Category Archives: Robotics

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., July 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integrity Implants Inc., a privately held medical device company focused on Adaptive Geometry technology designed to enable MIS spine surgery, and Fusion Robotics, LLC, a privately held medical technology company focused on efficient and cost-effective navigation and robotic targeting solutions for spine surgery, today announced that they have consummated a merger combining the two companies. The combined company will be re-branded as Accelus and is uniquely positioned to accelerate the adoption of minimally invasive surgery as the standard of care in spine.

Accelus will create opportunities for wide-scale adoption of robotics in spine surgeryboth in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)by addressing previous constraints related to cost and efficiency, said Chris Walsh, who will serve as the CEO of Accelus. Both Fusion Robotics and Integrity Implants have built enabling technology platforms that create a force multiplier for spinal care. Our products and culture create accessibility to fit each patients anatomy, each surgeons preferred approach, and each healthcare facilitys space and budget limitations, embodying our core principle of access without compromise.

Although the benefits of MIS have been recognized for decades, broad adoption in the spine market is still constrained relative to other orthopedic and interventional procedures. The combination of Fusion Robotics efficient, compact and scalable robot with Integrity Implants unique Adaptive Geometry implants will enable the rapid acceleration of MIS adoption.

We believe Accelus is poised to be the next dominant player in the spine market, said Alex Lukianov, who will serve as Chairman of the companys Board of Directors. Accelus will uniquely accelerate penetration of MIS while fostering a culture of outstanding performance together with an unparalleled product development engine to continually simplify surgical procedures. Our growth prospects are tremendous. Onward and upward!

Integrity Implants flagship FlareHawk Lumbar Interbody Fusion Device received FDA clearance in 2016 and CE mark approval in 2021, and to date more than 10,500 FlareHawk devices have been implanted in more than 8,000 patients. Integrity Implants also holds FDA clearances for its LineSider Spinal System, FlareHawk TiHawkInterbody Fusion System and Toro-L Interbody Fusion System. Fusion Robotics received a 510(k) clearance for its initial product offering and started performing spine procedures in the U.S. market earlier this year.

"This combination of teams and technology represents a transformative opportunity to accelerate innovation in spine, said neurosurgeon Kevin Foley, M.D., Chief Robotics Officer of Fusion Robotics. The implant portfolio is complementary to the robotics platform, and with the rapid strides we are making in robotics developmentspecifically related to our fluoroscopy-based robotics systemthe synergies will become even more robust in the coming months."

Accelus corporate office, R&D, distribution and Accelus Clinical Education (ACE) surgeon training facility will be headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Additional ACE labs and R&D centers will be located in Boulder, Colo. and San Diego, Calif.

The companys Executive Management Team will consist of leaders from both Integrity Implants and Fusion Robotics, who bring decades of experience and leadership across spine, navigation and surgical robotics. Acceluss Board of Directors will be composed of Fusion Robotics founders Alex Lukianov and Brad Clayton; Integrity Implants founders Chris Walsh and Wyatt Geist; and current Integrity Implants Directors Nate Ward, Ned Lipes and Paul Birkmeyer.

The organizational synergies go beyond products and technology, as we are pulling together the A-team of spine, Walsh added.

Accelus will be showcasing its current product portfolio during the 2021 Spine Summit meeting in San Diego this July and the 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in Orlando in August, as well as unveiling new product launches at the North American Spine Societys 36th Annual Meeting in Boston this fall.

About Accelus

Accelus is committed to accelerating minimally invasive spine surgery through its procedure-enabling technology with broad accessibility to previously underserved markets. Founded in 2021 through the combination of Integrity Implants and Fusion Robotics, the company is focused on providing its proprietary Adaptive Geometry technology with pragmatic and economical navigation and robotic solutions with broad clinical use in spine surgery.

Media Contact: Brandy CraigPhone: 305-676-1679bcraig@integrityimplants.com

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Integrity Implants and Fusion Robotics Merge to Form Accelus - GlobeNewswire

Local high school student Michael Zeng is celebrating his passion for robotics and sharing that love with others, winning a national award in the process.

Michael, 17, an incoming senior at The Bishops School in La Jolla, is the co-captain of a local First Tech Challenge robotics team called The Clueless.

During robotics contests, the team is tasked with design, construction, programming and operation of a robot to compete against other teams robots.

The Clueless won the FTC San Diego regional championship this year after winning the Arizona regional championship and holding one of the five highest scores globally in 2020.

