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Honda Introduces Prototype Electric Autonomous Work Mower at Equip Exposition 2023

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Prototype Autonomous Work Mower (AWM) is Honda’s first battery-powered electric zero-turn riding mowerCreated to help improve efficiency of lawn care and landscape maintenance companiesAWM features “Teaching” mode for manual operation and “Playback” mode for autonomous operationHonda has conducted proof of concept testing with a leading U.S. commercial landscape company and seeks participants for a pilot program with the AWM in 2024

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Honda today introduced the all-electric prototype Honda Autonomous Work Mower (AWM), the company’s first battery-powered electric zero-turn riding (ZTR) mower aimed at boosting worksite efficiencies through autonomous solutions. The Honda AWM will be featured at the upcoming Equip Exposition, Oct. 17-20, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Watch a demonstration of the Honda AWM at https://honda.us/AutonomousWorkMower.

 

The Autonomous Work Mower will learn the entire worksite, allowing for high-quality lawn striping and accuracy.

Earlier this year, Honda successfully field tested a proof of concept version of the Autonomous Work Mower with a top U.S. commercial landscape company. To further advance the prototype AWM’s development, in 2024, Honda will begin a pilot program and is seeking companies to participate in assessing the AWM’s applicability to their work environments. Interested companies can visit Honda’s Equip Exposition indoor booth #3134, or contact Honda at autonomous_mower@na.honda.com.

The prototype Honda AWM combines industry leading cutting performance and operator comfort with high location accuracy and obstacle detection. It is designed to help improve the efficiency of lawn care and landscape maintenance companies while offering an eco-conscious solution with zero-emissions. Capable of operating in manual or autonomous mode, when manually operated, the Honda AWM learns the mowing routes and patterns set by the operator. In autonomous operation, the AWM reproduces these routes and patterns, which can free up workers’ time to focus on more high-value tasks. The all-electric AWM supports Honda’s global goal of achieving carbon neutrality – net zero emissions – for all products and corporate activities by 2050.

“Our development of the prototype zero-turn Honda Autonomous Work Mower comes at a time when technology is shaping the future of the landscaping industry,” said Hirokazu Hara, vice president of New Business Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “To address labor shortages and help support companies’ sustainability goals, the Honda AWM aims to provide zero-emission alternatives to gasoline-powered mowers that can reduce operating costs and help accelerate the electrification of landscape maintenance equipment.”

Honda Autonomous Work Mower: How it Works

A “Teaching” mode enables the operator to set up autonomous operation, by manually maneuvering the ZTR AWM to create a mowing route map using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for accurate location recognition. The AWM learns the operator’s mowing route and patterns in “Teaching” mode. An advantage of the AWM is that it will learn the entire worksite, allowing for high-quality lawn striping, position accuracy and safe operation. The operator can create different mowing route maps customized for multiple job sites, which are then saved to a secure cloud server.

After the “Teaching” mode is complete, the operator launches the AWM’s autonomous operation in “Playback” mode. With the AWM in the starting position, the operator downloads the specified mowing route map using a tablet or smartphone. The AWM then begins autonomous operation and mows according to the map route, providing consistent and stable grass-cutting quality. While the AWM autonomously mows, the operator gains time to maintain other areas of the property which can lead to improved efficiencies.

Equipped with a unique traction control system, the Honda AWM is capable of maintaining straight tracking on hills and rough terrains. Its differential 2-motor traction control suppresses tire slip to achieve stable straight-line and turning performance even on slopes and rough roads.

The AWM also features a number of built-in safety features, including omnidirectional sensing as well as radar and LiDAR sensors for obstacle detection. It also can sense terrain variations and stop when encountering obstacles.

With vehicle speed-linked blade motor control, the AWM automatically reduces blade rotation at low speeds and low loads to reduce power consumption. At high loads, the AWM automatically reduces its speed to prevent grass clogging and uncut grass.

Technical Specifications and Features

KEY SPECS

Cutter deck size

60 in.

