Robotics

Researchers have invented bubble casting, a new way to make soft robots using "fancy balloons" that change shape in predictable ways when inflated with air.

When grazing goats that are wearing this new technology hear a beep, it alerts them to stay within the invisible boundary of the grazing area. If they don't, a digital collar around their necks gives them a small electric shock.

Wednesday 17 November 2021 - Over the last year, we've seen an increasing number of 5G consumer network rollouts and field testing around the world. This webinar discusses an overview of 5G development; 5G commercial deployment; an overview of 5G application; and much more.

Ocean Infinity, the marine robotics company is pleased to announce it is a winner of The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, enabling the Company and its partners to build a Marine Propulsion Test facility, with an integrated Ammonia Marine Propulsion System. The test facility will demonstrate clean-fuelled technology eventually capable of powering Ocean Infinity's Armada fleet, using an innovative ammonia based fuel cell system.

A company founded at the University of Waterloo's flagship incubator has performed the first autonomous robotic intramuscular injection, paving the way to improved patient care in an industry faced with labour shortages. Cobionix, an autonomous robotics company located in Kitchener-Waterloo, performed the injection—without needles—using their Cobi platform.

A team of engineers has invented new technology that could forever change the manufacturing of wearable, electronic sensors. They've figured out a way to speed up production without having to use polymer binders - the industry standard in printing flexible sensors, which are often used to monitor vital signs in health care settings.

Picking up a blueberry or grape without squishing it isn't hard, but try teaching it to a robot. The same goes for walking on ice, turning a key to unlock a door or cooking a favorite dish. When it comes to the senses, touch remains a challenge for artificial intelligence and robotics researchers.

Friday 12 November 2021 - covering recent progress with smart cities and what is likely to happen in 2022. It deals with both new cities and existing ones that are radically modernising. Learn how the objectives are now far more ambitious

IDTechEx spoke to OnRobot at the event Robotics and Automation 2021. OnRobot - headquartered in Odense, Denmark - is an end-effector tooling producer for a range of robots, and now has about 200 employees.

IDTechEx spoke to Mick Priestley, Business Development Manager at KNAPP at the event Robotics and Automation 2021. They are a global provider of automation solutions, employing more than 5000 people worldwide. They are an integrator for every process in the intralogistics, including picking, sorting, packing and transporting.

IDTechEx spoke to Steven Morris, Product Sales Support Manager at Rexroth at the event Robotics and Automation 2021. Rexroth is an engineering company providing industrial components, equipment, conveyors, AGVs and collaborative robots. They are based in Lohr am Mail in Germany. Rexroth is the result of a merge on 1 May 2001 between Mannesmann Rexroth AG and the Automation Technology Business Unit of Robert Bosch GmbH, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH.

IDTechEx spoke to Frazer Watson, UK Country Manager at iFollow. They develop, manufacture and sell autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for order picking and transportation of heavy loads in warehouses. They are based in Gentilly, France, and have about 35 employees. However, Frazer has revealed the plans to expand its manufacturing facilities in France and open a new UK office in Derby, since they recently received a 7.5 million EUR (8.66 million USD) investment.

5G has two new frequency bands: sub-6 GHz (3.5 - 7 GHz) and mmWave (>24 GHz). 5G sub-6 GHz, with a frequency relatively close to the 4G frequency range, does not receive as much attention as the other new frequency band - mmWave. Even though there has been a lot of buzz surrounding mmWave, has this technology been extensively adopted? What are the pain points in the mmWave industry? What are its prospects for the future?

IDTechEx spoke to Ari Yakir, VP R&D at Cogniteam. They are a start-up in the field of robotic simulation for R&D stages. They are based in Petach Tiqva, Israel, and employ about 25 people. They recently raised $4.2 million for new products.

ABB is a Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, operating mainly in robotics, power, heavy electrical equipment, and automation technology areas. ABB has about 105000 employees in over 100 countries, and their total revenue in 2020 is 26.5 billion USD, with a 7% decrease compared to 2019. They were demonstrating two collaborative robot arm units at the Robotics and Automation 2021 event, where IDTechEx visited their booth.

IDTechEx had a conversation with Mitsubishi Electric at Robotics & Automation 2021. Mitsubishi Electric, as a core company of Mitsubishi Group, now has over 150000 employees overall the world, generating a turnover of about 40 billion USD in 2020. Mitsubishi Electric produces a wide range of robots to cater to the full spectrum of modern requirements.

IDTechEx spoke to Sam Woodward, Sales Support UK at Element Logic at the Robotics and Automation 2021. As a distributor of AutoStore, Element Logic is headquartered in Kløfta, Norway, and has about 180 employees. AutoStore provides cube-based warehouse automation. Their products allow the bins/totes to be stacked up to 16 layers, with robots on the top to pick and retrieve goods. AutoStore has many partners worldwide, including well-known Swisslog and Dematic, to distribute the products, and Element Logic is one of them.

IDTechEx briefly spoke to Parmley Graham at the event Robotics & Automation 2021. They are a distributor and reseller of automation solutions and components. They are Siemens' approved partner, and the partner of some world's top companies in industrial automation, including ABB, Festo, Rethink Robotics, etc. They now employ about 90-100 people, headquartered in Gateshead, the UK, and are active in the UK market.

IDTechEx spoke to Joe Daft, Robotics Automation Champion and Head of Robotics at Wise Robotics at Robotics & Automation 2021. They provide AGV fleet management software that monitors, manages and operates mobile robots, with the flexibility to use in conjunction with existing ERP or WMS system. Wise Robotics is based in Lincoln, the UK, employing about 10 people.

IDTechEx spoke to Liam Firkin, Business Development Manger at Invar at Robotics and Automation 2021 event. Their headquarter is in Cranfield, the UK, and they have about 100 employees worldwide. Invar is fully an integrator for all types of warehousing automation solutions.