The Phoenix humanoid robot is being developed to enable embodied AI and support general-purpose applications. | Credit: Sanctuary AI

Humanoid robot developer Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corp., or Sanctuary AI, is entering a new strategic partnership with automotive components supplier Magna International Inc. Through this expanded partnership, Sanctuary plans to equip Magna’s manufacturing facilities with general-purpose AI robots.

The Vancouver-based company also plans to engage Magna to manufacture the Sanctuary Phoenix robots under contract in the future. Aurora, Ontario-based Magna has been an investor in Sanctuary AI since 2021, and it acquired autonomous vehicle startup Optimus Ride in 2022.

Yesterday’s announcement with Magna follows Accenture’s recent investment in Sanctuary for an undisclosed amount.

Phoenix includes human-like design, AI

“We founded Sanctuary AI with the goal to become the first organization in the world to create human-like AI,” stated Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO of Sanctuary AI. “World-changing goals like these require world-changing partners.”

“Magna’s position as a world leader in the use of robots today makes this partnership an essential advancement for our mission,” he added. “We’re privileged to be working with Magna, and believe they will be a key element in the successful global deployment of our machines.”

Sanctuary Phoenix includes human-like dexterous hands and arms. Since it launched the robot in May 2023, the company has invested heavily in the development of manipulation capabilities, perception features, and artificial intelligence models that control the humanoid robot.

In December 2023, Sanctuary secured patents for numerous technologies developed both internally and through strategic acquisitions from external sources. The company acquired the latest assets from Giant.AI Inc. and Tangible Research.

Sanctuary is iterating on humanoid design by perfecting hand-eye coordination and AI model training. | Credit: Sanctuary AI

Sanctuary AI builds relationship with Magna

“The intent of the relationship [with Magna International] has always been threefold,” Rose told The Robot Report. “One is that they were an investor.”

“Another would be they would participate in manufacturing the robots at some point,” he said. “And the third would be there could be a consumer of the robots as a customer. So all of those three things are obviously related to each other. All of them are good for both parties.”

“So we’ve continued to impress [Magna] with our velocity and acceleration in terms of developing the technology from something that was a twinkle in our eyes six years ago to something that can actually perform real-world work tasks,” Rose noted.

The workflow opportunities for an agile humanoid at Magna are endless, according to Rose. “The key to getting a good fit in the short term is understanding how to overlap that type of analysis with the type of capability that you can deliver,” he said. “So this is a difficult thing for companies that are early stage, including us, because of the ‘drinking your own Kool-Aid’ phenomenon.”

“A lot of companies will release a whole bunch of hype both to their customers, their investors, and internally in themselves — they start to believe that they can do things they can’t, and they make bad decisions about how they position their technology,” Rose continued. “So we have to be clear-eyed about what’s actually possible with our [robot] and then be very diligent in trying to understand the details of how the workflow actually works in practice, and then overlap the two.”

“When you do that with this type of technology, what you find is that the first use cases all fall into the following categories: There is an aspect of mobility, that’s best treated with wheels, where the robot has to move from place to place within an environment. And then there’s the aspect of manipulation,” he explained.

Magna also said its team is excited about the possibilities for intelligent mobile manipulation. It said it expects to automate various tasks and to improve the quality and efficiency of its manufacturing and logistics processes.

“Magna is excited to partner with Sanctuary AI in our shared mission to advance the future of manufacturing,” said Todd Deaville, vice president of advanced manufacturing innovation at Magna. “By integrating general-purpose AI robots into our manufacturing facilities for specific tasks, we can enhance our capabilities to deliver high-quality products to our customers.”

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A key success factor for robotics startups

As Sanctuary AI begins the process of commercializing Phoenix, it plans to contract with Magna for the production of part or all of the robot going forward. Sanctuary asserted that finding the right manufacturing partner to build its robots at high volumes is best outsourced and that manufacturing should be non-core for any robotics startup.

Many robotics startups often fail when they attempt to manufacture their systems in-house, observed Rose. He said he has sought to find the right production partner since the inception of the company.

Sanctuary employs embodied AI and foundation models

Embodied AI is core to the future of Sanctuary AI, which said it is spending all of its intellectual energy on engineering and training the smartest models for these robots. Rose said he is amazed at the evolution of embodied AI over the past decade.

The real race, according to Rose, is to find a way to gather the immense amount of data needed and put the robot into the necessary training situations for the AI models to learn and grow in confidence.

This is where the enhanced relationship with Magna comes in. The product roadmap for the Sanctuary over the next year is to deploy all of the production runs of Phoenix robots into real-world manufacturing environments at Magna facilities. In simple terms, Phoenix will learn by executing tasks every day and gathering training data.

“In the run that we’re about to begin with Magna, we’ll be able to collect data in a commercial environment of the sort that will train a production robot,” Rose said. “So the progression of this, from our perspective, is the ability to collect training data to generate autonomous behaviors. The systems that we’re building this year are going to be consumed in data collection.”

In 2025, Sanctuary said it will iterate on a version of the robot for broader use and sale. Similar to the model used at Rose’s prior company, Kindred, there will be a human in the loop to help robots resolve edge cases while minimizing any impact on day-to-day operations.

Rose summed up the current state of development: “We can go from data collection to a trained policy in less than 24 hours now, where the train policy does as well or better than the people who are doing the task for simple tasks. So that is an amazing thing that I was not expecting — these new transformer-based models are spectacularly good at moving robots, way better than I thought they would be.”

“I think it’s an echo of my surprise that how well large language models can generate text; who would have thought that predicting the next token would allow you to be a coherent understander of the world?” he said. “But it seems like that’s the way they work. And in the space of moving robots, if you’ve got enough data, what can’t you do? You can just talk to the robot and say, ‘Do this thing,’ and it will just do it. It’s magical.”

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Collaborative Robotics has been developing a system for trustworthy operations. Source: Adobe Stock, Photoshopped by The Robot Report

Collaborative Robotics today closed a $100 million Series B round on the road to commercializing its autonomous mobile manipulator. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said it is developing robots that can safely and affordably work alongside people in varied manufacturing, supply chain, and healthcare workflows. In many cases, this is the same work that humanoid robots are jockeying for.

Brad Porter, a former distinguished engineer and vice president of robotics at Amazon, founded Collaborative Robotics in 2022. The Cobot team includes robotics and artificial intelligence experts from Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, NASA, Waymo, and more.

“Getting our first robots in the field earlier this year, coupled with today’s investment, are major milestones as we bring cobots with human-level capability into the industries of today,” stated Porter. “We see a virtuous cycle, where more robots in the field lead to improved AI and a more cost-effective supply chain. This funding will help us accelerate getting more robots into the real world.”

The Robot Report caught up with Porter to learn more about the company and its product since our last conversation in July 2023, when Cobot raised its $30 million Series A.

Nothing to see here

Collaborative Robotics has been secretive about the design of its robot. You won’t find any photos of the cobot on the company’s site or anywhere else on the Web yet.

However, Porter told The Robot Report that it is already in trials with several pilot customers, including a global logistics company. He described the machine as a mobile manipulator, with roughly the stature of a human. However, it’s not a humanoid, nor does it have a six degree-of-freedom arm or a hand with fingers.

“When talking about general-purpose robots versus special-purpose robots, we know what humanoids look like, but with a new morphology, we want to protect it for a while,” he said. “We’ve been looking at humanoids for a long time, but in manufacturing, secondary material flow is designed around humans and carts. Hospitals, airports, and stadiums are usually designed around people flow. A huge amount of people is still moving boxes, totes, and carts around the world.”

The new cobot’s base is capable of omnidirectional motion with four wheels and a swerve-drive design, along with a central structure that can acquire, carry, and place totes and boxes around the warehouse. It is just under 6 ft. (2 m) tall and can carry up to 75 lb. (34 kg), said Porter.

The robot can also engage and move existing carts with payloads weighing up to 1,500 lb. (680 kg) around the warehouse. How the robot engages carts remains part of the mystery. But by automating long-distance moves and using existing cart infrastructure, Porter said he believes that the Collaborative Robotics system is differentiated from both mobile robot platforms and humanoid competitors.

