Put that gyroscope away, we're in public

irreverant take on robotics and automation

December 13, 2022

Robots like to have fun too!

When you reach the end of your rope, find a rope factory, they have more rope.

📣 Topics of the Day đŸ“Ł

  • SeaProtector1 Reporting For Duty 

  • WTF Is This Nonsense? 

  • Trouble At RōBEX? 

  • Tech of the Day: SLAM it dude!

  • ⭐ Job Posting of the DAY! ⭐ 

Check out our job board and vendor directory of robotics and automation companies

Crazy robots are coming!

SeaProtector1 Reporting For Duty

Call me an environmentalist if you want but I actually do care about the planet.  I recycle, most of the time.  I try not to be wasteful with food and I certainly don't just toss my trash into rivers.  My mind is blown by how so much plastic trash ends up in the oceans.  Imagine if we kept polluting the ocean at the rate we are now...the ocean will end up like some gross looking ball pit full of sludge.  Gross!  

Well here comes some reinforcements!  SeaProtector1 is armed and ready to take on floating trash.  It's such a simple concept but hey sometimes thats all that's needed to be effective. I love how it lifts up the trash it caught and a conveyor belt moves the trash to the end.  So brilliantly simple!

WTF Is This Nonsense?

Ok, so marketing bros and gals...please explain to me what in the world is the nonsense written in this press release below.  The title and picture drew me in.  Dang, a robotics company that's making some kind of power assisted roller skates?!  Sweet!  But then I read further. Umm so why is NASA mentioned?  And the rest of the story goes downhill from there.  Looks like bad AI generated copy or someone is getting paid to write stuff for Shift Robotics and they're getting paid by word quantity, not whether it makes any sense whatsoever.  Even though this article was absolute trash it did open up my curiosity and I checked out the company.  I want a pair of these for my next tradeshow!!

Shift Moonwalkers | The World's Fastest Shoes

Introducing the first ever wearable mobility device. With an instinctive AI drivetrain, you’re able to walk faster without having to change a thing.

https://shiftrobotics.io/

Tech of the Day: SLAM, no not Some Lazy Ass Machine

Say you wanted to be able to have your mobile robot create a map while also being able to navigate itself in that map..Bammm you need SLAM!  Simultaneous Localization And Mapping.  SLAM algorithms allow robotic systems the ability to see the environment just like a human with not only detecting obstacles in a 2D view but also with a sense of depth creating 3D maps.  

SLAM is used by some of the simplest autonomous devices, like robotic vacuum cleaners and mowers.  These devices can sense their environment, know the path they need to follow, locate themselves in the environment, and do their task.  To do this most SLAM systems use several cameras and sensors to grab image data and then there is back end software that interprets these images and creates 3D maps based on them.  

Is SLAM perfect?  Not really.  The major flaw with SLAM is that since you are constantly mapping the environment you can end up with differences between the records of the same point.  Imagine you have a column in your warehouse but every time it gets mapped the dimension changes by 2 inches.  This happens with SLAM systems.  This issue also causes problems when you create travel paths that should be closed loops.  What happens is that the robot will go around the path but may not end up at the right end point, causing the system to think it's not done with it's task.  

SLAM got us close to autonomous navigation but it'll be great to see the next generation of SLAM like technologies!

Plug of the Moment

Speaking of autonomous navigation!  Stereolabs has an awesome new 3D vision system designed for outdoor use. Coupling high quality hardware with advanced AI Stereolabs has really created the next generation of hardcore vision systems.  

ZED X - AI Stereo Camera for Robotics

The ZED X is the most advanced AI stereo camera for robotics. With global shutter, IMU, neural depth and GMSL2, the ZED X is the smartest stereo camera for the toughest tasks.

https://www.stereolabs.com/zed-x/

Want your company to be featured?  Sign up HERE

Trouble At RōBEX?

