Robot Roundup Volume 6

Your weekly source of all things robotics

Hollywood's Next Big Hit? Or A Matter Of Reality? ExLabs Wins Funds To Accelerate Space Robotics.

Exploration Laboratories (ExLabs), a space resources company, has received a significant financial boost to propel the development of its autonomous space object capture technology. This injection of $1.9 million, awarded via a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) from SpaceWERX , supplements an earlier $1.7 million contract secured in 2023. The combined funding stream will expedite the evolution and testing of ExLabs' cornerstone technology, the Autonomous Capture and Acquisition Robot (ACQR), culminating in an orbital test flight.

ACQR represents the cornerstone of ExLabs' space object capture ambitions. The company is concurrently developing a complementary technology, the Space Exploration and Resource Vehicle (SERV). This spacecraft boasts a remarkable payload capacity exceeding 30 metric tons in its fully configured state. When employed in tandem, ACQR and SERV will possess the capability to capture and control sizeable objects in space, as elucidated by ExLabs CEO and co-founder, Matthew Schmidgall .

ExLabs possesses a long-term vision that extends beyond mere capture. The company aspires to establish SERV as the world's largest operational spacecraft. SERV's functionalities will encompass not only supporting asteroid retrieval missions for in-situ resource utilisation within cis-lunar space (the region encompassing the space between Earth and the Moon's orbit) but also serving as a large-scale power utility, offering invaluable payload hosting, transportation, and delivery services.

ExLabs ' ambitions extend beyond government contracts, encompassing the burgeoning civil space sector. The company is meticulously planning a rendezvous mission with the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, scheduled for 2028, ahead of its close encounter with Earth. This mission hinges on the deployment of three CubeSats into Apophis' orbit. It serves a dual purpose: achieving a rendezvous with a near-Earth asteroid and validating the systems and software that will underpin future endeavours to capture and relocate near-Earth asteroids into stable orbits, facilitating resource acquisition.

ExLabs is steered by a team of seasoned space industry veterans. Founded in 2023 by Matthew Schmidgall (formerly managing partner at Rocket Motorsports) and Miguel Pascual (previously a senior systems engineer at Boeing), the company boasts a formidable team. ExLabs' personnel also include Thomas Cooley (former Air Force Research Laboratory Space Systems chief scientist), Dalibor Djuran (former E-Space chief engineer), and Keiko Nakamura-Messenger , who brings nearly two decades of experience at NASA, including co-investigator roles on the asteroid missions Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-Rex.

Swiss Sportswear Giants Partner With Swiss Automation Innovators...

Swiss sportswear giant On has partnered with AI and robotics specialist Verity to revolutionize warehouse operations. This collaboration leverages fleets of autonomous drones to achieve real-time inventory tracking, minimizing stockouts, misplaced items, and shrinkage across the supply chain. This ensures seamless order fulfilment for both physical stores and e-commerce platforms.

On , known for its rapid growth, actively seeks technological advancements to optimize their supply chain. Verity 's expertise in AI and robotics made them the ideal partner, offering a proven system for intelligent and efficient inventory management. Verity's solution currently performs millions of autonomous inventory checks monthly across over 80 warehouses globally.

This partnership delivers significant benefits. On experiences improved product availability across all customer touchpoints, leading to faster and more accurate deliveries. Verity's technology empowers On to reduce operational issues from 5-12% to less than 1%, significantly enhancing warehouse efficiency. Additionally, by digitizing the supply chain, Verity fosters better data collection, leading to more informed and faster decision-making for On.

Verity's drones are already operational in a US facility, scanning On products daily and ensuring complete stock availability. The technology demonstrably improves On's key performance indicators (KPIs) and aligns with their sustainability goals by reducing CO2 emissions linked to warehousing. Verity clients typically experience an average reduction of 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions per warehouse annually.

Looking ahead, the collaboration seeks to explore new technologies that further enhance operational excellence and inventory visibility. On plans to integrate Verity's solutions with their third-party logistics partners (3PLs).

"We are thrilled to partner with Verity and transform our supply chain," said Caspar Coppetti , On 's Co-Founder and Executive Co-Chairman. He emphasizes the shared values between the two Swiss companies, highlighting their commitment to innovation and exceptional customer experience. Coppetti concludes by expressing the potential for groundbreaking advancements through their collaboration.

Raffaello D'Andrea , Verity 's Co-Founder and CEO, echoes Coppetti's enthusiasm. He views the partnership as an opportunity to showcase their joint dedication to utilizing technology to fulfill customer needs. D'Andrea emphasizes their shared commitment to exceptional customer experiences and Verity's highly reliable systems, boasting a 99.99% success rate.

This collaboration between On and Verity exemplifies how pioneering companies are utilizing cutting-edge technology to streamline supply chains and elevate customer satisfaction.

Swisslog Moves HQ

Swisslog has established its new Americas regional headquarters in Dunwoody, a northern suburb of Atlanta. This strategic location strengthens their footprint in North America, supporting existing facilities in Virginia, Ohio, Mexico, and a network of US field service engineers.

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch welcomes Swisslog , highlighting the city's skilled workforce and central location as ideal for an expanding international company. This move aligns with Swisslog's recent appointment of Sean Wallingford as President and CEO of Swisslog Americas, fostering a more customer-focused leadership team to capitalize on growth opportunities in the region.

Atlanta's position as a global supply chain hub, with headquarters of major industry players, makes it a prime location for Swisslog. The new headquarters, easily accessible from the airport, enhances customer service, attracts top talent, and positions the company for future growth and innovation within the region.

Autostore Expands Global Footprint With New Thai Factory

AutoStore? has unveiled a new assembly factory in Thailand's Rayong Province. This strategic move underscores the company's commitment to global expansion, particularly in key markets like Japan, Korea, and the United States.

AutoStore? boasts the world's most ubiquitous automated fulfilment system, with over 1,450 systems deployed across 54 countries. The Thai factory is positioned to expedite deliveries of its cutting-edge automated storage and retrieval systems to North American warehouses. The U.S. market alone currently utilizes 232 AutoStore systems and 17,000 robots, serving major brands like Puma, Gucci, and Best Buy to address the surging demands of e-commerce.

"Since 2012, our robots have solely been manufactured and shipped from Poland," explains Mats Hovland Vikse , CEO of AutoStore. "The burgeoning demand for our automated fulfilment systems in North America and globally necessitated the establishment of a second factory to better serve both existing and future clientele. Thailand's readily available workforce, proximity to ports and airports, attractive labour costs, and government incentives made it the ideal location for our new facility."

Israel Losada Salvador , AutoStore's COO, emphasized the company's rapid capacity expansion. "Over the past 24 months, we've tripled our existing capacity and established a framework to potentially increase it tenfold within the next two years. Our expansion into Thailand not only bolsters capacity but also diversifies our supplier base. This move has significantly reduced lead times, from 34 weeks to 20 weeks."

The new factory is projected to generate around 80 jobs in its inaugural year, aiming to expand to 200-300 jobs by 2026. Additionally, AutoStore seeks to produce 15,000 robots within the next 18 months, effectively doubling its current capacity to meet the burgeoning demand in North America.

This recent expansion complements AutoStore's previous establishment of a new U.S. headquarters near Boston and the fortification of key customer partnerships, such as the one with U.S.-based medical supply leader Medline.

Thanks all for reading into Volume 6. We're on the lookout again for new features and would love to have you on! Please get in touch at [email protected] !

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