“We looked at use cases for humanoids at Amazon, but you don’t actually want the complexity of a humanoid; you want something that’s stable and could move faster than people,” Porter added. “There are orders of magnitude more mobile robots than humanoids in day-to-day use, and at $300,000 to $600,000 per robot, the capital to build the first 10 humanoids is very high. We want to get robots into the field faster.”

Collaborative Robotics has kept its actual robot out of public view. | Source: Adobe Stock image Photoshopped by The Robot Report

Robots must be trustworthy

Porter said that he “believes that robots need to be trustworthy, in addition to being safe. This philosophy is driving the design and user-interface decisions that the company has made so far. Users need to understand what the robot should do by looking at it, unlike some of the existing designs of mobile robots currently on the market.”

In addition to a human-centered design approach, Collaborative Robotics is using off-the-shelf parts to reduce the robot bill of materials cost and simplify the supply chain as it begins the process of commercialization. It is also taking a “building-block” approach to hardware and plans to adjust software and machine learning for navigation and learning new tasks.

“The robot we’ve designed is 70% off-the-shelf parts, and we can design around existing motors, while every humanoid company is hand-winding its own motors to find advanced actuation capabilities,” Porter noted. “We designed the system digitally, so we don’t have to hand-tweak a bunch of things. By using 3D lidar, we know the state of the art of the technology, and it’s easier to safety-qualify.”

With large language models (LLMs), Porter said he sees the day when someone in a hospital or another facility can just tell a robot to go away. “It’s about user interaction rather than just safety, which is table stakes,” he said. “We think a lot about trustworthiness.”

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Collaborative Robotics preps for commercialization

General Catalyst led Collaborative Robotics’ Series B round, with participation from Bison Ventures, Lux Capital, and Industry Ventures. Existing investors Sequoia Capital, Khosla Ventures, Mayo Clinic, Neo, 1984 Ventures, MVP Ventures, and Calibrate Ventures also participated.

Since its founding in 2022, Cobot said it has raised more than $140 million. The company plans to grow its headcount from 35, adding production, sales, and support staffers.

In addition, Collaborative Robotics announced that Teresa Carlson will be joining it as an advisor on go to market at scale and industry transformation. She held leadership roles at Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Splunk, and Flexport.

“I’m super-excited to be working with Teresa,” said Porter. “We’ve kept up since Amazon, and she thinks a lot about digital transformation at a very large scale — federal government and industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge about economics that will elevate the scope of what we’re doing.”

Paul Kwan, managing director at General Catalyst, is joining Alfred Lin from Sequoia on Collaborative Robotics’ board of directors. 

“In our view, Brad and Cobot are spearheading the future of human-robot interaction,” said Kwan. “We believe the Cobot team is world-class at building the necessary hardware, software, and institutional trust to achieve their vision.”

Editor’s note: Eugene Demaitre contributed to this article.

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Manufacturers are under pressure to take on a digital transformation that will add flexibility on the plant floor while increasing productivity. Key drivers of this technology step change include the need to reduce operating expenses and improve efficiency, all while facing a skills shortage and a lack of visibility across the supply chain.

Recognizing this critical time for manufacturers, Design World — the essential resource for engineers and manufacturing executives, and The Robot Report‘s sister site — is launching the Digital Transformation Forum on May 1-2, 2024, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

This can’t-miss event will delve deeper into technology integration for manufacturing, discussing not just the “why” but also the “how” of digital transformation. It will highlight case studies of successful digital deployments, focusing on strategies that enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness.

Digital Transformation Forum to share expert advice

The opening keynote speaker is industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) expert Walker Reynolds, a solutions architect and founder of Intellic Integration. Reynolds will outline the critical first steps required to navigate manufacturing’s digital frontier.

Day 2 keynote speakers feature Anthony DeTullio, a reliability engineer at Sikorsky Lockheed Martin, and Chris Gilman, industrial transformation program manager at Strategic Maintenance Solutions. The two will discuss adaptive artificial intelligence for machine data. Together, they built a machine learning tool that automates the process of setting thresholds for industrial metric data to ensure users receive the right information at the right time.

Other sessions will explore various aspects of digital transformation in manufacturing, including the role of AI in predictive maintenance, the integration of IoT for real-time data analysis, and the impact of cloud computing on product development and supply chain management. Interactive sessions will focus on understanding the risks and rewards of digital transformation, addressing cybersecurity concerns, and evaluating the return on their digital investments.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with peers, share experiences, and learn from the successes and failures of others already on a digital transformation journey.

This comprehensive agenda aims to equip participants with a holistic understanding of digital transformation in the manufacturing sector, preparing them to navigate the complexities and seize the real opportunities in this new digital era.

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Attend with an all-inclusive package

Registration is now open, and discounts are available for academia, associations, and corporate groups. The Digital Transformation Forum will be co-located with two renowned events: the Robotics Summit & Expo and DeviceTalks Boston.

The Robotics Summit & Expo is the world’s leading robotics development event, providing engineers with the information they need to successfully develop the next generation of commercial robots. DeviceTalks is the premier industry event for medical technology professionals and attracts engineering and business professionals from a broad range of healthcare and medical technology backgrounds.

Attendees of the Digital Transformation Forum will have access to both events and the combined exhibit floor. More than 100 exhibitors will showcase live demonstrations and emerging technologies pegged to revolutionize industries.

To learn more and register, visit digitaltransformationforum.com.

Editor’s Note: This article was syndicated from The Robot Report’s sister site Engineering.com. 

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Sewing machines were controlled via ROS to synchronized apparel operation with a robot. | Source: ARM Institute

A staggering 97% of the apparel sold and worn in the U.S. is made overseas, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Not only does this mean that the U.S. lost these jobs when apparel manufacturing moved overseas, but it poses a significant risk to our national security, as evidenced by the nation’s struggle to manufacture and obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PPE was rationed for medical professionals in 2020, but even that wasn’t enough. Images went viral of doctors and nurses fashioning their own masks or re-wearing dirty PPE.

Though the pandemic images of PPE scarcity may have faded from recent memory, the security risk remains. Our nation’s inability to produce PPE has implications for natural disasters. In addition, the lack of onshore apparel manufacturing limits our ability to manufacture military uniforms, tents, parachutes, and other supplies needed to support the U.S. military.

Beyond national security, losing the apparel industry to offshore manufacturing also became a lost business opportunity. According to a Manufacturing Perception Report from the Thomas Network, 61% of Americans surveyed claimed they’re more likely to buy products if they are labeled as being made in the U.S. That’s a significant opportunity, particularly when you’re looking at a trillion-dollar industry.

So, what now? How do we begin to re-shore such a massive industry that has now long since been lost to competing nations? The ARM Institute and its members said they believe that the key lies within robotics and automation.

Robotics as an enabler for reshoring

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ARM Institute and its member organizations recognized that robotics and AI could be the key to reshoring this industry. Once it realized the need, the institute began funding projects centered on automating the more manual and tedious aspects of apparel manufacturing.

However, this was no small feat. To start, when the industry has looked at automation in the past, it was unable to overcome the difficulties in getting robots to manipulate and handle pliable materials. The ARM Institute-funded Robotic Assembly of Garments Project led by Siemens Technology with Bluewater Defense, Sewbo, and the University of California at Berkeley took an important step in overcoming this barrier.

This project developed a new robotic assembly process that stiffens garment pieces by laminating its fabric with water-soluble thermoplastic polymer, allowing the robot to handle the previously limp fabric. It then developed a flexible robotic system to assemble fabric pieces into garments.

Traditional sewing machines were controlled via the Robot Operating System (ROS) to synchronize operation with the robot. The polymer used in the stiffening process is easily removed through washing and can be recycled for multiple process cycles.

Development didn’t stop there. While the garments project took a huge step towards proving the viability of robotics in clothing manufacturing, it had a higher cycle time than current manual processes.

More ARM Institute projects

This project led to other development. Subsequent projects took lessons from prior ones and improved processes, further demonstrating not only the viability for using robotics for apparel manufacturing, but also the importance of doing so.

