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We’re halfway through 2024, and for the past six months, the robotics industry has continued to progress rapidly. From novel deployments and humanoid robotics developments to emerging partnerships, there was no shortage of news to cover in June 2024.
Here are the top 10 most popular stories on The Robot Report last month. Subscribe to The Robot Report Newsletter or listen to The Robot Report Podcast to stay updated on the robotics stories you need to know about.
10. ABB releases OmniCore platform for control across its robotics line
Thanks to advances in cloud computing, perception technology, and artificial intelligence, industrial and other robots are becoming smarter and more capable. ABB Robotics launched its next-generation OmniCore platform, which can now control most of its automation line. Read More
9. Realtime Robotics celebrates motion-planning collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric
As factories and warehouses look to automate more of their operations, they need confidence that multiple robots can conduct complex tasks repeatedly, reliably, and safely. Realtime Robotics has developed hardware-agnostic software to run and coordinate industrial workcells smoothly without error or collision. Read More
8. NVIDIA highlights Omniverse, Isaac adoption by robot market leaders
In addition to artificial intelligence products, NVIDIA Corp. founder and CEO Jensen Huang announced several robotics-related items during his keynote at COMPUTEX in Taiwan. The company said that many manufacturers are producing a new generation of “AI computers” using its chips to enable Omniverse for modeling and business workflows. Read More
7. Beep deploys autonomous shuttles at Honolulu airport with partners
As millions of people in the Northern Hemisphere begin summer vacations, some of them will board autonomous vehicles for part of their journeys. Beep Inc. is working with the Hawai’i Department of Transportation, or HDOT, and Sustainability Partners on an 18-month self-driving shuttle pilot at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, formerly HNL. Read More
6. GrayMatter raises $45M Series B to ease robot programming for manufacturers
Like businesses in other industries, U.S. manufacturers face widening labor shortfalls and need automation to help fill those gaps. GrayMatter Robotics announced that it has raised $45 million. The Carson, Calif.-based company said it plans to use the investment to expand to meet customer demand. Read More
5. Vecna Robotics raises more than $100M, hires COO to expand warehouse automation
Although investment in robotics dipped in the past year, suppliers with proven products and business models have been finding funding. In June 2024, Vecna Robotics closed its Series C round at $100 million, plus $40 million in new funding including equity and debt. The financing nearly doubled the company valuation since its Series B round. Read More
4. IEEE launches study group to explore and develop humanoid robot standards
As humanoid robots garner widespread public attention, such systems will also need to stand up to safety and performance standards. IEEE’s Robotics & Automation Society formed a new study group that will look into the current humanoid landscape and then develop a roadmap for future standards that various organizations can follow. Read More
3. ROBOTIS and Realbotix become official development partners
Robots including humanoids are complex and typically require components from multiple suppliers. Tokens.com Corp., now known as Realbotix, has entered a strategic partnership with ROBOTIS Inc. The companies said the agreement designates robotics and AI developer Realbotix as an official partner to facilitate integration with technologies from ROBOTIS. Read More
2. Robotics investments drive past $2.1B in May
Robotics investments for May 2024 topped $2.1 billion, the result of funding for 38 companies. The $2.1 billion is the highest monthly funding amount for the year 2024 and greatly exceeds the trailing 12-month average of $1.2 billion. Robotics funding through May 2024 totaled approximately $5.7 billion. Read More
1. Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoid lands first official job
Agility Robotics continues to have a leg up in the humanoid race. In June 2024, the company signed a multi-year deal with GXO Logistics to deploy its Digit humanoids in various logistics operations. Read More