For his leadership and expertise with robotics, Michael won one of 10 national Deans List awards in the First Tech Challenge Robotics Competition during the FTC 2021 awards show in June.

The spirit of the Deans List award is getting other people engaged in what were doing, Michael said. In addition to demonstrating technical prowess, a big aspect of the Deans List award is really promoting the spirit of STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] in your community.

Michael said hes achieved this through his teams focus, which is not just building our own robots but helping other people build their robots.

One of our favorite events every year, he said, is when The Clueless hosts a summer camp for First Lego League, which is kind of like a younger version of First Tech Challenge.

During the weeklong camp, we recruit about 20 students from around the area and we teach them the basics of FLL mechanics and programming, Michael said. A majority of students go on to join school teams or even formed their own teams.

Michael himself is a former FLL student, having joined his elementary schools FLL team in fifth grade. Whats pretty funny about my story is that in my first-ever year of FLL and my first-ever competition, my team placed last at the qualifier, he said.

However, the disappointing finish spurred Michaels interest in robotics. That summer, I literally spent hundreds of hours just browsing YouTube and looking at what the best robots did, and I came back next year a lot stronger, he said.

In seventh grade, Michael started his own team and won for robot performance at the Southern California regional competition. He then started a YouTube channel inspired by the videos that ignited his interest.

My goal was pretty much to become one of the people that I thought was really legendary that inspired me once, he said. His YouTube channel, bit.ly/MZengYT, now has more than 1,250 subscribers and more than 360,000 views.

I really did achieve my goal with that channel, Michael said.

In pursuing his passion for robotics, Michael said he has built an arsenal of technical skills, including proficiency with computer-aided design, leading to his current position as the teams design lead.

Aside from mechanical and software skills, Michael said the most valuable thing that Ill be taking away is leadership. My team is currently 15 members and the season lasts 30 weeks, so its definitely not an easy task to be working with such a large team over such a long period of time.

Were trying to build a really competitive robot, he said. At the same time, we want to maintain good relationships with our coaches and mentors and sponsors and continue all our efforts outside of our own team, such as hosting the summer camp and other events throughout the year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael also started a project called Print for the Cure (printforthecure.com), a web platform in which people who need personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks medical and other essential workers can fill out a form and request it.

Anyone with a 3-D printer can then sign on to the website and claim these requests and ship directly to these requesters, Michael said.

We actually built a website in about three weeks and launched it, Michael said. The teams own 3-D printers and those of others have collectively donated over 25,000 units, which includes things like door handles, face shields as well as the mask straps that alleviate pressure on ears.

It was a ton of work, he said, but really a rewarding and proud experience.

Robotics has definitely been a life-changing experience, Michael said. He added that he hopes his mentorship helps others cultivate a similar love of robotics that will open up a pathway for them in the future.

People in Your Neighborhood shines a spotlight on notable locals we all wish we knew more about. If you know someone youd like us to profile, send an email to robert.vardon@lajollalight.com.

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People in Your Neighborhood: La Jolla student's robotics passion reaps benefits for him and others - La Jolla Light

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Robotics is entering an exponential growth phase. There are increasingly new and diverse applications for robots, both the inspiring and the mundane. Just within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic response, robots have been deployed in novel ways disinfecting public spaces, handling infectious materials, and providing medical care to patients.

But the horizon for new robotics applications is ever expanding, and it is AV (autonomous vehicle) development that will further accelerate this growth. Why? Because the challenge that self-driving cars present is the same challenge that acts as a barrier for most other kinds of robots. The AV industry, with its concentration of talent, infrastructure, and capital, is primed to meet this challenge.

Even as the use of robots has become more widespread, its applications have remained somewhat limited. For decades, one-armed giants performed highly scripted tasks and were built for a single purpose, like spot welding or adding threads to the end of a pipe. They were not flexible enough to perform a variety of tasks or respond well in unstructured environments. Even when deployed in less structured environments, like those used in surgical settings or even aerial drones, robots have functioned primarily as a remote-controlled extension of a human actor, with limited autonomy.

AVs, on the other hand, inherently require a great deal of autonomy; there is literally no human being behind the wheel, and the stakes are high. AVs need the ability to sense, plan, and act in highly dynamic, unstructured environments such as the chaotic streets of San Francisco. They need to respond to humans other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, that guy on a motorized skateboard and make collaborative decisions with them.

