Tag Archive for: Robotics

Startups building next-generation humanoid robots see influx of investment

If you thought the future would resemble the TV show “The Jetsons,” you’re probably wondering where everyone’s flying cars are. But one element of “The Jetsons” is becoming an increasingly prominent piece of our lives: Rosie the Robot. Humanoid robots, like Rosie, have been around for decades but are seeing accelerated development from tech firms as artificial intelligence makes these human-like bots more powerful and useful — from doing work on the factory floor to folding laundry.

Source: American Inno – Startups building next-generation humanoid robots see influx of investment

Amazon to acquire Bedford’s iRobot in $1.7B deal 

The popular cleaning robot Roomba is going to be an Amazon.com Inc (Nasdaq: AMZN) product. The e-commerce-giant announced on Friday it signed an agreement to buy Bedford-based Roomba maker iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion, including iRobot’s net debt.

Source: Amazon to acquire Bedford’s iRobot in $1.7B deal – Boston Business Journal

Amazon opens robotics facility opens in Westborough 

Amazon.com Inc., one of the state’s largest employers, is expanding again in Massachusetts.The Seattle tech giant (Nasdaq: AMZN) unveiled its new robotics manufacturing facility in Westborough at an in-person ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday.

Source: Amazon Massachusetts: New robotics facility opens in Westborough – Boston Business Journal

Sweetgreen acquiring MIT-born robotic restaurant Spyce 

The robots are coming to Sweetgreen.Popular Los Angeles salad chain Sweetgreen has acquired Boston-based Spyce, a robotic kitchen founded by four MIT grads in 2015.At Spyce’s Washington Street location in downtown Boston, robots assemble bowls filled with various vegetables, grains and sauces. The fast-casual spot closed its doors amid the pandemic, but reopened in November, launching an electric moped delivery service.

Source: Sweetgreen acquiring MIT-born robotic restaurant Spyce – Boston Business Journal

Boston Dynamics unveils a new robot designed to move boxes in warehouses 

Boston Dynamics is best known for its robot dog Spot, a machine designed to work in a range of environments, from offshore oil rigs to deep underground mines. But in recent years, the company has increasingly focused attention on the logistics space, and today is unveiling a new robot with just one application in mind: moving boxes in warehouses.

Source: Boston Dynamics unveils Stretch: a new robot designed to move boxes in warehouses – The Verge

Hyundai Closes Deal on Robot Maker Boston Dynamics

Last week, Massachusetts-based robot maker Boston Dynamics announced that it was becoming part of the South Korean Hyundai family, subject to all the usual regulatory requirements and formal approval inherent in international acquisitions. The huge $1.1 billion deal will see Hyundai Motor Group take an 80% stake in the company, with SoftBank controlling the leftover 20%. It’s the latest in a series of notable sales by the Japanese multinational conglomerate holding company SoftBank. In September, SoftBank made the news when it announced the sale of Arm Holdings to NVIDIA for $40 billion.

Source: In Yet Another Acquisition for Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Closes Deal on Robot Maker – News

SoftBank Is in Talks to Sell Robot Maker Boston Dynamics to Hyundai

SoftBank Group Corp. is in talks to sell robot maker Boston Dynamics Inc. to Hyundai Motor Co., people familiar with the matter said.Proposed terms of the deal would give the South Korean automaker control of the robotics company in a transaction valued at as much as $1 billion, said one of the people, all of whom asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The terms have yet to be finalized, and the deal could fall apart, said the people.

Source: SoftBank Is in Talks to Sell Robot Maker Boston Dynamics to Hyundai

Berkshire Grey raises $263 million for industrial robots 

Industrial robots and warehouse automation are lucrative intermingling markets, as evidenced by Berkshire Grey. The Lexington, Massachusetts-based company, which combines AI and robotics to automate omnichannel fulfillment for retailers, ecommerce, and logistics enterprises, today announced that it has secured a mammoth $263 million in series B funding led by SoftBank. Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Canaan participated in the round. CEO Tom Wagner says the fresh capital will fuel the startup’s global expansion, acquisitions, and team growth.

Source: Berkshire Grey raises $263 million for industrial robots | VentureBeat

Locus Robotics raises $40 million to take its warehouse robots global 

Warehouse robotics startup Locus Robotics today announced it has raised $40 million, the bulk of which will be put toward accelerating R&D and the company’s expansion into new markets, including in the EU, where it opened a new headquarters. CEO Rich Faulk says Locus also intends to launch strategic reseller partnerships throughout 2020, following a year in which its number of customer deployments passed 50.

Source: Locus Robotics raises $40 million to take its warehouse robots global | VentureBeat

Robotics companies take precautions to reopen offices ahead of the tech industry 

Tom Ryden, executive director of nonprofit MassRobotics, did something last week that’s rare for tech workers these days: he picked up a call not from his living room or home desk, but from his office in the Seaport.

Source: Massachusetts robotics companies take precautions to reopen offices ahead of the tech industry – Boston Business Journal