In April 2020, the reality of the COVID-19 shutdowns rippled across industries, slowing investment across the board. However, some sectors, such as logistics and healthcare, continued to receive funding.
How telehealth could improve next-gen exoskeletons
ReWalk Robotics and the Wyss Institute are exploring how telehealth capabilities, including remote data provision, analysis and therapy, can improve exoskeletons.
Rocos to add remote management to Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot
Boston Dynamics has built partnerships to add capabilities to its Spot quadruped robot. The Rocos cloud-based management platform allows for greater autonomy as well as remote control.
Miso Robotics partners with PathSpot to scan restaurant workers for health, safety
Miso Robotics, creator of the Flippy burger-flipping robot, has partnered with PathSpot Technologies to bundle PathSpot’s hand-scanning technology to improve food and worker safety.
How robots can help manufacturers adapt post COVID-19
Robots continue to play an essential role in the fight against COVID-19. Robots are assisting with testing, working in labs, sanitizing spaces, surveilling public areas, and helping fulfill supply chains, just to name a few examples. They will have an even greater role in the recovery from both the novel coronavirus and economic disruption. It’s a…
How 6 River Systems’ robots help keep workers safe during the coronavirus pandemic
6 River Systems CTO Chris Cacioppo shares a blog post in which he describes the measures the mobile robot provider is taking to protect warehouse workers during the novel coronavirus crisis.
ElliQ beta testing shows how robots can relieve isolation for older people
Intuition Robotics, which raised funding shortly before global shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has reported positive results from beta testing of its ElliQ digital companion in relieving isolation among older people.
Cybersecurity shouldn’t be overlooked during COVID-19 response, says IEEE expert
Karen Panetta, a Tufts University Professor and IEEE Fellow, discusses why developers of robots, drones, AI, and autonomous vehicles need to remember cybersecurity for adoption past the novel coronavirus crisis.
Survey finds coronavirus changing consumer comfort with AI, robots, and self-driving cars
A new survey has found that Americans have become somewhat more accepting of AI and robots, but developers will still have to take skepticism and job fears into account.
4 types of robots playing vital roles during COVID-19
A perfect storm of disruptions to supply, demand and workplace practices has turned the world of manufacturing and supply chains upside down. Social distancing and isolation are the order of the day, and manual tasks normally undertaken by humans are suddenly out of reach or unsafe. Undertaking these tasks without human-to-human contact is exactly where…
Keenon rolls out disinfection robot to hospitals in China and beyond
Shanghai-based Keenon Robotics has joined the companies and universities offering disinfection robots for the ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus.
How Siemens designed a disinfection robot in 1 week
“What can I do to support the battle against COVID-19? I kept thinking about this question over and over again,” says Yu Qi, Head of Siemens China’s Research Group for Advanced Manufacturing Automation located in Qingdao. As China intensified its efforts to combat the virus during Chinese New Year holidays, he was trying to figure…
iRobot Terra robot lawn mower delayed due to COVID-19
COVID-19 won’t stop lawns from being mowed, but it looks like you’ll be doing it the old-fashioned way for even longer. iRobot delayed the launch of its long-awaited Terra robot lawn mower. And the Bedford, Mass.-based company didn’t specify a future launch date for the product. In its Q1 2020 earnings call, iRobot said it “suspended…
Pandemic proves utility of a wide range of service robots
As part of our ongoing coverage of robotics applications during the COVID-19 pandemic, we look at more uses in healthcare, transportation, and utilities.
Dr. Spot the robot dog now seeing COVID-19 patients
Simplicity doesn’t typically come to mind when thinking about Boston Dynamics and how it engineers its robots. But the newest application for its Spot quadruped could be the simplest, yet most valuable use yet. Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, one of the world’s leading hospital’s, has been using Spot for the last week as…
Nuro R2 driverless vehicles delivering COVID-19 supplies
What a start it’s been for the Nuro R2 driverless vehicles, which were introduced in February 2020. The second-generation vehicles were granted a major exemption by the U.S. Department of Transportation, received permission to test on the streets of California, and now they’re helping COVID-19 relief efforts. Nuro R2 driverless vehicles this week started making contact-free…
8 reasons to remain positive about US economy
I’d like to offer some positive news in the midst of the dire outlook that’s been the regular diet of late on news stations. Last week, we hosted a webinar with renowned economist Alan Beaulieu of ITR Economics that examined what the COVID-19 crisis means for the economy over the next few months and years. If…
The Robot Report April 2020 Issue: Healthcare Robotics
We hope you find the latest edition of The Robot Report informative. This month’s issue is devoted to healthcare robotics, in particular how the industry is responding to the COVID-19 crisis. The insert appeared in the April 2020 print issue of Design World, sibling publication to The Robot Report, Collaborative Robotics Trends, and Robotics Business Review. The…
How Vecna Robotics is helping combat ventilator shortage
Vecna Robotics is part of the growing number of companies combating the shortage of ventilators caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Waltham, Mass.-based Vecna Robotics, along with sister companies VecnaCares and Vecna Healthcare, partnered with MIT CSAIL, Toyota Research Institute, 10XBeta and others to develop an automated manual resuscitator called Ventiv. Ventiv can be used in…
Robotics and automation firms join COVID-19 fight
Robotics and automation can help manufacturers, healthcare workers, and consumers get through the novel coronavirus situation, says German association VDMA.
Uchimura Robotics to distribute UVD disinfection robots in U.S. Southeast
Denmark-based UVD Robots has selected Uchimura Robotics to resell its autonomous mobile disinfection robots in the Southeastern U.S.
Chowbotics’ Sally feeds frontline health workers during coronavirus crisis
Chowbotics, whose Sally robotic salad dispenser can make meals to order 24/7, has been helping hospitals feed front-line staffers during the COVID-19 pandemic.