Robotics

In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape,  SCARA robots  have emerged as the backbone of modern production automation. These versatile machines are transforming everything from electronics assembly to food packaging, but here’s the thing – choosing the wrong robot can cost you more than just money. I’ve seen companies struggle with underperforming systems simply because they didn’t understand what they were buying. The stakes are high. A poorly selected robot can bottleneck your entire production line, while the right choice can boost efficiency by 40% or more. That’s why I’m sharing this practical guide – to help you navigate the technical maze and make a decision that actually works for your specific needs. Key Technical Specifications of SCARA Robots Understanding the Core Parameters When evaluating SCARA robots, you need to focus on five critical specifications that will make or break your automation project: Payload Capacity Light-duty : 1-5 kg (electronic...

Fanuc , the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturer, says it has received a “significant order” to supply a state-of-the-art paint system, including paint robots and advanced application technology. Nearly 50 robots will be delivered to a “European luxury carmaker”, says Fanuc, which has more robots installed worldwide than any other robotics company. Jan Kamenicky, head of paint at Fanuc Europe, says: “We are managing the entire project, including installation. The Fanuc robots will paint both car bodies and plastic add-on parts such as bumpers. “Our application technology ensures fast changeover times and minimal paint loss.” Fanuc impressed the customer with an innovative cabin painting concept that requires fewer cabins and robots. Fanuc’s paint lab nearby Stuttgart, Germany, also played a crucial role. The robots will automatically open the bonnet and boot and apply multiple layers of paint, with technology provided by Fanuc partner Sames Kremlin. Kamenicky says: “Like our s...

Saga Robotics , the company behind Thorvald, the robotic platform for growing and harvesting grapevine and strawberries, has raised $11.2 million in equity capital to scale its commercial operations in the UK and US. The raise marks a pivotal moment as the company transitions from initial market traction to large-scale commercial adoption. The round was backed by a strong mix of new and existing investors, including Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, a Luxembourg-based VC fund focused on scalable agtech solutions. Returning investors include Aker, Nysnø Climate Investments, Blystad, Hatteland, Melesio, Sanden, and MP Pensjon. Alongside the raise, Saga Robotics has strengthened its Board with additional industry expertise. Dorn Wenninger (Chair), Atle Eide (Aker) and Yvonne Silden Langlo (Nysnø) remain in place, joined by new members Laila Danielsen, CEO of the global AI software company Elliptic Labs, and Alice Laurora of Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, who joins as an observer. Alice Laurora, vice p...

With the fall semester approaching, Grubhub and   Starship Technologies   rolled out their food delivery service today on   Old Dominion University ’s campus. This makes ODU one of only three universities in Virginia to feature this amenity. Starship’s fleet of 11 autonomous, on-demand robots will deliver from seven campus eateries: Chick-fil-A (Webb Center and University Village), Starbucks (Webb Center and University Village), Panera Bread, Qdoba and Steak ‘N Shake. Students, faculty, staff and the ODU community can now use the Grubhub app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from local retailers to be delivered anywhere on campus, within minutes. Students can use flex points from their meal plan to order food but must use a credit card for the delivery fee. Shannon Hurt, assistant vice president for campus life services in ODU’s division of student enrollment, engagement and services, says: “We are thrilled to be one of the few universities in the state offering ...

FieldAI, a specialist developer of physical AI and robotic autonomy, has raised $405 million in two consecutive funding rounds. Investors include Bezos Expeditions, BHP Ventures, Canaan Partners, Emerson Collective, Intel Capital, Khosla Ventures, NVentures (Nvidia’s venture capital arm), Prysm, Temasek, and others. Previous investors include Gates Frontier and Samsung. The latest round was oversubscribed, following rapid customer adoption and multiple expansion contracts for FieldAI’s general-purpose robotics intelligence, with successful testing and deployments across hundreds of complex real-world industrial environments. FieldAI is at the forefront of the general-purpose robotics revolution, developing a single software brain that is powering a variety of robots in many diverse environments. FieldAI robots are deployed in daily operations at numerous customer sites worldwide. Deployments span a variety of robot types in high-complexity environments from Japan, to Europe, to the US,...

DHL , the world’s largest logistics company, is making one of its biggest single bets yet on robotics, announcing plans to deploy more than 1,000 additional robots across its UK operations as part of a £550 million (€637 million) investment. The move underscores a broader shift in global logistics toward flexible, AI-powered automation designed to work alongside people rather than replace them. In a post on LinkedIn, Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group, framed the initiative as part of a wider transformation in how the company operates. Meyer’s LinkedIn post republished here: Commitment to a robotic future The announcement reflects both DHL’s scale – the company already operates more than 2,000 robots in the UK, Ireland, and wider EMEA region – and its commitment to a multi-partner approach. The new wave of deployments will include technologies from Boston Dynamics, Robust.AI, Locus Robotics, and 6 River Systems, each designed to tackle different points in the logistics process. One of ...

When people talk about operating systems (OS) in industrial automation, it’s easy to jump straight into performance stats, software capabilities or the technical specs. But the real question most engineers and operations teams are asking themselves is much simpler: “Can our team actually use this?” Windows or Linux? In this exclusive article, Beth Ragdale, software business manager at industrial automation and control specialist Beckhoff UK, explains the practical differences between Windows and Linux to help you choose the best OS for your industrial automation. Within the automation and controls sector many companies rely heavily on Windows. It’s familiar, the user interface is intuitive, it boots to a desktop and it’s easy to install software and get up and running. For many teams, especially those without a dedicated IT department embedded on the factory floor, that simplicity matters. However, automation systems have historically been stand-alone. They are now becoming mo...