New Atlas video; climbing to new heights in warehouse automation with BionicHive

By The Robot Report Staff | November 1, 2024



In Episode 170 of The Robot Report Podcast, co-hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman examine the latest video from Boston Dynamics showing Atlas electric humanoid autonomously moving materials. The video shows Atlas moving automotive parts from one storage bin to another. They discuss how Atlas appears to move differently from competing humanoids.

In our feature interview this week, Oitzman and fellow editor Eugene Demaitre sit down with Gili Ovadia, vice president of business development at BionicHive, to learn more about the company‘s warehouse automation.

The BionicHive Squid mobile robot can drive along the floor of the warehouse and climb into the warehouse racking to put or get boxes/totes from storage locations on higher shelves. Ovadia explains how the system works and where BionicHive is deploying these automated storage systems.

You can now submit nominations for the 2025 RBR50 innovation awards. They will recognize technology and business innovations in calendar year 2024, and the awards are open to any company worldwide that produces robotics or automation.

The categories include:

In addition, the 2025 RBR50 awards will celebrate the following:

The deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.

Locus Robotics Corp. announced that its autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have assisted in 4 billion picks across its customer deployments worldwide. The company noted that this milestone came just six months after passing the 3 billion pick mark and reflects its leadership in the warehouse automation industry.

“This is a truly momentous moment for everyone associated with Locus Robotics – from our global team of employees around the world to our expanding base of customers,” stated CEO Rick Faulk. “Reaching the 4 billion milestone in record time demonstrates the incredible momentum we’re generating in warehouse automation.”

In addition to the 4 billion-pick milestone, Locus recently celebrated the grand opening of Locus Park, its new global headquarters in Wilmington, Mass. It is now fully operational and home to hundreds of New England-based employees.

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China has launched a data-sharing initiative for domestic humanoid companies to accelerate innovation. The project is being spearheaded by the National Local Joint Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (NLJIC) and various Chinese humanoid companies.

The NLJIC, China’s first public platform dedicated to this type of robot, is also building a training ground for manufacturers to collect high-quality data and promote industry-wide standards.

Xu Bin, general manager of the state-backed center, told Chinese media outlet Yicai Global that like autonomous vehicles, “humanoid robots require large volumes of high-quality data for development, and advanced models demand even stricter data standards.”

Bear Robotics Inc., which has previously created robots for the hospitality, healthcare, and retail sectors, announced its foray into logistics. The company unveiled the Carti 100 robot for material handling tasks in warehouses and distribution centers.

Bear Robotics said it built the Carti 100 to handleup to 220 lb. (99.79 kg). It said this ensures automated efficiency and precision while reducing overtime.

The AMR’s features include multi-robot orchestration and an adaptable design suitable for a range of environments, including brownfield and greenfield sites, multi-level spaces, and mezzanines. The customizable robot includes adjustable shelves, smart conveyor belts, and advanced lighting to meet operational needs.

The show this week is sponsored by RGO Robotics

Is your autonomous mobile robot struggling in dynamic environments? Is your business stuck because it takes months to commission a new site?

RGo Robotics’ Perception Engine is revolutionizing the AMR business through advanced Vision AI perception technology. Unlike traditional solutions, RGo’s software enables AMRs to adapt to changing environments and navigate complex spaces with unprecedented accuracy and the commissioning process is shorter and simpler.

Leading AMR companies are enhancing their fleets with RGo’s AI-powered perception, enabling their teams to accelerate use of advanced AI capabilities like foundation models and digital twins.

Don’t let outdated navigation hold your business back.

To learn more about RGO’s solutions goto: https://www.rgorobotics.ai/

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