United Kingdom

Researchers of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have developed low-cost artificial robotic skin with high-performance, vision-guided sensing, opening the doors to large-scale tactile sensing technology. They claim this artificial skin brings robots closer to ’touching’ human lives’

International fulfillment company Distribution Management has connected its robots and IoT devices to a standardized Aruba wireless network. This enables digital transformation initiatives to support the company’s rapid growth and increasing customer demand.

Preceding the intended IPO this year, UiPath this week announced it has closed a $750 million Series F funding round at a post-money valuation of $35 billion. The round was co-led by existing investors Alkeon Capital and Coatue. Other returning investors include Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, IVP, Sequoia, Tiger Global, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

Badger Technologies has introduced the Badger UV Disinfect robot, an autonomous ultraviolet (UV) disinfecting robot designed to combat COVID-19 and high-risk pathogens commonly found in grocery, food-service and retail environments. The latest in the lineup of autonomous robots, the Badger UV Disinfect robot is equipped with advanced UV-C technology developed by UltraViolet Devices Inc. (UVDI), a provider of air and surface disinfection solutions.

Boston Dynamics has announced an expanded product line for its mobile robot Spot. The new products include a self-charging Enterprise Spot, web-based remote operations software, Scout, and the Spot Arm. These additions extend Spot’s ability to perform autonomous, remote inspections and data collection, and enable the robot to perform manual tasks.

The coronavirus crisis has given a major boost to the use of robot-assisted process automation (RPA) in Randstad France. CFO Odile Schmutz pointed out recently during a digital festival organized by specialist UiPath.

A team of New Jersey researchers has demonstrated that high-dose therapy gait training using robotic exoskeletons may aid early rehabilitation for acute stroke.

For the first time, yearly orders of robots from non-automotive sectors surpassed automotive robot orders, as sales of robotic units in North America increased 3.5% in 2020 from 2019. This growth was driven by a strong Q4 that was the second-best quarter ever for North American robotic sales with a 63.6% increase over Q4 2019.

AutoX, a Chinese provider of fully autonomous vehicles, has opened its Robotaxi service to the general public in Shenzhen. This means the autonomous cars will be transporting passengers without a safety driver. Last year competitor Waymo was the first to make their taxi available to the general public.

Amnesty International today launches a global campaign to ban the use of facial recognition systems, a form of mass surveillance that amplifies racist policing and threatens the right to protest.