Robotics

Rise in Warehouse Automation Fuels Fire Risk, Too

November 16, 2017

A robotic material handling unit zips through a global toy manufacturer's six-story distribution center. As the unit retrieves an open-top plastic container filled with freshly molded toy planes from an automatic storage and retrieval system (ASRS), sparks from a frayed electrical cable on the robot fly everywhere, igniting both the toy planes and the plastic container in which they are stored.

Alphabet's Autonomous Cars Ditch Backup Human Driver in Breakthrough Test

November 10, 2017

Bloomberg

For almost a decade, self-driving cars have graced public roads - but always with a person behind the wheel. Now Waymo is yanking the driver.

Baidu Aims for 'Android' of Robocar Tech With Open-Source Apollo Platform

November 9, 2017

Forbes

Baidu President Ya-Qin Zhang has a mild-mannered style at odds with his bold goals for "Apollo," the fast-growing, open-source self-driving car platform the Chinese tech giant launched in July.

What's at Stake: Cyberattack in the Global Shipping Industry

November 8, 2017

Maritime Executive

The global shipping industry has come of age with more automation, game-changing technologies and the-internet-of-things. But embarking on this voyage has also made it a prime target for unforeseen, invisible, and highly destructive cyberattacks.

Wal-Mart Is Putting Shelf-Scanning Robots in More Than 50 U.S. Stores

November 2, 2017

Fortune

Wal-Mart Stores is rolling out shelf-scanning robots in more than 50 U.S. stores to replenish inventory faster and save employees time when products run out.

USPS Plans Autonomous Vehicle Tests on Rural Routes

October 27, 2017

Air Cargo World

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is following in the steps - or in this case, the wheels - of integrator's like UPS, FedEx and DHL by testing an autonomous delivery vehicle on rural routes, in partnership with the University of Michigan.

Robots Are Coming for These Wall Street Jobs

October 23, 2017

Bloomberg

Traders, prepare to adapt. Wall Street is entering a new era. The fraternity of bond jockeys, derivatives mavens and stock pickers who've long personified the industry are giving way to algorithms, and soon, artificial intelligence.

Robots Endangering Workers Drives German Startup to Airbags

September 25, 2017

Industryweek

Two years ago, a robot crushed a 22-year-old man to death at a Volkswagen AG factory in Germany after the maintenance worker became trapped in an area usually off-bound to humans. While this type of tragedy is still relatively rare, efforts to improve safety are intensifying as factories around the world become increasingly automated.

In the Future, Warehouse Robots Will Learn on Their Own

September 20, 2017

The New York Times

The robot was perched over a bin filled with random objects, from a box of instant oatmeal to a small toy shark. This two-armed automaton did not recognize any of this stuff, but that did not matter. It reached into the pile and started picking things up, one after another after another.

As Amazon Pushes Forward With Robots, Workers Find New Roles

September 14, 2017

The New York Times

Nissa Scott started working at the cavernous Amazon warehouse in southern New Jersey late last year, stacking plastic bins the size of small ottomans. It was not, she says, the most stimulating activity. And lifting the bins, which often weigh 25 pounds each, was also tiring over 10-hour shifts.

Robotics

The latest news, analysis, trends and tools for automation and robotics for warehousing and distribution. Today’s companies are moving goods across more suppliers, vendors and customers than ever before, and warehouses are critical points in the overall supply chain. New technologies that use cameras, radios, sensors and digital maps to find and sort merchandise are transforming the way warehouses and distribution centers operate — and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are improving supply-chain operations through their strategic use of automation and robotics in the warehouse.