Consider one of the common yet more challenging traffic scenarios that humans regularly encounter: a four-way stop. Despite the laws that govern how drivers should stop and proceed in their turn, the reality is that most of the time, people navigate these intersections via nonverbal communication with each other. They make eye contact, nod, wave each other on. Without the capacity to communicate using these cues, an AV must still decipher the intent of other drivers and communicate its own for instance, creeping forward slowly to convey its intent to proceed through the intersection all while obeying traffic laws and making safety-critical decisions. This choreography cannot be scripted in advance. AV decision-making must conform to human-like social expectations in real time based on the current situation and potential evolution of all the relevant actors in the scene, including itself, for some time into the future.

The crux of the challenge involves making decisions under uncertainty; that is, choosing actions based on often imperfect observations and incomplete knowledge of the world. Autonomous robots have to observe the current state of the world (imperfect observations), understand how this is likely to evolve (incomplete knowledge), and make decisions about the best course of action to pursue in every situation. This cognitive capability is also essential to interpersonal interactions because human communications presuppose an ability to understand the motivations of the participants and subjects of the discussion. As the complexity of humanmachine interactions increases and automated systems become more intelligent, we strive to provide computers with comparable communicative and decision-making capabilities. This is what takes robots from machines that humans supervise to machines with which humans can collaborate.

As robotics has grown as an industry, costs have fallen, enabling adoption across a broad variety of contexts. In some cases, the technology is familiar but the application is novel. While drones arent new, companies deploying them to inspect power lines or to collect information for insurance claims is. Same for the one-armed giants now employed as hotel concierges or baristas instead of spot welders.

Commerce has benefited greatly from automation. Materials handling in particular has been ripe for automation via self-guided vehicles, largely because its such a dangerous sector for human workers. Robots equipped with lidar, cameras, and a bevy of other sensors like those that enable AVs perception systems can safely and quickly navigate loading docks and factory floors while avoiding collisions with workers. These robots, however, still rely on a fairly structured and predictable environment (markers on the ground help them navigate) and lack dynamic responsiveness. During the last few years, some have argued that injuries in some fulfillment centers have resulted from robots moving at a faster pace than the humans working alongside them.

Robotics in healthcare environments has become commonplace, too. Robot-assisted surgical systems like Intuitives da Vinci are used in 90% of prostatectomies instead of traditional laparoscopic tools. But robots are increasingly valuable not just in the operating room but throughout hospitals and nursing homes, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Robots are helping caregivers lift patients and performing other tasks as well as providing social interaction to the elderly. Robotics have increasingly been used with children as well, not just as trendy tech toys but legitimate STEM educational tools. Research into the treatment of children with autism using emotive robots has gained traction in recent years.

With more players in the field and increasing adoption, the $100+ billion global robotics sector has been growing by leaps and bounds, and according to IDC is expected to triple by the end of 2021. Much of this can be attributed to driver-assistance technologies now common in new vehicles, especially those at the higher end of the market. Companies developing fully autonomous technology, however, are poised to push the robotics envelope in the automotive industry and beyond.

As AV companies meet the challenge of human-robot collaboration at the level required to bring self-driving vehicles to market, the horizon for leveraging these solutions for other robotics applications only expands. Like a chess grandmaster, an AV must consider multiple possible moves and countermoves both for itself and other traffic participants and then make safety-critical decisions in a noisy and rapidly changing environment. It needs to take into account context like traffic laws and local norms; driving in a city like Houston is not the same as navigating Hong Kong. And a successful AV has to communicate its goals and its intent to humans in a way that feels natural and intuitive.

Developing the kind of decision-making needed for AVs to succeed will unlock complex critical thinking for other robotic applications, allowing a greater degree of autonomy and human-robot collaboration in both new and familiar use cases. Physical agents that can autonomously generate engaging, life-like behavior will lead to safer and more responsive robots. The shift from humans supervising robots to collaborating with them is the way forward for both AVs and the sector at large.

Rashed Haq is Vice President of Robotics at Cruise.

Link:

The lessons we learn from self-driving will drive our robotics future - VentureBeat

Editor, The Caledonia Argus

An interest in technology and education benefits team members on the Robotic Warriors team 5914, and that benefit goes just a little farther with a donation made from a local family whose husband and father enjoyed those two topics.

Caledonia resident Sharon Hein and her family recently made a $1,050 donation in memory of Norlin, who had a great interest in technology.

Hein remembers her husbands interest fondly. He worked at the University of Missouri, helping to get computers in the offices when computers were just becoming common office equipment. After earning his PhD at the University of Minnesota, Hein moved to Columbia, Missouri where he was an agricultural economist at the university.

