Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Inuitive’s NU4100 IC can be used for robotics, drones, VR and edge-AI applications. | Source: Inuitive Inuitive, Ltd. , a Vision-on-Chip processors company, announced the launch of its NU4100, an expansion of its Vision and AI IC portfolio. Based on Inuitive’s unique architecture and advanced 12nm process technology, the NU4100 IC supports integrated dual-channel 4K ISP, enhanced AI processing and depth sensing in a single-chip, low-power design, setting the new industry standard for Edge-AI performance. The NU4100 is the second generation of the NU4x00 series of products. The NU4x00 series is ideal for robotics, drones, VR, and edge-AI applications that demand multiple sensor aggregation, processing, packing and streaming. It is specifically designed for robots and other applications that must sense and analyze the environment using three, six or more cameras, as they make real-time actionable decisions based on that input. “Robots designers demand higher resolutions, an ever-i...

A UR cobot arm working on a palletizing task. | Source: Universal Robots MachineMetrics announced it released its connector for Universal Robots (UR). The connector allows users to easily and quickly connect to their robots and capture data from any UR equipment. MachineMetrics’ connector is available through the UR+ program to all current UR collaborative robot (cobot) users.  With MachineMetrics’ connector, users can maximize the uptime of their robots, increase productivity and drive additional throughput. The system is designed so customers can capture data from any piece of floor equipment within minutes.  “Connecting to, and capturing real-time data from, manufacturing equipment is what enables our customers to quickly and easily understand their production performance and the health of their machines,” Bill Bither, CEO and co-founder of MachineMetrics, said. “By connecting UR cobots to MachineMetrics, users can now gain real-time insights into cobot productivity,...

Mohsen Saadat has always been inventive and technically gifted. As a young boy, the 5-year-old Iranian invented his own toys, building small cars out of wire, for example – without any tools. The now 75-year-old’s passion for technology has never left. At 19, Saadat moved to Germany, studied engineering, and taught as a professor. In 1991, he founded GMG – Gesellschaft für modulare Greifersysteme in Soest, North Rhine-Westphalia. His goal was to combine higher design theory scientific methods with state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. “Within a few years, we successfully developed lightweight and flexible gripper systems for robots and automation systems based on the human hand,” says Saadat proudly. He convinced numerous industries of his technology. The grippers, which have up to six individually movable fingers and, in some cases, over 100 joints, are used to handle car wheels in the automotive industry, to hold up sacks when filling them with bulk material, or to package sa...

bitsensing’s 79GHz AIR 4D uses Multi-Chip Cascading technology to increase target identification, provide high-resolution 4D imagery, and aid in autonomous driving collision avoidance to reduce crashes and fatalities.  | Credit: bitsensing South Korean 4D imaging radar solution company bitsensing raised $10 million in Series A Funding for a total of $21 million in funding since its inception. Among the investors are AF WPartners, ARGES Private Equity, Mando Corporation and more. bitsensing delivers radar solutions for autonomous vehicles, and intelligent traffic management and now is expanding into optimizing radars for indoor usage with features for everyday wellness. The newly developed wellness solution not only provides sleep analysis and lifestyle recommendations to improve sleep quality but also delivers early-stage prediction of illness through the accumulated sleep data- the first in the world to achieve this advancement. “It was a natural progression to begin develop...

1MRobotics creates fully autonomous micro-fulfillment centers. | Source: 1MRobotics 1MRobotics , a Tel Aviv, Israel-based company developing the next generation of robotic dark stores, emerged from stealth with two rounds of funding totaling $25 million. The company brought in $8.5 million in seed funding and $16.5 million in Series A funding.  Ibex Investors led the most recent funding round, which also included participation from the company’s existing investors Emerge VC, Target Global and INT3. 1MRobotics plans to use the funding to expand into new global markets and enterprise clients, and to grow its team.  1MRobotics has designed an off-the-shelf fulfillment solution that can be deployed anywhere while reducing workforce headcount to the bare minimum. Genesis, the company’s first product offering, can turn spaces into fully automated dark stores. Genesis can be deployed as a standalone unit inside a shipping container that could be placed on street corners or other...

This week, Linux’s Benevolent Dictator For Life Linus Torvalds mentioned that the Rust programming language would be used in the upcoming Linux 6.1 kernel . Currently, the Linux kernel is at preview version 6.0-rc6 (codenamed “ Hurr durr I’ma ninja sloth ”) so we have a bit of time before we all have Rust powering the kernel, but the mere announcement is news-worthy. It’s the author’s opinion that this embrace of Rust at the very core of Linux will be a huge boost to the robotics community. There are a few reasons for my optimism. First, let’s acknowledge that those in charge of the capital-K Linux Kernel have traditionally forbidden the use of any language other than good old-fashioned C; leaving those confines willingly is remarkable. This will do two important things for the community: start to relieve tech’s complete reliance on C as a programming protocol , and invite programmers who are Rust-forward to make a mark on Linux as a whole. After all, this movement has already st...

Welcome to Episode 94 of The Robot Report Podcast , which brings conversations with robotics innovators straight to you. Join us each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies and other key members of the robotics community. This week, we speak with the CEO and founder of RoboTire, Victor Darolfi, about automating the tire-changing procedure in your neighborhood auto repair shop with robots. It is a dirty, back-breaking task that appears simple to automate, but Victor walks us through the difficulties of automating using vision and robots. The podcast also discusses the top stories of the week, including the recent ABB rebranding of the recently acquired ASTI mobile robotics division. Links from today’s show: RoboTire Career Faire at RoboBusiness 2022 ABB launches Flexley mobile robots, completing rebrand of ASTI AMRs The Gripper Company launches MAXXgrip HP announces autonomous construction layout printing robot   If you would li...