More ARM Institute projects centered on robotic sewing have included:

• “Bot Couture” Robotic Clothing Manufacturing
• Development of a Cost-Effective Robotic Sewing System
• Built-By-Bot: Customized Mask Assembly using Robots
• Rapid PPE Production through Automation & Robotics (RAPPAR)
• Automated Bottom Hemming Through Robotic Garment Manipulation

The U.S Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) funded the Rapid-Response Automated PPE Production in Shipping Containers project through an American Rescue Act Grant. This enabled the ARM Institute to work with fellow Manufacturing USA Institute AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of America) and several of its members to scale their projects and use in-house engineering expertise.

Work on this project is under way toward the creation of shipping containers housing robotic production that can easily be deployed where and when PPE is needed.

Momentum for apparel automation continues

While these projects have catalyzed the foundational robotics advancements needed to make apparel manufacturing safer and more productive, continued collaboration between industry, government, and academia is needed to build on this momentum.

The ARM Institute is dedicated to making this possible. The Manufacturing of Garments and Other Textile Goods will be included as a special topic area in the ARM Institute’s upcoming Technology Project Call.

Beyond impact for consumer goods and national security, reshoring apparel manufacturing also represents opportunity for the U.S. workforce. While offshore operations today depend on manual, ergonomically unfriendly processes in cramped, often dirty settings, the use of robots will make roles in these factories safer, more engaging, and higher-paying.

While robots take on the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks, human labor can be freed up to work on operating robots and planning robotics integration. Many of these roles will be available through flexible, low-cost training. These are roles that don’t currently exist in the U.S., resulting in increased employment opportunities for U.S. workers.

The ability to re-shore apparel manufacturing is well within reach, and the ARM Institute is dedicated to working with its members to lead this effort through robotics innovations.

Editor’s notes: This article was syndicated from The Robot Report‘s sibling site Engineering.com.

Dr. Larry Sweet, director of engineering at the ARM Institute, will present a session on “Delivering AI and Machine Learning Enabled Robotics to the Manufacturing and Field Service Operations” at the Robotics Summit & Expo. It will be at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 1, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Sweet will share updates on current ARM Institute projects, technical approaches, best practices, and lessons learned. He will also describe steps to make advanced technology more accessible to manufacturers of all sizes and to facilitate the work of systems integrators. Register now for the event.

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NEURA has developed cognitive robots in a variety of form factors. Source: NEURA Robotics

Talk about combining robotics and artificial intelligence is all the rage, but some convergence is already maturing. NEURA Robotics GmbH and Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies Inc. today announced a strategic partnership to introduce “cognitive robotics” into manufacturing.

“By pooling our sensor and AI technologies and expertise into an ultimate platform approach, we will significantly shape the future of the manufacturing industry and set new standards,” stated David Reger, founder and CEO of NEURA Robotics.

Reger founded the company in 2019 with the intention of combining sensors and AI with robotics components for a platform for app development similar to that of smartphones. The “NEURAverse” offers flexibility and cost efficiency in automation, according to the company.

“Unlike traditional industrial robots, cognitive robots have the ability to learn from their environment, make decisions autonomously, and adapt to dynamic production scenarios,” said Metzingen, Germany-based NEURA. “This opens new application possibilities including intricate assembly tasks, detailed quality inspections, and adaptive material handling processes.”

Omron has sensor, channel expertise

“We see NEURA’s cognitive technologies as a compelling growth opportunity for industrial robotics,” added Olivier Welker, president and CEO of Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies. “By combining NEURA’s innovative solutions with Omron’s global reach and automation portfolio, we will provide customers new ways to increase safety, productivity, and flexibility in their operations.”

Pleasanton, Calif.-based Omron Robotics is a subsidiary of OMRON Corp. focusing on automation and safety sensing. It designs and manufactures industrial, collaborative, and mobile robots for various industries.

“We’ve known Omron for quite some time, and even before I started NEURA, we had talked about collaborating,” Reger told The Robot Report. “They’ve tested our products, and we’ve worked together on how to benefit both sides.”

“We have the cognitive platform, and they’re one of the biggest sensor, controllers, and safety systems providers,” he added. “This collaboration will integrate our cognitive abilities and NEURAverse with their sensors for a plug-and-play solution, which everyone is working toward.”

Omron Robotics’ Olivier Welker and NEURA’s David Reger celebrate their partnership. Source: NEURA

Collaboration has ‘no limits’

When asked whether NEURA and Omron Robotics’ partnership is mainly focused on market access, Reger replied, “It’s not just the sales channel … there are no really big limits. From both sides, there will be add-ons.”

Rather than see each other as competitors, NEURA and Omron Robotics are working to make robots easier to use, he explained.

“As a billion-dollar company, it could have told our startup what it wanted, but Omron is different,” said Reger. “I felt we got a lot of respect from Olivier and everyone in that organization. It won’t be a one-sided thing; it will be just ‘Let’s help each other do something great.’ That’s what we’re feeling every day since we’ve been working together. Now we can start talking about it.”

NEURA has also been looking at mobile manipulation and humanoid robots, but adding capabilities to industrial automation is the “low-hanging fruit, where small changes can have a huge effect,” said Reger. “A lot of things for humanoids have not yet been solved.”

“I would love to just work on household robots, but the best way to get there is to use the synergy between industrial robotics and the household market,” he noted. “Our MAiRA, for example, is a cognitive robot able to scan an environment and from an idle state pick any known or unknown objects.”

MAiRA cognitive robot on MAV mobile base. Source: NEURA Robotics

Ease of use drives NEURA strategy

NEURA and Omron Robotics promise to make robots easier to use, helping overall adoption, Reger said.

“A big warehouse company out of the U.S. is claiming that it’s already using more than 1 million robots, but at the same time, I’m sure they’d love to use many more robots,” he said. “It’s also in the transformation from a niche market into a mass market. We see that’s currently only possible if you somehow control the environment.”

“It’s not just putting all the sensors inside the robot, which we were first to do, and saying, ‘OK, now we’re able to interact with a human and also pick objects,'” said Reger. “Imagine there are external sensors, but how do you calibrate them? To make everything plug and play, you need new interfaces, which means collaboration with big players like Omron that provide a lot of sensors for the automation market.”

NEURA has developed its own sensors and explored the balance of putting processing in the cloud versus the edge. To make its platform as popular with developers as that of Apple, however, the company needs the support of partners like Omron, he said.

Reger also mentioned NEURA’s partnership with Kawasaki, announced last year, in which Kawasaki offers the LARA CL series cobot with its portfolio. “Both collaborations are incredibly important for NEURA and will soon make sense to everyone,” he said.

NEURA to be at Robotics Summit & Expo

Reger will be presenting a session on “Developing Cognitive Robotics Systems” at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 1, Day 1 of the Robotics Summit & Expo. The event will be at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and registration is now open.

“I’ll be talking about making robots cognitive to enable AI to be useful to humanity instead of competing with us,” he said. “AI is making great steps, but if you look at what it’s doing, like drawing pictures or writing stories — these are things that I’d love to do but don’t have the time for. But if I ask, let’s say, AI to take out the garbage or show it a picture of garbage, it can tell me how to do it, but it’s simply not able to do something about it yet.”

NEURA is watching humanoid development but is focusing on integrating cognitive robotics with sensing and wearables as it expands in the U.S., said Reger. The company is planning for facilities in Detroit, Boston, and elsewhere, and it is looking for leadership team members as well as application developers and engineers.

“We don’t just want a sales office, but also production in the U.S.,” he said. “We have 220 people in Germany — I just welcomed 15 new people who joined NEURA — and are starting to build our U.S. team. In the past several months, we’ve gone with only European and American investors, and we’re looking at the Japanese market. The U.S. is now open to innovation, and it’s an exciting time for us to come.”

