Registration for RoboBusiness 2024 is now open. RoboBusiness, which takes place October 16-17 in Santa Clara, Calif., is the premier event for commercial robotics developers. Attendees will gain the latest insights from experts in robotics and AI on cutting-edge research, industry trends, and innovative applications. They can also learn about investments and topics related to running a robotics business.

Full conference passes start at $595 and expo-only passes only $75, with an early bird discount until Aug. 18. Discounts are available for qualified academic, association, and corporate groups. Passes can be purchased here. Please email events@wtwhmedia.com for more details about discount programs.

“Since its founding in 2004, RoboBusiness has been the leading event for robotics business development,” said Steve Crowe, chair of RoboBusiness and executive editor of The Robot Report. “Our speakers, sponsors, and attendees will once again make RoboBusiness the venue for the global robotics ecosystem to come together, learn, and drive the industry forward.”

RoboBusiness will bring together the brightest minds in the robotics industry and will include informative keynote presentations by experts from leading companies, academic institutions, and end users.

2024 Keynotes:
Rodney Brooks, co-founder and chief technology officer, Robust AI
Claire Delaunay, CTO, farm-ng
Sergey Levine, co-founder, Physical Intelligence, and associate professor, UC Berkeley
Torrey Smith, co-founder and CEO, Endiatx
“Driving the Future of Robotics Innovation” panel: John Bubnikovich, president, ABB Robotics US; Amit Goel, head of Robotics and Edge AI Ecosystem, NVIDIA; Eric Truebenbach, managing director, Teradyne Robotics Ventures (more speakers to come)

With more than 150 exhibitors on the show floor, there will be plenty of opportunities and special events for robotics industry professionals to share insights, celebrate successes, overcome challenges, and more. The enhanced show floor will include new features such as a Robotics Startup Zone, an Engineering Theater and more.

Networking opportunities for attendees will include a welcome reception, a Women in Robotics Luncheon, and a networking reception. These events can all be added on during the registration process. For more information about sponsorship opportunities at the event, please contact Colleen Sepich at csepich@wtwhmedia.com or download our prospectus here.

RoboBusiness will be co-located with DeviceTalks West, the premier industry event for medical technology professionals. DeviceTalks West attracts engineering and business professionals from a broad range of healthcare and medical technology backgrounds, including surgical robotics.

The post RoboBusiness 2024 registration now open appeared first on The Robot Report.

The 2023 CyberTractor Challenge included a large number of participants. | Credit: CyberTractor Challenge

This week, top tractor manufacturers in the United States, including John Deere, CNHI, and AGCO, will hold the annual CyberTractor Challenge. This event encourages college students to try to breach the security of both the firms’ cloud-based solutions and physical hardware such as tractors, smart tools, and different IoT devices.

The CyberTractor Challenge is a five-day event aimed at students passionate about cybersecurity. It provides a platform for practical experience and professional guidance. During the event, industry experts emphasize the importance of diversity, hands-on experience, and professional mentorship. They also highlight the convergence of technology and agriculture, underlining the need for professionals with expertise in both fields. This event addresses the significant shortage of cyber talent and showcases the potential synergy between cybersecurity and agriculture, given the complexity of modern agricultural equipment.

Earlier this year, John Deere announced a new partnership with SpaceX and Starlink to bring high-speed internet to rural areas around the world to help connect all of the various smart devices on the modern farm to the cloud.

CyberTractor Challenge expands beyond John Deere

John Deere started the CyberTractor Challenge in 2022 as a sister event to the more well-known CyberTruck and CyberAuto challenges. College and university students gather on a real farm in Iowa to work with real equipment and real cybersecurity and engineering professionals. As the idea for CyberTractor grew, the challenge’s goals and scope changed from just focusing on the famous green and yellow tools to including peers from the industry. CyberTractor Challenge is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and aims to enhance the overall security of the agtech industry.

“Industry experts, professors, and tractor company employees will be guiding them every step of the way,” said Ethan Luebbering, director of recruiting for the CyberTractor Challenge. “Our plan is to prepare them with all the skills and tools they need to be effective during the event and all of the experiences required to start a career in Cyber Security.”

The primary goals of the CyberTractor Challenge are:

• Educating students about cybersecurity in the agriculture industry through hands-on learning and expert training.
• Attracting and developing the next generation of cybersecurity talent for the agriculture industry.
• Fostering collaboration between universities and agriculture companies on cybersecurity issues.
• Identifying potential vulnerabilities in agricultural equipment and systems through a hackathon-style event.

Throughout the event, students gain knowledge in embedded software engineering and protocols like CANbus used in modern agricultural equipment. Working with industry professionals from the tractor companies, students learn cybersecurity topics such as penetration testing and red teaming techniques for finding vulnerabilities.

Many modern tractors and smart implements could be considered robots, sitting at the intersection of technology and agriculture. This weeklong hackathon provides the students with real-life, hands-on skills for identifying potential bugs or vulnerabilities. The companies benefit by identifying any vulnerabilities in a controlled environment, and farmers benefit because the agtech solutions are hardened against nefarious vulnerabilities.

Register now.

The event attracts students from universities across the country with interests in fields such as electrical engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity. The organizers also recruit professors from partner universities who teach cybersecurity courses and help educate the students. Participating institutions include Iowa State, Colorado State, and Dakota State University. Employees from the sponsoring agriculture companies conduct educational sessions, interact with the students, and evaluate any findings.

A weeklong hackathon

The week-long event kicks off with two days of educational sessions where industry experts and hackers teach students about embedded systems, protocols, and penetration testing techniques. Over the next two days, students apply their knowledge to develop hypotheses and test for potential vulnerabilities in the equipment in a hackathon-style setting. On the final day, students present any bugs or vulnerabilities they have discovered to the sponsoring companies.

Key outcomes of the CyberTractor Challenge include:

• Identifying potential vulnerabilities in agricultural equipment cybersecurity.
• Attracting and developing top cybersecurity talent for the agriculture industry by exposing students to career opportunities.
• Fostering collaboration and information sharing between universities and agriculture companies on cybersecurity best practices.
• Advancing cybersecurity standards and regulations for the agriculture industry through discussions among participating organizations.
• Building awareness of the importance of cybersecurity in agriculture and attracting diverse talent beyond traditional IT fields.
• Providing hands-on, experiential learning for students that complements their academic studies.

Catch up with the latest in agricultural autonomy on The Robot Report Podcast. Chris Padwick discusses John Deere’s use of machine vision and AI in episode 149, and Marc Kermisch from CNHI talks about digitization and autonomy in agriculture on episode 138.

