In a preprint research paper published this week, Nvidia researchers propose an approach for human-to-robot handovers in which the robot meets the human halfway, classifies the human's grasp , and plans a trajectory to take the object from the human's hand. They claim it results in more fluent handovers compared with baselines, and they say it could inform the design of collaborative warehouse robots that bolster workers' productivity.
As the coauthors explain, a growing body of research focuses on the problem of enabling seamless human-robot handovers. Most tackle the challenge of object transfer from the robot to the human, assuming that the human can place the object in the robot's gripper for the reverse. But the accuracy of human and object pose estimation is affected by occlusion — i.e.
Many things are taking place:
Recruiting robots: DoD summit promotes robotics in maintenance and repair | EurekAlert!
IMAGE: Steven Morani (left), deputy assistant secretary of defense for Materiel Readiness, listens as Arnold Kravitz, chief technical officer of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, explains the workings of... view more
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ARLINGTON, Va.--Inspecting fuel and ballast tanks. Sand-blasting old paint coatings and applying new ones. Removing corrosion on ships, submarines, aircraft and other vehicles.
These are some of the unpleasant jobs in naval shipyards and maintenance facilities that could be made safer by pairing human workers with robots. Experts say this could improve the speed and efficiency with which the U.S. Navy sustains its assets--and expand the career paths of current workers (and create new jobs) by teaching them to operate, repair and supervise robotic systems.
Robots keeping elderly Belgians connected with loved ones during coronavirus | E&T Magazine
A Belgian robotics firm is lending a fleet of robots to elderly care homes to help residents keep in contact with loved ones after the government banned visitors to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The company, Zorabots, said it would initially lend 60 of its 'James' robots to the care homes, but could make hundreds more available if required. According to the robotics firm, the 12m-tall butler-style machines can navigate rooms and connect video calls through Facebook Messenger.
Robots are everywhere! – RetailWire
Robots were certainly pervasive at ProMat last year, but Modex 2020, which alternates with ProMat as the major material handling trade shows of each year, featured even more. More kinds of robots performing more types of tasks from ever more companies. There were robot floor sweepers and shelf stockers, pickers and scanners, even truck unloaders. And there were some very sophisticated technologies to run the systems safely and efficiently.
MHI, which presents both Modex and ProMat, issues an annual survey of material handling companies and experts, and this year's version, titled "Embracing the Digital Mindset," found that the leading disruptive forces in technology are, first and foremost, robotics and automation.
While you're here, how about this:
DHL expands robotic footprint with 1000 autonomous robots | ZDNet
Much of that success found its roots in Amazon, which has largely reshaped fulfillment and logistics in a very short time. In 2012, Amazon acquired Kiva, which makes automation solutions for the logistics industry. The $775 million acquisition, Amazon's second-biggest at the time, gave the company a massive competitive advantage over rivals like Wal-Mart and put it years ahead of smaller retailers.
"We now see an opportunity to extend the benefits of utilizing their highly flexible AMR solution at scale for customers across multiple sectors," said Gehr. "We look forward to continuing to work with Locus to drive productivity, support capacity growth and deliver continuous improvement within our customers' supply chains nationwide."
Construction Workers Embrace the Robots That Do Their Jobs | WIRED
The International Union of Operating Engineers has plenty of big toys at its training center in Crosby, Texas, but one that began rolling across the 265-acre campus last week is an oddity. The modified Caterpillar 336 excavator can use onboard computers and sensors to perform by itself some of the work the center trains human operators to do, such as digging trenches for gas pipelines or wind turbine foundations.
The IUOE's new robotic excavator is the result of an unusual partnership with Built Robotics, a San Francisco startup that sells a box that can enable a backhoe or bulldozer to pilot itself for some tasks. It contains a high-powered computer, motion and angle sensors, and a laser scanner called a lidar commonly used in self-driving cars.
Local company uses robots to solve labor shortage
BLOOMER, Wis. (WEAU) -- According to a local company, the Chippewa Valley is experiencing a major labor shortage.
"We're not trying to run employees out of our business; we're just trying to fill the gap of not having employees," said VP of Operations at PMI Erik Larson.
That is the mindset of PMI, a welding company located in Bloomer, when trying to solve their current labor shortage.
"Over the last number of years, we've noticed that the labor market out there is starting to dry up a little bit so it is getting harder to get some employees in the door," Larson said.
MODEX 2020: 5 takeaways about supply chain robotics trends
ATLANTA — Although MODEX 2020 was affected by widening COVID-19 concerns, the exhibitors, speakers, and attendees who did come here last week shared their observations about robotics in supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing operations. Maturing software, a better understanding of use cases, and accelerating demand should all lead to continued automation growth, they said.
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MHI, which organized MODEX 2020, recorded videos at booths for exhibitors to display after the show. Several people we spoke with were returning home to two-week self-quarantines and mandatory telecommuting.
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