He worked with farmers that had computers on the farm. He was interested in getting youth back to the farm, returning to the farm program, Hein said. He was very interested in education, educating farmers, people and technology.

The donation stems from funeral memorials that families did not specify a place where money should go to, so Hein and her family decided memorials that they give will go to a program that benefits future technology. Robotics was the perfect fit.

The funds will benefit the whole team, coach Mike Konkel explained. Robot parts, upgrading technology, competition entry fees, hotel rooms for competitions can all benefit from the donation. It costs about $4,000 to $5,000 to enter the competitions. It costs about $40,000 per season with all expenses added up.

If the team makes it to the world competition, it can cost about $5,000justto attend. The team also has to ship the robot, travel, pay for room and board, bringing the total to about $15,000 to $20,000. The team has made it to that level of competition for the past three out of four years.

People like Sharon and our community support, Eitzen and Brownsville, is phenomenal for what it has done, he said, grateful for the donations.

Robotics opens up a lot of doors for kids, including those in athletics and not in athletics. Its not just the robot driving part that kids benefit from, but theres also a building team, electrical team, design team, computer programming team and business team that all have a part to play. More girls are starting to join the team as well. Kids from Spring Grove Public Schools are also welcome to join the team.

The Covid-19 pandemic also halted much of the teams activities. Recently, the team had an obstacle course driving day at the fairgrounds, and with the help of groundskeeper Craig Welch, the team had fun driving the robot under and around objects.

Other fundraisers and events throughout the year include demonstrations at local events, such as the Houston County Fair, Caledonia Founders Day and other community celebrations. The team also has an event with Big Boar BBQ that allows them to raise funds and show off the robot. Driving the robot at events is often a big hit with young kids.

People from this community are so generous, Konkel said. There are so many people involved that do so much for us.

Its not just the generosity of the community that has team members and mentors coming back for more each season, its helping kids learn.

Mentor Larry Basegio said the team is a positive thing.

Its a great bunch of kids, he said. It makes me feel good that I can contribute. Teaching kids to solder was interesting.

Mentors also help at competition events, which is an opportunity to teach time management to kids. After the first few events, team members become more independent with getting to events on time.

Mentor Mike Woyczik agreed and said the kids take the lead at events, talking to other teams about strategizing and coopertition (a cross between cooperation and competition). Coopertition is helping other teams out, and still having a competitive edge.

Woycizk said he likes seeing the kids grow in their abilities and teaching them life skills, such as how to use a power drill. He also enjoys the camaraderie with the team.

We just have a lot of fun hanging out ... getting the personality of how they are, he said. My fondest memory was at playoffs and we finished the game. We finished second at the event, we were second [place] twice, and it was amazing.

The FIRST organization that oversees competitions, rules and regulations also donated $83 million in scholarships so far to its worldwide roster of teams. Any student that is on a robotics high school team, that plans to go onto an engineering program can automatically get a scholarship for just being part of the program, Konkel added.

There is no star player. You have the drive team, theyre in the spotlight, but theres so much behind the scenes that kids contribute to, Konkel said.

Kids interested in joining robotics can talk to a current team member, coach or mentor. People interested in donating to the team can contact Konkel or a mentor or booster club member.

Booster club members include Dana White, Wendy Woyczik, Sheila Schroeder, Kristi Nolte, Jenny Standish, Linda Konkel, Leah Peterson, Deb Augedahl, Tria and Sean Meier, and Patty Stehr.

Additional mentors include: Jeff Babinski, Angela Denstad-Stigeler, Willy Hoskins, Jeffrey Denney.

Team members include: Dylan Schroeder, Lynzie Woyczik, Kole Woyczik (graduate), Dominick Konkel (graduate), James White, Drew Standish, Elijah Nolte, Jacob Woyczik, Brady Augedahl, Kaden Peterson, Malakai Jandt, Noah Stigeler, Jeremy Stehr, Linda Hang, Jack Babinski and Samantha Molling.

Check out the team on their Facebook page, at Caledonia Robotic Warriors FRC Team #5914.

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Robotic Warriors team benefits in education and technology - ECM Publishers

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Marketing and Communications

Beverlys Birthdays seeks a Development and Marketing Assistant to manage donor relationships, maintain donor records, contribute to social media content, assist with event planning and coordinate volunteers.

Human Services

Milestone Centers is hiring an Executive Director to provide organizational leadership and management for the center and ensure the delivery of health care, services and support systems.

Business and Finance

The Pittsburgh Foundation is looking for a Staff Accountant to manage day-to-day accounting functions for the finance and investment team that supports financial reporting.