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WTWH Media, producer of The Robot Report and Robotics Summit & Expo, invites you to submit a talk to be considered for presentation at RoboBusiness 2024, which takes place October 16-17 in Santa Clara, California. Since its founding in 2004, RoboBusiness has evolved into the world’s premier robotics business development event.

In addition to enabling tech and robotics innovation, RoboBusiness focuses on investments and business topics related to running a robotics company. We are seeking sessions from speakers in each of the following tracks:

Enabling Technologies: from motion control to vision and AI, learn about advances in enabling technologies and how to use them in your robot.

Design & Development: learn how to make your robot more robust with the latest in CAD/CAM, simulation, programming, engineering methodologies, manufacturability and more.

Driving Business: insights into investments sources, partnership opportunities, operational efficiency, scaling startups, marketing, customer engagement, and more.

Field Robotics: industry leaders share best practices for developing and deploying robots for outdoor applications in agriculture, construction, mining, safety and more.

Innovation: RoboBusiness looks to the future with discussions of where autonomous vehicles, humanoids, space robots, and more are taking us.

The entry deadline for submitting speaker proposals is June 12, 2024. Please fill out this form to submit a talk for consideration at RoboBusiness. For questions regarding conference programming, contact Steve Crowe at scrowe[AT]wtwhmedia.com. All speakers receive complimentary full conference passes for themselves and up to two guests, granting them admission to all keynotes, general sessions, panels and special events.

RoboBusiness is also looking for investors for its VC Office Hours. Investors will connect with startups throughout the event to discuss business plans, best practices, facilitate networking and more.

Co-Located Events

RoboBusiness will be co-located with DeviceTalks West, the premier industry event for medical technology professionals. DeviceTalks West attracts engineering and business professionals from a broad range of healthcare and medical technology backgrounds, including surgical robotics.

RoboBusiness Sponsorship Opportunities

For information about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, download the prospectus. Questions regarding sponsorship opportunities should be directed to Colleen Sepich at csepich[AT]wtwhmedia.com.

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The Cumbria Robotics Cluster had its official launch at the HRAICE event. Source: Industrial Solutions Hub

Among the ingredients for a successful regional robotics cluster are an industry focus and institutional support. The Cumbria Robotics Cluster yesterday marked its official launch in the U.K.

It builds on nuclear decommissioning efforts and plans to work with other organizations to build recognition of the county in northwestern England as a globally recognized center of excellence for field robotics.

“The formation of the Cumbria Robotics Cluster is a strategic step towards consolidating Cumbria’s position as a leader in high-tech engineering solutions,” stated Gary McKeating, managing director of the Industrial Solutions Hub.

“By linking together the expertise of our region’s top firms, we are not only aiming to tackle some of the most pressing industrial challenges through robotics, but also to spark inclusive economic growth and attract further investment into our community,” he said.

Gary McKeating, managing director of iSH, launches the Cumbria Robotics Cluster at HRAICE. Source: Industrial Solutions Hub

Cumbria Robotics Cluster collects data for direction

The Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH), a public-private partnership, founded the Cumbria Robotics Cluster in March. The cluster’s goal is “to deliver substantial social and economic benefits to Cumbria by fostering growth in the robotics sector through collaborative innovation and knowledge-sharing.”

Members and collaborators include Sellafield Ltd., Robotics and AI Collaboration (RAICo), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and large and small supply chain companies. The cluster said it plans to help develop advanced robotics technologies and skills to address challenges, particularly in the nuclear industry and other harsh environments.

The Cumbria Robotics Cluster launched at the Harnessing Robotics and AI for Challenging Environments (HRAICE) event at the Energus conference and training venue in Workington, U.K. At HRAICE, iSH surveyed all delegates to get a baseline of the current robotics capability in the area.

This baseline was used as part of an iSH-facilitated workshop to start to map out where Cumbria’s capability sits within the broader national and international robotics scene.

“This cluster represents a significant opportunity for synergy and innovation amongst Cumbria’s robotics experts and industries,” noted Kirsty Hewitson, director of RAICo. “Through this collaborative effort, we are set to map out and expand the capabilities of robotics in the region, driving forward our joint goals of technological advancement and capacity building.”

The organizers explained that the Cumbria Robotics Cluster is not a commercial bidding entity but a network that will encourage its members to cooperate commercially as they see fit. It will also operate sub-groups focusing on specific areas of interest, providing a platform for in-depth exploration and systems development, they said.

The cluster is planning regular events for knowledge sharing and networking. It said it welcomes new members who are based or work in Cumbria and who would like to contribute to and benefit from its collective initiatives.

Register now.

iSH provides space, funding for industrial collaboration

iSH develops programs to build on West Cumbria’s nuclear heritage, expanding its technical capability, developing a regional industrial cluster. The iSH Enterprise Campus (iEC) at Cleator Moor will include a space for regional businesses to collaborate with one another and with other specialist companies from around the U.K. and the world. 

Cleator Moor Town Deal Board provides support for the ISH. Working with Copeland Borough Council, the board secured a provisional offer of £22.5 million ($28.6 million U.S.) from the U.K. government’s £3.6 billion ($4.5 billion) Towns Fund initiative in 2022.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd., and the Copeland Community Fund also pledged “significant” matching funds. Cumberland Council, the former Copeland Borough Council and Cleator Moor Town Council made further contributions.

The Cumbria Robotics Cluster said it will focus on identifying growth targets and showcasing the region’s engineering strengths both in the U.K. and internationally. 

Editor’s note: The Robot Report is continuing its coverage of robotics clusters worldwide, including MassRobotics, the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, Odense Robotics, and more.

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Researchers reported at ICRA that they can vectorize controllers to be available during training and deployment. | Source: NVIDIA

NVIDIA Corp. research teams presented their findings at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, or ICRA, last week in Yokohama, Japan. One group, in particular, presented research focusing on geometric fabrics, a popular topic at the event. 

In robotics, trained policies, like geometric fabrics, are approximate by nature. This means that while these policies usually do the right thing, sometimes they make a robot move too fast, collide with things, or jerk around. Generally, roboticists can not be certain of everything that might occur. 

To counteract this, these trained policies are always deployed with a layer of low-level controllers that intercept the commands from the policy. This is especially true when using reinforcement learning-trained policies on a physical robot, said the team at the NVIDIA Robotics Research Lab in Seattle. These controllers then translate the commands from the policy so they mitigate the limitations of the hardware. 

These controllers are run with reinforcement learning (RL) policies during the training phase. It was during this phase that the researchers found that a unique value could be supplied with the GPU-accelerated RL training tools. This value vectorizes those controllers so they’re available during training and deployment. 

Out in the real world, companies working on, say, humanoid robots can demonstrate with low-level controllers that balance the robot and keep it from running its arms into its own body.

Register now.