Blade

21 in. x 3

Driving style

Ride-on/Autonomous

Discharge type

Rear

Cutting height

1.5 in. – 5.25 in./Electric

Ground speed

0-10 mph (Manual)

0-6 mph (Autonomous)

Frame

Steel frame

AUTONOMOUS DRIVE

Autonomous drive

Teaching & Play back

(RTK-GNSS x2)

Omnidirectional sensing

LiDAR x 4, Radar x 4

Mowing assist

Wheel traction control

Mowing load control

Blade speed control

Slope management

SIZE

Front Tire

13 in. x 6.5 in.

Rear Tire

24 in. x 12 in.

Front/Rear suspension

with Front/with Rear

Dimension (LxWxH)

84 in. x 61 in. x 73 in.

Weight

1,378 lbs.

About Honda in North America
Honda established operations in North America in 1959. Today, the company employs about 42,000 associates in the region engaged in the development, manufacturing, sales and service support of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda power equipment, Honda powersports products and the HondaJet Elite II advanced light jet.

Based on its longstanding commitment to build products close to the customer, Honda operates 18 major manufacturing plants in North America, working with over 750 suppliers in the region to produce a diverse range of quality products. Honda has built automobiles in North America for 40 years and, in 2022, more than 99% of all Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America.

Honda also conducts research and development activities at 23 facilities in North America where we fully design, develop and engineer many of the company’s North American-made products.

Learn more with Honda’s Digital FactBook

 

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SOURCE Honda

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LYT ANNOUNCES DEPLOYMENT OF TRANSIT PRIORITY SOLUTIONS BY PARTNERING WITH ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (OCTA)

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LYT.Transit Will Move Bus Transit Vehicles Through Congested Harbour Blvd. Corridor Safer and Faster

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LYT, a leader in NextGen intelligent connected traffic technology solutions, announced today it has signed a contract with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the city of Fullerton for a one-year pilot program and the implementation of LYT’s leading NextGen transit priority solution (TSP), LYT.transit. 

Serving as the primary contractor for TSP under the Master Service Agreement with Arcadis, a leading global design and consultancy organization for natural and built assets, LYT.transit will help solve congestion issues for traffic signals across the busy corridor of Harbour Blvd. The Orange County TSP deployment extends LYT’s rapid expansion throughout the west coast. 

LYT’s leading transit signal priority solution, LYT.transit, moves bus transit vehicles through congested intersections faster, safer, and more intelligently. Harnessing the power of a single-edge device installed in the Traffic Management Center (TMC), bus transit vehicles speak directly to networked traffic signals through LYT’s open architecture cloud platform. This results in a consistent and reliable green light for every bus transit vehicle in the network.

Cities are realizing the distinct benefits of this technology due to LYT’s machine learning models and artificial intelligence technology that knows when to prioritize and activate a traffic signal. LYT’s system uses automotive data in an actionable way as it takes a broader traffic pattern ecosystem into account to have an impact on other surrounding signals, not just the one signal that traffic is heading toward. 

“As the Southern California region continues to thrive, it is essential to implement advanced traffic signal prioritization technology to improve the daily commutes of Orange County residents,” said Tim Menard, CEO and Founder of LYT. “Our cutting-edge AI-powered technology ensures smoother traffic flow, reduces congestion, and enhances safety on today’s roads. By prioritizing public transportation and optimizing traffic signals, we are committed to creating a more efficient and sustainable transportation network that benefits all residents and businesses throughout Orange County.” 

Gabriel Murillo, ITS and Connected Mobility Market Leader at Arcadis, said: “We are pleased to partner with LYT on LYT.transit, to help ease the impacts of traffic congestion for buses in Orange County. By harnessing the power of advanced AI and machine learning, LYT.transit is set to elevate transit efficiency, enhance safety, and contribute to a more sustainable transportation network for the residents and businesses of Orange County.” 

