United Kingdom

OSARO, provider of AI-driven robotics for e-commerce, announced a partnership with SVT Robotics to accelerate the integration of pick-and-place robotics systems for e-commerce and logistics businesses. SVT Robotics’ SOFTBOT Platform enables companies to integrate and deploy the robots, automation, and IoT devices they need in just days or weeks.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a ring-shaped soft robot capable of crawling across surfaces when exposed to elevated temperatures or infrared light. The researchers have demonstrated that these “ringbots” are capable of pulling a small payload across the surface – in ambient air or under water, as well as passing through a gap that is narrower than its ring size.

Beneath our streets lies a maze of pipes, conduits for water, sewage, and gas. Regular inspection of these pipes for leaks, or repair, normally requires these to be dug up. The latter is not only onerous and expensive – with an estimated annual cost of £5.5bn in the UK alone – but causes disruption to traffic as well as nuisance to people living nearby, not to mention damage to the environment.

At Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) Kraus Hamdani Aerospace introduced its newest offering, the upSwarm “Skynet* for good” system in conjunction with a demonstration for the K1000ULE, the world’s longest endurance fully electric zero emissions autonomous unmanned aircraft in its size and weight category.

The Asia Pacific micro-surgical robot market is expected to grow from US$ 245.19 million in 2022 to US$ 581.11 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.1% from 2022 to 2028, according to the report “Asia Pacific Micro-Surgical Robot Market Forecast to 2028 – COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis – by Component, Application, and End User” by ResearchAndMarkets.com

A new Gartner survey revealed that 87% of business leaders expect to increase their organisation’s investment in sustainability over the next two years. Customers are the primary stakeholder group creating pressure for organisations to invest or act on sustainability issues, selected by 80% of executives, followed by investors (60%) and regulators (55%).

The global Intelligent Process Automation Market size is expected to grow USD 13.9 billion in 2022 to USD 21.1 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.7% during the forecast period. By Application, the Contact Center Management segment to grow at the highest market share during the forecast period.

IT spending in EMEA is forecast to total $1.3 trillion in 2023, an increase of 3.7% from 2022, according to the latest forecast by Gartner. Among the most mature markets in Western Europe, Germany, France and UK, UK IT spending is projected to record the highest growth in 2023, achieving a 5.2% increase year-over-year.

Trimble and HP are collaborating on the integration of Trimble’s latest robotic total station with HP’s new SitePrint robotic layout solution. The solution focuses on transforming the layout process for indoor construction projects. The announcement was made at the Trimble Dimensions+ Conference, where HP and Trimble are demonstrating the technology.

To create sustainable performance, organisations should focus on impact instead of productivity. Employees need tools and technologies that empower them and increase the impact of their work. AI can increase the impact of employees by extending their reach, range and capabilities. The workforce of the future is AI-enabled, said Gartner at the first day of their CIO event in Barcelona.