengers. The companys technology handles all phases of flight including taxi, takeoff, landing and parking, while licensed pilots remotely supervise each flight from a control center. The system has the capability to autoland on smaller airstrips in rural or remote areas without requiring expensive infrastructure to be installed and maintained.

Automated aircraft present a massive opportunity to transform the cargo industry over the next several years, said Jeff Drees, former Co-owner and Chief Commercial Officer of Ameriflight, the largest regional air cargo carrier in the world. Remotely piloted cargo delivery provides a huge advantage with low cost, anytime, anywhere flights that increase aircraft utilization and availability. Drees recently joined Reliable Robotics to build its airline subsidiary and deliver cargo services while preparing for the adoption and scaling of remotely operated aircraft.

Reliable Robotics has made substantial progress in key development areas throughout its phased approach to certification, deepening its regulatory experience with ongoing engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As part of this work, the company has received key authorizations from the FAA for the flight of experimental unmanned aircraft. In 2019, Reliable demonstrated remote operation of a large commercial aircraft over a metropolitan area, marking an aviation first for a private company in the United States. Additionally, the company announced a partnership with NASA as part of the Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign to further real-world flight testing of its system.

We appreciate our public-private partnership with the FAA and NASA as we work to integrate our Remotely Operated Aircraft System into the airspace. We intend to bring unprecedented safety and reliability to todays commercial aircraft, said Robert Rose, Co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. Close collaboration with our public institutions, strong backing from visionary investors and keen interest within the cargo industry further accelerates our mission to expand everyones access to air transportation.

Planned expansion of the companys aircraft program to additional, larger airframes will further demonstrate the versatility of its system. The company also intends to support emerging electric and hybrid electric platforms and eventually passenger aircraft.

Since emerging from stealth last year, Reliable Robotics has grown substantially. The company has more than doubled in size, attracting a diverse group of engineers with expertise in aviation, autonomy and other mission and safety-critical domains. To learn more about how the team built its system, watch Reliable Robotics: Automated Aviation.

About Reliable Robotics

Reliable Robotics launched in 2017 to bring certified autonomous vehicles to commercial aviation as soon as possible. The companys automation system enables remote operation of any aircraft type and expands access to more locations. Reliables vision is to transform the way we move goods and people around the planet with safer, more convenient and more affordable air transportation.

The company is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and has a distributed global workforce. Learn more and see job openings at https://reliable.co

Connect on LinkedIn | YouTube | Twitter

About Coatue Management

Coatue is one of the largest technology investment platforms in the world with more than $45 billion in assets under management. Our dedicated team of engineers and data scientists work closely with investment professionals to add value to founders and executive teams in our portfolio. With venture, growth and public funds, we back entrepreneurs from around the globe and at every stage of growth. Some of our private investments have included Airtable, Ant Financial, Anaplan, ByteDance, Chime, Databricks, DoorDash, Instacart, Meituan, Snap, Snowflake and Spotify.

Reliable Robotics Corporation and its respective logos are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of the company. Other products and company names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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Reliable Robotics Raises $100 Million to Expand Access to More Places With Remotely Piloted Cargo Operations - Business Wire

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The proportion of medical companies hiring for robotics related positions rose to a year-high in August 2021, with 38.1% of the companies included in our analysis recruiting for at least one such position.

This latest figure was higher than the 34.1% of companies who were hiring for robotics related jobs in July 2021 and an increase compared to the figure of 27.7% for the equivalent month last year.

When it came to the proportion of all job openings that were linked to robotics, related job postings dropped in August 2021, with 1% of newly posted job advertisements being linked to the topic.

This latest figure was a decrease compared to the 1.1% of newly advertised jobs that were linked to robotics in the equivlent month a year ago.

Robotics is one of the topics that GlobalData, from whom our data for this article is taken, have identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years. Companies that excel and invest in these areas now are thought to be better prepared for the future business landscape and better equipped to survive unforseen challenges.

Our analysis of the data shows that medical companies are currently hiring for robotics jobs at a rate higher than the average for all companies within GlobalData's job analytics database. The average among all companies stood at 0.4% in August 2021.

GlobalData's job analytics database tracks the daily hiring patterns of thousands of companies across the world, drawing in jobs as they're posted and tagging them with additional layers of data on everything from the seniority of each position to whether a job is linked to wider industry trends.

You can keep track of the latest data from this database as it emerges by visiting our live dashboard here.

Custom-Designed and Standard Optoelectronic Solutions for the Medical Industry

28 Aug 2020

Are you worried that your company is falling behind when it comes to Robotics? GlobalDatas report can help you understand the bigger picture by analyzing Robotics-related job trends across the Medical sector in 2021. Identify and leverage the hiring patterns of Medical giants to transform potential risks into opportunities when it comes to the disruptive technology. Read the report and gain a competitive edge today.

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Robotics hiring levels in the medical industry rose to a year-high in August 2021 - Verdict Medical Devices - Medical Device Network

SINGAPORE, Oct. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Geek+, a global AMR leader, is proud to announce a collaboration with DHL's Asia Pacific Innovation Center. Located in Singapore, the center will be home to a new exhibit that showcases a cutting-edge, automated, and completely integrated e-commerce solution. Named the "Warehouse of the Future", the exhibit integrates RoboShuttle tote-picking robot and robot-arm technology for full-scale automation. The project represents the shared values and commitments of both Geek+ and DHL to accelerate innovation and educate supply chain leaders on the opportunities that come with robotics automation.

Hongbo Li, CTO at Geek+, says: "This project not only marks a new milestone for the logistics and supply chain industry but a milestone in the global relationship between Geek+ and DHL that follows a number of successful robot deployments in several of DHLs' warehouses in Asia-Pacific. DHL's Innovation Center will provide an exclusive look at how robotics are already powering the industry's most efficient warehouses, proving to decision-makers that the future of automation is here today."