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SwRI Workbench for Offline Robotics Development allows manufacturing engineers to independently use complex robotics and simplifies motion planning for seasoned developers. Source: Southwest Research Institute

An industry push for more automation is advancing the Robot Operating System, or ROS, beyond the academic and manufacturing domains into agriculture, automotive, retail, healthcare and more. Various forecasts project that the open-source advanced robotics market will grow more than 10% annually between 2024 and 2029.

These trends are motivating for robotics engineers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and our colleagues at the ROS-Industrial Consortium and supporting industries. We also recognize that the usability of robotics software is still an impediment to even higher levels of adoption.

Over the years, the ROS-I Consortium has held frequent roadmapping sessions with a wide variety of end users and ROS developers to address ease of use and continuing education. The identified need is a lower barrier of entry for non-programmers (or entry-level developers) to harness the power of tools in the ROS ecosystem, but in a way that aligns with industry adoption of digital thread and Industry 4.0 strategies.

The traditional ROS workflow is software programming-intense, requiring developers deeply familiar with available ROS libraries and tools. Even experienced developers within the ROS-I ecosystem and beyond may spend significant time — days to weeks — on the initial setup and configuration of a ROS application.

Listening to the voice of our own developers, our diverse stakeholders, and consortium members, we heard the need for easier access to the ROS motion-planning tools, while maintaining a tie back to the CAD ecosystem where the products to be worked on are conceived and maintained.

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SWORD is a graphical toolkit for robotics developers

The Southwest Research Institute is launching the SwRI Workbench for Offline Robotics Development (SWORD) featuring a graphical toolkit for developing and testing advanced robotic motion-planning applications.

SWORD is implemented as a plugin to the open-source FreeCAD application, allowing users to integrate robotics capabilities into a cross-platform CAD environment. It provides a graphical interface to many powerful motion-planning libraries.

The goal is to bring ROS to a manufacturing/industrial audience in a way that is more approachable and resides in an environment that is familiar. Most manufacturing engineers are competent with CAD and understand their processes, often doing various forms of programs on process-oriented systems.

SWORD seeks to bring advanced motion-planning capability to this audience enabling to set up their systems and take advantage of these more advanced tools in their operational environments. Through the first Beta test, the team at SwRI has collected feedback from end users and is nearing the release the first version of SWORD. SWORD currently offers the capabilities below:

Environment modeling

• Create workcell model (robot, fixtures, end-of-arm tooling); see Figure 1 below.

  • Use CAD modeling tools or import existing CAD/mesh models

  • Use Convex Hull and Decomposition tools to generate collision geometry

• Import and export URDF (Unified Robotics Description Format) files

• Manipulate robot position

  • Joint Sliders to control individual joint positions

  • TCP Dragger to simulate movement using various IK solver

Figure 1: An example of URDF creation and evaluation in SWORD. Click here to enlarge. Source: Southwest Research Institute

Command language

• Define robot motion using either Cartesian or Joint waypoints

  • Currently waypoints must be manually defined, but import and CAD-generated waypoints are planned for an upcoming release.

• Specify different move segment types (joint/cartesian) and motion groups

• Insert supplementary commands (I/O, delays, etc.)

Motion planning

• Generate motion plan using a variety of Tesseract-supported path planners

  • Currently uses default Profiles (configuration) for each planner, but profile editing is planned for an upcoming release.

• Create custom planning pipelines for application-specific behavior; see Figure 2 below.

• Compute the Allowed Collision Matrix

  • Currently no way to review or adjust the results, but this functionality is planned for an upcoming release.

• Review computed motion trajectory

SWORD is officially released, and seats are available. You can request a trial version to understand if it is right for your organization. If you are interested in a trial license, or want to learn more or get a guided tour from SwRI, please contact Jeremy Zoss or Matt Robinson.

Figure 2: Setting up a motion planning pipeline for testing and evaluation in SWORD. Click here to enlarge. Source: Southwest Research Institute

About the author and the Southwest Research Institute

Matthew Robinson is program manager for ROS-Industrial Consortium Americas at the Southwest Research Institute. He was previously research team leader and a graduate fellow at the Edison Welding Institute. Robinson has participated in RoboBusiness Direct and has an M.S.W.E. from The Ohio State University.

Since 1947, the nonprofit SwRI in San Antonio, Texas, has taken a multidisciplinary approach to research and development for government and industry clients.

The post Southwest Research Institute to make robot programming more user friendly with SWORD appeared first on The Robot Report.

Delta exhibited its data center and other technologies at NVIDIA GTC 2024. Source: Delta Electronics

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Artificial intelligence and robotics both devour power, but simulation, next-generation processors, and good product design can mitigate the draw. At NVIDIA Corp.’s GTC event last week, Delta Electronics Inc. demonstrated how its digital twin platform, developed on NVIDIA Omniverse, can help enhance smart manufacturing capabilities.

“We’ve partnered with NVIDIA on energy-efficient designs to support AI,” Franziskus Gehle, general manager of the Power Solutions business unit at Delta, told The Robot Report. “We’ve co-developed 5.5 kW designs for 98% efficiency.”

The Taipei, Taiwan-based company explained how its technologies can benefit industrial automation and warehouse operations. Delta also showed its ORV3 AI server infrastructure product and DC converters and other technologies designed to support graphics processing unit (GPU) operations.

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Delta designs simulation to manage automation

Founded in 1971, Delta Electronics said it is a global leader in switching power supplies and thermal management products. The company’s portfolio includes systems for industrial automation, building automation, telecommunications power, data center infrastructure, electric vehicle charging, renewable energy, and energy storage and display.

Delta added that its energy-efficient products can support sustainable development. The company has sales offices, research and development centers, and factories at nearly 200 locations around the world. It provides articulated robot arms, SCARA robots, and robot controllers with integrated servo drives.

“Since 1995, Delta has supplied automation components, and it now offers a full product line,” said Claire Ou, senior principal for strategic marketing in the Power and System business group at Delta. “We’ve used NVIDIA simulation for our customers and ourselves, for machine tools and semiconductors.”

“Because Delta has a lot of factories around the world, it’s best to do test runs to fine-tune our hardware and software before implementation,” she told The Robot Report. “Our solutions can monitor and manage warehouses and factories for maximum productivity.”

In addition, Delta has developed its own standalone simulation software in addition to NVIDIA Omniverse, and it can integrate data from both. In the past, automation designers, manufacturers, and users worked with different tools, but customers are now optimistic about easier collaboration, said Ou.

“In 2012, Industry 4.0 was about digitalizing manufacturing,” she noted. “Since then, our management and monitoring systems have been integrated into global factories. We’re also working with data for construction and smart buildings.”

NVIDIA partners for digital twins to manage power

“We are honored to be the only power and thermal management solutions provider at NVIDIA GTC 2024, where we will showcase the NVIDIA Omniverse-powered digital twin we have developed, which underscores our superior expertise in next-generation electronics manufacturing,” stated Mark Ko, vice chairman of Delta Electronics. “We look forward to helping transcend the boundaries of energy efficiency in the AI realm using the latest technologies.”

Delta has deployed its power management technology to leading cloud solution providers (CSPs) and AI developers such as Meta (parent of Facebook), Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, noted Gehle.

“Our customers have doubled their power requirements in the past six months rather than in years,” he said. “All of their road maps anticipate a significant increase in power demand, so they need management in place for next-generation GPUs and power-hungry generative AI.”

“We used digital twins and Omniverse to design and pre-qualify our products worldwide,” Gehle explained. “It’s important that our data center plans are aligned with those of our customers.”

At GTC, Delta presented an integrated Open Rack Version 3 (ORV3) system for AI server infrastructure with server power supplies boasting energy efficiency as high as 97.5%. It also included SD-WAN, Common Redundant Power Supply Units (CRPS) with 54Vdc output, ORV3 18kW/33kW HPR Power Shelves, a Battery Backup Unit (BBU), a Mini UPS, and a liquid cooling system.

In addition, the company showed its portfolio of DC/DC converters, power chokes, and 3D Vapor Chambers for GPU operations.

“The new era of AI-powered manufacturing is marked by digital twins and synthetic data, which can enhance efficiency and productivity before actual production begins,” said Rev Lebaredian, vice president of Omniverse and simulation technology at NVIDIA, in a release.

