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Qualifying ‘Essential’ News
Each week the editors of Robotics Business Review (RBR) select those announcements judged to be the most important and impactful to the readers of RBR. Below are the selections for the interval ranging from January 8th – 14th, 2021.
Referenced Companies
Companies referenced include include notices from Hyundai Robotics, MakinaRocks, Oceaneering International, WeRide.ai, Energy Robotics, DreamVu, Quicktron, Leadec, maxon Group, Fourier Intelligence and Naïo Technologies.
MakinaRocks and Hyundai Robotics Sign MOU to Industrial Robot Arm Anomaly Detection
January 14, 2021
MakinaRocks (Korea), an industrial machine intelligence provider, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Robotics (Korea), a supplier of industrial and service robots, to develop anomaly detection solutions, based on deep learning & reinforcement learning, for articulated robotic arms. To this end, the two companies plan to develop operating environments for deep learning models that autonomously predict failures and perform quality management and integrate them with Hyundai Robotics’ Robot Monitoring System (HRMS).
Oceaneering’s Subsea Robotics Group’s Q4 2020 Contract Wins Exceed US $225
January 14, 2021
Oceaneering International (Houston, Texas – NYSE:OII) announced that its Subsea Robotics segment won multiple contracts during Q4 with anticipated aggregate revenue in excess of $225 million. The contracts are with international oil and gas operators and marine construction companies, and range in duration from several months to five years. The contracts are primarily for remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services delivered from floating drilling rigs and multi-service, subsea intervention, and construction vessels. Also included among the contracted scopes are ROV tooling, survey, positioning, and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) services.
WeRide.ai Lands US $110M Follow-Up Round for a Total US $310M Series B Funding
January 13, 2021
Guangzhou, China-based WeRide.ai, a provider of autonomous vehicles and other mobility solutions, raised US $110 million in investments via Series B round. The follow-on investment came less than a month after the company secured a $200 million Series B1 round of funding via Series B2 and B3 investments. To date, the company has received US $513 million in funding from 23 investors.
Energy Robotics Receives EU €2 Million in Seed Funding
January 13, 2021
Energy Robotics (Germany), a developer of software solutions for mobile inspection robots used for remote inspection and monitoring in demanding environments such as the oil & gas, petrochemical, security and energy industries, announced a EU €2 million (US $2.4 million) Seed funding round, led by Earlybird. The funding will be used develop their software solution and expand their partner network. Energy Robotics was a 2020 Robotics Business Review RBR50 Innovation Award winner.
DreamVu Launches PAL Family of 360° 3D Vision Systems
January 12, 2021
Philadelphia, PA based DreamVu, a producer of omnidirectional 3D vision systems, announced the commercial availability of its Pal and Pal Mini solutions, camera / software platforms that perform obstacle detection & obstacle avoidance, localization and mapping and people detection. Both PAL systems generate a 360° horizontal field of view, with PAL providing a 110° vertical field of view, while the PAL Mini offers a vertical field of view of 80°.
AMR Maker Quicktron Intelligent Technology Completes C+ Funding Round
January 11, 2021
Quicktron Intelligent Technology Co. (‘Quicktron’), a Chinese Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) manufacturer, has completed a C+ round funding led by KION Group, a provider of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions. Other investors included Prosperity7 Ventures and Aramco Ventures. The funding amount was undisclosed (Quicktron has received approximately US $100 million to date). In 2020, Quicktron launched Quick Pick intelligent robotic solution, which is currently being used in e-commerce, retail, footwear, manufacturing, and other industries.
Leadec Acquires Diversified Automation
January 11, 2021
Stuttgart, Germany based Leadec, a services solutions provider for industry, has acquired Louisville, Kentucky based Diversified Automation, an automation controls and software solutions provider. The deal was completed effective December 31, 2020. According to Leadec officials, the Diversified acquisition, will expand Leadec’s portfolio into parcel automation and strengthens the company’s existing operations in North America.
maxon Group and Fourier Intelligence Announce Neurorehabilitation Technologies Strategic Partnership
January 10, 2021
maxon Group (Switzerland), a developer and manufacturer of motors and other motion control technologies, and rehabilitation robotics solutions provider Fourier Intelligence (China) have entered into a global strategic partnership for the development of advanced rehabilitation technologies. Fourier currently uses maxon brushless DC electric motosr (BLDC motors) in their ExoMotus X2 exoskeleton. As part of the partnership, maxon will become part of the Exoskeleton & Robotics Open Platform System (EXOPS™), an open platform for research and development of exoskeleton and robotics systems. maxon will also provide “a variety of customized drive solutions with motors, gearheads, encoders and controllers to aspiring engineers who want to develop robotics solutions for rehabilitation services.”
Naïo Technologies Lands US $17 Million Funding Round
January 9, 2021
Agricultural robotics supplier Naïo Technologies (France) announced that it had received US $17 million (EU € 14 million) Series A funding round. The investment round was led by Pymwymic, Demeter, Capagro, and Bpifrance. Naïo Technologies representatives stated that the funds will be used for technology improvements and to scale up production of their systems.