YingChuan Huang, Innovation Manager, Asia Pacific Innovation Center at DHL, says: "Customer-centric innovation has a very important place in DHL and we drive thisthrough close partnerships with leading companies in technology, startups, industry thinkers, and of course our customers. The Geek+ exhibit is the perfect showcase of how technologies such as AI, Computer Visioning and Robotics are not only converging, but also building off the strengths of each technology to provide even greater value to our customers' supply chains."

The accelerated rise of e-commerce and new challenges posed by the global pandemic have fueled intense interest in the capabilities that AI and robotics-enabled automation can provide for building operational resilience.

The Innovation Center displays Geek+ RoboShuttle tote-picking robot built on AMR technology, working with OSARO's collaborative robot arm to provide fully automated logistics processes. The solution supports both outbound and inbound logistics operations. For order fulfillment, the RoboShuttle autonomously finds the tote containing ordered items, picks the tote, and carries it to a picking station using its fork arms. Once at the picking station, the robot arm picks items from the tote, packs the order, and prepares it for outbound delivery. The operational performance is displayed on dashboards throughout the entire process, providing visitors with the information needed to view in real-time the improvements that robotics automation can bring to the world of logistics in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility.

About Geek+

Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ counts 300 global customers and has sold more than 20,000 robots worldwide. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1,500 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

About DHL

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air, and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences, and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility, and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world".

For inquiries, please contact:

Geek+

Fish YuSenior Marketing Manager, APAC[emailprotected]

Fanny HernmarckPR Executive[emailprotected]

SOURCE Geek+

https://www.geekplus.com/

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Geek+ and DHL showcase the future of Robotics Automation in DHL's Asia Pacific Innovation Center - PRNewswire

Average salary (per annum): US$84,370

Roles and responsibilities: A robotics engineer is a behind-the-scenes designer responsible for creating robots and robotic systems that can perform duties that humans are either unable or prefer not to complete. Robotics engineers spend the majority of their time designing the plans and processes needed to not only build robots but to have them work effectively. Some robotics engineers also design the machines that assemble the robots. Before a robot being constructed, engineers determine exactly what the robot will be used for. The roles and responsibilities of the robotic engineers include designing and evaluating prototypes, developing software systems for localization, object detection & tracking, and control of the robot, reviewing and approving cost estimates and design calculations, investigating mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems.

Industrial Automation course at LinkedIn: In this course, instructor Ian Barkin takes a deep dive into RPA, explaining what it is, what its not, and what to keep in mind when adopting it in your organization. Here, Ian shares information that can help a variety of stakeholders, from executives to IT professionals, to grasp the key benefits of RPA, as well as best practices that can help their organization succeed at both the process and enterprise levels.

Modern Robotics at Coursera: This Specialization provides a rigorous treatment of spatial motion and the dynamics of rigid bodies, employing representations from modern screw theory and the product of exponentials formula. Students with a freshman-level engineering background will quickly learn to apply these tools to analysis, planning, and control of robot motion. Students understanding of the mathematics of robotics will be solidified by writing robotics software.

Industrial automation at Udemy: This CourseThis Course is an intensive course that tries to cover all the concepts required to build a fully functional Electrical Automation project. This course will walk you through the process of designing your projects from scratch step by step by first introducing you to the most basic components and concepts.

NVIDIA: Nvidia Corporation is an American multinational technology company incorporated in Delaware and based in Santa Clara, California. It designs graphics processing units for the gaming and professional markets, as well as systems on a chip unit for the mobile computing and automotive market.

NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

Google: Google LLC is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware.

Braintech: Braintech designs, develops, and deploys software and peripherals for Vision-Guided Robotics (VGR) systems. With a research and development staff focused on staying at the leading edge of VGR for the industrial, consumer and service, and government and defense markets, Braintech is the leader of vision-guided robotics.

iRobot: iRobot Corporation is an American technology company that designs and builds consumer robots. It was founded in 1990 by three members of MITs Artificial Intelligence Lab, who designed robots for space exploration and military defense.

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All You Should Know about Robotics Engineer and Its Opportunities - Analytics Insight

Interviews are definitely a challenging task. That too, if that in a technical field maybe like data science or robotics, the chaos that happens in every interviewees brain is indescribable.

Well, here, worry not, we at Analytics Insight brought to you the 5 Dos and Donts in a robotics interview so that you could ace it like no one else!

First Thing! Be Confident

Its a deadly task to prepare ourselves for an interview that has complicated questions on robotics. Yes, its a fact. But that doesnt mean you have to get panicky. With lots of numerical, neural schemas, formulas, your brain is loaded. So, keep calm before the storm. Stay cool and confident. The first impression is the best impression, so apart from knowing the fundamentals and advances in robotics, let the interviewer also know that you can work on tedious tasks and inventions with a cool head and utter confidence by accepting failures too with the same spirit, which is really important in the robotics industry.

Frame Your Own Questions

In a practical field like robotics that is interrelated with a lot of other fields like machine learning, artificial intelligence etc, so its extremely difficult to expect questions confined only to one particular field. So, it is actually suggestible to frame your own questions on all the possible topics the panel could ask you. If youre lucky enough and the panel asks the same questions which you already prepared, then it would definitely make you feel at ease.

Practice with a Friend or Anyone Else

If its your very first after your studies, then this step is the most essential for you. Make sure to definitely try a mock interview with your friend or anyone else.

This boosts up confidence and gives you an idea as to how to answer and face the interview. If you failed to do this with your friend then worry not, use the help of technology and attend few mocks with millions of questions on the internet.

Research the Position Before the Interview:

If you are applying for the post of an assistant scientist or maybe for the post of a robotics engineer, then make sure to know the job obligations, roles, and responsibilities of that particular role, in and out.

It is extremely important to be well prepared regarding your role and responsibilities as it can fetch you a far better impression in front of the panel.

Dont Neglect Communication Skills

Most often than not, in technical interviews like the one like robotics, candidates often ignore the aspect of having good communication skills rather focus on the technical aspects, numerical, etc. But that is not how it works. Of course, at the end of the day, your technical skills count more but in an ever innovative and creative field like robotics, communications skills also play a major role. The management not only expects you to work but also to create a proper work atmosphere with your positive spirit and communication skills. Hence, never ignore communication skills even in a robotics interview.