Bank of America seeks a Business Bank Senior Relationship Manager to oversee a portfolio of commercial relationships, manage relationship selectivity and acquisition, deepen relationships through cross-selling, drive profitability and dialogue with a variety of clients.

IT and Engineering

RE2 Robotics is looking for a Mechanical Engineer to create lightweight, dexterous and powerful mobile manipulation systems for Department of Defense and commercial applications.

Deloitte has an opening for an AI Engineer to support the development of transformational AI capabilities for large clients.

Postal Service

USPS is hiring a City Carrier Assistant to deliver and collect mail on foot or by vehicle under varying road and weather conditions in a prescribed area and maintain public relations with customers.

Administrative

The Community College of Allegheny County seeks a Senior Secretary to perform administrative secretarial duties for a major campus department, including complex correspondence, reports, advertisements and news releases, filing systems and analytical assignments.

Advanced Manufacturing

Kurt J. Lesker Company is hiring a Detail Technician to clean, detail and package high technology products before they are shipped to customers.

The Allegheny County Airport Authority seeks an Auto Mechanic to determine repairs required by road testing and use of diagnostic equipment, replace defective parts, perform engine tune-ups and develop job safety analysis procedures.

Construction

EQT Corporation is hiring a Construction Specialist I/II to document the progress of construction projects, prepare scopes of work, supervise daily operations and more.

Job Fair

Every Child Inc. is hosting a Virtual Job Fair on July 22 from 1 to 2 p.m. for its Family Support services and from 5 to 6 pm for its Clinical services. Register here.

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Operations Coordinator at Friends of the Riverfront: Friends of the Riverfront is hiring a Part-Time Operations Coordinator to support the organization and its trail programs. Friends of the Riverfront is a nonprofit organization that works to develop and steward the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and Water Trail in Allegheny County.Posted July 07, 2021

Data Coordinator at Partner4Work: Identify data and data process needs, collect, clean and maintain data from the Commonwealth Workforce Development System, a statewide workforce database, conduct research encompassing workforce issues and trends. Provide data evaluation services to program staff and the organization.Posted July 02, 2021

Operations Coordinator at P3R: P3R is the engine behind Pittsburghs greatest races. We strive to inspire any and all to run with us. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICKS Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, P3R also organizes a variety of other high-quality races, training runs and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region.Posted July 01, 2021

HR Assistant at Sarah Heinz House: Exciting opportunity to manage the outreach program and middle school age VEX IQ robotics teams for Sarah Heinz House. This includes managing participation in competitions, recruiting and retaining volunteers, and coaching and mentoring the team. Previous experience with robotics preferred.Posted July 01, 2021

STEM Instructor at Sarah Heinz House: The primary responsibility is to teach STEM and robotics classes to preschool and elementary school age youth while establishing, maintaining and nurturing positive professional relationships with the members, volunteers and staff. Associate or Technical Degree with 1 yr experience required.Posted July 01, 2021

PSL Player Experience Manager at PUMP: This full-time position with the award winning Pittsburgh Sports League (a program of PUMP) ensures a high-quality player and social experience before, during and after games; coordinates and supports leagues and officials behind the scenes and serves as the face of the organization at the games.Posted June 30, 2021

Junior Accountant at Fred Rogers Productions: Fred Rogers Productions is looking for an entry-level, FT Junior Accountant based in Pittsburgh. This position is a good fit for an enthusiastic self-starter with a sense of humor. This individual must be trustworthy, flexible and display a willingness to ask questions.Posted June 30, 2021

Marketing Assistant at Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras: TRYPO seeks a Marketing Assistant to be the primary storyteller for the organization. This role uses social media channels to help build strong and diverse online communities and elevate the organizational message. Join us if you have a sincere belief in the importance of music education!Posted June 24, 2021

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Whos hiring in Pittsburgh? RE2 Robotics, CCAC, Bank of America and more 7/5/21 - NEXTpittsburgh

Across Europe, consistently low birth rates and rising life expectancy are transforming the continents age demographic.

The coming years will see older people make up a much larger demographic in Europe, a phenomenon that is already being felt in countries like Italy, Greece and Germany.

The prospect presents enormous challenges to policymakers tasked with meeting the healthcare needs of an ageing population, particularly in a situation where there may be fewer working-age people to support them.

As a result, policymakers in Europe are turning their attention to tech solutions and robotics in the hope that they can help make up some of this shortfall.