About LYT

LYT is the leading provider of smart cities NextGen intelligent connected traffic technologies that orchestrates today’s Intelligent Transportation Systems. LYT’s AI-powered, open architecture, machine learning technology enables a suite of transit signal priority and emergency vehicle preemption solutions that utilize pre-existing vehicle tracking sensors and city communication networks to dynamically adjust the phase and timing of traffic signals to provide sufficient green clearance time while minimally impacting cross traffic. LYT is headquartered in Silicon Valley and serves municipalities across the US and Canada. Learn more at LYT.ai.

ABOUT ARCADIS

Arcadis is the world’s leading company delivering data-driven sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. We are more than 36,000 architects, data analysts, designers, engineers, project planners, water management and sustainability experts, all driven by our passion for improving quality of life. As part of our commitment to accelerating a planet positive future, we work with our clients to make sustainable project choices, combining digital and human innovation, and embracing future-focused skills across the environment, energy and water, buildings, transport, and infrastructure sectors. We operate in over 30 countries, and in 2023 reported €5.0 billion in gross revenues. www.arcadis.com

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SOURCE LYT

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Safire Group Raises $8 Million in New Financing to Deliver Lithium-ion Battery Safety Technology to Government, Automotive Markets

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Canaan Partners Leads Round to Establish SAFIRE™ Technology as New Benchmark for Battery Safety

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Safire Technology Group, Inc. (“Safire Group”), today announced $8 million in new financing led by Canaan Partners, with participation from Correlation Ventures, Higher Life Ventures, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Automotive Ventures, Outpost Ventures, Potomac Angel Capital, and MaC Venture Capital. This Pre-Series A priced round of financing brings total funding to $11 million and fuels continued development of the company’s Safe, Impact-Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE™) technology to transform the safety benchmarks of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries across government and automotive industries. Canaan’s Hrach Simonian will join co-founders John Lee and Mike Grubbs on the board of directors.

“We are grateful to have a highly regarded, deeply experienced, and values-aligned investor in Canaan, and we are eager to continue building Safire Group together,” said Mike Grubbs.

“Safire Group is revolutionizing Li-ion battery technology with a focus on safety. Their innovative solutions are addressing the critical issue of battery volatility and setting new standards in the industry,” said Hrach Simonian, General Partner of Canaan Partners. “Safety should be intrinsic to battery design, not an afterthought. Safire Group’s commitment to redefining how these batteries are used in mobility and government applications promises to unlock unprecedented opportunities on a global scale.”

SAFIRE is the world’s only patented and proprietary drop-in additive for Li-ion batteries that prevents fires through an instantaneous liquid to solid transformation upon kinetic impact, such as an electric vehicle (EV) crash or ballistic event. During an impact, Safire Group’s shear thickening electrolyte technology enables the battery to resist deformation and prevents a short circuit – providing EV makers with lightweight crash protection and enabling Li-ion batteries to be used in novel ways.

Invented after nearly a decade of research and development by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), SAFIRE is currently being deployed by the company in four distinct use cases across broad domains: a ruggedized electric motorcycle, a rapidly deployable sensor tower, an unmanned ground vehicle, and multifunctional body armor.

“There is significant demand across the government to integrate SAFIRE technology into novel, ruggedized applications. This financing allows us to expand our operations in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, continue collaboration with ORNL, and further demonstrate the benefits of SAFIRE in government and automotive markets,” said John Lee, CEO of Safire Group. “We are excited about our partnership with Canaan and the opportunities it brings for the next stages of growth in deploying safety solutions for energy systems. Our focus remains on protecting people and critical assets while driving innovation in safety.”

About SAFIRE

Safire Group is a venture-backed company developing advanced Li-ion battery technologies for government and automotive markets. The company’s core technology, SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte (SAFIRE™), is the world’s only patented and proprietary drop-in additive for Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that prevents fire through an instantaneous liquid-to-solid transformation upon kinetic impact, such as an electric vehicle (EV) crash or ballistic event. For more information, visit: www.safire.co.