Dont Lie:

This is important not only in a robotics interview but when it comes to any other interview. Dont lie. Lie as in when it comes to your technical experience or patents or education or real-time projects. No never ever lie in a robotics interview. This could fetch you harm even if you get hired and then you are put in a real-time project that is more than your capabilities.

Be honest and inquisitive. JUST DONT LIE.

Its Okay to Not Know Answer

Dont pretend as if you know everything and then make up some stories. Its absolutely okay to not know a few and pieces in a vast ocean-like field of robotics. Do not bluff out some answers as it is very important to be extremely specific in the robotics field where every detail counts. If you are asked a question that you dont know the answer to, simply tell them you dont know or arent sure. If you have never heard of the technology or havent done what theyre asking about, just be honest, it will be better received than you trying to tap dance around the answer by Googling it.

Dont Assume You Know What Types of Questions will be Asked

It is really important to b prepared with the questions that might surge up in the interview but in a very vast and extremely skilled field like robotics, it is always suggested to not presume all the types of questions that would be asked.

Some companies focus on the coding while some others focus on the other technical aspects or some others may just test your speaking skills. So just dont be over-prepared.

Dont Talk ILL About Any Other Technology

If you love Hadoop, its okay or you love some other language but when asked about a certain programming language or any other technology, make sure to not talk ill about any other technology when asked. Now, if you have languages you love, then feel free to bring that up. But generally speaking, having negative opinions can come across wrong.

Dont Let One Bad Interview Ruin Your Next Few

It feels terrible.

But thats fine. In a dynamic field like robotics, its not always a success, sometimes its about failure too. So lastly, dont lose your spirits.

All the best. Go and rock the robotics interview.

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Do's and Don'ts in a Robotics Interview - Analytics Insight

COLONIAL HEIGHTS - Looking for a fun activity this weekend? There will be robot action at the Keystone Truck and Tractor Museum.

The exciting family event that celebrates kids, science, and technology takes place from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 28.

Dozens of the best and brightest students from Virginia and Maryland will be at the FIRST Chesapeake Robotics Program Expo to show off their competition robots.

Robotics teams from elementary to high school will be on-hand to demonstrate their robotics exhibits from LEGOs to 120-plus pound FIRST Robotics Competition robots. Five robotics teams will be participating in the Expo including FIRST LEGO League Team 44869 Fiery Phoenix from Chesterfield.

Robotics builds leadership skills, develops teamwork, and is the means to teach technical concepts and practical know-how.

FIRST Chesapeake is an independent non-profit that brings STEM-based leadership programs to middle and high school students in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

To learn more about FIRST who provides the platform to build the next generation of technology leaders for tomorrow's global workforce, visit firstchesapeake.org.

The event presentedby FIRST Chesapeake is free with museum admission.

For ticket information and to learn more about the 125,000 square foot museum with antique tractors, cars, motorcycles, fire trucks, tools, bottles, and much more, visit keystonetractorworks.com.

Keystone Truck and Tractor Museum is located at 880 West Roslyn Road off I-95 at exit 53 in Colonial Heights, Va.

Remember to take a photo with the unique "LOVE" sign out front. The L is made from steel engine parts; the O is a large tractor tire; the V is exhaust mufflers, and the E is created from oil barrels.

Stay overnight at a museum or brewery: Harvest Hosts helps RVers release their gypsy spirits

Crumbl Cookies opens in Dimmock Square: Colonial Heights adds some sweetness to the mix

- Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter, and subscribe to us at progress-index.com.

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Colonial Heights museum hosts FIRST Robotics Expo: Kids, science, and technology - Progress Index

It is but obvious that robots are playing an increasingly critical role in the lives of people.

One finds robots in manufacturing, in serving people in restaurants, as receptionists, as nurses, as firefighters and even as soldiers. As we all know, not all robots look like humans (i.e. they are not humanoids). And hence we often tend to miss out the robots that have slowly but surely penetrated into almost every aspect of our lives.

So why are we discussing robotics now? Robotics has reached a level where a combination of technologies will make the robotics industry explode in the near future. We have artificial intelligence combining with speech technologies, combining with sensors and all-pervasive connectivity, leading to more powerful and more useful robots getting created. We do not even realize that an autonomous vehicle (i.e. a self-driving vehicle) is nothing but a robot, in which we will be sitting and getting transported.

So why is it crucial to bring up these developments in the Indian context? It is because, robotics is another big bus that we are poised to miss. Yes, the country does have numerous startups and deep skills in robotics. But it is not enough to be able to get any significant slice of the global robotics market. Moreover, we as a country, need robots for our own unique usage, such as replacing dangerous manual scavenging with robots, or tackling terrorism. For that matter, even though India is a young nation with perhaps the largest population of people below 24, we are also home to one of the largest populations of the old, who would need support through robotics.

There are a large number of areas where India would need help of robotics. For example, it will take us considerable time to have the large number of high-quality teachers, needed to educate the large number of the young population that we have, in order to leverage the demographic dividend. It will be too late if we develop the teachers in the traditional manner. Robotics will play a key role in providing quality education at scale. Similarly, healthcare, agriculture, mining etc will all transform with robotics, or we as a nation will be caught in a low productivity cycle.

As usual, there may be concerns that robots will take away jobs. It is not a tenable argument for stopping the march of technology, as technology will move forward relentlessly and if India is not at the forefront, we will be crushed under the wheels of obsolescence and low productivity.

Globally, the robotics market size was valued at$103.95 billion in 2019, and is projected to nearly double to $209 billion by 2025. This is a conservative estimate. With the maturing of the enabling technologies, and greater adoption of robotics in emerging economies, the size of the robotics market is set to explode. In fact, in October 2017, Saudi Arabia even granted citizenshipto a robot named Sophia, making it thefirst robot citizen of the world.