When someone sticks out their hand and says, "Hi, I'm a professional change agent", what do you think of?  If you ask me It means there is a major restructuring about to happen and some people will be getting fired. Well RōBEX's owner, private equity group Angeles Equity Partners has added a new member to it's board. But one with a very specific skill set. Restructuring, cost reduction, and company sales.  The writing is on the wall for the executive heavy management team.  Do you really need a president and CEO for a company that is as small as these guys?  They were recently acquired by this new PE group and they're already buying up companies.  This looks like they'll grow by acquisition and then be sold off to the highest bidder.  My question is...has this company ever been profitable.  I'm guessing nope, since they brought on board the guy that's going to help them trim the fat off this hog. 

Don't believe me?  Check out the press release yourself.

Angeles Equity Partners Appoints Chuck Moyer to RōBEX Board of Directors

Press release content from Business Wire. The AP news staff was not involved in its creation.

https://apnews.com/press-release/business-wire/business-78e30ec435354c2990fef76f5be3bfce

Don't do a job that doesn't bring you joy.  If your job sucks, go find a new one!

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

JOB POSTING OF THE DAY

Oh you want to be the big cheese at a customer project site?  Want to feel like a hero when others don't show up for work?  When everything is going wrong, do you pride yourself in being automation's version of a knight in shining armor?  Well sir, do we have a job for you! Symbotic is hiring for an onsite automation engineer in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin.  They have installed a system there and have to staff it to make sure it keeps running and meeting the customer's expectations.  If you're interested check out the link below:

Automation Engineer

Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, AI-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-gen technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today's complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of commerce the Symbotic platform transforms the flow of goods and the economics of supply chain for its customers. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com. Who We Are Our work matters – robotics is transforming the world of commerce. Every day our intelligent robots are responsible for getting food and merchandise to thousands of stores across North America. We’re an industry changer – we created the first and only fully autonomous, end-to-end supply chain solution. Today, we are driving towards even bigger ideas – and we have the people, technology and leadership to fully realize these aspirations. We have the excitement and ambition of a startup with the benefits and resources of a proven organization. In This Role: Ensure that the safety commitments in compliance with OSHA, Symbotic, and our customers’ processes and procedures are met daily. Responsible for the troubleshooting of advanced system and operational issues. Train and assist operators on overall system including automated adapters, vertical lifts, automated robotic vehicles, warehouse management systems, and other IT problems. Ability to step in and effectively backfill key Symbotic on-site roles. Monitor health of the automated adapters, vertical lifts, and automated robotic vehicles. Communicating technical concepts clearly and concisely to site teams and customers. Document and report issues to engineering teams and work with them on a solution. Assist in escalation as required to support teams to solve production impacting problems. Participate in the initiatives for continuous improvement, standardization and improvement of the warehouse automation solution, in a context of change focused on production. What You'll Need: Bachelor’s Degree in electrical, computer or software engineering or in Automation Engineering or related discipline; Minimum of 2 years’ experience with automated systems. Troubleshooting of automated systems. Familiarity with several of the following specialties and a willingness to learn all of them: PLC (Allen Bradley, Siemens) Robot (ABB) Software languages (SQL, Linux, Python) Industry Standard Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence Practices Excellent hands-on experience with assembling, operating and troubleshooting robotics and electro-mechanical systems. Being able to work under pressure and in an environment of changing priorities. Proven success working with customers and other internal and external clients. Effective detail-oriented communicator. A desire to learn new equipment and assist team members as needed. Able and willing to assist other team members with physical work as necessary (light maintenance, troubleshoot and operate robotic equipment, move boxes by hand, if required). Excellent written, verbal, and visual presentation communications skills. Takes critical feedback and recognition positively. Team player. About Symbotic Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, AI-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-gen technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today's complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of commerce the Symbotic platform transforms the flow of goods and the economics of supply chain for its customers. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com. We are a community of innovators, collaborators and pioneers who embrace our differences, because we know unique perspectives make us stronger and smarter. Every perspective matters. We depend on the collective voices of our employees, customers and community to help guide us as we build a better place to work – for you and the world. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or genetic information.

https://symbotic.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Symbotic/job/USA-Menomonie-WI/System-Engineer_R1676

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