Researchers draw on past work for current project 

The research team built on two previous NVIDIA projects for this current paper. The first was “Geometric Fabrics: Generalizing Classical Mechanics to Capture the Physics of Behavior,” which won a best paper award at last year’s ICRA. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company‘s team used controllers produced in this project to vectorize. 

The in-hand manipulation tasks the researchers address in this year’s paper also come from a well-known line of research on DeXtreme. In this new work, the researchers merged those two lines of research to train DeXtreme policies over the top of vectorized geometric fabric controllers.

NVIDIA’s team said this keeps the robot safer, guides policy learning through the nominal fabric behavior, and systematizes simulation-to-reality (sim2real) training and deployment to get one step closer to using RL tooling in production settings. 

From this, the researchers formed a foundational infrastructure that enabled them to quickly iterate to get the domain randomization right during training. This sets them up for successful sim2real deployment. 

For example, by iterating quickly between training and deployment, the team reported that it could adjust the fabric structure and add substantial random perturbation forces during training to achieve a higher level or robustness than in previous work. 

In prior DeXtreme work, the real-world experiments were extremely hard on the physical robot. It wore down the motors and sensors while changing the behavior of underlying control through the course of experimentation.

At one point, the robot even broke down and started smoking. With geometric fabric controllers underlying the policy and protecting the robot, the researchers found they could be much more liberal in deploying and testing policies without worrying about the robot destroying itself. 

NVIDIA presents more research at ICRA

NVIDIA highlighted four other papers its researchers submitted to ICRA this year. They are: 

• SynH2R: The researchers behind this paper proposed a framework to generate realistic human grasping motions that can be used for training a robot. With the method, the team could generate synthetic training and testing data with 100 times more objects than previous work. The team said its method is competitive with state-of-the-art methods that rely on real human motion data both in simulation and on a real system.
• Out of Sight, Still in Mind: In this paper, NVIDIA’s researchers tested a robotic arm’s reaction to things it had previously seen but were then occluded. With the team’s approaches, robots can perform multiple challenging tasks, including reasoning with occluded objects, novel objects in appearance, and object reappearance. The company claimed that these approaches outperformed implicit memory baselines. 
• Point Cloud World Models: The researchers set up a novel point cloud world model and point cloud-based control policies that were able to improve performance, reduce learning time, and increase robustness for robotic learners. 
• SKT-Hang: This team looked at the problem of how to use a robot to hang up a wide variety of objects on different supporting structures. This is a deceptively tricky problem, as there are countless variations in both the shape of objects and the supporting structure poses.

Surgical simulation uses Omniverse

NVIDIA also presented ORBIT-Surgical, a physics-based surgical robot simulation framework with photorealistic rendering powered by NVIDIA Isaac Sim on the NVIDIA Omniverse platform. It uses GPU parallelization to facilitate the study of robot learning to augment human surgical skills.

The framework also enables realistic synthetic data generation for active perception tasks. The researchers demonstrated ORBIT-Surgical sim2real transfer of learned policies onto a physical dVRK robot. They plan to release the underlying simulation application as a free, open-source package upon publication. 

In addition, the DefGoalNet paper focuses on shape servoing, a robotic task dedicated to controlling objects to create a specific goal shape.

Partners present their developments at ICRA

NVIDIA partners also showed their latest developments at ICRA. ANYbotics presented a complete software package to grant users access to low-level controls down to the Robot Operating System (ROS).

Franka Robotics highlighted its work with NVIDIA Isaac Manipulator, an NVIDIA Jetson-based AI companion to power robot control and the Franka toolbox for Matlab. Enchanted Tools exhibited its Jetson-powered Mirokaï robots.

NVIDIA recently participated in the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston and the opening of Teradyne Robotics’ new headquarters in Odense, Denmark.

NVIDIA partner Enchanted Tools showed Mirokai at CES and ICRA. Source: Enhanted Tools

The post NVIDIA researchers show geometric fabric controllers for robots at ICRA appeared first on The Robot Report.

CHICAGO — Yaskawa Motoman last week showed several offerings bundling its robots with vision and controls to help manufacturers adopt automation. They included collaborative and industrial robots, as well as workcells for applications such as welding and palletizing.

“Sophisticated demands and shifting markets are transforming the industrial landscape, necessitating the need for smart technology and easy-to-use robots that can help companies of all sizes easily adapt to changing manufacturing requirements,” said Yaskawa.

Founded in 1989, the Motoman Robotics Division of Yaskawa America Inc. provides systems for applications including assembly, coating, dispensing, materials handling, material cutting and removal, packaging, and clinical laboratory specimen processing.

Dayton, Ohio-based Yaskawa America Inc. touted its 4.7 (out of 5.0) approval rating in its 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey.

“This level of performance is a direct result of a dedicated, highly experienced team focused on executing sound strategies, producing quality solutions, and delivering world-class support,” stated Steve Barhorst, president and chief operating officer of Yaskawa Motoman. “This achievement validates that our corporate commitment to customer support, combined with extra efforts by all employees, results in satisfied customers.”

Register now.

Yaskawa contributes to cobot welding cells

Yaskawa showed how its collaborative robot arms are becoming easier to use and reprogram for multiple applications. The company designed the six-axis HC-Series cobots to supplement manual welding.

With partner ARC Specialties, the company demonstrated its AR1440 system for high-speed arc welding. The six-axis robot has an expanded wrist motion range and a 12 kg (26.4 lb.) payload capacity. It also supports the featured DINSE REVO liquid-cooled rotary torch, which has a built-in slip ring for continuous rotation when deep in the bore.

Yaskawa claimed that the combination of a robust 360° rotary torch, a Miller welding package, its own Universal Weldcom Interface (UWI) pendant application, and ARC Specialties’ programming expertise provides manufacturers with a high-production cladding option. It also minimizes requirements for programming and startup, it said.

The ArcWorld HC is a portable shop for human-collaborative interaction for medium- or low-volume runs. It includes the HC10DTP cobot, which has a 1,379 mm (54. in.) maximum reach and a 10 kg (22 lb.) payload capacity.

Power and force-limiting (PFL) technology allows for safe operations and hand-guided programming without a teach pendant, said Yaskawa. UWI works with multiple digital welding power supplies and allows for easy control of weld processes or parameters, it noted.

For smaller parts, Yaskawa’s ArcWorld LC system is designed for fabricators with lighter volume requirements. The workstation is configured for wide parts and includes a fixed tooling table with a 250 kg (551 lb.) payload or a servo-driven MH185 headstock with a 185 kg (407.8 lb.) payload.

ArcWorld has a 2,125 x 2,097 mm (83.6 x 82.5 in.) footprint, and a dual configuration is available. The system can fit in a trailer and includes a single AR1440 robot using the UWI.