Globally, we are also witnessing many new players with deep pockets, entering the robotics market. The ABB, Hitachi, Mitubishi etc are now being joined by new-age players like Tesla, GreyOrange etc. Such new players will only contribute to democratization of the market and expansion of the market. For the record, GreyOrange is an Indian company. There is also a larger acceptance of robots even in our daily lives. Many households have adopted a cleaning vacuum robot during the COVID-imposed lockdown. We are also flying in fly-by-wire aircrafts which are, for the most part of their flight, nothing but an autonomous flying robot.

So, what is India doing about it? Robotics has figured in Indian Economic Survey 2017-18 as a priority area, but it has drawn limited attention in terms of policy or plan. In parallel, the developments in private sector and few research institutions in India has been laudable. In the paper, Robotics in India, published in the Journals of India, several impediments had been identified for development of robotics in India. These include Lack of a robotics hardware ecosystem, resulting in imports of most of the components for robotics. In addition, regulatory issues on dual-use certifications is leading to challenges in certifications. The high import duties (in some cases), and bottlenecks in customs as part of the permission driven environments, is playing a deadening hand.

India also has many financial disincentives built in. Any company which imports robots into India, currently pays about 26.85% (7.5 Basic Customs duty plus 18% GST) tax. This is a serious impediment to mass adoption of robots. This is compounded by limited availability of critical human resources. According to the FICCI-TSMG Advanced Manufacturing Survey 2016, lack of quality human resources with necessary skills and expertise to work with advanced manufacturing technologies negatively impacts the ability to undertake cutting edge R&D in India. There is also a significant mindset shift required in order to grow the industry. In spite of the Governments focus on robotics lately, the notion that robots will destroy jobs, severely hampers an enthusiastic adoption of the technology and growing of the market.

India needs to quickly harness its policy and regulatory tools to achieve global leadership in robotics. Fortunately, India has a strong IT base, that can provide the fuel to propel the robotics Industry in India. India must leverage its advantages to be able to be a net exporter of robots in the near future.

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The Age of Robotics: How Robots Will Take Over Most Aspects Of Our Lives - Outlook India

With all the talk of robots and AI lately, we felt it topical to showcase the same technology producing art. Polestar has teamed with musician and robotics engineer Moritz Simon Geist to create a whole new type of music. The songs were produced using robots configured from Polestar 2 components alongside actual sounds from the EV itself. You can also sample the music and create a custom soundtrack of your own.

Polestar is a Swedish car brand launched in 2017, focused on premium EVs. The automaker is the result of an independent venture between both Volvo Cars Groupand Geely Holding. The automaker currently offers two electrified vehicles the Polestar 1, a plug-in hybrid, and the all-electric Polestar 2.

As Polestar looks to double its retail presence across the globe, it has been using some captivating storytelling to gain a wider audience. This includes a documentary series on YouTube following the production process of its upcoming Precept EV, which originally began as a concept car.

Polestar continues to blend premium EV automotive design with art with its latest venture into song with the Polestar 2.

In a recent press release, Polestar announced a collaboration with robotics engineer and musician Moritz Simon Geist. Previously, Geist gained recognition by building robots from unusual components then made music with them.

By teaming up with the Swedish automaker, Geist has now created a new custom song using the Polestar 2. Per the release:

Moritz first built robots from parts of the car. Each robot extracted a sound sample using the various elements inside that component, either from a physical noise or from the systems changing electromagnetic field. The samples were used to create beats which Moritz wove into an original composition, playing the car like an instrument.

Geists song Sound of Soul is now available to stream on SoundCloud. Additionally, Polestar has made all of the sound samples available on its website as a sort of pseudo-drum machine.

Now, you can become your own robot musician and create your own soundtrack of songs using sounds from the Polestar 2. Head of Brand and Marketing at Polestar, sa Borg, elaborated:

The car industry is traditionally a closed one. We believe in looking outside of the sector and are intrigued by people and companies that go their own way. Polestar aims to challenge the conventions of the automotive industry; Moritz aims to challenge the way we perceive sound and make music a like mind with a different and interesting perspective.

You can check out Moritz Simon Geitz and his song producing Polestar 2 robots below:

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You can now build custom songs produced from robots and the Polestar 2 - Electrek.co

After a summer of billionaires in space, many people have begun to wonder when they will get their turn. The cost of entering space is currently too high for the average citizen, but the work of PhD candidate Martin Nisser may help change that. His work on self-assembling robots could be key to reducing the costs that help determine the price of a ticket.

Nissers fascination with engineering has been a consistent theme throughout a life filled with change. Born to Swedish parents, he spent a decade in Greece before moving to the UAE, and eventually to Scotland for his undergraduate degree. No matter what new school he attended, his favorite subjects remained the same. The idea of using math and physics to build something tangible always clicked with me, says Nisser. As a kid, I had always wanted to be an inventor.

By the time he completed his undergraduate degree, Nisser knew what he aspired to invent. His senior capstone project had drawn upon multiple disciplines and provided the perfect introduction to robotics. We had to sift through all of the different things we learned in college and combine them to do something interesting. Multidisciplinarity is often essential in robotics and part of what makes it so alluring to me, he says.

Designing robots prepared for space

After discovering his love for robotics, Nisser enrolled in a masters program in robotics, systems, and control at ETH Zurich, during which time he met a Harvard professor who directed the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory and invited Nisser to write his thesis there. His thesis involved building robots that could fold to assemble themselves. We used layers of materials including shape memory polymers, which are smart materials that can be programmed to changed their shape under different temperature conditions, says Nisser. This allowed us to program 2D multilayer sheets to fold in particular ways in order to acquire targeted 3D configurations.

The experience brought Nisser to his current interest in exporing how robots can be automatically fabricated using both top-down processes like 3D printing and bottom-up processes like self-assembly. He notes that this engineering goal opens a wide door of academic questions. The multidisciplinarity required to build these engineering systems from mechanical and electrical engineering to computer science means youre always learning something new. Every once in a while, you get to apply a technique youve learned in one discipline to another, in a way it hasnt been used before, he says. Thats usually when something interesting happens.