French start-up Kompa Robotics presented their latest innovation at the VivaTech conference in Paris - a robot that has been specifically designed for healthcare providers.

Its a multifunctional robot designed for vulnerable people. So that could be in retirement homes and also in hospitals, Marie Fromanger, a business developer at Kompa Robotics, told Euronews Next.

The idea is to help carers and the whole body of healthcare workers in the daily tasks that a robot can carry out.

Their new model has been designed for use in the home and is equipped with auto-navigation, meaning the robot is able to carry out surveillance sweeps and alert a support person by sending a photo if anything is amiss.

It can also do all kinds of art therapy, activities, and some meditation. It can transport people thanks to the fact that it can move on its own, said Fromanger.

The company is keen to stress that its robots are not intended to replace carers or health workers entirely. Rather the Kompa robot is an additional tool to relieve carers of the menial tasks that a robot can carry out autonomously.

Kompa is one of the many European technology companies working with the SHAPES programme, a large scale EU funded health care project which aims to assist people to remain independent as they age.

The programme is seeking to create an open platform for integrating digital solutions and technological infrastructure that will ultimately support healthy ageing across the continent.

According to Europes statistics agency Eurostat, it is projected that there will be close to half a million centenarians in the EU-27 by 2050.

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This French robotics start-up may have the solution for the ageing population crisis - Euronews

TURIN, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reply announced today that it has developed an end-to-end solution architecture for autonomous mobile robots (AMR) on Microsoft Azure that enables new business applications across industries, reduces upfront costs and allows for the rapid implementation of customer-specific robotics use cases.

The solution combines Microsoft Azure services, the agility of Boston Dynamics' SPOT and Replys knowledge of intelligent cloud computing services, edge computing and artificial intelligence. To demonstrate the capabilities of a scalable and versatile robotics platform, Reply implemented an automated vehicle-damage-detection solution for rental or leasing companies that leverages this architecture. In fact, rental or leasing companies must inspect vehicles for any damage after they are returned in order to ensure the safety and quality of their fleet for their customers. This is usually done in the time- and cost-consuming manual process of walking around the car, visually inspecting it, assessing the severity of the damage and conducting a damage report.

Reply integrates Azure Cognitive Services, Machine Learning and DevOps as well as Power Apps and Power BI. Thanks to Azure's intelligent service foundation, agile workflows and machine learning, this process can be fully automated. Using computer vision, SPOT moves freely through the parking area and scans the license plates to find the right vehicle. Once detected, it walks around the vehicle to record its condition by continuously collecting visual data with its camera and sensors. This information is processed on the edge or transmitted to the cloud, where advanced image recognition and machine leaning algorithms perform the damage detection. All detected damages are saved in the return protocol, and they can be presented to the customer and the fleet manager for approval.

This platform sets the power of Microsoft Azure on the move by bringing it from the Cloud to the Edge and into highly advanced mobile robotic devices, giving them the autonomy to unlock novel business use cases. Thanks to the agile reference architecture, we are able to implement customer-specific use cases in various industries that include all types of mobile robots or drones, comments Filippo Rizzante, CTO Reply.

Reply is a long-term, trusted partner in delivering Azure IoT solutions, and were delighted to continue our collaboration on this new scalable robotics offering. By leveraging Microsoft Azure, we can help accelerate this transformation by making it easier for businesses to bring AI and analytics capabilities to these autonomous systems in a consistent and secure way, adds Lakecia Gunter, Vice President and GM, Global IOT Channel at Microsoft.

With their agility, autonomous mobile robots (AMR) are able to move independently from a central infrastructure on terrain that is not traditionally designed for robots. They can be used in hazardous environments and environments, that are harmful to people. According to ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global market for automated guided vehicle (AGV) and AMR is expected to reach $13.2 Billion by 2026 with a growth rate of around 35%. Both AGVs and AMRs collectively are going to cross the installed base of 1.5 Million in the next 5 years to make mobile robots a new normal in our day-to-day operational activities.