In addition, Novarc exhibited the NovEye weld monitoring and control system, which enables a robot to adapt a programmed path based on characteristics of the weld puddle for a proper weld.

Yaskawa also offers the AR-Series robots for high-speed arc welding. These six-axis robots can handle payloads of 8 to 25 kg (17.6 to 55.1 lb.) and support a wide variety of torches and sensors.

Motoman demos machine tending, bin picking

With computer numerical control (CNC) provider Vista Automation, Yaskawa displayed the ROBOTEND system with the high-speed GP12 robot for machine tending and parcel induction. The robot has a 1,440 mm (56.6 in.) horizontal reach, a 2,411 (94.2 in.) mm vertical reach, and a 12 kg (26.4 lb.) payload capacity.

The GP12 works with patented Smart Frame technology helps determine the user’s orientation relative to the robot. This makes the user the frame of reference, eliminating the use of conventional X, Y, and Z coordinates for a faster learning curve, said Yaskawa.

The cell also included Plus One Robotics‘ PickOne Perception Kit, which promises human-like vision for intelligent 3D scene capturing, as well as pick rates over 1,600 per hour for a wide variety of objects.

Yaskawa also demonstrated a trend of both industrial and collaborative robots becoming more capable. The company said it designed the GP8L robot to optimize throughput in tight production spaces.

The GP8L has a 1,636 mm (64.4 in.) horizontal reach, a 2,894 mm (113.9 in.) vertical reach, and a 8 kg (17.6 lb.) payload capacity. It has an IP54 body and can be mounted on floors, walls, and ceilings or tilted. It has brakes on all axes and is designed to optimize throughput.

A KEYENCE 3D vision system used pattern projections and structured lighting to recognize randomly placed parts for fast and accurate bin picking.

Smart Pendant v3.0 designed to accelerate applications

The GP12 and HC-series robots work with Smart Pendant Version 3.0, which is intended to accelerate application setup. It builds on prior software updates to allow for quick implementation of automated assembly, welding, injection molding, inspection, machine tending, palletizing, and pick-and-place tasks, said Yaskawa.

Smart Pendant, which includes several updates to features such as the YRC1000 controller software that can run on Windows, is available for use with select Yaskawa Motoman YRC-controlled robots.

Palletizing and depalletizing have become popular applications to automate because robots can reduce worker strain from repetitive and heavy movement. The Pallet Builder extension to Yaskawa’s Smart Pendant provides a user interface for “no-code” programming for workcell configuration and setup.

Pallet Builder is designed for high-mix, low-to-medium volume production at small and midsize enterprises (SMEs), with support for up to eight combined stations. Yaskawa said the software can work with a wide variety of end-of-arm tools (EOAT) and requires Smart Pendant v3.0. Pallet Solver is an offline PC-based tool for setting up palletizing routines.

Robot arms get longer and stronger

Joining other heavy-duty cobots at Automate, Yaskawa’s HC30PL has a 30 kg payload and 1,700 mm maximum reach. It is suitable for palletizing and food handling, according to the company.

It offers four modes of collaborative application and can shift between PFL mode for operations around people to full-speed industrial mode to optimize cycle times, based on risk assessments and process requirements.

The palletizing system also includes a plug-and-play tool flange based on EN ISO-9409-1 and a thru-arm Category 6 Ethernet cable. It has an IP67 rating and easy-to-clean surface for NSF H1-certified food-grade grease.

Yaskawa Drives & Motion division part of displays

Yaskawa’s Drives & Motion division also displayed its products at Automate. The iCube Control machine controller has an open design and modular system integration, and “gives developers the freedom to program function modules in the language of their choice,” the company asserted.

The division also showed food-grade and hygienic stainless-steel servo motors for use with its Sigma Series amplifiers complying with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group standards.

Speaking of food and beverage, thirsty conference goers could see the HC10DTP cobot, which was part of the renovated “Yaskawa Pub.”

The post Yaskawa exhibits robots for welding, materials handling, and bin picking appeared first on The Robot Report.

Two leading automation suppliers have moved in together. Collaborative robot leader Universal Robots A/S and autonomous mobile robot, or AMR, provider Mobile Industrial Robots ApS today celebrated the grand opening of their new 215,000-sq.-ft. headquarters in Odense, Denmark.

Both companies are units of Teradyne Inc., which acquired Universal Robots (UR) for $285 million in 2015 and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) for $272 million in 2018.

“The launch of this new headquarters marks a significant milestone for Teradyne Robotics as we bring together two leading companies in robotics innovation,” stated Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics. “We will now have the optimal environment to evolve our technological capabilities, which are already in high demand.”

Kumar was a keynote speaker at the Robotics Summit & Expo earlier this month. Universal Robots won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its UR30 cobot.

Teradyne Robotics said it has more than 1,400 employees in over 32 offices worldwide, and about 34% of the cobot market. The North Reading, Mass.-based company added that it has deployed a total of more than 80,000 robots globally and that it has invested over $100 million in robotics and automation.

Register now.

Teradyne partners participate in grand opening

Partners from Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots’ global ecosystems attended the event, including NVIDIA and Siemens, with whom Teradyne Robotics and its companies have recently announced several collaborations.

The opening included a panel discussion featuring Deepu Talla, vice president of robotics and edge computing of NVIDIA, Rainer Brehm, CEO of Siemens Factory Automation, and Kumar. The panelists discussed the use of “physical AI” across industries and how advanced automation could transform businesses and workplaces.

UR and MiR plan to innovating

Construction of the new robotics hub in Denmark began in April 2022, and 550 people will work at the research and development facility. It will also include a new showroom and training rooms for in-person robot training. The headquarters does not include production facilities.

“Since our foundation, UR has become a platform of choice for thousands of customers and hundreds of ecosystem partners,” said
Kim Povlsen, president of Universal Robots. “This beautiful building reflects our strong design philosophy and provides the perfect location for us to continue our mission to deliver automation for anyone, anywhere.”

At Automate in Chicago last week, Universal Robots’ collaborative robot arms were part of more than 50 exhibits on the show floor. The company also demonstrated AI-powered piece picking, welding, and other applications, and its PolysScope X software will soon include NVIDIA technology.

Just as it has applied technologies from Energid to UR cobots, Teradyne said it has applied lessons and intellectual property from AutoGuide to add artificial intelligence to MiR AMRs.

“Our new headquarters is designed to foster innovation, providing the perfect setting for our teams to develop leading-edge solutions that will revolutionize automation,” asserted Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of Mobile Industrial Robots. “MiR is committed to being a one-stop-shop for material handling, continuously advancing our technology to meet the evolving needs of our large, global customers.”

