BEDFORD, Mass. – Energid and Motiv announced today a software development kit that would allow users of Motiv’s RoboMantis modular robotic system to more easily program the robot. The companies said Energid’s Actin SDK is a real-time adaptive robotic control tool kit that can help RoboMantis extend its capabilities within sophisticated applications in…
Exyn drone maps inactive mine on the fly
Ascot Resources geologists knew from surface drilling programs that there was still some gold in a mine that had been inactive since the 1940s. But they needed more information to determine how much resource remained. Surveying a previously active mine typically would be done by a specialist with handheld laser tools, but areas of the…
DroneDeploy raises $35M Series D to expand drone inspection capabilities
DroneDeploy has updated its software offerings, entered into international partnerships, and raised funding for drone inspections.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions unit created to address transport demands
Volvo Autonomous Solutions is a new business unit that will focus on autonomous, connected, and electric vehicles.
DARPA Subterranean Challenge harnesses creativity, seeks integrated solutions
Teams participating in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge must develop systems that can navigate and explore complex environments to “make the inaccessible accessible.”
Team Cerberus readies for Round 2 in DARPA Subterranean Challenge
Nevada’s Team Cerberus advanced in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, along with 10 other teams from around the world.
CMU, OSU team wins first event in DARPA Subterranean Challenge
A team from CMU and OSU beat 10 competitors in the Tunnel Circuit stage of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge. The robots conducted a mock search-and-rescue scenario.
Wenco, Hitachi Construction Machinery announce open ecosystem for autonomous mining
Hitachi Construction Machinery and Wenco have declared their support for open interoperability standards to grow the ecosystem for autonomous mining.
Exyn Technologies enabling advanced autonomous navigation
One of the biggest challenges in robotics is developing autonomous systems that can reliably operate in unmapped environments. This is why, for example, leading self-driving car company Waymo only tests in areas it’s spent countless hours at creating detailed 3D maps. Exyn Technologies, a spin-off of the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP lab founded by Vijay Kumar, is making tremendous…
Enaex launches Robominer
Sigdo Koppers Group subsidiary Enaex said this week it launched the Robominer teleoperated robot designed for mine safety and exploration. The Robominer platform, developed in collaboration with SRI International, is designed with an intent to improve miner safety and increase access to minerals which are difficult or expensive to reach with human workers. “SRI is…
Caterpillar announces upgrades to autonomous mining truck
Caterpillar Inc. recently revealed the newest capabilities and improvements to its Komatsu 930E autonomous mining truck, developed with Torc Robotics, the latest move in the company’s efforts to develop autonomous mining vehicles. “We want to do all we can to help our customers get the most out of their existing equipment assets,” Caterpillar Mining Technology…
SRI, Chilean mine operator Enaex launch RoboMiner
Chilean mining company Enaex Group launched the first versions of its RoboMiner and Mine-iTruck, developed to protect human employees of the mining industry. “These projects were specially created to continue enhancing the mining operation and its resources, but taking care of our greatest value, which are the people,” Enaex CEO Juan Andrés Errázuriz said in…
Avitas uses AI to make industrial inspections quicker, safer
General Electric subsidiary Avitas Systems is using artificial intelligence technology from AI company Nvidia to automate industrial inspections, reducing costs, turnaround time and risk. Using a team of drones, crawlers or wheeled robots and autonomous underwater vehicles, Avitas performs inspections at sites in the energy, transportation and oil and gas sectors, such as power plants,…
Blue River Technology sells to Deere for $305 million
Blue River Technology has been acquired by John Deere* for $305 million. The acquisition of the Silicon Valley artificial intelligence and farm equipment making startup by farming’s largest equipment manufacturer (Deere), is a great success story with a bit of a twist.
Robotics industry growing faster than expected
Two reputable research resources are reporting that the robotics industry is growing more rapidly than expected. BCG (Boston Consulting Group) is conservatively projecting that the market will reach $87 billion by 2025; Tractica, incorporating the robotic and AI elements of the emerging self-driving industry, is forecasting the market will reach $237 billion by 2022. Both research firms…
Notes and pics from Xponential in Dallas, Innorobo in Paris and ICRA in Singapore
Conferences and trade shows, held in interesting locations around the world, can be entertaining, informative and an opportunity to explore new places, meet new people and renew acquaintances. Three recent examples: Xponential, the mostly defense-related unmanned land, sea and air show, held in Dallas; Innorobo, focused on service robotics, in Paris; and ICRA, the IEEE's premier robotics…
FDA deals setback to Globus Medical’s ExcelsiusGPS robot-assisted surgery platform
Globus Medical (NYSE:GMED) said yesterday that the FDA won’t accept the 510(k) clearance bid for its ExcelsiusGPS robot-assisted surgery platform, likely delaying its launch until the 3rd quarter. Globus said in a regulatory filing that the federal safety watchdog told it that the company hadn’t “sufficiently addressed the FDA’s questions” about its original clearance application. Audubon, Pa.-based Globus…
Cyber attacks on robots a real threat — New report shows ease of hacking
Today’s automation connectivity support IIoT and Industry 4.0. setups, but the threat of cyber attacks on robots is very real. In fact, robots are just as exposed to corporate networks and the internet as other setups in industrial plants and applications — leaving them and their environments vulnerable. Now a new report from Trend Micro […]
April 2017 fundings, acquisitions, IPOs and failures
April 2017 had 17 robotics-related companies get funding totaling over $390 million – a fourth solid month for 2017 – $1.05 billion year-to-date. Acquisitions also continued to be substantial with ABB's $2 billion acquisition of Bernecker & Rainer, plus Baidu, iRobot and Cognex each making strategic acquistions. Fundings Mobvoi, a Chinese voice recognition startup, signed a strategic partnership to…
2016 funding and acquisitions updates
Although the original articles (2016 was best year ever for funding robotics startup companies) and (Over $19 billion paid to acquire 50 robotic companies) have been updated to reflect the omissions of 2016 fundings and acquisitions, listed below is a recap of those updated transactions: Fundings: $100 million for China-based RooBo – A China-based service robot maker…
Over $19 billion paid to acquire 50 robotics companies in 2016
2016 was a banner year for acquisitions of companies involved in robotics and automation: 50 sold; 11 for amounts over $500 million; five were over a billion. 30 of the 50 companies disclosed transaction amounts which totaled up to a colossal $18.867 billion! UPDATED 1-31-17: Our December story about the acquisition of Liquid Robotics by Boeing didn’t have any financial details but a flurry…
2016 best year ever for funding robotics startup companies
It was a busy and abundant year for seed, crowd, series A,B,C,D and VC funding of robotics-related startups. 128 companies got funded, some multiple times. $1.95 billion, 50% more than 2015 which was also a phenomenal year with over $1.32 billion funded. UPDATED 1/30/17: Added $100 million in China-based RooBo, $50 million for Israeli Roboteam, $9.5 million for Matternet, $2…