Media Contact
info@safire.co

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SOURCE Safire Technology Group, Inc.

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Logistics Automation Market to Reach $55 Billion by 2030, Driven by E-Commerce and Supply Chain Transformation – LogisticsIQ

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — According to LogisticsIQ‘s latest report (5th edition), Logistics Automation Market is expected to grow to $55 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 15% between 2024 and 2030. The drivers of growth are the growth in the e-commerce industry, multichannel distribution channels, digital services, increasing e-grocery penetration and dark stores, globalization of supply chain networks, emergence of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and increasing demand for same day / same hour delivery.

Market Trends and Key Drivers

E-Commerce Boom and Its Impact on Logistics
The exponential growth of the e-commerce industry has significantly transformed the $5 trillion global logistics industry. Online retail requires more complex logistical processes, including individual picking, packing, and shipping, which contrasts with the bulk transportation model of brick-and-mortar retail. This surge in online retail, coupled with the increasing need for faster delivery times, is putting immense pressure on logistics providers to automate.Challenges and Market Conditions (2021-2025)
In 2021, logistics automation companies had a huge order intake, however, revenue growth was constrained by supply chain disruptions. Thus, the industry entered in 2022 with a backlog of orders, which was eventually reduced by 2023 due to macroeconomic uncertainties. In 2024, order volumes began to rise again, but cautious capital expenditure from retailers slowed down investments due to inflation, low consumer spending, and geopolitical tensions. We expect order volumes expected to rebound in 2025 as retailers aim to meet increasing consumer demand.Emerging Technologies and Market Players
The past few years have seen the emergence of cutting-edge technologies like automated picking systems, mobile manipulators, and automated cold storage solutions. Significant investments in companies like Symbotic, Geek+, Fabric, and Exotec Solutions reflect this growth. At the same time, established players such as Dematic, Honeywell Intelligrated, SSI Schafer, and Toyota Advanced Logistics continue to innovate. Additionally, major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Amazon, Ocado, and Carrefour are actively adopting these technologies to enhance their supply chain capabilities.Apart this, piece picking players such as Righthand Robotics, Nimble, Fizyr, Kindred, Covariant, OSARO, Plus One Robotics, Berkshire Grey, and AWL have established a new attractive capability for order picking in ecommerce fulfillment as picking is least automated process in existing warehouses.

Download a Free Sample of our report on the Logistics Automation Market

Industry Consolidation in Logistics Automation Market

Over the last decade, the logistics automation market has experienced significant consolidation. Traditional industry players are acquiring innovative technology leaders to stay competitive and address evolving market demands. Notable examples include:

Rockwell Automation’s acquisition of Clearpath Robotics and OTTO MotorsZebra’s acquisition of Fetch RoboticsToyota’s acquisition of Vanderlande, Bastian Solutions and ViaStoreHoneywell’s acquisition of Intelligrated and TransnormJungheinrich acquired Magazino and ArculusSSI Schafer acquired DS AutomotionABB acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics and SevensenseKPI Solutions acquired Kuecker Logistics Group, Pulse Integration, QC SoftwareKörber acquired Cohesio Group, Siemens Logistics, HighJumpTeradyne acquired MiR, Energid, AutoGuide Mobile Robots

These mergers and acquisitions reflect the ongoing shift towards automation and the integration of cutting-edge technologies across the supply chain.

