United Kingdom

This week Amsterdam hosted the largest automation event in Europe: UiPath Together 2022. A broad range of topics related to automation was presented to the people attending, showing automation at this stage is far more then just RPA. A growing number of organizations is not just scaling their software robots, but actually innovating with technologies like AI, machine learning, document understanding and process mining.

ABS has signed a joint development project (JDP) with SpaceX to review the remotely controlled functions of autonomous rocket recovery droneships used for booster rocket recovery at sea.

EV Safe Charge, provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging technology, has unveiled ZiGGY, its mobile EV charging robot. ZiGGY will bring EV charging to parking facilities, shopping and entertainment centers, hotels, fleet operators and property owners, providing cost-effective charging, overcoming the limitations of stationary EV chargers without the need for costly electrical infrastructure. In addition, ZiGGY’s digital ad server can generate advertising revenue for the facility and display customized information.

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies, announced at Eurosatory the launch of its new Kobra 725 modular robot. The tracked multi-mission platform delivers new capabilities and technology upgrades to the Kobra 710 unmanned ground system, with the lift capacity and mobility customers demand for operations in harsh conditions.

After several year of research and development Delft start-up IMSystems is ready to present its patented speed reducer to the market. This high precision gearbox uses rollers instead of gear teeth. At Automatica in Munich it will demonstrate its first product, a development kit for robot companies to test the system.

A horse, a zebra and artificial intelligence helped a team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers teach a robot to recognize water and pour it into a glass.

Researchers from the University of Tokyo pool knowledge of robotics and tissue culturing to create a controllable robotic finger covered with living skin tissue. The robotic digit had living cells and supporting organic material grown on top of it for ideal shaping and strength. As the skin is soft and can even heal itself, so could be useful in applications that require a gentle touch but also robustness.

Two years ago, Generali Group issued a new digital strategy in order to bring greater focus to their core business. The five pillars of this strategy are Agile, Innovation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Smart Automation.

Badger Technologies has deployed a pilot program with Vallarta Supermarkets, a chain of 53 full-service markets throughout California, to reinforce operational and customer-service excellence. Badger Technologies multipurpose autonomous robots support the retailer by identifying hazards at five Vallarta Supermarkets in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Vallarta also is testing the robot’s inventory management capabilities at a sixth location aimed at improving on-shelf product availability.

Companies that have a longstanding digital strategy are more agile, successful and have more satisfied customers. It’s no surprise then that C-level executives have automation second on their priority, according to Neil Ward-Dutton, IDC. The first benefit, agility, is especially important, since we have arrived in a new normal that isn’t stable but volatile. But if companies can embrace automation, it will reap more benefits than expected.