Steve Crowe

Listen to this article [embedded content] The Robot Report invites you to submit a session abstract to be considered for presentation at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be held April 30-May 1, 2025 in Boston at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The Robotics Summit is the leading event focused on the technical issues involved with developing commercial robots. We are seeking sessions that should be technical and educational to help attendees overcome

Listen to this article The UR20 collaborative robot arm with its increased payload (25 kg) demoed at the China International Industry Fair. | Credit: Universal Robots Universal Robots is increasing the payload capacities of its UR20 and UR30 collaborative robot arms by 5 kg each. This raises the payload capacity, including the end-effector, to 25 kg and 35 kg, respectively, when using the cobot in top lift position. Universal Robots said the added strength will

Listen to this article T-Series actuators from HEBI Robotics. HEBI Robotics was awarded a $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by NASA to develop smart robotic actuation hardware and building blocks that can be used in space. The new products will be compatible with HEBI’s current platform for robot development. HEBI said the SBIR grant will support its efforts to further expand its platform with “Space-Rated Modular Robotic Building Blocks.” The technology developed will

Listen to this article The autonomous mobile robot (AMR) market grew by 27% in 2023 to reach $4.5 billion globally, according to Interact Analysis. There’s more competition than ever for AMR developers, so it’s essential to get things right from the start. Join us for an insightful webinar focused on accelerating ROS 2 AMR development. This webinar will uncover common pitfalls in AMR projects and how to effectively resolve them. Experts will guide you through

Listen to this article The Pitchfire Startup Competition has been an opening-day highlight for years at RoboBusiness, which runs Oct. 16-17 in Santa Clara, Calif. Pitchfire, which happens on Oct. 16 from 4-4:45 PM at the Santa Clara Convention Center, is a must-attend event for investors, robotics entrepreneurs and innovation leaders alike. Six robotics startups will compete this year for a $5,000 first-place prize. Each startup gets five minutes to describe their company’s solution, business

Listen to this article The GoFa cobots are now available on Vention’s Manufacturing Automation Platform. Source: ABB Small and midsize manufacturers, or SMMs, have historically struggled to adopt robotics. Some barriers to adoption include not knowing where to start, complicated purchasing and installation processes, and uncertainty about return on investment. Do-it-yourself (DIY) robotics marketplaces have popped up in recent years in an attempt to help SMMs overcome these challenges. Today, Vention added another global robotics

Listen to this article The new Reacher collaborative robot arms from Rethink Robotics. | Credit: Rethink Robotics Rethink Robotics is making a bold return to Boston with a new roster of collaborative robot arms, autonomous mobile robots, and a mobile manipulator. The company started developing cobots in Boston back in 2008, but it had to revamp its product line and find new owners. Rethink Robotics had raised $150 million and developed the well-known Baxter and

Listen to this article Source: A3 Significant declines in the automotive component and semiconductors industries led to another drop in North American robot sales, according to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). In the second quarter of 2024, 7,123 robots were ordered in North America, which A3 said is a decline of 9.7% compared with Q2 2023. The total units sold were valued at $489 million, which A3 said is a 6.9% increase compared with

Listen to this article [embedded content] It’s predicted that by 2030, over 1 million mobile robots will be in the field. However, implementation is still complex and the cost of robot downtime is estimated to range from $1,000 to $10,000 per minute. With AI and SLAM systems struggling with real-world variability, what are the real challenges in understanding the total cost of ownership? For mobile robots to be feasible and improve operational efficiency, customers need

Listen to this article [embedded content] Robotics is inherently challenging because it requires inputs across disciplines, from mechatronics and electrical engineering to software and artificial intelligence. Predicting the future of robotics innovation is also difficult, because it is subject to numerous technical hurdles, as well as investor and market pressures. A keynote panel at RoboBusiness, which will be on Oct. 16 and 17 in Santa Clara, Calif., will sift through the hype and promise of