🐐 The GOAT of Robots 🤖, Material Handling Integrators, Industry 4.0

Don't be a jerk, share Automation Junkie with your homies!

https://www.automationjunkie.com/#subscribe

Why did the robot fall in love with the light switch? Cause it was the only thing that turned it on!

📣 Topics of the Day 📣

• The GOAT of Robots

• VARGO You Stay

• Relay'n The Goods

• Tech of the Day: Industry 4.0000000

Todays Newsletter Brought To You By

Scythe Robotics

Scythe mowers are like the hipster of commercial lawn maintenance tools, they were cool long before it was mainstream. They may not be as flashy as a gas-powered mower, but they'll still get the job done without polluting the air. Plus, using a Scythe mower is like having a workout and yard work done at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. And if you're really good at it, you can even make it look like you're wielding a lightsaber like a Jedi Knight.

https://www.scytherobotics.com/

Forklifts, Robots, Boats, Oh My!

The GOAT of Robots

Humans are weird creatures. We do some absurd things. We mix peanut butter and jelly in a sandwich and partake of it's sweet heavenly goodness. We take bugs and dip them in chocolate and call them treats. You know what else we do? Build a robot in the shape of a giant goat and then ride around on it. Part motorcycle, part erector set, this thing makes my brain hurt just looking at it. Kawasaki Robotics has outdone themselves with this complete debauchery of human talent and resources.

For extra humor check out the comments on the video. Hilarious stuff!

Integrators R Us

Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever heard of a material handling integrator? It's like the Rodney Dangerfield of the intralogistics world, they gets no respect! But let me tell you, these folks are the unsung heroes of the warehouse and manufacturing industry. They're the ones who make sure that all your Amazon packages get to you on time, and all the parts for your new iPhone get to the assembly line. And recently these guys are turning into celebrities. Their companies are growing, expanding, acquiring each other. I've been in the space a long while now and never heard of Vargo but they're not only expanding because of local work they've done but their client list includes companies like GAP. It's crazy to me that there are so many integrators out there flying just under the radar.

But let's be real, being a material handling integrator is not for the faint of heart. It's like trying to solve a Rubik's cube while blindfolded, with one hand tied behind your back, and a baby on your hip. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!

And let's talk about the equipment these guys work with. Have you ever seen conveyor? It's like the treadmill of the industrial world. It's always moving, but it's going nowhere. Small tiny changes are celebrated like a BFD. And don't even get me started on the robots. They're like the robots from the future, except they're stuck in the present, picking up boxes and moving them around, and sometimes slapping a shipping label on them.

But you know what they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" But material handling integrators, they're like, "if it ain't broke, let's make it better".

Tech of the Day: Industry 4.0000000000

Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by the integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) into industrial processes. Blah blah blah... In the robotics and industrial automation industry, Industry 4.0 is being served up in a lot of ways:

1. Smart manufacturing: Robotics and industrial automation systems are being connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a "smart factory" in which machines and systems can communicate with each other and with a central control system to optimize production processes. This isn't a mind blowing concept but for facilities that still employ old green screen AS400s it's a complete crap your pants paradigm shift!

2. Predictive maintenance: IoT sensors and machine learning algorithms are being used to predict when maintenance is needed on industrial automation equipment, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency. Who needs fortune tellers when you have IoT sensors and ML? Imagine your forklift telling you it needs a new hydraulic pump before it actually fails.

3. Human-robot collaboration: Industry 4.0 technologies are enabling robots and humans to work together in a shared workspace, with robots performing tasks that are dangerous or difficult for humans, and humans performing tasks that require human intelligence. Finally, robots can take over the boring tasks, and we can finally focus on the fun stuff, you know like writing newsletters about robots.

4. Self-optimizing systems: With the use of AI and ML, systems can optimize their own performance in real-time, making adjustments as needed to improve efficiency and reduce downtime. It's like giving your robot a personal trainer.

5. Real-time monitoring: IoT sensors allow real-time monitoring of industrial automation equipment, enabling operators to quickly identify and address any issues that arise, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency. Think of it like a robot babysitter.

Industry 4.0 technologies are helping to make robotics and industrial automation systems more flexible, efficient, and capable of adapting to this ever changing world. Now if I could only get the IRS to be a little more flexible too!

Looking for an automation vendor or want your company to be featured?

Relay'n The Goods

It's pretty obnoxious to open up Linkedin and hear about more layoffs from teary eyed CEOs. It's just irritating. The reason for the cutbacks are because someone (leaders generally at the C level) poorly planned the future of their organizations and they should take ownership. Accountability starts at the top and the boards of all these companies need to look at cutting and clearing the leadership which put them in the crappy position to have to layoff employees.

But, I surmise that for every over leveraged tech startup that's laying off people, there is another soundly planned business hiring talent. Relay Robotics seems to fit the latter. They have to be doing something right to be adding more leadership. First take a look at their product. A mobile robot that performs a simple task. Move items from one location to another. No huge claims here of paradigm shifting tech, or elaborately complex use cases. Just a bot that goes from here to there and does it really damn well. Kudos to you Relay, may the world be endowed with many more of your robots to deliver me toothpaste and shaving cream!

If you want to help us pay the bills join our directory of robotics and automation companies.

https://www.automationjunkie.com/

Have feedback or want to contribute a video, article or tacos? Maybe I'm interested maybe I'm not sure that I'm looking for it. If you have something constructive you can catch me on Twitter. @robotsrcoming or email us at [email protected]

Spread The Word

Click to Share Or copy and paste this link for sharing https://www.automationjunkie.com/#subscribe