“By developing its digital platform on NVIDIA Omniverse, Delta can virtually link specific production lines and aggregate data from a diverse range of equipment and systems to create a digital twin of its operations,” he said. “And with NVIDIA Isaac Sim, it can generate synthetic data to train its computer models to achieve 90% accuracy.”

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RoboticsCareer.org has been redesigned to help people find careers in manufacturing. Source: ARM Insitute

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing, or ARM Institute today said it has added capabilities to RoboticsCareer.org, its resource for robotics careers in U.S. manufacturing. The institute said they will provide guidance to help students and workers understand training and job opportunities and plan their careers.

The site redesign also aims to increase interest in manufacturing careers by illustrating the importance of these roles to the nation, said the ARM Institute.

“RoboticsCareer.org is a key driver to filling the manufacturing workforce gap and making these important careers more accessible,” stated Lisa Masciantonio, chief workforce officer at the ARM Institute. “The new capabilities on the site will help to support workers at each stage of their career, from finding training to connecting to personalized career opportunities.”

RoboticsCareer.org helps people find manufacturing jobs

Millions of manufacturing roles are at risk of being left unfilled in the coming years because of demographic trends, according to the ARM Institute. It said it built RoboticsCareer.org was built to address this historic workforce gap by increasing interest in manufacturing roles and supporting students and workers at each stage of their journeys, from getting started with training to connecting to jobs and upskilling opportunities.

Designed using input from the institute’s more than 400 member organizations, the updated site also connects hiring manufacturers to qualified candidates and helps schools and training programs engage with interested students, the ARM Institute said.

Since its introduction, RoboticsCareer.org has helped more than 70,000 people, it added. In a recent survey, users of the site echoed Masciantonio’s statement:

• “Using RoboticsCareer.org, I was able to figure out if starting a career path in robotics was right for me,” said Annabelle Pasiecki.
• “As a robotics engineer looking to change jobs, I found RoboticsCareer.org to be a great website to search for jobs in the robotics and automation sector, better than any other websites I have used before,” added Jatin Vijay Mayekar.
• “As an advanced manufacturing and robotics instructor, I am always looking for ways to connect what I am teaching to actual career opportunities for my students. RoboticsCareer.org has become one of my best resources for helping to match students with careers where they can utilize their robotics training,” said Charles Nabrit.

ARM Institute adds functionality

RoboticsCareer.org is the nation’s only resource dedicated specifically to empowering the robotics workforce in manufacturing, claimed the ARM Institute. More than 16,700 training programs are listed on RoboticsCareer.org, ranging from high school through Ph.D. programs.

Thousands of jobs are added and updated regularly on the site, with each job matching to the skill profiles the ARM Institute has created for robotics jobs in manufacturing. The organization has added the following:

• A re-designed homepage that features in-depth previews of robotics jobs, including the skills and education needed for these jobs, information about salaries and wages, and more. It also offers a quiz that matches users to personalized career recommendations, an interactive graphic illustrating work on a factory floor, and numerous videos showcasing people working in manufacturing.
• Internships are now included in the job-matching functionality.
• New LinkedIn integration allows a individual to create an account using their LinkedIn profile.
• Testimonials from students who have graduated from training programs that have been endorsed by the ARM Institute.

Learn more about career opportunities

On April 24 at 2:00 p.m. ET, the ARM Institute is hosting a public webinar to help the following; 

• Educators and training providers understand how RoboticsCareer.org can connect them to interested students at no cost.
• Individuals learn how connect to job opportunities and identify training options to prepare for the future.
• Employers understand how they can use RoboticsCareer.org to fill open positions using its growing talent database and targeted job board.

In addition, Larry Sweet, director of engineering at the ARM Institute, will host a session at the Robotics Summit & Expo on “Delivering AI and Machine Learning-Enabled Robotics to Manufacturing and Field-Service Operations” at 2:45 p.m. on May 1. Registration is now open for the event, which will be in Boston.

Sweet will share updates on current ARM projects, technical approaches, best practices, and lessons learned, plus steps to make robotics accessible to manufacturers large to small and facilitating technology transition through systems integrators. The institute will also be exhibiting at Booth C-131.

The ARM Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA network. Its ecosystem includes members and partners across industry, academia, and government.

The institute said it is working to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the workforce, strengthen the U.S. economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience.

Based in Pittsburgh since 2017, with a regional office in St. Petersburg, Fla., the ARM Institute said it “is leading the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products.”

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ASTM offers visibility into global standards development. Source: ASTM International

ASTM International today announced the appointment of Andrew G. Kireta Jr. as its new president, effective May 1, 2024. It said his background in standards development and familiarity with the organization positions him to lead future growth and innovation.

Kireta will succeed Katharine Morgan, who served in the role since 2017 and will retire after a “distinguished 40-year career with ASTM.” 

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy as president of ASTM International,” stated Bill Griese, 2024 chair of ASTM’s board of directors. “Andy has spent years supporting ASTM International in a variety of volunteer roles and is exceptionally well-suited to lead the organization forward.”

“He brings a strong commitment to ASTM’s mission, values, and membership,” Griese added. “Kathie’s dedication and engagement have made it possible for us to find the right leader for ASTM’s future, and we are delighted she will help to ensure a smooth transition as Andy assumes the role in May.”

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Kireta brings executive experience

Kireta is president and CEO of the Copper Development Association. He has been with that not-for-profit trade association since 1992, serving the past two decades in an executive management capacity.

Andy Kireta, president, ASTM International. Source: LinkedIn

In addition, ASTM International noted that Kireta has been an ASTM member since 1998. He joined the organization‘s board of directors in 2014, serving as chair of the audit and finance committee in 2017, vice chair in 2018 and 2019, and chair of the board in 2020. Kireta also previously served as vice chair and chair of the board of SEI International, an ASTM affiliate.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the new president of ASTM International,” said Kireta. “I have great respect for ASTM’s mission, staff, members, and partners, and I am humbled to lead an organization that has made such a meaningful impact on industry and society over its 125-year history. I am eager to work with the ASTM community to build upon that success as we advance our mission of helping our world work better.”

Learn about ASTM International robot standards

ASTM International said it is committed to serving global societal needs and improving public health and safety, consumer confidence, and overall quality of life. The Conshohocken, Pa.-based organization has 35,000 members worldwide working to develop and refine more than 12,900 technical standards and representing over 90 industry sectors.

As robots expand from factories into other environments, safety and reliability have become increasingly important. ASTM has been developing standards for robotic grasping and manipulation, legged robots, assembly robots, vision guidance for bin picking, and additive manufacturing in construction.

The F45 Committee on Robotics, Automation, and Autonomous Systems is working to develop standard terminology, practices, classifications, guides, test methods, and specifications applicable to these systems.

Adam Norton, associate director of the NERVE Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, will present a session on “ASTM Standards for Robotics and Autonomous Systems” at 1:30 p.m. ET on Thursday May 2 at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston.

He will provide an overview the committee’s activities, as well as open a discussion to gather industry feedback on recommendations for future standards to ensure alignment with both developer and user needs. Registration is now open for the event. 

“We integrate consensus standards – developed with our international membership of volunteer technical experts – and innovative services to improve lives … helping our world work better,” ASTM said.

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Four experts plan to share their unique insights on commercializing robotics products during a panel discussion at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. They have diverse backgrounds in agriculture, construction, and entrepreneurship and will share their tips on how to find the right product-market fit.

Attendees can discover firsthand how these industry leaders have conquered obstacles, scaled operations, and transformed ideas into viable products. They can also gain valuable insights to pave the way for their own commercialization journeys.

The session “Paving the Road to Success in Robotics Commercialization” is slated for 11:30 a.m. on the first day of the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be in Boston. During this panel, hear from:

Jennifer Apicella is the executive director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. There, she has overseen the growth and development of the Pittsburgh region’s commercial robotics cluster, one of the top robotics business ecosystems in the world.

