This year has been a particularly eventful one for Robotics & Automation Magazine. From its dedicated exhibition Robotics and Automation moving to the NEC Birmingham in March, to the rebrand of the publication in July, and the launch of the inaugural Robotics & Automation Awards in October, 2023 was a year of monumental growth for the UK’s leading B2B publication dedicated to robotics and automated technologies.
Attended by hundreds of industry professionals, and with entries flooding in from more than 100 different organisations, the first-of-its-kind Robotics & Automation Awards served as an appropriate send-off for the magazine’s most exciting year to date! This blending of industry and innovation epitomises the Robotics & Automation brand, with no plans for this momentum to slow down going into the new year.
For a more comprehensive breakdown of the trends expected across the robotics and automation sectors in 2024, read Robotics & Automation‘s trends forecast here. To see what stories our readers engaged with most in 2023, as well as some highlights selected by the editor of Robotics & Automation, read on below…
Royal College of Surgeons aims to shape ‘future of surgery’ through robotics
This year’s most popular story looked at a new three-year programme launched by the Royal College of Surgeons to accelerate the integration of robotics across national healthcare operations and to support both qualified surgeons and those in training to become proficient in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS). Surgical robotics certainly took off this year, with Robotics & Automation taking a deep dive into the topic in print for the first time…
Dematra and Movu Robotics win ‘Best Use of Robotics’ at Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2023
Dematra and Movu Robotics (Movu) won ‘Best Use of Robotics’ at the 27th annual Supply Chain Excellence Awards. The event, which took place on 09 November 2023 at the London Hilton on Park Lane, saw the logistics services company and its automation partner win the top prize for their collaborative and innovative approach to introducing automated warehousing technology…
South Yorkshire to host UK’s first manufacturing investment zone
In July this year, Robotics & Automation covered the UK government’s announcement that South Yorkshire would be the first region in the UK to host an investment zone. Investment zones were announced by former chancellor of the exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng in his growth plan in September 2022, where he outlined that they would stimulate growth through relaxed planning regulations and tax relief for local businesses…
GXO trials robotic 3D sortation system in ‘European first’
In July, some 17 sorting robotics coupled with 15 3D robotic arms were deployed at a facility in Stradella, which is located in northern Italy, by contract logistics provider GXO. Forming part of an ‘ecosystem’ of robotics solutions, the bots should improve the productivity of the site by offering a subscription model with a lower upfront cost than traditional installations…
BS Handling Systems installs automated sortation system for James and James
In November, we reported that third-p
arty logistics company James and James Fulfilment had partnered with materials handling solutions provider BS Handling Systems to introduce an automated sortation system at its UK fulfilment centre in Brackmills, Northampton…
This year, Robotics & Automation offered unparalleled coverage of its publisher, Akabo Media, and its portfolio of world-class events, including the brand-new Robotics & Automation Awards, its market-leading exhibitions and refresh of the magazine through a strategic rebrand.
Winners of inaugural Robotics & Automation Awards revealed!
Our fifth most-read story this year was a round-up of all the winners from the first-ever Robotics & Automation Awards! Organised by Robotics & Automation Magazine, the glittering ceremony, held at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms on October 31, celebrated the outstanding applications of robotics and automated systems throughout multiple prominent industries.
Robotics & Innovation rebrands as Robotics & Automation Magazine
This was our fourth most-read news story of the year! Back in July, the UK’s leading B2B publication dedicated to robotics and automation announced a strategic rebrand to better align the magazine with Akabo Media’s events portfolio of the same name, namely Robotics & Automation Awards and Robotics and Automation Exhibition – and what a success that decision has been so far!
Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition to join Robotics and Automation 2024
A first-of-its-kind exhibition dedicated to sustainable practices and processes in the supply chain and logistics industry is coming to Halls 6 & 7 of the NEC Birmingham in 2024 and will be co-located with Robotics and Automation Exhibition and IntraLogisteX 2024!
Robotics and Automation 2023 opens for business!
The UK’s largest exhibition dedicated to robotics and automation technologies, products and services – Robotics and Automation 2023 – officially opened its doors for the sixth time in March! Read more to learn about what went down at the industry’s most prominent trade show for those looking to invest in innovation…
A digest of the most important developments to affect the deployment of robotics and automated technologies during the past 12 months…
European Parliament votes in favour of ‘world’s first’ AI act
In response to the rapid development of AI technologies, especially generative AI systems such as ChatGPT, in June this year members of the European Parliament, the European Union’s main legislative body, voted on the world’s first bill to regulate the use of AI in EU member states…
Ocado and AutoStore settle litigation over robot patent
Back in July, Ocado Group and Norwegian warehouse automation company AutoStore announced that they had settled all litigation after the latter initiated proceedings back in 2020 with claims of intellectual property infringement…
UK to replace 130% super-deduction with ‘full expensing’ tax break
Among the announcements in the Spring Budget, UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt introduced full expensing as a successor to the super-deduction tax break, which Hunt made permanent in his most recent Autumn Statement…
Irish hospital completes first robot-guided heart surgery in UK and Ireland
In January this year, Robotics & Automation reported that Galway University Hospitals, which comprises University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital, carried out the first robot-guided coronary intervention in the history of the UK and Ireland…
We want to hear from you! Fill out our brand-new reader survey and tell us what you’d like to see more of from Robotics & Automation Magazine in 2024!
A roundup of some of the most interesting stories from the world of robotics and automation in 2023, picked by the editor of Robotics & Automation Magazine…
‘Godfather of AI’ quits Google to voice concerns about rapid development
In May this year, Geoffrey Hinton, a British-Canadian computer scientist who is hailed as the ‘godfather of artificial intelligence’ due to his work on artificial neural networks and deep learning, left his job at Google and spoke out about the dangers of rapidly-advancing AI…
Researchers adapt quadruped into robotic guide dog
Last month, researchers from the Computer Science Department at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science showcased their work to adapt a robotic quadruped to perform the functions of a guide dog, or seeing-eye dog. This could be revolutionary for those who need access to visual supports but cannot afford them…
South Korean orchestra uses first-ever robot conductor
In July, a humanoid robot, named EveR 6, conducted South Korea’s national orchestra for the first time in the country’s history…
Automated farming system could be used to regrow Sycamore Gap Tree
A Scottish tech company offered to support regrowth efforts using its vertical farming towers after the iconic Sycamore Gap Tree, which stood next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was illegally felled in October…
Most popular issue:
November 2023
Most-read features:
Automation trends 2023
Read all about it: Robotics & Automation Awards 2023!
Helping hands
Smyths Toys adopts e-commerce auto-packaging solution at Northamptonshire DC
Carbon Robotics adds new laser capabilities to AI-powered weeding robot
Surgical robots to be introduced in hospitals across South West of England
Faced with dwindling bee colonies, scientists are arming queens with robots and smart hives
ChatGPT took people by surprise – here are four technologies that could make a difference next
What is a ‘toroidal propeller’ and could it change the future of drones? An expert explains
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