Japanese robot maker FANUC is investing 26 billion yen ($240 million) into the expansion of its Shanghai, China plant. The company plans to expand the Shanghai facility five-fold over the next three years, through a joint venture that is operated with local player Shanghai Electric Group. The new project covers an area of about 431…
Momenta raises $500M for autonomous driving technology
Momenta, a Beijing-based developer of autonomous vehicle technology, raised a $500 million Series C round of funding. The round was led by SAIC Motor, China’s biggest automaker, Toyota, and Bosch. Momenta has now raised more than $700 million since it was founded in 2016. Momenta is developing what it calls the “brain” of autonomous vehicles,…
Plus raises $200M for autonomous truck technology
Plus, a developer of autonomous truck technology, raised $200 million in funding. The round was led by new investors Guotai Junan International, CPE, and Wanxiang International Investment. Existing investors also participated. Plus told The Robot Report it has now raised about $400 million since it was founded in 2016. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company just raised…
AutoX’s Shenzhen robotaxi service opens to public
Chinese self-driving pioneer AutoX is opening up its fully driverless robotaxi pilot program to the public in Shenzhen this morning. This is the first time the general public in China can book a ride in a robotaxi that doesn’t have a safety driver, AutoX claimed. Interested parties can sign up for a ride via this…
Uisee raises $154M for autonomous driving technology
Uisee Technology, a Beijing-based autonomous driving technology startup, raised $154 million in funding from the Chinese government-backed Guokai National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrade Fund. Uisee said the funding will be used to accelerate the development of its full-stack autonomous driving technology. Founded in 2016, Uisee’s autonomy stack helps create L4 autonomous vehicles for a variety…
Edge Medical Robotics raises $92M Series B
Edge Medical Robotics has closed a $92.6 million Series B round of funding. The Shenzhen, China-based startup will use the funding to accelerate the development and commercialization of its robots for minimally invasive surgery. The company’s website is quite vague, but it reportedly has three products, including single- and multi-port robots for laparoscopic surgery and…
China’s WeRide raises another $110M for autonomous vehicles
Less than one month after raising a $200 million Series B1 round of funding, Guangzhou, China-based WeRide raised another $110 million via Series B2 and B3 rounds. This brings the Series B to a total of $310 million for the developer of Level 4 autonomous vehicles. WeRide said it already kicked off its Series C…
How a hospital in China automates drug dispensing
As one of the busiest parts of a hospital, the pharmacy has, over the years, relied on technology to streamline its operations. From electronic tablet counters to completely computerized stocking and labeling solutions, technology has had a transformative impact on pharmacies across the world. Challenge Still, factors weighing on the efficiency of drug dispensing are…
maxon building custom drives for rehab robots
maxon Group and Fourier Intelligence today announced they are entering into a global strategic partnership. Fourier Intelligence, a Shanghai-based startup founded in 2015, will use maxon’s precision drive systems for the development of its rehabilitation robotics systems. Fourier already uses maxon’s BLDC motors in its ExoMotus X2 exoskeleton, a powered lower-limb exoskeleton. maxon will now be…
Flexiv raises more than $100M for adaptive robots
Flexiv competes with collaborative robotics makers such as ABB, Doosan Robotics, KUKA, Universal Robots and more.
Mech-Mind Robotics raises Series B+ funding for smarter industrial robots
Mech-Mind Robotics, which combines 3D vision, deep learning, and motion planning to make industrial automation more intelligent, has raised nearly $15 million to accelerate development and marketing.
How the U.S. election could affect the future of autonomous driving, China relations
Pär-Olof Johannesson, CEO of TerraNet AB, offers his perspective on how the U.S. presidential election will affect the development of autonomous and electric vehicles worldwide, as well as relations with China.
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.
Demystifying China’s robotics industry, Motional talks robotaxis, TRI previews kitchen robot
In this week’s episode of The Robot Report Podcast, we learn about industrial automation in China, self-driving taxis and trucks, and robots for household and commercial kitchens,
Robotics investments recap: September 2020
In September 2020, healthcare robotics, drones for inspection, and industrial automation received funding, but transactions slowed for autonomous vehicle developers.
Robotic Coffee Master from OrionStar and Cheetah Mobile begins serving customers
OrionStar said its new Robotic Coffee Master has two six-axis arms and relies on 3,000 hours of machine learning to simulate master-level brewing techniques.
China’s robotics industry: Analyst takes a look at what’s new in 2020
China’s industrial automation and robotics market demonstrates significant strengths in 2020, but immature firms and trade conflicts with the U.S. still pose challenges, writes international consultant Georg Stieler.
Pudu Robotics raises additional financing for indoor delivery robots
Pudu Robotics has raised $30 million in the past two months, as it grows its global fleet of service robots for indoor deliveries.
Cao Cao Mobility, DeepRoute partner on robotaxis to serve 2022 Asian Games
DeepRoute’s self-driving system will be used in Cao Cao’s autonomous robotaxi service at the multisport event.
Robotics investments recap: July 2020
In July 2020, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and surgical robots continued to receive funding at steady levels in comparison with the same period last year.
SVNet perception software from StradVision to guide Changan CS75 SUVs
StradVision’s SVNet software will be paired with ultrasonic sensors in Changan’s CS75 Plus advanced driver
assistance system.
AutoX gets California permit to test autonomous vehicles without a safety driver
AutoX’s permit, which allows for autonomous vehicles to test drive without a safety driver present, is only the third of its kind issued by California.