Apicella has more than 15 years of experience working in advanced technologies and currently serves on the National Board of getWITit (Women in Tech), Women in Robotics Pittsburgh Chapter. She has spent most of her career helping clients succeed with enterprise technology adoption.

Brandon Contino is the co-founder and CEO of Four Growers, an agricultural analytics and robotics company in Turtle Creek, Pa. Four Growers is using AI to analyze and autonomously harvest specialty crops. The company has units running in commercial customer operations across North America and Europe.

Before founding Four Growers, Contino developed neural networks for neurosurgery, wrote custom maximum power point algorithms for photovoltaic cells, created low-cost IoT water-quality sensors, and developed autonomous robots that won numerous competitions.

Stephen Muck is the chairman and CEO of Brayman Construction Corp. in Saxonburg, Pa. He is also the founder and executive chairman of Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR), which develops autonomous robots for rebar installations.

Muck has started or acquired over 20 businesses throughout his career and currently operates a portfolio of several companies focused on heavy civil construction. In construction-related endeavors alone, Muck oversees around $200 million in revenue. He obtained a B.S. in finance from Ohio University and an M.B.A. from Penn State University.

Cirtronics chair to moderate

Andy McMillan, the session’s moderator, is the chair of the board of Cirtronics Corp., a Milford, N.H.-based contract manufacturer of robotics, medical equipment, and other products requiring high quality and precision. He is an experienced executive with a history of strategic innovation in products, technologies, and business models.

McMillan has founded several companies, holds a dozen patents, and has spoken on automation and open systems worldwide. In addition to strategy consulting assignments, he is chair of the advisory board for Cirtronics and president of a global data communications trade association. McMillan’s formal education includes engineering and business degrees from the University of Michigan.

The session will focus on the essential elements of successful commercialization, how to simultaneously assess problems and technology awareness, and how to determine the best time to outsource manufacturing. Attendees can also find Cirtronics at Booth 206 on the event’s show floor.

About the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo

This will be the largest Robotics Summit ever. It will include more than 200 exhibitors, various networking opportunities, a Women in Robotics breakfast, a career fair, an engineering theater, a startup showcase, and more!

New to the event is the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Gala. The event will include a cocktail hour, plated dinner, photo opportunities, and the chance to hear from the Robot of the Year, Startup of the Year, and Application of the Year winners.

Each RBR50 winner will receive two complimentary tickets to the Robotics Summit and RBR50 gala. A limited number of tickets is available to attendees, but they’re selling fast!

The Robotics Summit & Expo will be co-located with DeviceTalks, an event focused on medical devices, and the inaugural Digital Transformation Forum. Registration is now open for the event.

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NVIDIA provided new AI capabilities for the MiR1200 Pallet Jack. Source: Mobile Industrial Robots

Autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, are among the systems benefitting from the latest advances in artificial intelligence. Mobile Industrial Robots A/S today at LogiMAT launched the MiR1200 Pallet Jack, which it said uses 3D vision and AI to identify pallets for pickup and delivery “with unprecedented precision.”

“The MiR1200 Pallet Jack is our latest effort to push the boundaries in autonomous material handling,” stated Mads Paulin, vice president of research and development at MiR. “We believe that the built-in AI detection system is a significant improvement over older detection technologies.”

“Our approach will reduce pick-and-place cycle times, deliver best-in-class pick accuracy, and allow us to continuously deliver advanced, AI-based functionality and value to our customers,” he claimed.

Why now for the MiR1200 Pallet Jack?

With numerous other AMRs, autonomous forklifts, and semi-autonomous pallet jacks already on the market, why did Mobile Industrial Robots decide to develop one now?

“We announced our intention to create an autonomous pallet jack in 2021,” said Kevin Dumas, vice president of product at the Odense, Denmark-based company. “In this case, being a fast follower is a good strategy.”

“Lots of products on the market use 2D lidar but require pallets in very good condition,” he told Mobile Robot Guide at the R-24 conference in Odense, Denmark. “If you look at pallet jacks built by other companies, they’re focused on building robots first. We expect to run for a long time in many environments, so we built a robust truck.”

“While AMRs already use machine learning for obstacle detection and avoidance, they didn’t need large language models [LLMs],” added Ujjwal Kumar, group president at Teradyne Robotics. “But autonomous pallet jacks must recognize real pallets that are often damaged, painted, or covered in shrink wrap. They needed to get smarter to detect them.”

AMR uses AutoGuide tech, addresses labor shortages

Teradyne is also applying technology from AutoGuide Mobile Robots, which it acquired in 2019 and combined with the MiR brand in 2022. Teradyne had acquired Mobile Industrial Robots in 2022.

“We took the team and technology from AutoGuide but didn’t want to build a standalone pallet jack,” said Kumar, who will deliver a keynote at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston in May. “We had the AMR experience of MiR and could focus on pallet detection.”

The MiR1200 Pallet Jack’s 3D vision addresses labor-intensive materials handling, The new robot can dynamically modify its route to avoid obstacles such as loose objects on the floor or overhead obstacles.

Mobile Industrial Robots added that its new pallet jack can navigate in tight spaces with minimal changes to the existing infrastructure, making it suitable for optimizing logistics efficiency. Palletizing is a more straightforward workflow to automate than each picking, Dumas said.

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The NVIDIA connection

Mobile Industrial Robots’ new system processes a large amount of camera and lidar data in real time by accelerating the full stack on the GPU and several other processors built into the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin module.

“Mobile Industrial Robots is still the largest AMR player outside of China, with the largest installed base of about 10,000 robots,” Kumar told Mobile Robot Guide at NVIDIA GTC in San Jose, Calif. “NVIDIA recognized the value of MiR’s complementary ecosystem of partners, OEMs, and end users.”

To get to safe, reliable, and complete autonomy, the MiR1200 Pallet Jack trained on 1.2 million images, according to Kumar.

“With NVIDIA Isaac Sim and MiR, customers can add both real and simulated images,” said Dumas. “We’re just at the beginning of that journey, and by future-proofing, we can expand into more areas of AI.”

The MiR1200 Pallet Jack is one of the first AI-enabled products from Teradyne, he observed.

“Simulation isn’t just for modeling; it’s also for infrastructure,” Dumas said. “With transfers, we can validate repeatedly and reliably. With any change to the environment or model, such as a wooden conference floor, you have to do massive testing.”

The MiR1200 Pallet Jack trained on real and simulated images. Source: Mobile Industrial Robots

Mobile Industrial Robots integrates offerings

The MiR1200 Pallet Jack is designed to integrate into existing MiR fleets and work with the company’s deck-load AMRs. Mobile Industrial Robots said the new system can help enterprises that typically operate more complex workflows, with larger fleets and multiple sites.

“As the latest addition to MiR’s wide range of AMRs, the MiR1200 Pallet Jack adds a new application area to our existing solutions for transportation scenarios from small to heavy loads, pallet transportation, and more,” said Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of MiR, in a release.

“All robots can be seamlessly managed and integrated via our industry-leading fleet management tool, MiR Fleet, and monitored and optimized using MiR Insights,” he said.

Customer demand ‘insatiable’

Was the automated pallet jack built in response to market demand?

“Customer demand seems insatiable,” said Dumas. “Pallet manipulation has come up in every conversation with existing and potential customers, after the availability of labor.”

As an established AMR provider, MiR has demonstrated that it can address the total cost of ownership more easily than new entrants to this space, he noted.

“With MiR1200 Pallet Jack, we have developed a rugged AMR pallet jack that will work in existing customer sites that present unique environmental challenges for automation,” Hathout added. “In addition, the MiR1200 Pallet Jacks’ robust tricycle drive system is developed through a partnership with Logitrans, which has 80+ years of experience with material handling.”

MiR has worked with Logitrans on the automated pallet jack. Source: Mobile Industrial Robots

Mobile Industrial Robots makes safety a priority

“Safety is in the DNA of every MiR product,” said Hathout. “The MiR1200 Pallet Jack complies with the latest product safety standards, including ISO 3691-4 [which governs industrial trucks].”

“The fusion of multiple sensor platforms and top-tier safety features provides a much safer alternative to traditional forklifts, pallet trucks and manual pallet jacks,” he said.