Read full report on the Logistics Automation Market Size, Growth, Share, Trends, and Forecast

Key Markets and Growth Opportunities

Top Markets: The United States, China, and Germany account for more than 50% of the demand for logistics automation, with strong market penetration in Europe, particularly in Germany, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. Western Europe represents around 30% of the global market. Emerging markets in APAC, particularly in India and Southeast Asia, are also showing strong growth potential, as are regions like the Middle East and Latin America.Emerging opportunities: Latin America is still under-penetrated with regards to automation; however, things are set to change and market is set to observe a high growth in Brazil and Mexico. Within Europe, Central and Eastern Europe is a fast-growing region, with Poland and Czech Republic emerging as logistics hub and showing good growth prospects.Grocery Industry: The grocery sector is a key area for logistics automation, driven by the need for high-frequency deliveries and the growing demand for online grocery services. Grocery distributors ship high cubic volumes of merchandise to retail stores with frequent deliveries to ensure product freshness.  Grocery distribution center operations are amongst the most labour intensive of any industry. Grocery automation market is expected to reach over $7 billion by 2030.AGV and AMR Market Growth: The market for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) is projected to experience rapid growth, with a CAGR of over 20% by 2030. AMRs, which can operate without external guidance systems like optical tape or sensors, are becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of deployment in existing warehouse infrastructures.We expect AGVs/AMRs to have more than 20% market share by 2030 in this market led by players such as Seegrid, Balyo, Hai Robotics, Geek+, GreyOrange, HikRobot, Quicktron, Locus Robotics, Fetch Robotics (Zebra), 6 River Systems (Ocado), Teradyne (MiR, AutoGuide Mobile Robots), Rocla, JBT, ek-robotics, Omron, Rockwell Automation (Clearpath Robotics, OTTO Motors). We further see more consolidation and M&A in the mobile robots space as larger System integrators look to complete their product portfolios.

Order Picking and Automation Trends

Manual vs. Automated Picking: The order picking process remains one of the most labor-intensive tasks in the warehouse, especially in e-commerce fulfillment. While manual picking is still preferred for operations with a large variety of SKUs, automated picking systems and robotic solutions are gaining traction. Technologies such as RFID, pick-to-light, and pick-to-voice systems help improve efficiency even in semi-automated environments.Piece Picking Robots: Companies such as Righthand Robotics, Berkshire Grey, Osaro, and Covariant are leading the charge in developing piece picking robots that are ideal for e-commerce fulfillment. These robots significantly reduce labor costs and increase throughput, offering a high return on investment for businesses.

Purchase the full report on the Logistics Automation Market By Technology (AGV/AMR, ASRS, Conveyors, Sortation, Order Picking, Automatic Identification and Data Capture, Palletizing & Depalletizing, Overhead Systems, MRO Services and WMS/WES/WCS), By Industry (E-commerce, General Merchandise, Grocery, Apparel, Food & Beverage, Pharma, 3PL), By Geography – Global Forecast to 2030

What will you get in this report?

500+ Pages, 290+ Exhibits and 350+ Market tables for7 major Industry Verticals (eCommerce, Grocery, General Merchandise, Apparel, Food & Beverage, 3PL, Wholesale)10 Technologies (Mobile Robots, AS/RS, Conveyors, Sortation, Order Picking, Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC), Palletizing and Depalletizing Robots, Overhead systems, Software (Warehouse Management, Warehouse Execution, and Warehouse Control), and MRO services.6 regions and 28 countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Nordics, China, Japan, India, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico)Pivot-friendly Excel file with 350+ market tables including forecast till 2030In-depth analysis of 700 companies in the ecosystem with more than 140+ company profilesFocus Group Discussion with 100+ key industry stakeholders across the value chain to collect the first-hand information to validate our analysis2 Analyst Sessions to brainstorm furtherInvestment details with 150+ M&A and 750+ funding dealsLogisticsIQ™ Exclusive Market Map (~700 Players across 15+ categories)

About LogisticsIQ

LogisticsIQ is a dedicated market research and advisory firm in Logistics & Supply Chain sector, empowering decision makers from top fortune 1000 companies, financial and research institutions, private equity and high potential start-ups with market insights to make better decisions. We enable this by analysing the right mix of the best data, the best research methodologies, and the best industry panel to deliver value to our clients.

Media Contact
Name: Sunny M.
Email: sunny@thelogisticsiq.com
Phone: +91-952-918-4938

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