Articles tagged with "logistics-automation"
HMND 01: UK Humanoid robot shows logistics readiness at Siemens plant
Humanoid, an AI and robotics firm, in partnership with Siemens, successfully completed a proof-of-concept trial deploying Humanoid’s HMND 01 wheeled Alpha robot in live industrial logistics operations at a Siemens facility. The robot autonomously performed a tote-to-conveyor destacking task, moving 60 totes per hour, handling two tote sizes, and operating continuously for over 30 minutes with an uptime exceeding 8 hours. It achieved over 90 percent success in pick-and-place tasks, demonstrating its ability to handle repetitive industrial workflows reliably in a real production environment. The HMND 01 Alpha is a 220 cm tall humanoid robot on a wheeled base, capable of speeds up to 4.47 mph and designed for industrial handling with a bimanual payload capacity of up to 33 pounds. Equipped with advanced AI-driven motion and task execution, a sensor-rich head with 360-degree cameras, and interchangeable end-effectors, the robot can access items from floor level to two
robothumanoid-robotindustrial-roboticslogistics-automationAI-roboticsSiemenswarehouse-automationHumanoid robots to join chip production factories for the first time
European semiconductor leader STMicroelectronics (ST) has partnered with Italian firm Oversonic Robotics to deploy RoBee, a custom cognitive humanoid robot, in semiconductor manufacturing for the first time. This marks the inaugural use of humanoid robots in logistics and production within semiconductor factories. RoBee is uniquely certified for both industrial and healthcare sectors and is designed to autonomously operate in complex environments, enhancing collaboration with human workers through AI-driven perception, decision-making, and interaction capabilities. Its applications include pick-and-place tasks, real-time data collection, and integration with industrial automation systems to improve production planning and logistics. STMicroelectronics emphasized that scaling automation and robotics, including humanoid integration, is critical for maintaining long-term competitiveness and improving product quality. The deployment of RoBee aims to support complex manufacturing flows, shorten cycle times, increase employee safety, and boost operational efficiency. This initiative underscores ST’s commitment to pioneering strategic and sustainable technologies in the semiconductor industry. The collaboration’s international launch will be showcased through live demonstrations
robothumanoid-robotssemiconductor-manufacturingindustrial-automationcognitive-roboticsAI-in-manufacturinglogistics-automationAnd the winner of Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025 is: Glīd
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, 20 startups competed in the Startup Battlefield, a prestigious event showcasing top emerging companies. After rigorous pitching and judging by venture capitalists and tech leaders, five finalists were selected: Charter Space, Glīd, MacroCycle, Nephrogen, and Unlisted Homes. The final round featured demos before a panel including Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures and Digg founder Kevin Rose. Ultimately, Glīd was named the winner, earning the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000. Glīd focuses on optimizing the logistics of moving shipping containers from ships to freight trains using innovative hardware and software. Their flagship product, GliderM, is a hybrid-electric vehicle designed to transport 20-foot containers directly to railheads, eliminating the need for forklifts or hostler trucks and reducing costs and complexity. The runner-up was Nephrogen, a company developing a highly efficient delivery system for gene-editing medicines targeting kidney cells. Founded by Demetri Maxim, Neph
robothybrid-electric-vehiclelogistics-automationtransportation-technologystartup-innovationcontainer-handlingsupply-chain-roboticsAdrian Stoch: Driving Hai Robotics' U.S. expansion
In Episode 215 of The Robot Report Podcast, Adrian Stoch, CEO of Hai Robotics USA, discusses his move from GXO Logistics to Hai Robotics, attracted by the company’s customer-focused approach and innovative culture under founder Richie Chen. Stoch emphasizes the importance of aligning automation solutions with customer needs, highlighting a trend toward large-scale automation driven by global supply chain challenges and labor shortages. His goals for Hai Robotics in the Americas include building a skilled team and implementing lean processes to support growth and enhance customer success. The episode also covers major robotics industry news, including Dexory’s milestone of 500 million warehouse scans and an $80 million Series B funding round aimed at expanding its AI-powered DexoryView platform and U.S. market presence. DoorDash introduced Dot, a compact autonomous delivery robot designed for neighborhood deliveries, capable of carrying up to 30 pounds and traveling at speeds up to 20 mph. Zoox has begun testing its self-driving robotaxi service in Washington, D.C., marking its
roboticsautonomous-robotswarehouse-automationdelivery-robotsAI-powered-roboticslogistics-automationself-driving-vehiclesAmazon to resume drone delivery following crash in Arizona