Prior to beginning his PhD, Nisser also researched reconfigurable robots at the European Space Agency. This project helped him realize he could combine his passion for robotics with his interest in space. Because every system launched into space has to fit within the confines of a rocket firing, space agencies are interested in structures that can self-reconfigure between smaller and larger shapes, he says. I saw a great opportunity to build on what Id learned about self-folding robotics. I developed algorithms that would allow large numbers of spacecraft modules to move together, attach to one another, and then reconfigure together into a target shape.

Now a PhD student in the HCI Engineering Group at MITs Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Nisser has partnered with the MIT Space Exploration Initiative to continue studying self-assembly in space. His team is developing a new kind of 3D printing technique adapted to the space environment, allowing them to create novel structures without the constraints of gravity. He recently tested his work on a parabolic flight, which allowed him to experience weightlessness for several intervals of 20 seconds. This December, the project will be launched to the International Space Station with SpaceX for a 30-day science mission.

Making hardware more accessible

To Nisser, studying self-configuration and self-assembly is also key to addressing important social issues. He is particularly interested in how his research can improve sustainability and make advanced technology more affordable. We typically build systems to perform a specific task, like a chair or a car. However the long-term vision is to be able to create systems from modular, smart components that let the system reconfigure and adjust its functionality to diverse needs, Nisser says. By addressing core challenges along the way, we aim to develop technology for the short term too.

Nisser has already begun to address this challenge by constructing LaserFactory, an add-on device for only $150 that connects to laser cutters and produces custom-designed devices ranging from electronic wearables to functional drones. The fabrication process requires no further instructions to operate finished drones can fly straight off the assembly line. The device has already been featured by the BBC and other outlets for its ingenuity. The ability to print fully functional robots is also important for space, where creating on-demand electromechanical devices without any human intervention is paramount to enabling long-duration missions, he adds.

In his free time, Nisser furthers his goal of democratizing technology by teaching introductory programming to incarcerated women. His lessons are through Brave Behind Bars, a program he and grad student Marisa Gaetz created last year after learning about the U.S. mass incarceration rate. Almost one in a hundred people in the U.S. today are incarcerated, and more than 80 percent of those will return to prison within a few years of release he says. Providing incarcerated people with educational opportunities that promote success in todays digital world is one of the most effective ways to help reduce this recidivism.

After graduating, Nisser hopes to continue teaching and conducting robotics research by pursuing a career as a professor. He looks forward to doing more projects related to space and hardware accessibility. The closer we get toward automating assembly, the sooner we can reduce costs and increase accessibility to all kinds of advanced hardware systems, says Nisser.

Initiatives like One Laptop Per Child helped increase awareness of the tremendous benefits of connecting people to the internet by letting people share and create things digitally. The same analogy translates to hardware, he says. By distributing fabrication via inexpensive printers or self-assembling hardware that remove the need for engineering expertise, we create an opportunity for people to share and create things physically. And thats good for everyone.

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Making machines that make robots, and robots that make themselves - MIT News

Rapid Robotics announced a $12 million Series A all the way back in April 2021. Four months later, the Bay Area-based robotic manufacturing firm is back with a $36.7 million Series B, led by Kleiner Perkins and Tiger Global. The round, which also features existing investors NEA, Greycroft, Bee Partners and 468 Capital, brings the companys total funding up to $54.2 million.

The funding values the startup at $192.5 million an impressive figure for a firm that was raising its seed in 2020. The Series B is Rapids third (!) in less than a year, no doubt spurred on by the immense interest in robotics and automation being fueled by a seemingly endless global pandemic.

As companies look for alternatives to non-essential workers, investments in these technologies have only accelerated. Manufacturing bottlenecks throughout the pandemic have also brought into sharp focus the need for flexible and global production.

Rapids value prop is a Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) robot that can be deployed in a manufacturing setting in a matter of hours, without the need for programming and other robotics knowledge. The system is available under the RaaS (robotics as a service) model for $25,000 a year. The system is flexible and can be assigned various tasks a nice feature for companies that cant afford devoted systems.

We hear a lot about the semiconductor shortage, but thats just the tip of the iceberg. Contract manufacturers cant produce gaskets, vials, labels you name it, CEO Jordan Kretchmer said in a release tied to the news. Ive seen cases where the inability to produce a single piece of U-shaped black plastic brought an entire auto line to a halt.

Automotive is a target for Rapid, though the company notes that Bay Area-based health company TruePill is now employing its systems to fill and label prescription bottles.

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Rapid Robotics raises another $36.7M - TechCrunch

Like it or not, we are staring down the barrel of an inevitable robotic future. When Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla announced last week the development of humanoid bots to handle work in dangerous industries, there was a bit of a mixed reaction coming out from everyone. But Elon Musk and Tesla are not the first ones looking to build humanoid bots.

Serial pioneer Musk hopes to unveil the Tesla Bot next year, with the objective to navigate through a world of humans and eliminate dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks. For tech enthusiasts, the idea of having real humanoid bots aid humans particularly in tasks that are riskier for people to manage makes a lot of sense. After all, technology is meant to ease the way we work, enhancing our productivity and allowing us to focus on more important workloads that demand human attention.

However, some are worried how a robotic future might be the death knell for their careers. True enough, we are seeing many more machines being put to work in more industries today, replacing most mundane and repetitive tasks that used to be done by human workers. From manufacturing to logistics to healthcare, the upswing in machine use indicates how robotic innovation is only getting better and more pervasive.

Science fiction films like I Robot, Ex Machina, and the Terminator franchise films have often portrayed how humanoid bots, cyborgs, or any machine with intelligence can eventually become self-aware and make decisions on their own, which could be a risk to humans.Of course, the chances of something like that happening are currently slim, but advancements in robotics could still allow more processes and skills to be taken over by machines. The integration of systems and the vast availability of data could lead to endless possibilities.

Today, deep learning and machine learning algorithms embedded into AI applications are becoming mainstream especially with the tech not only proving to be more efficient at performing tasks, but also not as expensive as having humans do the same roles.

(Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

When Sophia met Pepper

Before Optimus (the code name for Tesla Bot), there have already been numerous prototypes of humanoid bots that have been developedthroughout the years. The worlds most famous humanoid is Sophia, a social robot developed by Hong Kong-based robotics firm Hanson Robotics. Unveiled in 2016, Sophia is built with AI-based cameras and sensors that make use of algorithms that allow her to see and communicate using a natural language subsystem. Sophia also happens to be the first humanoid robot to receive citizenship in the world.

Meanwhile, Pepper from Softbank Robotics, is the worlds first social humanoid robot able to recognize faces and basic human emotions. Pepper was optimized for human interaction and is able to engage with people via conversation and via a dedicated touchscreen. Over 2,000 companies around the world have since adopted Pepper as an assistant to welcome, inform and guide visitors around facilities in an innovative way.

Apart from Sophia and Pepper, Toyotas T-HR3 is the companys third-generation humanoid that can perform humans-assisting capabilities in a variety of settings. The T-HR3 has been put to work in the home, in medical facilities, construction sites, disaster-stricken areas, and even in space. T-HR3 is controlled by a Master Maneuvering System that allows the entire body of the robot to be operated instinctively by wearable controls while hand, arm, and foot movements have been mapped to the robot, along with a head-mounted display that allows the user to see from the robots perspective.

Within the security sector, we are already seeing robots being used for surveillance purposes in many countries. From robotic dogs to autonomous drones to surveillance bots, the assortment of robots already deployed in security are proving to be more efficient in handling crime as well. Concerns around AI bias and security lapses might remain, but rapid growth of data capabilities is allowing machines to analyze information faster, which in turn, also increases its accuracy and reliability.

The healthcare industry is seeing a sudden boom in medical bots, to help doctors deal with patients. Sensors in wearables are providing information for health decisions while bots are already being used to handle patients with common illnesses. Hanson Robotics also recently unveiled Grace, a humanoid robot that might revolutionize healthcare. Equipped with sensors, including a thermal camera that can detect a patients temperature and pulse, and the ability to speak in three languages, Grace is expected to help doctors diagnose illnesses and deliver treatments.

Some of the more dangerous industries for humans to work in, will likely have a promising robotic future. The oil and gas industry for example is already seeing the use of digital twin technologies to supply them with predictive analytics on their oil supply and drilling machine maintenance. Robots are also being fitted with sensors to help detect gas and chemical exposure levels, be it on rigs or chemical plants. As these environments are often harsh, human-scale robots might fit best to deal with them.

With Elon Musk and Tesla now looking to join the AI-driven robot industry as well, a robotic future is definitely on the horizon. The only question is, will it be us in charge, or will the machines start taking matters into their own hands.

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The path to a robotic future is paved with good intentions - TechHQ

August 20, 2021, 12:50 PM HST * Updated August 20, 12:51 PM

Eligible student robotics teams in Maui and Honolulu counties are invited to apply for The Bayer Funds 2021 FIRST Robotics Grant program. Open to FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Lego League Challenge, and FIRST Lego League Explore teams, the program offers grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 per team to inspire and nurture students interest in science, technology, engineering and math.

The grant application period closes on Sept. 30, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. CT. For more information and to apply, visithttps://www.fund.bayer.us/grant/2016/8/15/first-robotics-program; use the invitation code21FIRST. For questions, contact: GrantQues[emailprotected]

Established in 2015, the Bayer Funds FIRST Robotics Grant program seeks to assist Hawaii students in elementary through high school grade levels. The mission of the grant program is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build the skills needed, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

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Robotics Teams Invited to Apply for 2021 FIRST Robotics Grant - Maui Now

Businesses will pass through response, recovery, and renewal phases.

Agrobot, Cerescon BV, and Clearpath Robotics Inc. will emerge as major crop harvesting robots market participants during 2021-2025.

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The crop harvesting robots market is expected to grow by USD 1.45 billion during 2021-2025, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the crop harvesting robots market in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios.

Attractive Opportunities with Crop Harvesting Robots Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Find extensive research with data synthesis and validation on the Crop Harvesting Robots Market report. Download Sample Now!

The crop harvesting robots market will witness a negative impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase in 2021 as compared to 2020.

With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal.

The recovery process involves various phases including:-

Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in.

Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines.

Assessing Impact on Critical IT infrastructure and Software System

Fetch Pandemic-Driven Insights on Crop Harvesting Robots Market

Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

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Major Three Crop Harvesting Robots Market Participants:

Agrobot

The company offers E Series the first pre-commercial robotic harvesters for the gentle harvest of strawberries. It has an adaptable configuration, high reliability, real-time AI, gentle harvest, and active safety.

Cerescon BV

The company offers Sparter which has the capability of better quality asparagus due to a patented underground detection system. The lead model of Cerescon is a 1 row self propelling Sparter.

Clearpath Robotics Inc.

The company offers Husky UGV which is developed into an autonomous robotic cucumber harvesting system for use in commercial greenhouse operations.

Get a report snapshot here to get a detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown:

https://www.technavio.com/report/crop-harvesting-robots-market-industry-analysis

Crop Harvesting Robots Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

Crop harvesting robots market is segmented as below:

The crop harvesting robots market is driven by increasing focus on farm mechanization, shortage of workers in farms, and increasing need for compliance with industrial standards. The crop harvesting robots market share growth by the fruit and vegetable harvesting robots segment has been significant. In terms of geography, 39% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The US is the key market for crop harvesting robots in North America. These factors are expected to trigger the crop harvesting robots market toward witnessing a CAGR of over 28.36% during the forecast period.

Unlock the Crop Harvesting Robots Market Report Statistics through Our Sample Report- https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR44559

Market DriversMarket ChallengesMarket TrendsVendor Landscape

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

ContactTechnavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email: media@technavio.comWebsite: http://www.technavio.com/

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Crop Harvesting Robots Market to Record over 28% CAGR during 2021-2025 with Agrobot, Cerescon BV, and Clearpath Robotics Inc. Emerging as Key...

FRANKFURT, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2021 Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA) goes to PixelPaint technology of ABB. Two high-precision robots make car painting faster, more sustainable and flexible helping manufacturers to efficiently respond to individual demands. Two-tone and customized designs are applied in one pass. The technology eliminates overspray benefitting the environment.

