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In this Robot Report podcast, Terradepth’s founders discuss their autonomous, underwater data collection solution. Also, Exyn Technologies’ CEO describes the company’s autonomous aerial system for data collection in GPS-denied environments.

Sustainability initiatives, workforce uncertainty and productivity requirements are key demands drivers for Monarch’s electric, autonomous, tractor solution, a harbinger of the emerging era of data driven, digital farming.

Distribution Centers are exploiting data and using Labor Management Software (LMS) to optimize processes, overcome labor challenges, and drive automation deployments, including robotics systems.

Unloading shipping containers is a difficult task to automate, but one with a very compelling business case and consequent mandate by logistics and shipping companies. In this Robot Report podcast, Evan Drumwright, CEO of Dexterous Robotics discusses his company’s unique approach to identifying, grasping and manipulation objects in shipping containers. Other news and discussion follows.

Southie Autonomy’s solution enables programming of industrial robots via a gesture-based interface, no robotics expertise or even programming skills required. The value proposition? Simplified programming, rapid development, support for high-mix and/or low-volume applications, more.

FedEx’s Aaron Prather discusses the four critical steps robotics start-ups must take to in order to have their solutions reviewed, acquired and successfully deployed by Global 2000 businesses.

Walmart’s decision to end its five year experiment with Bossa Nova Robotics and their in-store robot program was unexpected, but upon further analysis not without merit, at least in the short term. Other robotics companies servicing the retail sector are progressing, but they must continue to innovate to be successful.

Digital transformation is a key strategic imperative for most every company. The ability to apply digital technologies to automate and modify workflow processes, including engineering processes, is critical. In this RoboBusiness Direct session, John McEleney, Corporate Vice President of Strategy at PTC, share his insights on how to design and develop robots in today’s digital era.

As application opportunities increase, the mobile robotics sector continues to expand rapidly, with funding to start-ups continuing, and larger established technology companies, including AGV suppliers, entering the market with solutions developed in-house or acquired. As standardization and commoditization looms, companies emphasize SW, RaaS and specialization as differentiators.

Large companies are not immune to the negative effects of ‘Pilot Purgatory’ on their digital and manufacturing transformation initiatives, including their merger, acquisition, and divestiture efforts. Strategic, transparent, and cross-functional execution are key to avoiding stagnation.

As robotics systems become more globally interconnected and ubiquitous, cybersecurity risks for companies using and developing them increase. Alias Robotics address the challenge with a mixture of software, hardware and consulting services solutions.

With the announcement of eight new robotics technology projects, all involving collaboration between government, industry, and academia, the ARM Institute’s total for completed or ‘in process’ advanced robotics for manufacturing programs increases to fifty-nine.

In this informative RoboBusiness Direct session, Conor Walsh, founder of the Harvard Biodesign Lab and faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, will describe the current state of soft robotics research, the many ways soft wearable robots are actively being deployed now, as well as emerging opportunities for the technology.

As this case study from Boston Engineering attests, the process of developing and testing exoskeleton technologies for military applications requires a capabilities alignment across all program participants, including military, industry and academic contributors. Direct feedback from soldiers, including their insights into the effect of exos on cognitive function, is also critical.

With ongoing supply chain disruptions, how can robotics companies bring new technologies and products to market? In this RoboBusiness Direct session, Nate Evans, Co-Founder of Fictiv, will describe how Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems provide a cost-efficient and low-risk solution to this challenge.

By leveraging a combination of sensing / digitalization and AI / ML, Omnirobotic provides “high-mix” manufacturers a spray, coating and finishing solution, delivered as a service, that reduces robot programming costs while increasing productivity.

Before deploying autonomous driving systems (ADS), we must know how, when, and whether they will work. There is no excuse for allowing the attention of drivers to stray during automated operation – if a system is really semi- and not fully autonomous.

Inspecting and repairing industrial piping systems is difficult, time consuming and costly. FLX Solutions provides a unique, cost effective solution in the form of a snake-like robot.

For small-to-medium manufacturers (SMMs), especially those with high-mix, low-volume production loads, collaborative robots provide many benefits over traditional industrial robots for certain tasks. But deploying cobots can be challenging. Thankfully, the US’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) can help.

Pilot purgatory and industrial tourism has hindered the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in the manufacturing sector, and can be especially damaging to solution provider start-ups. Early diagnosis of the threat is key.

Industrial Robot’s Joanne Pransky interviews Hugh Herr, head of the Biomechatronics Research Group and Center for Extreme Bionics at MIT, about the challenges and joys of developing and commercializing robotic prostheses.

RBR’s offers hot takes on ONRobot’s sanding solution, Brain Corporation’s new CTO, the US DoD seeking sensing solutions, and the Dive Technologies / Virginia Tech partnership.

Market research and consultancy firm Interact Analysis estimates that worldwide revenues for mobile robots will reach US $2.4B in 2020, representing a 45% increase for AMRs and 11% for AGVs over 2019. But that is only the beginning.

The Covid-19 pandemic has broadened the use case for food and grocery delivery services, and enhanced their value proposition. The same can be said for autonomous food and grocery delivery, but significant, business, technological, social and political challenges remain which the accelerative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic do not ameliorate.

At the September 22nd RoboBusiness Direct session, manufacturing expert Jean Olivieri, COO at Fictiv, will discuss how new digital manufacturing ecosystems can help deliver digital transformation without the high price tag, disruption and complexity.