“Our recently launched AI-powered MiR1200 Pallet Jack exemplifies this dedication. I’m thrilled to witness the transformative impact of our endeavors and to showcase MiR’s and UR’s offerings to our customers and partners at this state-of-the-art facility.”

The post Teradyne units Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots open joint headquarters appeared first on The Robot Report.

The CL Series of collaborative robots. | Source: Kawasaki Robotics

CHICAGO — Kawasaki Robotics (USA) Inc. gave a first look at its new CL family of collaborative robots at Automate this week. The company also showed off new applications using the Kawasaki R Series and BX Series of industrial robots. 

“From our AI-enabled robots to our rich library of technology partners, it’s the collective use of human ingenuity that fuels Kawasaki’s product offerings,” stated Seiji Amazawa, president of Kawasaki Robotics. “Our goal is to harness industrial automation in a way that makes the possibilities virtually limitless for our customers, and our Automate showing will help to reinforce that.”

Kawasaki Robotic added that the CL Series and new applications demonstrate its “commitment to continually optimizing its product offerings, aided by its technology-agnostic stance and expanding network of partners.” The Wixom, Mich.-based company is a unit of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which has more than 50 years of automation experience and is a leading supplier of industrial robots.

Register now.

CL series combines cobot, industrial features

Kawasaki Robotics claimed its CL series combines the safety and intuitiveness of collaborative robots with a robust design that “unlocks the speed and productivity of industrial robotics.” The new robots, designed and built in Germany, use robot assistance technology from NEURA Robotics, a Kawasaki partner.

Kawasaki had a dual-armed cobot nine years ago, but it had an absence in its product range, Alexandre Boffi, manager for general industries sales at Kawasaki, told The Robot Report.

“We observed what the industry needed — more repeatability, accuracy, robustness, and environmental protection,” he said. “A cobot also had to do what Kawasaki’s industrial robots can do, which led to our collaboration with NEURA.”

The new cobots can reach a speed of 200º/s and repeatability of ±0.02 mm (0.0007 in.). The robots have payload capacities and reaches of 3 kg/590 mm (6.6 lb./23.2 in.), 5 kg/800 mm (11 lb./31.5 in.), 8 kg/1,300 mm (17.6 lb./51.2 in.), and 10 kg/1,000 mm (22 lb./39.3 in.), respectively.

“Customers don’t want to sacrifice speed, accuracy, or reliability,” said Boffi. “Ease of use is driving demand for cobots.”

In addition, the CL series has free mounting orientations, small footprints, and IP66 classification. Kawasaki noted that the cobots’ components include integrated 24-bit encoders, high resolution, and lightweight construction.

The CL series also includes an intuitive user interface and proprietary safety architecture to facilitate human-robot collaboration, said the company.

Like NEURA’s 4NE-1 in the adjacent booth, Kawasaki’s “skunkworks” has worked on its own humanoid robot, the Kaleido, Boffi said.

“Humanoids are like Formula 1 racecars compared with passenger cars,” he said. “They’ll result in smaller controllers and optimized motion control, like our KRNX API [application programming interface], which provides low latency, real-time control, and full access to the BIOS. We’re really focused on building the best tools to help businesses.”

Kawasaki Robotics jointly shows new applications

Kawasaki also demonstrated applications developed with its partners, such as an adaptable finishing system designed by Advanced Machine & Tool (AMT) Precision Parts that can handle diverse materials and surface types. It also showed unstructured parcel sorting with the Kawasaki R Series and Mech Mind‘s 3D camera and AI-powered software.

CRG Automation displayed multi-SKU palletizing and depalletizing using a BX130X robot and an automated corner-board application using a RS00L robot. Olis Robotics‘ Olis Connect edge-hosted product provided remote control and monitoring of the entire system.

“As customer demand for products of all kinds increases and the unceasing need for skilled labor remains, robotics and automation are clear answers to this widespread industry problem,” said Amazawa. “We are motivated by our passion for creating the best possible robotic solutions to ensure our customers see nothing but excitement, potential, and growth when they look to the future.”

Kawasaki Robotics and Olis Robotics have also jointly offered robots and controls they said will enable customers to restart production faster, reduce troubleshooting and downtime costs by up to 90%, and gain access to expert support more quickly.

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The 2FG14 (left) and the 3FG25 (right) grippers are designed for plug-and-play handling of heavy payloads. | Source: OnRobot

CHICAGO — As collaborative robots get bigger for tasks such as palletizing, the end effectors needs to keep up. OnRobot A/S showed two new, heavy-duty grippers at Automate this week.

“As cobots grow more powerful, OnRobot customers are scaling up their collaborative applications,” stated Enrico Krog Iversen, CEO of OnRobot. “Building on the success of our existing, industry-proven gripper range, the new 3FG25 and 2FG14 grippers deliver unrivaled gripping and payload power while also providing customizability for heavy-duty applications, including [in] harsh environments.”

Founded in 2018, OnRobot was formed with the merger of three end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) companies: Perception Robotics, OptoForce, and OnRobot. The Odense, Denmark-based company also acquired Purple Robotics in 2018 and Blue Workforce in 2019.

The provider of hardware and software for collaborative applications said its grippers help small and midsize manufacturers optimize processes such as palletizing, packaging, pick and place, sanding, and screwdriving.

Several leading cobot brands now offer models that can handle around 30 kg (66.1 lb.), and industrial robot arms are being deployed in collaborative applications, observed OnRobot. To address these applications and enable improved workpiece adaptability, the company plans to officially launch the 3FG25 gripper later this month, while the 2FG14 gripper made its North American debut this week. 

Register now.

OnRobot aims to add flexibility with heavier grippers

OnRobot said both of its new electric grippers can handle larger parts without the bulk or power constraints of pneumatic systems. The three-fingered 3FG25 provides 25 kg (55.1 lb.) of payload capacity in a compact, all-electric, lightweight form factor, said the company.

The 3FG25 is a larger version of the 3FG15 gripper, which has already been widely adopted for CNC (computer numerical control) machine tending, said OnRobot. Both are capable of handling cylindrical and oddly shaped items, and the 3FG25 has new fingers for heavier metal workpieces. It is available for preorders.

Similarly, the 2FG14 doubles the payload and gripping force of the popular 2FG7 gripper, while also providing 30% more total stroke, according to the company. It has a payload of 14 kg (30.8 lb.), making it suitable for machine-tending applications, OnRobot said.

In addition, the 2FG14 has a compact base and is designed for challenging work environments where workpieces are frequently exposed to oils or cutting fluids. 