The jury is pleased to honor ABBs PixelPaint technology, with the 17th IERA Award, says Jury Chair Rob Ambrose. The innovative solution for automated car painting combines more flexibility and customization with reduced wasted paint for the well-being of the environment.

No more paint is lost

In the past, 20 to 30 percent of paint was wasted due to overspray. By contrast, the inkjet head of PixelPaint applies 100 percent of the paint to the vehicle surface improving environmental impact. The technology also significantly increases efficiency in car painting. Previously, applying a two-tone or customized design was a time and labour-intensive process. The vehicle had to be put through the painting line twice. With the new technology, customized painting speeds increased by 50 percent. PixelPaint also eliminates the process of masking and de-masking each car, helping to reduce bottlenecks.

In todays fiercely competitive automotive manufacturing market, vehicle producers need solutions that can help them to improve their flexibility, efficiency and cost competitiveness while delivering a high-quality paint finish, including individualized options to meet the growing demand for non-standard and customized designs, said Jrg Reger, Managing Director of ABB Robotics Auto OEM Business Line.

IFR congratulates

I congratulate ABB on winning the IERA award 2021 against strong competition, said Milton Guerry, President of the IFR. The four finalists have all presented a success story of an innovative product in robotics and automation which combine the needs of todays manufacturers with a high degree of user-friendliness.

Finalists

Barcelona-based INFAIMON presented its InPicker a universal pick and place system for industrial applications. Berlin-based Micropsi Industries took part with its MIRAI software an AI-driven control system that enables industrial robots to deal with variance in production. Mobile Industrial Robots from Odense in Denmark presented the MiR250, a user-friendly mobile robot that optimizes material handling workflows across industries.

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https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/iera-award-2021-goes-to-abbs-pixelpaint-car-painting

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Robotics Award 2021 Goes to ABBs PixelPaint Car Painting - Business Wire

MassRobotics announced (May 18th) the release of what it claimed to be the Worlds First Open Source Autonomous Mobile Robot Interoperability Standards. The MassRobotics AMR Interoperability Standard is designed to assist organizations in the deployment of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from multiple vendors and have them work together in the same environment, better realizing the promise of warehouse and factory automation. And my impression from discussions with users, and from the discussions at a 2021 Mass Robotics event, is that heterogeneous operating requirements are a reality, therefore making interoperability a top priority.

The first use-case of the MassRobotics standards will be a trial this fall at a FedEx facility. I had the opportunity to speak with Aaron Prather, Senior Technical Advisor at FedEx about this trial. I was curious about the role and extent of robotics in FedExs operations. Aaron informed me that bots, in some form or function, have been rolled out across the vast majority of FedEx business units. I was surprised that the robotics presence at FedEx was so widespread. And with current labor market constraints, there is likely to be opportunity for increased use of AMRs at FedEx in the future. This is where Aarons team comes into the picture. It is a centralized unit within FedEx that is responsible for testing technologies and determining the use cases and determining the technologys applicability to the wide range of operational needs across the company. The forthcoming interoperability test run by his unit will tap into the MassRobotics Standard and will be a partnership between FedEx, Waypoint Robotics, Vecna Robotics, Siemens, Yaskawa, and the University of Memphis.

FedEx has deployed bots from numerous providers across facilities. They have learned that certain robots or models are especially well-suited for certain tasks, while other bots are more well-suited for other tasks. Limiting a given type of bot to a section of a facility is a constraint on the value that FedEx can derive from adoption of the bot or bots. Therefore, FedEx wishes to enable robot interoperability and collaboration. Although on-board sensors generally provide adequate safety, robot decision-making can be suboptimal when confronted with an unfamiliar obstacle, especially if it is mobile like an unfamiliar AMR. Interoperability can deliver value simply by removing performance degradation that occurs during such unfamiliar situations. The scope of the MassRobotics Standard provides a framework for bot location, speed, direction, availability, capability, and status with the goal of improving interoperability in mixed environments.

The trial will include bots from at least 3, and as many as 5, distinct providers. Siemens will provide the communications layer that will leverage the MassRobotics Standard. One type of bot will work on its own use case, for example, pallet movements, while two or more other types of bots will work on use cases interchangeable between them. The bots will communicate location, direction of movement, capacity, and battery load. The Siemens communications system will indicate load size and direct the movement/task to an appropriate bot. Subsequently, the given bot will determine its own path to pick-up the load.

Ideally, this ARM interoperability trial will show that the heterogenous bots will maintain safety, complete their tasks without performance degradation, and validate the capabilities of the communications structure and the MassRobotics Standard. These improvements are hoped to blaze the trail for mixed bot implementations, accelerated deployments, and a wider range of use cases and performance improvements at FedEx.

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FedEx to Blaze the Trail of Mobile Robotics Interoperability - Logistics Viewpoints - Logistics Viewpoints

The Northeast Community College robotics team is returning to the national playing field after a one-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two-member team of Garrett Henery and Emmanuel Soto, both from Norfolk, qualified for the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skill Championships later this month after they won gold at the Nebraska state collegiate competition this spring.

State championship competitions were held both virtually via Zoom and in person on Northeasts campus in Norfolk.

Norfolk High School students John Mann and Tyna Schmidt, who together form Team E, qualified for the national event in the same category by also collecting the gold medal at the state event.

This years competition focused on explosive ordinance disposal, which meant students created a mobile robot similar to those used by emergency service personnel, including fire, law enforcement and military, according to Richard Chrisman, Northeast information technology instructor and robotics team coach. The robot is designed to secure an area by locating, neutralizing, moving and disposing of explosive materials.

According to SkillsUSA contest guidelines, the demand for designers, skilled technicians and manufacturing employees who are fluent in mechanical design and electrical systems and highly skilled in troubleshooting and maintenance of robotic systems is projected to continue to grow.