NVIDIA Jetson’s sensor fusion of four RGBD cameras and 3D lidar data provides precise detection of obstacles on the floor, overhead, and around the robot in dynamic environments such as warehouses, said Mobile Industrial Robots.

The MiR1200 Pallet Jack has an IP 52 rating for dust and water, with rugged wheels for mobility over multiple surfaces. In addition, it has a high battery capacity, a charging ratio of 1:14, and the option of opportunistic charging for 24/7 workflows.

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Teradyne’s Robotics Group is one of the world’s leading providers of collaborative robot arms and autonomous mobile robots. In 2023, the group generated $375 million in revenue from Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR). Teradyne has said its market penetration for robotics is under 5%, leaving Teradyne with plenty of room for long-term growth. In the future, Teradyne said it expects its robotics group to make up 20% of the company’s entire sales.

Ujjwal Kumar, who in mid-2023 was named president of Teradyne Robotics, is keynoting the Robotics Summit & Expo (May 1-2 in Boston). He will share some lessons he has learned and how they can be applied to accelerate the transformation of industry with robotics. Over his 25-plus-year career, Kumar has successfully scaled businesses at major multinationals including General Motors, General Electric, and Honeywell.

Kumar has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.

This will be the largest Robotics Summit ever. It will include more than 200 exhibitors, various networking opportunities, a women in robotics breakfast, a career fair, an engineering theater, a startup showcase, and more!

New to the event is the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Gala. The event will include a cocktail hour, plated dinner, photo opportunities, and the chance to hear from the Robot of the Year, Startup of the Year, and Application of the Year winners. Each RBR50 winner will receive two complimentary tickets to the Robotics Summit and RBR50 Gala. A limited number of tickets are available to attendees, but they’re selling fast.

The Robotics Summit & Expo will be co-located with DeviceTalks, an event focused on medical devices, and the inaugural Digital Transformation Forum. Registration is now open for the event.

Sponsorship Opportunities
For information about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, download the prospectus. Questions regarding sponsorship opportunities should be directed to Colleen Sepich at csepich[AT]wtwhmedia.com.

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Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics, greets global delegates at R-24. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

ODENSE, Denmark — Last week, the R-24 conference for robots, automation, and drones demonstrated why the city of about 206,000 residents is one of the most vibrant for technology in Europe and the world. The spirit of collaboration, from cobots to corporate partnerships, is key, according to Søren Elmer Kristensen. For the past year, he has been CEO of Odense Robotics.

One of the organizers of the event, Odense Robotics represents companies across Denmark. The organization works with local and national industry, academia, and the public sector to share insights, accelerate growth, forge partnerships, nurture people, and drive innovation, said Kristensen in an R-24 keynote.

“Collaborative robots, flexible automation, and drones are changing how we live and work,” he said. “We’re looking at agriculture, food, construction, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing — places used to automation and not so used to it.”

Denmark turns industry decline into an opportunity

Odense’s robotics cluster has its roots in the city’s steel working and shipbuilding industry, explained Rasmus Torpegaard Festersen, investment manager for robotics and drones at Invest in Odense. By the early 1980s, manufacturing had shifted to Asia, and AP Moller – Maersk decided to invest in research into more efficient means of production.

“The shipyard wanted robotic help with welding, and it was the first collaboration between industry and the University of Southern Denmark,” Kristensen told The Robot Report. “Like other cities, we’ve been through tough times, but visionaries from both parties and the municipality recognized the need to shift the paradigm from production to technology innovation.”

Although the shipyard still closed, the investment led to the founding of cobot leader Universal Robots A/S (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots ApS (MiR), which Boston-based Teradyne Inc. acquired in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

“That really put us on the map globally,” Festersen said. “Talent attracts talent, and we now have a critical mass.”

Not only have UR and MiR grown, with plans to open a collaborative robotics hub in Odense in May, but Denmark is now home to 593 robotics companies, noted Kristensen.

“Our ecosystem also recognized that to grow, we needed to build trust,” he added. “People can freely move, but companies can’t just steal talent from one another. We’re also looking at mentoring more startups in our incubator.”

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Insight Report tallies growth

Odense Robotics and its partners also last week released its annual Insight Report, which described the growing sector but also noted challenges. Danish robotics, automation, and drone companies employ 13,700 people in Denmark and 4,800 abroad, reflecting 9% growth in the past year, it said.

In 2022, the cluster had a total turnover of DKK 27.5 billion (€3.7 billion or $4 billion U.S.), of which DKK 13.1 billion (€1.8 billion or $1.9 billion) came from exports, said the report. However, supply chain constraints, market awareness, and global economic hurdles have arisen, acknowledged Kristensen. A survey of more than 300 Danish companies found that:

• 91% face constraints related to limited time, resources, and finances for innovation and product development
• 82% must increase customer awareness regarding their technologies’ potential benefits
• 81% struggle with the shortage of qualified workers
• 67% encounter difficulties because of a lack of capital

Still, the Danish robotics cluster expects the creation of 30,000 jobs in the next decade, said Peter Rahbæk Juel, mayor of Odense. He mentioned that two startups had recently relocated from Finland to be part of Odense’s ecosystem.

Peter Rahbæk Juel, the mayor of Odense, Denmark, at the opening of the R-24 conference. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

Odense Robotics continues collaborative approach

“Of our 350 members, 20% were established since 2020, and 87% collaborate with other robotics companies,” said Kristensen. “We’re also working on training and delegation visits with other clusters in Europe and North America, such as Pittsburgh.”

“Denmark punches above its weight,” said Lars Appel Haahr, special advisor to Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which works with Invest in Odense. “It is the most competitive and least corrupt nations, and has proven resilience with dual-use and digital companies.”

From 2015 to 2024, more than €1 billion ($1.09 billion) has been invested in local robotics companies, said the Insight Report. More than 160 robotics organizations are in the vicinity of Odense, making it one of the biggest concentrations in Europe.

The Financial Times recently named the Odense Robotics StartUp Fund as one of Europe’s best startup hubs. The cluster goes through the foreign ministry to work with international partners, and the R-24 conference included delegations from Germany and South Korea.

The Robot Report joined the delegations in visiting the Odense Port, the Danish Technological Institute, the drone test center at Hans Christian Andersen Airport, and Universal Robots. More coverage of these and the Investor Summit to come.

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Apollo moving a tote at the Mercedes factory. | Credit: Apptronik

Apptronik today announced that leading automotive brand Mercedes-Benz is testing its Apollo humanoid robot. As part of the agreement, Apptronik and Mercedes-Benz will collaborate on identifying applications for Apollo in automotive settings.

Mercedes-Benz is exploring how well Apollo can bring parts to the production line for workers to assemble, while simultaneously inspecting the components. Apollo will also be tested at delivering totes of kitted parts later in the manufacturing process.

“When we set out to build Apollo, an agreement like the one we’re announcing today with Mercedes-Benz was a dream scenario,” Jeff Cardenas, co-founder & CEO of Apptronik, said in a press statement. “Mercedes plans to use robotics and Apollo for automating some low-skill, physically challenging, manual labor – a model use case which we’ll see other organizations replicate in the months and years to come.”

The Robot Report reached out to both Apptronik and Mercedes to learn more, but hadn’t heard back at press time. At the moment, it is unclear how many Apollos are being tested, if multiple automotive plants are involved, and what the extent of this partnership is. The photos Apptronik shared show Apollo in a plant in Hungary.

Humanoid race heats up

Apptronik unveiled Apollo in August 2023 and is one of the early innovators in the humanoid race, joining the likes of Agility Robotics’ Digit and Tesla Optimus. Since August, additional manufacturers have thrown their collective hats in the humanoid ring, including 1X, Figure AI, Sanctuary AI, Unitree, LimX and Fourier Intelligence.

The robotics market is at a unique point in time where all of the enabling technologies that make a humanoid viable are coming together. This includes the huge leaps in AI maturity and model training over the last two years, the power of edge compute, battery capacity, and the maturation of legged motion algorithms.

