Amazon Robotics Challenge 2017 won by Australian budget bot

BBC:  Cartman - a budget-priced robot from Australia - has triumphed in an annual contest to create a machine that can identify, pick up and stow warehouse goods.

The bot was designed from scratch to take part in 2017's Amazon Robotics Challenge and used a radically different design to past winners.

Instead of building a robotic arm, the victors used a sliding mechanism that picked up products from above.

The four-day event was held in Japan.

The winning Australian Centre for Robotic Vision (ACRV) squad were engineersfrom Queensland University of Technology, the University of Adelaide and the Australian National University.

They walked away with the $80,000 (£60,980) cash prize.  Full Article:

Featured Product

3MP HDR IP69K Camera for Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles

3MP HDR IP69K Camera for Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles

STURDeCAM31 from e-con Systems® is designed to make robotics and autonomous vehicles safer and more reliable. Powered by the Sony® ISX031 sensor and featuring GMSL2 interface, this compact 3MP camera delivers 120dB HDR + LFM imaging with zero motion blur — even in the most challenging outdoor conditions. Engineered to automotive-grade standards, STURDeCAM31 is IP69K certified, making it resistant to dust, water, vibration, and extreme temperatures. With support for up to 8 synchronized cameras, it enables powerful surround-view and bird's eye systems on NVIDIA® Jetson AGX Orin™.