EP.22 ROBOTS CREATE DIGITAL TWIN IN STORES

A robot helping the trees, robots creating digital twins of stores & much more ...

Robots take the night shifts 🛒

Robots working alongside a digital copy of a store at places like dm-drogerie in Germany are cool. These robots work at night, scanning shelves super carefully to make a digital version of the store. This is a big jump in how stores use technology.

The robots, made by Ubica Robotics, team up with these digital copies to help in lots of ways. Robots keep track of where things are, how much they cost, and if they're in stock. This helps store workers by giving them the best ways to move around the store, and it also helps manage stock better so shelves are always full of stuff people want to buy.

Plus, having all this data helps design the store better. They can plan where things go based on what people buy a lot, making shopping easier for customers and the store work better. It's a great example of how tech can make shopping better for both stores and shoppers.

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Warehouse humanoid got a new workplace 🚛

GXO, a top contract logistics provider, is piloting a revolutionary robot, "Digit," developed by Agility Robotics. This robot, at 5'9" tall and 140 pounds, is designed to work alongside people in warehouses, lifting up to 35 pounds. The aim is to streamline tasks like moving totes, easing the strain on workers, enhancing safety, and allowing them to focus on more valuable duties.

The test, conducted at a SPANX facility in Georgia, explores how Digit can collaborate with other automated systems to optimize warehouse operations. This initiative represents a significant step in GXO's journey to create a better work environment while utilizing cutting-edge tech solutions.

The potential benefits are substantial: reducing repetitive tasks, enhancing job satisfaction, and enabling employees to work more effectively. If successful, Digit's integration may expand to diverse roles in 2024, transforming the future of warehouse operations.

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Meme of the week 🤖

Robotics provides multiple new business opportunities. For example - a store with robot wigs…

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This robot precisely orchards nitrogen 🌳

Washington State University is pioneering a cutting-edge solution to improve orchard management using the Warthog robot. They aim to optimize how nitrogen, crucial for plant growth, is applied in apple orchards. This not only enhances fruit yield and quality but also minimizes environmental impact by reducing excess fertilizer.

Their system, equipped with NVIDIA Jetson devices, GPS modules, and advanced cameras like Stereolabs ZED2 and Intel Realsense, meticulously assesses tree canopies and soil, ensuring accurate nitrogen application. Moreover, the Warthog isn't limited to nitrogen management; it's also poised for projects in harvesting, pruning, pollination, and more, showcasing its versatility in advancing orchard operations.

They plan to further enhance the Warthog's autonomy and expand its application in various orchard robotics projects. Their strategic choice of this robust, well-documented platform underscores its pivotal role in revolutionizing sustainable and efficient orchard management.

Source: Read more here!

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Delivery robot that is not scared of cold 🧊

The HeRo delivery robot, a wheeled wonder by TwinswHeel, is hitting the chilly streets of Helsinki to make holiday shopping a breeze. This Helsinki Robot zooms to your doorstep within an hour when you order from select stores online.

Armed with top-notch software from LMAD and running on a quick-swappable lithium battery pack, this autonomous robot can carry up to 661 pounds, travel 12 miles on a single charge, and speed at 16 mph while dodging obstacles using GPS and onboard sensors.

It's like a mini moving warehouse, with 900 liters of space divided into lockers for each customer’s order. You open your designated locker via a smartphone app, and a friendly synthetic voice guides you to your package, making the whole process a futuristic delight.

Not new to Helsinki's streets, this bot previously delivered tools to construction sites. Now, in its second pilot phase, it's zipping around Ruoholahti and North Jätkäsaari, letting folks pick from various participating retailers through the app.

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Learn how to simulate mobile robotics virtually 🦾

In this course, participants delve into the exciting realm of virtual robotics using MATLAB® and Simulink® Robotics Playground. By leveraging this platform, individuals embark on a journey to program and test robots within immersive virtual environments.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Setting Up and Programming: Establish a foundation by setting up MATLAB® and Simulink® Robotics Playground, enabling the programming and testing of robots in virtual environments.

• Sensor Integration and Visualization: Program a variety of common robot sensors using Simulink®, gaining proficiency in visualizing and interpreting robot behavior within a 3D virtual environment.

• Understanding Virtual Robotics: Acquire skills to operate within a virtual space, providing insights into robot behavior without the need for physical hardware.

Through this course, participants will gain hands-on experience in virtual robotics, laying a strong groundwork for future explorations in this dynamic field.

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Robot simulation for industrial PCs! 🖥️

RoboDK is a powerful and cost-effective simulator for industrial robots and robot programming.

Meet TwinBox, RoboDK's sleek answer to seamlessly integrating robots into production, marking a cutting-edge leap in automation engineering.

Launched in November 2023, the RoboDK TwinBox is a compact marvel that embeds RoboDK software into industrial PCs and small single-board computers, revolutionizing production robot programming.

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