Service Robotics News
- June 2024 - Brick Hospitality, a prominent hospitality management company based in San Diego, has responded to the rising need for efficient guest services by incorporating guest service robots across all its hotel operations. Notably, it stands out as the hotel management group to deploy these robots across its entire portfolio.
- April 2024 - Pudu Robotics, known for its service industry robots, has expanded into the industrial domain with the PUDU T300. The T300 boasts exceptional maneuverability, enabling it to navigate tight industrial spaces effortlessly. Setting it apart from its counterparts, this robot is equipped with a map-and-go function, eliminating the need for constant network connectivity. Moreover, its IoT features encompass secure door access, elevator control, and advanced navigation, facilitated by a suite of lidar and depth cameras.
Related Automation Industry News
- October 2024: CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd has teamed up with NetApp to oversee its expansive 1.07 million sq ft office footprint in India. This portfolio encompasses NetApp's campus in Bengaluru, alongside sales offices situated in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The three-year contract, worth USD 3 million, encompasses a suite of Facility Management services. These services include Account Management, Finance and Budget Management, Procurement Management, Transport Management, F&B (Food & Beverage) Management, Cleaning & Janitorial Services, and Repair & Maintenance.
- September 2024: Awfis, a leading player in the coworking space arena, is selling off its facility management division, 'Awfis Care,' to SMS Integrated Facility Services for INR 27.5 Cr (USD 3.2 Million) in a slump sale. This strategic decision enables Awfis to concentrate more intently on its core business, the flexible workspace market, while also easing its administrative and compliance responsibilities. Awfis Care has been instrumental in providing technical maintenance and operational solutions across the company's varied workspaces.
- July 2024: STMicroelectronics unveiled the VL53L4ED, a single-zone Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor. With an impressive operating temperature range of -40°C to 105°C, this sensor is designed for demanding environments. The VL53L4ED enhances proximity detection and ranging capabilities, even under intense ambient light. Its versatile applications include industrial tools, smart factory machinery, robotic guidance systems, outdoor lighting management, and security solutions.
- June 2024: SICK has launched the Inspector83x 2D vision sensor, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) for rapid inspections on production lines. With the SICK Inspector83x, manufacturers can perform machine vision inspections with unmatched confidence and simplicity. The sensor ensures highly reliable outcomes, particularly in vital sectors such as consumer goods, food and beverage, automotive, and packaging.
- September 2024: Pickommerce, a trailblazer in warehouse automation, secured USD 3.4 million in funding. This infusion will accelerate the development, production, and marketing of its flagship PickoBot piece-picking robot. The funding round, led by IL Ventures, also attracted contributions from InNegev, Fusion VC, the Israel Innovation Authority, and ZIM Ventures, the corporate venture arm of the maritime behemoth ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
- September 2024: Seegrid, based in Pittsburgh and a specialist in Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for pallet handling, has successfully concluded a USD 50M Series D investment round. This capital injection is poised to accelerate Seegrid's endeavors in the autonomous lift sector, which are already surpassing growth projections.
- January 2024: TI introduced a range of all-in-one automotive solutions, including the first radar sensor explicitly designed for satellite architectures. It also launched new automotive devices capable of simplifying complex systems into single chips. TI's latest offerings could be a ready-made solution for designers aiming to enhance vehicle performance while meeting safety standards.
- July 2023: Infineon Technologies AG introduced the new XENSIV 60 GHz radar sensor BGT60UTR11AIP. With a compact size of only 16 mm2, it is the smallest 60 GHz radar sensor with antennas in a package (AIP). It is specifically designed for integration into the smallest devices. This makes the sensor ideal for vital sensing (heart and respiratory rate) and healthcare devices such as baby monitors and sleep trackers.
- February 2024: Spark New Zealand, a telecommunications firm, is set to construct a data center in North Shore, Auckland. This initiative is part of a broader expansion strategy, where the company is not only building three 'large-scale' data center campuses in Auckland but also establishing a network of regional data centers nationwide. The total investment for this expansion is estimated to range between NZD 156-189 million (USD 95-115m).
