Listen to this article

In this episode, we go into detail about cloud-based control of remote fleets of outdoor robotics with an interview with Xavier Orr, CEO, of Advanced Navigation along with one of its customers: Michael Arens, co-founder and CEO of Clean Earth Rovers. Advanced Navigation has a portfolio of guidance sensors, a plug-and-play cellular modem, and the new Cloud Ground Control software.

News of the week:

• North American industrial robot sales down in Q1 23
  •  In Q1 2023, North American companies ordered just 9,168 units – down 21% from the same quarter in 2022. 
  • Automotive customers accounted for 68% of all robot orders in Q1, with 5,659 robots purchased. Non-automotive customers, in industries like consumer goods, semiconductors and electronics, plastic and rubber, life sciences/pharmaceutical/biomedical, metals and more, purchased 3,519 robots, down 42% over Q1 2022.
  • In the first nine months of 2020 and 2021, non-automotive robotics sales topped automotive sales for the first time. 
  • It should be noted A3 only collects sales data on traditional industrial robots. It doesn’t collect data about autonomous mobile robots or collaborative robotic arms. If A3 recorded sales for these types of robots, too, sales numbers would be higher.
• IAM Robotics relaunches the company with a new product focus and abandons the idea of mobile manipulation in warehouse use cases.
• DHL signs a contract for 5,000 more Locus Robots
• New ASTM F45.06 legged Subcommittee announced
  • “Legged robotics show a lot of promise,” Aaron Prather, the Director of Robotics & Autonomous Systems Programs at ASTM, said. “For a world built for humans and our type of locomotion, legged robots have numerous use cases and applications available to them going forward. However, with the lack of test standards that can show performance levels of any type it is going to be a challenge to convince the public and potential regulatory agencies that these robots can operate around humans, especially in public settings.”

The episode this week is sponsored by Cloud Ground Control.

You can also follow the show on your favorite podcast app. Please like, comment and share the show with a colleague.