Robotics is not the only category in which Northeast is sporting a team at the national SkillsUSA event. Northeast took the top three positions in the state collegiate internetworking competition. John Crockett was named 2021 Nebraska State SkillsUSA champion, while Jon Koehler placed second and Edgar Chavez was third.

Other gold medal winners from Northeast included Luke Hobbs for computer programming; Braxton Bargmann for technical drafting; and Lance Vie, Luke Vie, Jordan Kempf and Leonard Schaecher for broadcast news production.

The national SkillsUSA competition is typically held in Louisville, Kentucky, featuring more than 6,000 students competing in over 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields. While this years event will still be staged, it is being held virtually, with localized hands-on elements for select competitions.

Link:

Northeast robotics team returning to national competition | News | norfolkdailynews.com - Norfolk Daily News

Ravenclaw Robotics is the only public middle school team in Texas to qualify for state.

PLANO, Texas When Rice Middle School in Plano decided to start a girls-only robotics team last year, coach Anya McCarthy believed they had the skills to compete with anybody.

What her team didnt have was confidence.

At first, I was pretty skeptical about it, said eighth grader Aahana Shrivastava.

High school teams and private school teams have much more funding and experience than us, added seventh-grader Louisa Xu. We didnt have much confidence that we could beat them.

We didnt really have this goal of, oh were going to go to state,' because we didnt really believe that, sixth-grader Aarini Sen echoed.

In fact, no public middle school from North Texas had ever qualified for the state meet, and these girls didnt know the first thing about building a robot.

Still, the Ravenclaw Robotics teamwhich is what they call themselvesworked tirelessly, oftentimes staying at school until nearly midnight.

Ive never had a team that was that determined, McCarthy said. The more we went through it, it just fueled us.

Even though other teams had more experience and some even had 10 times as much money, the girls were undeterred.

They entered their first competition - and won. Then won again. In fact, they won four times before competing virtually in the regional meet a few weeks ago.

The top team at regional qualifies for state.

Only about half of the scoring is determined by the performance of the robot. The other half comes from outreach: the more teams give back to their communities, the better the score.

While Ravenclaw built a robot good enough to compete with the rest, they outdistanced the competition when it came to service.

They helped get their school a wheelchair, mentored younger girls about STEM-related subjects and raised money to help fund their program.

Still, winning at the regional meet was a longshot. But they pulled it off. Ravenclaw Robotics is the only public middle school team in Texas to qualify for state.

There was so many happy tears and screaming, said McCarthy, who actually cried when her team was announced as the winner.

We actually really got to state, Shrivastava said. I was like, no way!

The state meet kicks off June 11, and whether or not these girls have a robot capable of winning, they said doesnt matter.

By making it this far, they have already proven something to themselves.

Girls can accomplish just as much as boys, Sen said.

We are capable of many things, Shrivastava added. We are strong, hardworking and we dont let people take us down.

Regardless of the outcome at state, coach McCarthy said shes already beaming.

Im so proud, she said.

Still, theyre going to do everything they can to win.

Thats our plan, McCarthy said with a laugh.

Sounds like theyve engineered plenty of confidence.

Excerpt from:

Only one public middle school qualified for the state robotics meet: an all-girls team from Plano - WFAA.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Husqvarna, the world leader in professional robotic mowers, announced today that it is increasing its investment and ownership in Robin Autopilot USA, a leader in the technological integration of robotic lawn care with professional landscapers.

This growing strategic partnership enables Husqvarna to increase market penetration of Automower robotic mowers by leveraging Robin Autopilot's Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform for the professional landscaper. This combination will offer residential clients a solution with the measurable environmental benefits of battery-operated lawn mowing and decreased noise pollution.

"Expanding Husqvarna's partnership with Robin Autopilot aligns with our strategic growth objectives and connects Husqvarna's global leadership in professional robotic lawn care and technology with the innovative software solution that Robin Autopilot provides," said Steve Collins, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at Husqvarna. "We greatly value Robin Autopilot's track record of growth throughout North America, and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration to increase robotic mowing use among lawn care customers and green space professionals."

"We are thrilled to partner with Husqvarna, the world leader in robotic mowing, as we continue to strengthen Robin's leading position in Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) for the lawn care industry in the United States and Canada," said Logan Fahey, Chief Executive Officer of Robin Autopilot Holdings, LLC. "This partnership will allow us to work jointly to offer RaaS to a growing number of landscapers and lawn care providers who want to make their businesses more sustainable and profitable with transformative robotic technology."

The Robin platform integrates with leading CRM and ERP systems used by landscapers and seamlessly adds RaaS capabilities like equipment selection, fleet management, job management, data analytics and on-demand training. These capabilities enable landscapers to easily maintain large fleets of robots remotely and quickly expand their RaaS offerings.

Husqvarna will continue to bring new, innovative products to market, and Robin Autopilot will ensure integration and effective fleet management for professional landscapers.

About Husqvarna GroupHusqvarna Group is a global leading producer of outdoor power products and innovative solutions for forest, park, and garden care. Products include chainsaws, trimmers, robotic lawn mowers and ride-on lawn mowers. The Group is also the European leader in garden watering products and a global leader in cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. The Group's products and solutions are sold under brands including Husqvarna, Gardena, McCulloch, Flymo, Zenoah and Diamant Boart via dealers and retailers to consumers and professionals in more than 100 countries. Net sales in 2020 amounted to SEK 42bn and the Group has around 12,400 employees in 40 countries.

About Robin AutopilotRobin Autopilot's mission is to help lawn care professionals and service provider alike transition from traditional to robotic mowing. Robin enables professionals to improve the health and appearance of commercial and residential lawns using reliable, environmentally-friendly, cost-efficient autonomous mowers. The Robin platform offers its subscribers everything they need to effectively run a RaaS (Robotics-as-a-Service) business, including proprietary software, training (Robin Academy), mower financing, marketing (Robin Rewards) and hardware accessories including Robin's robotic door. Robin's subscriber base has increased by 50% in the last 6 months.

SOURCE Husqvarna

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Husqvarna Grows Investment In Robin Autopilot To Expand Professional Robotics-as-a-Service Throughout North America - PRNewswire