“The 2FG14 is a great gripper. It’s easy to use and allows our cobots to maintain maximum payload,” said Alex Pinkerton, mechanical engineer at Gosiger. “OnRobot products have intuitive, operator-friendly user interfaces, and the 2FG14 maintains this tradition. It’s perfect for demanding packaging, machine tending, and assembly applications.”

In addition, OnRobot said its grippers, connectors, and software “offer an all-round plug-and-produce experience.” They include fingers with multiple configurations, flange adapters, cabling, and software to reduce the complexity of robot programming. OnRobot supports multiple robot arms and is part of the UR+ ecosystem as a certified offering with Universal Robots cobots.

“The flange is not new, but we’ve used a new material to reduce the weight,” Kristian Hulgard, general manager of OnRobot, told The Robot Report. “It’s really about the flexibility; cobot users should still do safety assessments of their payloads and applications, such as welding.”

Ellison Technologies launches AutoPilot powered by D:PLOY

OnRobot also announced that it is collaborating with Ellison Technologies Inc., a provider of advanced machining systems. The companies are releasing AutoPilot powered by D:PLOY, which aims to simplify the process of deploying CNC machine-tending applications.

OnRobot’s D:PLOY is an automated platform for building, running, monitoring, and redeploying machine tending applications. By automating the development process, it can cut deployment times and enable deployments to take place on the factory floor, with zero programming and zero simulations required, asserted the companies. 

“Companies racing to plug labor gaps and meet growing demand in an uncertain economic climate can’t afford to spend weeks deploying and redeploying CNC machine tending automation,” said Greg Haley, vice president of automation at Ellison Technologies.

“D:PLOY is the perfect software for Ellison’s AutoPilot solution, as it decreases the programming complexity and makes part changeover a snap,” he added. “This puts automated CNC machine tending in reach for more customers than ever, even those with high-mix, low-volume part runs.”

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The Seoul National University team with its winning system. | Source: MassRobotics

MassRobotics announced the winners of its second Form & Function University Robotics Challenge at the Robotics Summit & Expo last week. A panel of judges at the show picked Seoul National University as the first-place winner. 

Twelve teams from across the globe showcased their robotics and automation projects for the challenge and competed for cash prizes. Competitors in the challenge are tasked with creating a robot that looks good, the “form” part, and that works, the “function” part. 

The Seoul National University’s team built a deployable gantry system for the challenge. Visitors at the show could watch the system 3D print on the concrete floor of the convention center. You can check out the team’s project flyer here (PDF).

The judges awarded the Harvard University team second place with its Hydrocube capable of moving particles in liquid without touching them. The Wentworth Institute of Technology’s team won third place with its underwater inspection robot. 

The University of British Columbia team won this year’s Audience Choice award. The team created a robot that can detect and monitor embers after wildfires. 

MassRobotics says it leaves the challenges tasks intentionally vague to encourage creativity and innovation from the teams that compete. MassRobotics partners AMD, Analog Devices, Danfoss, Festo, Lattice Semiconductor, Mitsubishi Electric, Novanta, Solidworks, and igus donated the components and software used in the challenge. This allowed the teams to utilize some of the latest and greatest offerings in the industry. 

About the winning team 

The Seoul National University’s team was made up of Sun-Pill Jung, Jaeyoung Song, Chan Kim, Haemin Lee, Inchul Jeong, and Kyu Jin Cho. The team set out to build a highly rigid extendable boom using a corrugated structure for a deployable mobile gantry robot system. 

The team wanted to address future space and transportation issues. While NASA has early plans for taking the first steps towards creating structures on celestial bodies, it’s still a relatively unexplored area of innovation. 

The Seoul National University team created a deployable mobile gantry robot system with a hang 3D printer. The structure uses Slide-and-Fold Enabling (SaFE) joints to create extendable legs. This allows the team to use the 3D printer to create a range of objects of different shapes and sizes. 

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Elmo demonstrates its technologies in a gantry robot. Source: Elmo Motion Control

From industrial automation and healthcare applications to increasingly diverse use cases, robots need precise and reliable motion control. Elmo Motion Control Ltd., a global technology leader, plans to display its latest innovations at events across the Americas including this week’s Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston.

The company, which supports industrial and collaborative robots, as well as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), smart warehouse systems, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and dispensing products, will also exhibit next week at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston and Automate in Chicago.

“We eagerly anticipate exhibiting at these three industry events in three major U.S. cities in a whirlwind timeframe,” stated Elizabeth Victor, director of sales in the Americas at Elmo Motion Control. “We are thrilled to meet trade show visitors and showcase our comprehensive line of servo drives and our newest advanced innovations.”

“Our innovations boast outstanding capabilities, such as fully certified functional safety, and continue raising the industry’s technology bar,” she added. “We are particularly excited about showing a glimpse of the future with innovations significantly enhancing any machine’s performance.”

Platinum line includes Bassoon with functional safety

Platinum Bassoon Servo Drive. Source: Elmo Motion Control

Elmo Motion Control said its Platinum line of servo drives demonstrates its “commitment to innovation and excellence.” It includes the recently launched Platinum Bassoon, this line’s first AC drive, which includes the leading certified functional safety capabilities.

The Platinum Bassoon supports up to 10 amps at 230 volts and has up to 3.25 kW of continuous power. The drive is compatible with brushless, DC brush, linear motors, or voice coil, said the company.

At each show in May, Elmo is providing an opportunity to see its latest technologies. It will show its new multi-axis servo drives with full functional safety and the next-generation motion controller with artificial intelligence.

At Automate, visitors can see a collaborative robot with full functional safety and a life-sciences robot from Elmo customers Wyzo and Peak Robotics.

About Elmo and the Robotics Summit

Elmo Motion Control said it has been a motion-control technology leader for over 35 years, with millions of servo drives working 24/7 worldwide. The company‘s offerings range from design to delivery of servo drives, network-based multi-axis motion controllers, and integrated servo motors.

Elmo said all of its systems can be customized and configured using proprietary software tools for machines in any industry, such as semiconductors, lasers, robots, drones, industrial automation, extreme environments, and more. The company employs more than 350 people.

Its headquarters in Petah Tikva, Israel, and offices in the U.S., China, Germany, Italy, Korea, and Singapore, plus a manufacturing facility in Poland. Elmo has a worldwide distribution network. As of 2022, Elmo is a Bosch Rexroth company.

Elmo Motion Control will show its technologies at Booth 314 at the Robotics Summit & Expo on May 1 and 2. To schedule a one-on-one meeting, register here: https://www.elmomc.com/media/events/

The Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, will include keynotes and sessions with industry experts, more than 200 exhibitors, a MassRobotics Engineering Career Fair, and several networking opportunities. Registration is now open for the event.

Register now.

