Real-Time Innovations said that robotics developers can now use RTI Connext DDS scalability and productivity tools within the ROS 2 ecosystem.
Report: Hyundai in talks to acquire Boston Dynamics
We have often said – whether on The Robot Report Podcast or in various articles – 2020 has been the year of Boston Dynamics. Well, apparently others have noticed, too. According to Bloomberg, Hyundai Motor is in talks to acquire Boston Dynamics from SoftBank Group. The Bloomberg report, which cites multiple unnamed sources, said the…
Pony.ai partners to mass produce self-driving cars as Series C brings valuation to $5.3B
Pony.ai will be working with China FAW Group on design and manufacturing of its robotaxis and autonomous trucks. The company completed Series C fundraising of $267 million.
Soft robotic gripper modeled after an elephant’s trunk
Nature has inspired engineers at UNSW Sydney to develop a soft fabric robotic gripper that behaves like an elephant’s trunk to grasp, pick up and release objects without breaking them. The researchers say the versatile technology could be widely applied in sectors where fragile objects are handled, such as agriculture, food and the scientific and…
China’s Inceptio Technology raises $120M for L3 autonomous trucks
Inceptio expects to begin production of autonomous trucks by the end of 2021 and begin operating a trucking network in 2022.
Autonomous delivery vehicle provider Nuro raises $500M in Series C funding
Nuro, which has developed and is operating its R2 autonomous delivery vehicles in three U.S. states, has raised about $1.5 billion to date.
National Society of Black Engineers virtual summit to promote diversity
The National Society of Black Engineers is hosting its virtual ALL IN Summit on Wednesday, November 18 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm EST. The ALL IN Summit is designed to introduce and connect corporations with proven programs to help deliver on their commitment to drive real change for the Black community. During the height of…
BIONIK Laboratories applies robotics, AI, and data analysis to neurological rehabilitation
BIONIK Laboratories, which provides three InMotion therapeutic robots for neurological rehabilitation and the InMotion Connect data management system, is an example of how developers of assistive technology can work with hospitals.
Special Issue: 2020 Robotics Handbook
The Robotics Handbook focuses on the hottest global robotics sectors and analyses key trends enabling the development of robotics systems.
Universal Robots launches cobot certification program
The Education Program provides a pathway to master cobot programming and deployment as part of an Industry 4.0 career.
Picnic updates pizza making robot as a service, and adds executives to team
Picnic said new executive appointments and improvements to its pizza-making robot are designed to help meet increasing demand.
Space exploration, robot partners require new algorithms for safety, says IEEE Fellow
Panagiotis Tsiotras, an IEEE Fellow and Georgia Tech professor, describes some of his research into improving autonomy on the ground and in space and why it’s an exciting time to be a robotics student.
Analyzing the Bossa Nova-Walmart separation; autonomous yard trucks with Outrider
In Episode 23 of The Robot Report Podcast, our editors discuss robotics in retail with the CEO of Simbe Robotics, autonomous vehicles in shipping yards with Outrider’s CEO, and some of the latest applications of the Spot quadruped.
Quaternium, Löweheiser achieve 10 hour, 14 minute flight with HYBRiX drone
Spain-based drone maker Quaternium and fuel-injection system provider Löweheiser said they have set a new endurance record for hybrid-powered aerial drones by combining technologies in the HYBRiX system.
VARTA and Naïo Technologies collaborate on charging station for agricultural robots
France-based Naio Technologies and Germany-based VARTA are collaborating on autonomous charging stations for agricultural robots that depend on renewable energy sources for minimal human supervision.
BEYOND program to build collaborative framework for drone integration into U.S. airspace
Virginia Tech hailed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BEYOND program, which is intended to foster stakeholder engagement in safely integrating aerial drones into the U.S. airspace for commercial uses.
Unlimited Tomorrow designs personalized prosthetics to empower amputees
Among the tradeoffs in designing robotic prosthetics is the one between cost and function. Unlimited Tomorrow uses innovative production methods and maxon drives to help children gain function.
Robocath, MicroPort MedBot joint venture to develop, distribute vascular robots in China
China-based MicroPort MedBot and France-based Robocath have formed a joint venture to commercialize the R-One robot-assisted platform for cardiovascular surgery in China.
Aeva makes SPAC deal to scale up production of 4D lidar on a chip for self-driving cars
Aeva has entered into an agreement with special purpose acquisition company InterPrivate Acquisition Corp. to scale up production of its 4D lidar sensor on a chip, which it said can benefit autonomous vehicles and robotics.
Walmart ends five year inventory robot contract with Bossa Nova Robotics — updated
Walmart has ended its five-year contract for inventory robots from Bossa Nova Robotics, reports The Wall Street Journal. This is a setback for robots in retail, as demand shifts and technologists seek to automate various tasks.
Ocado acquires Haddington Dynamics, Kindred for $287M
Ocado, a leading British online supermarket, has acquired two U.S.-based robotics companies for $287 million in hopes of making its warehouses more efficient. Ocado purchased San Francisco-based Kindred Systems, which specializes in robotic piece-picking, for about $262 million and Las Vegas-based Haddington Dynamics, a developer of low-cost robotic arms, for about $25 million. The acquisitions…
MIRA surgical robot from Virtual Incision gets FDA Investigational Device Exemption
Virtual Incision said it has received an investigational device exemption for it Miniaturized In Vivo Robotic Assistant, or MIRA, platform for minimally invasive colon resection surgery.