Reply

Reply [MTA, STAR: REY, ISIN: IT0005282865] specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. As a network of highly specialised companies, Reply defines and develops business models enabled by the new models of AI, big data, cloud computing, digital media and the internet of things. Reply delivers consulting, system integration and digital services to organisations across the telecom and media; industry and services; banking and insurance; and public sectors. http://www.reply.com

Source Global Mobile Robots (AGV & AMR) Market:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210115005190/en/Global-Mobile-Robots-AGV-AMR-Market-Expected-to-Reach-14B-by-2026---The-New-Normal-in-Our-Day-to-Day-Operational-Activities---ResearchAndMarkets.com

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Reply Shapes the Future of Autonomous Mobile Robots with the Power of Microsoft Azure - Business Wire

Thanks in large part to pandemic pressures,total revenuefor U.S. quick-service restaurants dropped down to $239 billion last year. Unfortunately, as quick-service restaurantoperators try to ramp up staff and sales now that health concerns are stabilizing, they are facing a massive staffing crisis. While posters promoting open positions and staff incentives crowd almost every restaurant and drive-thru window across the country, foodservice workers are not lining up in droves.Thousands of entry-level foodservice workers moved on to other positions in the delivery arena like DoorDash or Amazon during the pandemic, and unstaffed quick-service restaurantpositions are slowing down the economic recovery for food operators.Yet, many technology naysayers still cling to the robots replace humans argument in an effort to keep quick-service restaurantoperators from investing in food robotics to keep pace with the next era of food service.

Robotsdo not put human jobs at risk in the foodservice industry. The foodservice industry (like every industry) will continue to be led and managed by human staffin fact, human staff plays an absolutely integral role in the food robotics evolution for quick-service restaurants. Working closely with key partners likeWalmartandJambafor initial Blendid kiosk locations in California, weve seen firsthand how robots are helping expand accessibility and availability at all hours of a day to healthy food options, especially where hiring and staffing limitations would typically make it incredibly cost prohibitive. So heres how real people fit into the food robot mix:

The quick-service restaurantdynamic is rapidly changing.Consumers now want access to healthier food optionsanytime, anywhere and, thanks to COVID, with as little human intervention as possible. It might sound like prepacked, shelf-stable food choices would be a way to meet those demands, but todays consumers also want those healthier and freshly prepared fast-food options to be totally customizable and dont forget, they still want it at near dollar-menu prices. However, quick-service restaurantoperators arein a constant battle to recruit, train, and retain staff, especially for tedious foodservice and food-prep roles. Robots add a layer of consistency that can help reduce the costs and headaches of trying to fill (and continuously refill) these roles.

Robots expand the potential quick-service restaurantfootprint.Robotic platforms create more favorable economicsfor operators and a much wider potential footprint by eliminating high-traffic return on investment restrictions, making it easier to justify staffing, stocking and servicing fresh, customized food options at low- and medium-traffic locations.

Robots make stellar coworkers.Many entry-level food service workers have absolutely no real interest in preparing food, sanitizing food surfaces, doing endless piles of dishes, or interacting with others. Robots can take on those tedioustasks, from contactless ordering and counter service, to precise measurements, food prep and even much of the cleaning so human workers canfocus on a range of new and rewarding positions. Better yet?There are no forced or awkward conversations to manage when a robot is the one by your side.

Technology is cool.Even better than picking up the mundane tasks and roles most workers dont want to take on, robots also add an element of futuristic fun to the work environment. (I know that I love getting to say that I work with robots.) As millennials and zoomers (GenZ) take over the food service workforce, tech natives will readily embrace new automation platforms not just for the cool factor, but because they are comfortable relying on, and often even expect, technology to make their day-to-day tasks easier.

For quick-service restaurantnavigating ever-tightening operating margins and unable to fully staff their current operations, meeting changing consumer demands for rapid, contact-free access to affordable, fresh, healthy food on the go is a daunting, and often futile, effort.However, food automation platforms powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced visual and robotics technologies are changing the fast-food dynamic.Forward-thinking leaders investing in new robotic food automation platforms now will be able to give consumers (and employees) what they want both today and in the years ahead.In the not-so-distant future, these robotic food stations will line the checkout areas of major retailers and the hallways of airport terminals, hospitals, universities and shopping malls around the globe. AI-powered robots will bring the future of highly personalized, healthy, fresh, and delicious food options to life.

Vipin Jain is CEO and co-founder ofBlendid. Blendid offers a proprietary food automation platform (foodOS) to efficiently and safely prepare and serve a range of healthy, fresh and delicious options.

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How AI-Powered Robots are Helping the Food Industry - QSR magazine

According to a report, Top Robotics Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis, the market size of Robotics is expected to reach US$176.8 billion in 2025 with a CAGR of 18.2%. Robotics has opened a plethora of job opportunities as well as set to transform Industry 4.0 with its efficient and effective assistant to the existing employees. Latest innovations in Robotics have attracted huge interest from children, adults as well as reputed organizations for entertainment as well as professional purposes. The dreams of having different types of robots as highly flexible companions are finally coming true. The Robotics future is here in the 21st century! Educational institutes have started offering mechatronics to drive students towards Robotics to innovate new models or robots in the nearby future. Lets take a glance at some of the latest innovations in Robotics set to transform Industry 4.0 efficiently.