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CCTY Bearing will discuss how its technologies can help humanoid robots at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: CCTY

To help robot developers make humanoid robots that emulate the mobility and flexibility of human limbs, CCTY designs and manufactures bespoke parts tailored to the unique requirements of each project. At the Robotics Summit & Expo this week, the global motion-control supplier will highlight how its state-of-the-art bearings can enable robots to move articulating joints with lifelike grace.

These critical joints must replicate the natural range of motion found in the human body while remaining lightweight and durable, according to CCTY. The company today said its customized approach overcomes the limitations of conventional, off-the-shelf products.

“The development of humanoid robots has garnered significant attention,” stated Yaman Obaid, robotics engineer at CCTY. “Their seamless motion is enabled by a complex interplay of precision engineering, advanced materials, and cutting-edge technology, with bearings serving as the base that enables these movements.”

CCTY builds bearings to suit

CCTY specializes in custom bearing engineering and development. The company has a 1.8 million sq. ft. (167,000 sq. m) production facility in China and offices in Lake Zurich, Ill.; Schwebheim, Germany; Tokyo; and Gujarat, India.

For the robotics sector, CCTY designs motion-control components and assemblies specific to humanoid and industrial robot applications. They include rod ends, spherical plain bearings, COM bearings, bushings, and roller bearings that enable articulating joints to rotate freely and smoothly.

“At the forefront of innovation, CCTY collaborates closely with our customers to design, develop, and test application-specific humanoid robotic bearing solutions,” said Nik Jerinic, strategic account manager at CCTY. “We’re not like other bearing suppliers. We are problem-solvers who work side-by-side with our clients to create a custom design that meets an application’s precise requirements.”

In addition to custom bearings, CCTY said it develops full assemblies that yield customer benefits such as cost savings, streamlined products, and simplified vendor management. With its ability to manufacture small batches, the company said it is as a trusted engineering partner to businesses in the fast-paced robotics industry.

Learn more at the Robotics Summit & Expo

At Booth 234 in Hall C at the Robotics Summit & Expo on May 1 and 2, CCTY said it will demystify the process of bearing design and assembly for robotic applications. It said its expertise and customer partnerships have resulted in systems that will advance the future of humanoid robots.

During the event, CCTY experts will also discuss key robotics industry trends and themes, including the importance of:

• Seals in robotics applications
• Finding the right balance for minimizing torque and clearance
• Backlash and its impact on humanoid movement

“When speaking with new and potential customers, our engineers often find that they’re able to present or share a new idea or enhancement, for example a new design idea or material selection, that improves upon the customer’s existing idea,” said Jerinic. “This is the type of partner CCTY wants to be for our robotics customers: Someone who helps them raise the bar in this high potential and fast-growing industry.”

Registration is now open for the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The summit will also feature keynotes and sessions with industry experts, more than 200 exhibitors, a MassRobotics Engineering Career Fair, and several networking opportunities.

Register now.

The post CCTY to showcase bearing solutions at the Robotics Summit & Expo appeared first on The Robot Report.

New offerings include the igusGO AI-driven app and more low-cost automation. Source: igus

At its annual press conference last week, igus GmbH previewed numerous new products in advance of the Hannover Messe trade show. The Cologne, Germany-based company announced 247 new products, including  lubrication-free drives using motion plastics and new robots for educational, service, and industrial applications.

“We’re offering a mobile manipulator for small companies,” said Alexander Mühlens, head of automation technology and robotics at igus. He touted the company’s low-cost automation approach.

“ReBeL on Wheels” combines a collaborative robot arm with an autonomous mobile robot for €17,999 ($19,202 U.S.). An educational version is available for €14,699 ($15,682). igus said that is 10x more affordable than other models, and it is starting to offer the systems in the German market. 

The company, whose U.S. headquarters are in Rumford, R.I., won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for a finger gripper to go with the ReBeL cobot. igus will be exhibiting at next week’s Robotics Summit & Expo at Booth 414 in Hall C in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

In addition, Mühlens will present a session at 2:45 p.m. EDT in Room 50 on Wednesday, May 1, on “Automate Your Factory for $2,799.” Registration is now open for the event.

Register now.

Tools make robots easier for SMEs to configure

Users can easily add sensors, the igus Robot Control programming software, and a sound bar to ReBeL on Wheels, said Mühlens. The mobile manipulator includes gearboxes using the company’s patented motion plastics.

To help people “try before you buy,” igus allows for free remote testing. “You can scan a QR code into your mobile phone for to test the robot butler,” Mühlens noted.

In addition, the “Envisioner” in igus Robot Control can help robotics developers and integrators, he said. The Configurator in the RBTX online marketplace shows the center of gravity for every part in a delta robot cell, allowing the system to easily pick and place them.

“It automatically knows the center of gravity, and you can just buy the webcam for under €100 [$106.67],” said Mühlens. “We’ll be picking RBTX chocolates at Hannover Messe.”

“Everyone is looking for solutions for screwing and gluing in the furniture industry, for instance,” he said. “Now with RBTX and our 3D machine planner, you can combine robots with grippers and conveyors into cells for one fixed price.”

In fact, igus uses AI so that if a user uploads a photo, it can give a 3D recommendation.

“With the Configurator, a customer can take a few steps and get a live price,” Mühlens explained. “For example, you could choose ReBeL and a gripper for a cell, get measurements within the program, download files, and check out all the parts and prices. You can also choose an installation and buildup service or do it yourself.”

igus said its new machine planner offers small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) the ability to define cobot workspaces, build around its robots, and choose robot housings.

Motion-plastic parts get four-year guarantee

Machine failures due to insufficient lubrication cost $750 billion annually, and more than 24 million tons of lubricant seep into water and soil every year, according to igus. The company said its self-lubricating, high-performance polymers, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in design, can reduce such costly waste.

This year, igus is extending its four-year product guarantee to all of its dry-tech products. It also offers free replacement of bearings, drives, 3D-printed parts, and linear actuators.

These moves demonstrate the company’s confidence in their long service life and consciousness of the importance of sustainability in Industry 4.0, said Stefan Niermann, vice president and head of the drylin division, and Rainer Rössel, vice president and head of the chainflex division at igus.

“The performance of motion plastics is often underestimated,” added Lars Butenschön, business unit manager for iglidur bearings at igus. He cited their utility in construction and agriculture. The company is also offering new high-load bearings for heavy machinery in its “Zero Lubrication” range. 

In addition, lubrication-free bearings are suitable for food and packaging applications, said Michael Offner, vice president and head of industry management at the family-owned company.

“An enormous range of applications could use them,” noted Tobias Vogel, igus’ CEO of bearings and linear technology. With the igusGO app, machine builders can use voice controls and AI chat to configure excavators with such parts, he said.