But there are at least two big looming questions: “What can humanoids reliably do?” and “Does it make sense for robots to be on legs versus wheels?” A key milestone for these humanoid manufacturers is to pass these early tests and secure reference customers that validate the robot’s functionality and help guide the product roadmap.

Automotive manufacturing is the leading adopter of robotics worldwide. Automotive manufacturers are under pressure to improve quality, and reduce costs, all while struggling to deal with labor issues. It makes perfect sense that the automotive market would explore how humanoids could help. Optimus will be tested at internal Tesla manufacturing plants, Figure has an agreement with BMW, and Agility Robotics has landed pilots with Amazon and GXO Logistics.

Why humanoids? Why now?

Back to the question of “Why humanoids?” Apptronik said the addition of humanoids to factories and plants would allow organizations like Mercedes-Benz to deploy robotics that are optimized to perform in spaces that are designed for humans, thus avoiding full-scale facility redesigns that are built around robots rather than people. In short, this approach centers on automating some physically demanding, repetitive, and dull tasks for which it is increasingly hard to find reliable workers.

Apollo, which has a form factor that roughly matches the size of a human worker (5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 lb with the ability to lift 55 lb), is built to operate in industrial spaces. Combined with a unique force control architecture that maintains safe operation around people (similar to a collaborative robot versus a traditional industrial robot), Apollo’s design allows it to work alongside people while simultaneously taking on physically demanding tasks, Apptronik said.

Apollo can safely work side by side and collaboratively with humans on the production line. | Credit: Apptronik

“To build the most desirable cars, we continually evolve the future of automotive production. Advancements in robotics and AI open up new opportunities for us. We are exploring new possibilities with the use of robotics to support our skilled workforce in manufacturing,” said Jörg Burzer, member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, production, quality & supply chain management. “This is a new frontier, and we want to understand the potential both for robotics and automotive manufacturing to fill labor gaps in areas such as low skill, repetitive and physically demanding work and to free up our highly skilled team members on the line to build the world’s most desirable cars.”

Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer of Agility Robotics, will keynote the Robotics Summit & Expo, which runs May 1-2 in Boston. The event expects more than 5,000 attendees and is designed to help robotics engineers overcome the technical challenges of building commercial robots. The Robotics Summit & Expo is produced by The Robot Report and parent company WTWH Media.

Hurst’s keynote on May 1 from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. ET is titled “Humanoid Robots Get to Work.” It will explore the technological breakthroughs propelling humanoids like Digit into real-world use cases. Attendees will learn about the ongoing challenges and opportunities and will go inside Digit’s first pilots.

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ABB has expanded production, staff, and training space in Auburn Hills, Mich. Source: ABB

ABB Ltd. today opened its renovated U.S. robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. The company said the site will support ABB Robotics’ development and production of leading systems in and for the Americas.

ABB added that it is investing in long-term growth in the U.S. market, which it predicted will experience an 8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The company, which is based in Sweden and Switzerland, said this is its third global robotics factory expansion in three years across China, Europe, and the Americas and is part of its efforts to strengthen its “local-for-local” footprint.

“The opening of our refitted state-of-the-art U.S. robotics headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich., is a significant part of our global growth story, reaffirming our commitment to industry leadership in the U.S.,” stated Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation Business Area. “Robotics and AI are essential tools for companies in addressing critical labor shortages, localized supply chains, and the need to operate more sustainably.”

“The advances in AI-driven software and hardware make our robots more accessible to a wider range of businesses, enabling them to increase resilience and become more competitive,” he added. “America is now the world’s second-largest robotics market, and our production facility will help ABB support existing customers, as well as new growth sectors across the U.S. and the Americas region.”

Learn from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and many more.

Auburn Hills gets four enhancements

With a 30% increase in space, the $20 million Auburn Hills facility will support ABB’s efforts to be a strategic partner for its growing customer base.

“We had our first manipulator roll off the line in 2016, and ABB is still the first major robotics company to manufacture systems in the U.S.,” said John Bubnikovich, president of ABB’s U.S. Robotics Division. “We want this and our other competence centers to get closer to customers, to understand their needs and requirements from a segment standpoint.”

He told The Robot Report that the expanded facilities include four key parts: a Customer Experience Center, training space, more flexible production, and modernized employee workspaces.

From left: Marc Segura, John Bubnikovich, and Sami Atiya cut the ribbon opening ABB’s new facility. Source: ABB

Customer Experience Center

Bubnikovich said ABB’s new Customer Experience Center will “showcase its latest and greatest technologies.” It will also provide a venue for ABB to collaborate with educational institutions and customers on digital and AI-powered automation.

“Robots used to be complicated and needed a lot of people to deploy, but it’s now easier,” Bubnikovich said. “Education and outreach are critical factors to growth. An SME [small-to-midsize enterprise] can now effectively apply robots without an army of engineers.”

New training center

While ABB had already trained 5,000 staffers and users to date, the expansion will increase the number of people going through application and robot training, he said.

Complete with a new training center, the Ann Arbor facility will educate more than 5,000 workers and students each year. In addition to capitalizing on the concentration of technical skills in the community, ABB said it will train workers with no prior experience or degree with the skills needed to build a successful career in the robotics and automation industry.

“There will be something for everyone — from basic robot programming to advanced applications like painting,” said Bubnikovich.

ABB expands localized production

The localized production capability will provide flexibility, supply chain resilience, and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of ABB’s units around the world, he added.

“Operations are creating engineering development platforms, or EDPs, in local regions,” said Bubnikovich. “For instance, Mexico recently surpassed China for imports into the U.S., and we can leverage some modular assembly in Mexico for efficiencies of scale.”

“We have three global factories — Auburn Hills, Sweden, and Shanghai — and we’re adding models and autonomous mobile robots [AMRs] for local use,” said Bubnikovich. ABB acquired AMR maker ASTI in 2021. “Our robots will be integrated into production processes throughout the factory. This will help our understanding of how customers apply robots differently, even in the same application space. What better way to demonstrate our products?”

The expanded facility will support ABB Robotics’ specialist centers including its Packaging and Logistics hub in Atlanta; its Life Sciences and Healthcare hub at the Texas Medical Center in Houston; and its AI Research Lab in San Jose, Calif.

“We also opened up a Root-Cause Analysis [RCA] center to increase responsiveness,” Bubnikovich said. “It used to take 60 days to do RCA because we had to send equipment back to Sweden, but now it takes under 10 days. The competence to diagnose a problem and make adjustments — that guarantees quality in addition to local manufacturing,”

The new training center will show that robots have changed manufacturing jobs for the better. Source: ABB

A modern workplace

The workplace modernization is intended to help ABB attract and retain talent, plus build a culture of internal collaboration, said Bubnikovich.

“Jobs in an automated plant are higher-skilled work than just assembly,” said Bubnikovich. “They include doing maintenance on robots, fine-tuning programming, and other things as you evolve production for efficiency and synergy. This investment will be a win-win.”

ABB invests in Michigan manufacturing

ABB noted that the expansion will create jobs with support from a $450,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

ABB Robotics has invested $30 million in training since 2019 across four locations, opening its Auburn Hills manufacturing facility in 2015. The latest investment in Auburn Hills is part of the previously announced approximately $170 million that ABB is investing in its electrification and automation businesses across the U.S.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tours renovated ABB facility. Source: ABB

“ABB’s $20 million investment in Auburn Hills will create more than 70 good-paying, high-skill jobs and build on Michigan’s advanced manufacturing leadership,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the opening ceremony. “Around the world, ABB’s technology supports the production of electric vehicles, medical devices, electronics, and even pastries.”

“Today’s expansion at their robotics headquarters will tighten the supply chain and cut down on production delays, while building on ABB’s long-standing investments in local workforce development and hands-on education,” she said. “Let’s keep competing to bring more cutting-edge investments home to Michigan.”

“Through our expanded facility, partner ecosystem and comprehensive AI-enabled product portfolio, we are pushing the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels,” said Bubnikovich. “We look forward to increasing support for our customers, to expanding our role as an employer, and to energizing the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future.”

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