Amazon plans to resume its Prime Air drone delivery service in Arizona starting Friday, following a temporary suspension triggered by a crash earlier this week. The incident involved two Prime Air drones colliding with a crane boom near Amazon’s same-day delivery site in Tolleson, Arizona, causing them to fall. This prompted an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, while Amazon conducted its own internal review, concluding that neither the drones nor their technology were at fault. To enhance safety, Amazon has implemented additional measures such as improved visual inspections to detect moving obstructions like cranes. Since launching in November 2024, Amazon’s Prime Air has been delivering packages up to five pounds in the Phoenix Metro area, its sole commercial market to date. The program has encountered setbacks including executive departures and a previous suspension of drone operations in Texas and Arizona after a December 2024 incident in Oregon. Despite these challenges, Amazon secured FAA approval in May 2024, which allowed it to expand Prime Air
robotdrone-deliveryAmazon-Prime-Airautonomous-dronesUAV-technologydrone-safetylogistics-automationSelf-driving trucks startup Einride raises $100M
Einride, a Swedish startup specializing in electric and autonomous freight vehicles, has raised $100 million from new and existing investors, including its largest shareholder EQT Ventures and quantum computing firm IonQ. The company did not disclose its post-money valuation. Founded in 2016, Einride aims to disrupt the freight industry with its electric big rigs, autonomous pod-like trucks without steering wheels or pedals, and planning software for shippers. Its fleet operates across Europe, North America, and the UAE, serving clients such as PepsiCo, Carlsberg Sweden, and DP World. The startup has made progress with autonomous pods through partnerships with Apotea in Sweden and GE Appliances in the U.S. The new funding will support Einride’s efforts to scale its three core business products and accelerate the deployment of its autonomous freight technology. The company has faced challenges common to the autonomous vehicle sector, including the lengthy and costly transition from development to commercial operations. In recent leadership changes, co-founder Robert Falck stepped
robotautonomous-vehicleselectric-trucksfreight-technologytransportation-innovationstartup-fundinglogistics-automationRobots cut 30% travel time using human-like memory in smart factories
Researchers at South Korea’s Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) have developed a new “Physical AI” technology that enhances the navigation efficiency of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in environments such as logistics centers and smart factories. This technology mimics human-like memory by modeling the social phenomenon of spreading and forgetting information, enabling robots to distinguish between relevant, real-time obstacles and outdated, unnecessary data. By forgetting obsolete information—such as obstacles that have been cleared—the robots avoid unnecessary detours, improving movement efficiency and productivity in complex, dynamic settings. Testing in a simulated logistics center demonstrated significant performance improvements, with average travel times reduced by up to 30.1% and task throughput increased by 18.0% compared to conventional ROS 2 navigation systems. The technology requires only 2D LiDAR sensors, making it cost-effective and easy to integrate as a plugin into existing ROS 2 navigation stacks without hardware modifications. Beyond industrial applications, this approach holds promise
robotsautonomous-mobile-robotsphysical-AIsmart-factorieslogistics-automationrobot-navigationcollective-intelligence-algorithmBot Auto completes uncrewed truck validation run - The Robot Report
Bot Auto, a Houston-based autonomous trucking startup founded in 2023, has successfully completed its first fully uncrewed hub-to-hub validation run in Houston, marking a major milestone in its development of SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks. Unlike operations that still require a licensed driver onboard, this run featured no humans in the cab or remote control, relying on a system with redundant compute, actuation, power, and failover capabilities. The company emphasized that true “humanless” autonomy means no human involvement anywhere in the vehicle’s operation. Prior to the run, Bot Auto conducted comprehensive safety verifications, including closed-course testing and implemented multiple layers of protection such as diversified redundancy, continuous health monitoring, and a minimum-risk fallback to ensure safe responses to unexpected events. The autonomous truck successfully navigated a predefined operational design domain under real-world conditions, including dusk, demonstrating its ability to handle complex traffic scenarios safely and reliably. Bot Auto’s AI dynamically adjusts for different payloads and makes real-time decisions
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-trucksAI-technologytransportation-as-a-servicelogistics-automationsafety-systemsUber Freight CEO Lior Ron leaves to join self-driving startup Waabi as COO
Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron is leaving his role to become COO of Waabi, a self-driving truck startup focused on commercializing autonomous freight technology. Rebecca Tinucci, who previously helped build Tesla’s charging network, will succeed Ron as head of Uber Freight, while Ron will remain chairman. Waabi’s founder and CEO, Raquel Urtasun, highlighted Ron’s experience scaling Uber Freight to $5 billion in revenue and emphasized his role in driving Waabi’s go-to-market strategy and partnerships. Ron’s move reflects his belief in the transformative potential of autonomous trucking and Waabi’s positioning to lead that change. Waabi, founded in 2021, has raised $287.7 million and leverages an “AI-first” approach using its proprietary Waabi World simulator to accelerate the training, testing, and validation of its self-driving software. This approach has allowed Waabi to advance efficiently in a capital-intensive industry where competitors like TuSimple and Embark have struggled. The company is on
robotautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-trucksAItransportation-technologyWaabilogistics-automationGlid announces $3.1M Pre-Seed funding to commercialize road-to-rail autonomy - The Robot Report
Glīd Technologies has secured $3.1 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by Outlander VC, with participation from Draper U Ventures, Antler, The Veteran Fund, M1C, and angel investors. The company is developing autonomous dual-mode vehicles called “Gliders” designed to automate the “first mile” of freight movement by seamlessly operating on both road and rail. These vehicles can transport standard containers directly onto rail networks without the need for terminals, drayage, or lift equipment, aiming to reduce congestion, inefficiencies, and costs in global supply chains. Glīd’s technology targets a freight market expected to exceed $20 trillion by 2033, promising to transform static rail corridors into dynamic, high-throughput delivery networks. Glīd recently unveiled two key innovations: Rāden, an unmanned, hybrid-electric road-to-rail vehicle capable of operating in complex and off-grid environments, and EZRA-1SIX, an AI-powered logistics
robotautonomous-vehicleslogistics-automationhybrid-electric-vehicleAI-logistics-platformroad-to-rail-technologyfreight-transport-innovationNevoya raises $9.3M as its EV truck fleet reaches cost parity with diesel
Nevoya, a Los Angeles-based electric vehicle (EV) trucking startup, has raised $9.3 million in a seed funding round led by Lowercarbon, with participation from Floating Point, LMNT Ventures, and others. The company, which emerged from stealth last year, offers electric trucks to shippers and currently serves 10 Fortune 500 companies, achieving cost parity with comparable diesel trucks in California. Nevoya credits its competitive edge to leveraging AI for route optimization, load matching, energy-efficient operations, and battery management, enabling automation of up to 90% of trucking processes and improving communication between dispatchers and customers. With the new funding, Nevoya plans to expand beyond California into states like Texas, where it is already hauling freight in Houston and Dallas. However, reaching cost parity with diesel trucks in these new markets presents challenges due to less developed charging infrastructure. To address this, Nevoya employs creative solutions such as utilizing existing chargers at passenger vehicle stations and school bus depots during off-
energyelectric-vehiclesAI-optimizationbattery-managementlogistics-automationsustainable-transportationtrucking-industryWorld-first: Penguin-like delivery robots ride trains to courier goods
Shenzhen has launched the world’s first fleet of autonomous delivery robots that ride the subway to restock 7-Eleven stores across the city. The 41 penguin-like robots, operated by VX Logistics (a unit of property giant Vanke partly owned by Shenzhen Metro), board trains during off-peak hours, navigate elevators and platform gaps, and deliver goods directly into over 100 outlets. Designed with specialized chassis and LED faces displaying friendly expressions, these robots address logistical challenges faced by human delivery workers who previously had to manually transport goods through subway stations. This initiative is part of Shenzhen’s broader “Embodied Intelligent Robot Action Plan,” aiming for widespread adoption of service and industrial robots by 2027. Shenzhen, a hub for robotics innovation, is pushing to move automation from factory settings into public-facing roles, aligning with national policies addressing an aging population and labor shortages. If successful, the subway delivery robots could pave the way for expanded urban logistics solutions, including parcel delivery and medical supply transport, making
robotautonomous-deliverylogistics-automationservice-robotsurban-roboticsShenzhen-metrolast-mile-deliveryChina's autonomous trucks are powering the next generation of smart ports
China’s busiest ports have embraced fully autonomous logistics, replacing thousands of human drivers with driverless cargo vehicles (DCVs) and intelligent guided vehicles (IGVs). These autonomous trucks operate seamlessly alongside towering gantry cranes, transporting containers and bulk cargo efficiently without collisions, thanks to real-time route planning. Unlike the automated guided vehicles (AGVs) of the 1990s, which required expensive infrastructure upgrades, today’s DCVs and IGVs offer greater flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and easier integration, accelerating their adoption across China’s ports. Several factors drive this rapid transition: rising labor costs due to demographic shifts, increased cargo throughput from the Belt and Road Initiative, and China’s environmental commitments to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. These forces push ports to modernize sustainably and efficiently. The market for driverless port vehicles in China is projected to grow explosively, with compound annual growth rates exceeding 130% from 2021 to 2025 and remaining
robotautonomous-vehiclessmart-portslogistics-automationdriverless-trucksChina-technologyport-automation