- April 2023: The government of New Zealand announced the building of a data center worth USD 188 million in its Auckland air force base and is expecting to complete construction by 2025. Such initiatives are expected to provide more opportunities for the vendors studied in the market.
- May 2024: ABB announced the launch of an innovative new package, consisting of an AMXE250 motor and HES580 inverter, tailored for electric buses. The new propulsion package, designed to work harmoniously for a more efficient, reliable, and readily available solution for the industry, marked a significant leap forward in cleaner, more sustainable transportation options.
- April 2024: Rockwell Automation Inc., the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, launched the FLEXLINE 3500, a new low-voltage motor control center (MCC) for IEC markets globally.
- April 2024: WEG launched its most efficient industrial motor, driving the energy transition. The W23 Sync+Ultra significantly avoids carbon emissions and moves the energy transition.
- July 2024: SATS, a Singapore-based food service caterer catering to the airline industry and airport lounges, forged a new partnership with Japan's Mitsui & Co. Both companies emphasized that this collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the parties’ food-value chain footprints across Asia. Building on a prior memorandum of understanding (MoU) between SATS and Mitsui, the newly proposed partnership seeks to "develop and grow their respective food and retail solutions businesses.
- February 2024: Conrad Maintenance, a cleaning firm based in Singapore, welcomed SoftBank Robotics Singapore (SBRSG) as a new shareholder. SBRSG serves as the Asia-Pacific headquarters for SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. This partnership marked one of the initial collaborations in Singapore, aiming to revolutionize cleaning services into a sophisticated facility management service branded as Smart Business Transformation (SmartBX TM). SBRSG is set to bolster Conrad Maintenance's efforts to digitize cleaning services. By harnessing robotics solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, it aims to provide efficient, on-demand cleaning services, driving innovation in the cleaning industry.
- September 2024: OrionStar Robotics introduced CarryBot, a logistics robot for microfulfillment centers (MFCs). CarryBot is meticulously designed to address the unique requirements of these compact and efficient logistics settings. Its transport capabilities, adaptability, and safety features represent a notable progression in warehouse automation, enhancing efficiency and flexibility in logistics and delivery.
- April 2024: Dematic announced the inauguration of its new office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic move reinforces Dematic's commitment to the Middle East and demonstrates its dedication to offering innovative solutions that cater to the specific needs of the local market.
- January 2024: Giant Eagle announced the opening of its first automated micro fulfillment center in Pittsburgh. This facility will stock various items, including center store goods and chilled and frozen products, to serve curbside pickup orders. To support the operation of the MFC, Giant Eagle is seeking candidates for several positions and will host an open house for interested individuals at the facility.
- July 2024: Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd and Ascendent Capital Partners ("Ascendent") announced the successful completion of their merger. This merger, involving Hollysys and entities affiliated with Ascendent, was executed by the agreement and merger plan dated December 11, 2023. The agreement was made between the company, Superior Technologies Holding Limited, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Superior Technologies Merger Sub Limited.
- May 2024: ABB Ltd won an order from Södra Cell to implement optimization control for the pulp and paper manufacturer's mill in Värö, Sweden. The project builds on the strategic partnership between ABB and SödraCell, with the ambition to develop new levels of efficiency, engagement and digitalization for the producer's operations. Södra Cell currently owns some of the world's most modern and high-tech pulp mills, and the ambition is to operate the mills even more efficiently and sustainably.
- July 2024: Vitro, a subsidiary of ePLDT and the data center arm of telco PLDT Inc., completed construction on its data center in Santa Rosa, located in the Laguna province of the Philippines. This 50 MW facility marked the country's pioneering hyperscale data center. Initially, Vitro plans to activate 10 MW, with the capacity set to scale up to 36 MW, spanning over 13,000 sq. m (139,931 sq. ft) of white space. The data center is slated to commence operations imminently.
- March 2024: Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC) announced that it aims to commence construction on a data center in the near future, following up on a partnership established with US-based technology firm EdgeConneX (ECX) just under two years ago. The firms are currently in the process of determining the center's location and data capacity. The center is specifically tailored to support essential servers and IT networks.