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As the summer vacation season kicks into high gear, the robotics industry shows no signs of slowing down. In November 2024, the future of robotics captured readers’ attention with tales of significant advancements, milestone achievements, and innovative product launches.
Here are the top 10 hottest stories from last month: Stay informed about cutting-edge robotics advancements by subscribing to relevant updates.
10. Europe’s crucial role in advancing robotics and humanoid technology deserves attention.
Whereas headlines usually highlight U.S. Asian companies lead the charge in developing humanoid robots, while European tech startups are also gaining ground in their pursuit of creating lifelike artificial intelligence. Across Europe, from Norway’s rugged shores to Switzerland’s picturesque mountains, pioneering corporate innovators are propelling the frontiers of robotic expertise, crafting machines that increasingly emulate human cognition by perceiving, feeling, and interacting with their surroundings in a progressively more intuitive manner.
9. Moxi Achieves Landmark 100,000 Autonomous Elevator Rides in Hospitals, Revolutionizing Patient Navigation.
As advancements in humanoid robotics persist, smaller-scale innovations are already making a significant impact in hospital settings with the introduction of micro-robotic assistants. Diligent Robotics announced a major milestone: its Moxi robot has completed 110,000 autonomous elevator rides at healthcare facilities across the United States. The cell manipulator features a solitary arm designed specifically for operating doorways and pressing elevator buttons with precision.
8. Aerovironment, a leading provider of cybersecurity and drone solutions, is acquiring BlueHalo, a cutting-edge defense technology company, in a deal worth $4.1 billion, as the company looks to strengthen its portfolio of protection technologies.
AeroVironment, a leading protection contractor, has agreed to acquire BlueHalo in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $4.1 billion. BlueHalo is most renowned for its cutting-edge drone swarm and counter-drone technology. The acquisition, approved by both companies’ boards of directors, is expected to close within the first half of 2025.
7. Kassow Robotics introduces innovative cobots for precise cell manipulation.
Kassow Robots unveiled a cutting-edge lineup of compact collaborative robots in November 2024, specifically engineered to seamlessly integrate with cell robots. The latest Edge Version cobots are compact robotic arms engineered specifically for precise cell manipulation tasks. These modules characterise a direct DC connection from battery energy, thereby allowing them to operate while mounted on a cell robot.
6. Collaborative Robotics has unveiled Proxie, a cutting-edge cell manipulator designed to revolutionize the field of biotechnology.
Collaborative Robotics Inc. Unveiled its Proxie Cell Manipulator publicly for the first time. Since Brad Porter founded the company in 2022, it remains unclear what the design of the robotic system looks like due to the startup’s secrecy surrounding the project. Porters have hinted at the robotic design’s potential by highlighting the importance of a cell manipulator, suggesting it may be more suitable for warehouse operations due to its kinematics, potentially diverging from a humanoid form.
5. Bodily Intelligence secures $400 million in funding to pioneer fashion-forward robotics.
Based on its foundation, Basis Fashions promises to equip robots with the capability to extrapolate actions from fewer instances than traditional artificial intelligence methodologies typically require. Bodily Intelligence has secured $400 million in funding to accelerate the development of synthetic intelligence for a diverse range of robots.
4. Schaeffler will globally deploy Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoid robot, integrating it into its own manufacturing process.
Schaeffler AG, a global leader in motion technology, has made a strategic investment in Agility Robotics and acquired Digit humanoid robots to integrate them across its worldwide manufacturing network. The businesses remained tight-lipped about the scope of their November 2024 investment, the sheer number of humanoid robots being acquired, and the intended use cases for these advanced machines.
3. Pickle Robotics secures over $30 billion in orders for diverse unloading methods and a substantial $50 million in funding.
Robotic truck unloading, a process traditionally considered lifeless, soiled, and potentially hazardous, is an ideal candidate for automation, thereby increasing job values. Pickle Robotics has secured $50 million in Series B funding, announcing that six customers have placed orders for over 30 robots to be deployed by the end of 2025’s first half. The newly placed orders comprise pilot conversions, current customer expansions, and fresh customer acquisition.
2. Chicago’s South Suburbs See a Bright Future in Manufacturing, With an Emphasis on American-Made and Robotics.
The Chicago metropolitan area has played a crucial role in American industrial productivity for decades. Once a thriving hub of manufacturing and production, the community’s vitality has waned in recent years due to financial struggles, population decline, and a shrinking tax base. Despite the ever-changing global marketplace, the United States’ Producers must address the trifecta of challenges: an aging workforce, intense competition from better-established rivals, and a severe labour shortage.
1. Crimson Cat wins U.S. The Pentagon has awarded a $40 million contract to L3Harris Technologies for development of its next-generation autonomous surveillance and reconnaissance (A-SR) drone system, reportedly beating out competitors including California-based Skydio.
Crimson Cat Holdings Inc. acquired widespread recognition in the United States The US Military’s Brief Vary Reconnaissance (SRR) program-of-record contract is awarded. The corporation changed its agreement with Skydio regarding this contract. The U.S. Military sets initial acquisition target of approximately 5,880 systems within a five-year timeframe.