As electrification garners more interest worldwide, particularly in e-mobility, battery production, and shore power, motion plastics can be an enabling technology, asserted Martin Tiling, head of igus’ shore power business unit.

igus reports €1.13B turnover, launches bike brand

After generating €1.15 billion ($1.23 billion) in 2022, igus reported €1.13 billion ($1.21 billion) for 2023. While the global economic slowdown affected the company, it is still approaching its goal of 1 million industrial customers per year, stated Michael Blass, managing director of e-chain systems.

“We are therefore pleased that we have at least come a little closer to this goal in a difficult year,” he said. “We have invested €433 million [$464.6 million] in this plan over the last three years, €210 million [$224.8 million] of which at the Cologne site.”

igus has invested in expanded production in Germany and the U.S., accelerating fulfillment of orders to within a few days, and continuing research and development, according to Blass. It is also planning construction in China, Taiwan, India, Italy, Spain, Poland, Mexico, and Turkey.

To demonstrate its motion plastics at human rather than industrial scale, the company has developed the igus:bike from recycled materials. The bicycle, which won’t rust and can be recycled itself, is now going into serial production under the new brand name RCYL. It will go on the market in Germany for €1,200 ($1,284) this year.

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Bota offers sensor solutions intended to allow robots to work and move safely. | Source: Bota Systems

Bota Systems will exhibit its recently unveiled sensors featuring a through-hole flange design and enhanced cable management at the Robotics Summit & Expo. The company can be found in Booth 315 on the event’s show floor.

“During the Robotics Summit, we will showcase our complete range of sensors at our booth, and we invite you to experience these sensors in action,” Marco Martinaglia, vice president of marketing at Bota Systems, told The Robot Report. “You’ll see a live demonstration of inertia compensation with a handheld device, and a Mecademic Robot equipped with our cutting-edge MiniONE Pro six-axis sensor will perform automated assembly and deburring tasks.”

The company said it designed its latest sensors for humanoids, industrial, and medical robots. It claimed that they can improve functions in fields such as welding and minimally invasive surgeries.

Bota Systems added that its force-torque sensors can give robots a sense of touch, enabling them to accurately and reliably perform tasks that were previously only possible with manual operators.

Bota Systems designs for ease of integration

“We are particularly excited to have just announced the release of our latest sensor, the PixONE,” said Ilias Patsiaouras, co-founder and chief technology officer of Bota Systems.

“The PixONE sensor’s innovative hollow shaft design allows it to be seamlessly integrated between the robot’s arm and the end-of-arm tooling [EOAT], maintaining the integrity of internal cable routing,” he added. “This design is particularly advantageous as many robotic arm manufacturers and OEMs are moving towards internal routing to eliminate cable tangles and motion restrictions.”

Bota Systems is an official distribution and integration partner of Universal Robots and Mecademic.

In October 2023, the company added NEXT Robotics to its distributor network. NEXT is now its official distributor for the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. That same month, Bota Systems raised $2.5 million in seed funding.

See sensors at the Robotics Summit & Expo

“Our vision is to equip robots with the sense of touch, making them not only safer and more user-friendly, but also more collaborative,” Klajd Lika, co-founder and CEO of Bota Systems, told The Robot Report. “We look forward to the Robotics Summit and Expo because it brings together the visionaries and brightest minds of the industry — this interaction is valuable for us to shape the development of our next generation of innovative sensors,” 

This will be the largest Robotics Summit & Expo ever. It will include more than 200 exhibitors, various networking opportunities, a Women in Robotics breakfast, a career fair, an engineering theater, a startup showcase, and more. Registration is now open for the event.

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Jennifer Apicella (left) of the PRN and Fady Saad (right) of Cybernetix Ventures have announced a strategic partnership. | Source: Pittsburgh Robotics Network

Cybernetix Ventures yesterday announced a strategic partnership with the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. The early-stage venture capital firm said it is part of its long-term robotics cluster engagement efforts. 

The partnership is a joint initiative to set Pittsburgh’s robotics startups up for success, and bring more of the cluster’s investable robotics opportunities to global markets. The Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovation and growth in southwestern Pennsylvania. 

“The Pittsburgh Robotics Network is one of the top robotics clusters in the U.S., with a powerhouse team and strong robotics innovators emerging,” stated Fady Saad, founder and general partner of Cybernetix Ventures. “Like our firm, the PRN is focused on markets-driven, actionable, scalable use cases for robotics. We are excited to amplify their efforts and connect the cluster further with the larger investment community.”

Founded in 2021, Cybernetix focuses on robotics, automation, and industrial AI investments. The venture capital firm works with robotics clusters around the world to elevate the most promising robotics founders and startups to the global stage. 

Cybernetix expands robotics focus

Cybernetix aims to connect the PRN’s startups with the firm’s diverse ecosystem of potential customers, later-stage investors, financial institutions, and acquirers. The company will join forces with the PRN as a Leader Premier Partner to provide advice to startups. 

“Cybernetix Ventures is a premier investment firm for robotics, and this partnership represents a unique opportunity for not only robotics companies, but for accelerating the commercial adoption of robotics solutions overall,” added Jennifer Apicella, executive director of the PRN.

“Both Cybernetix Ventures and the PRN share a set of aligned values that promise to bring significant benefits to robotics companies on the path to commercialization,” she said. “We admire their unique expertise and understanding of how robotics will directly contribute to the advancement of specific industries, both now and into the future.”

The partners announced their collaboration at the Agriculture & Robotics Summit, where the PRN welcomed innovators, investors, and industry to Pittsburgh to explore the future of smart agriculture. Cybernetix, which has focused on vertical robotics applications in manufacturing, logistics, construction, and healthcare since its inception, participated in the event as a launchpad for its expanded focus on agriculture and climate robotics.

“The new use cases and overall necessity for robotics innovation in agriculture have accelerated the sector’s investment potential, and we will explore investments in agriculture and climate robotics to add to our solid portfolio,” Saad said.

PRN head to speak at the Robotics Summit

Apicella will be taking part in a panel discussion at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo, which takes place on May 1 and 2 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. She will be joined by Stephen M. Muck, executive chairman of Advanced Construction Robotics; Brandon Contino, CEO of Four Growers; and Andy McMillan, chair of the board of directors at Cirtronics.

During the session, “Paving the Road to Success in Robotics Commercialization,” attendees can learn how the four industry leaders have conquered obstacles, scaled operations, and transformed ideas into viable products. 

This will be the largest Robotics Summit ever. It will include more than 200 exhibitors, various networking opportunities, a Women in Robotics breakfast, a career fair, an engineering theater, a startup showcase, and more! The PRN is also a sponsor of the Robotics Summit. Registration is now open for the event.

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