Important Innovations

Amazon Buys Autonomous Mobility Startup Zoox Source:  Zoox Amazon Moving People and Packages Amazon has purchased self-driving startup Zoox of Foster City, CA for more than $1.2 billion.  It's the e-commerce giant's biggest investment yet in the self-driving, autonomous category.  And, it's the second biggest acquisition that Amazon has ever made after purchasing Whole Foods.  This catapults Amazon into potentially another new business category.  It may not be just moving packages but also people.  Zoox's expertise is designing a world-class autonomous ride-hailing service, also known as RoboTaxis.  Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is always on the move for new avenues of business. Zoox's Approach Zoox's approach to self-driving is different.  It's not retrofitting existing cars with self-driving technology.  It's developing a whole new, purposed, self-driving vehicle with no steering wheel that can move in any direction.  Some analyst...

Plans for Ford Autonomous Vehicles with Digit Robots Delivering Packages Source:  Agility Robotics Ford Purchases Digits Digit is a 5 foot tall, 2-legged robot invented by Agility Robotics.  Digit walked around the 2020 CES trade show in Las Vegas this week taking bows.  It should be proud of itself. Ford became the first customer to purchase Digits and it has big plans for them. AV + Digit Plans Ford says the initial plans is to deploy Digits for research and development.  But the goal is to employ Digits as part of a new package-delivery service driven by Ford autonomous vehicle.  Digits would be on board to deliver the package to the owner's door. Agility Robotics Agility Robotics was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Albany, Oregon.  It makes advanced bi-pedal robots with human-like capabilities for diverse markets including logistics/delivery, telepresence and automated inspections.  The company says it will start de...

Door to Door Delivery Robot s Source:  Amoeba Energy New Robot Mobility from Japan A team of roboticists in Japan have created a highly mobile robot that's soft bodied and able to climb any type of stairs.  It's treads are able to change form and adapt to its environment.  The inventors designed it for package deliveries and to lift heavy items such as luggage in your home.  For a great news blog, go to   Important Innovations Collection: Door to Door Robots : Soft Bodied Stair Climbers Source:  Amoeba Energy AE-01 AE-01 to Deliver Packages to Your Door A team at Amoeba Energy in Japan has ...