Energy-efficient Robots

The world is experiencing global warming in these recent years due to the large carbon footprint present in the atmosphere. New energy-efficient robots are thriving in Industry 4.0 to reduce energy consumption for a smaller carbon footprint. These smart and energy-efficient robots assist in the cost-efficient production of renewable energy equipment.

AROUND-B Robot

The AROUND-B robot is designed by Kim Seungwoo and Kyumin Ha that helps to enhance the customer experience in bookstores. The robot is known for following a user and offering a comfortable place to keep books instead of carrying those around the store. Then AROUND-B will carry the books to the cashier for seamless transaction efficiency.

Bossa Nova Robot

The Bossa Nova robot is created to help retail stores in tracking inventory as well as maintaining product displays on shelves. It has the ability to scan the shelves with its hi-tech sensor through 2D as well as 3D depth-detecting cameras. It also uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags and barcodes for efficient inventory management and supply chain management in manual restocking duties.

Zenbo Robot

Zenbo robot is innovated to help people remember to complete daily tasks each day, especially for elderly people. It can also monitor the surroundings to detect any emergency case by connecting to smart devices such as CCTVs, door locks, and many more. Asus created this Zenbo robot to understand verbal commands from its user.

Delivery Droid Robot

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has instigated Cristina Borras to create a home-delivery robot for contactless deliveries of parcels in Australia. This robot is known as a delivery droid and has been successfully tested by the Australia Post with over 100 packages after sunset. The implementation of modern technology can help to avoid obstacles on its way on pavements.

Amazon Scout Robot

The pandemic has also motivated Amazon to produce delivery robots for efficient delivery services within a promised date. Scout robot is an electric cooler-sized rover to help in promoting contactless delivery during the pandemic. Amazon has successfully trialed the Scout robot in different US localities for a year. Six smart robots are operating in daylight working hours from Monday to Friday, only for Amazon Prime Members.

Digit Robot

Ford and the Agility Robotics team is set to launch Digit Robot as a delivery robot that can come in to get the package from autonomous self-driving cars to the doorstep of recipients. It consists of a humanoid aesthetic along with a bipedal design to carry parcels up to 40 pounds.

RoBeetle Robot

RoBeetle is a tiny robot, created by Nestor Perez-Arancibia, Xiufeng Yang, and Longlong Chang, that can be powered by methanol. This efficient beetle-like robot weighs just 88 milligrams with four legs two fixed rear ones and two flexible front legs. Those two front legs are attached to the transmission to receive commands for movements. It can walk efficiently for a long time with an unexpected fuel source.

Care Robots

The demand for care robots is booming in Japan to take care of elderly or disabled patients with their daily routine alarm for medication, emotional support, interactive sessions, and many more. These care robots also assist nurses and doctors in medical duties on an hourly basis.

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Robotics Latest Innovations in Robotics Set to Transform Industry 4.0 - Analytics Insight

In this session, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman are joined by Dan Kara, VP of the Robotics Group at WTWH Media, to discuss how the RBR50 has evolved over the years, how the 50 winners were selected, and teh many forms of innovation.

By RBR Staff | July 6, 2021

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Robot Report Podcast, where each week Robot Report editor Steve Crowe and Mobile Robot Guide editor Mike Oitzman review the latest robotics, automation and intelligent systems news and announcements, and interview leading roboticists, leaders of innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

You can subscribe to The Robot Report Podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud, Spotify and more. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review!

Sponsorship OpportunitiesFor The Robot Report Podcast sponsorship opportunities, please contact Courtney Nagle.

Episode 45 of The Robot Report Podcast recaps the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards, which were announced earlier by publication Robotics Business Review. The RBR50 awards honor technology, business, and market innovations, as well as the robotics and automation organizations worldwide that were responsible for them.

In this session, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman are joined by Dan Kara, VP of the Robotics Group at WTWH Media, to discuss how the RBR50 has evolved over the years, how the 50 winners were selected, and the many forms of innovation. They each also share three of our their favorite winners, breaking down the innovations and what they mean for each respective company and the market(s) they operate in. To view the complete list of RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award winners, click HERE. A digital edition of the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Digital Edition can be found HERE.

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A Review of the 2021 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards - Robotics Business Review