Funding for robotic businesses

… Heartland Robotics gets $20 million additional funding ($32 million total thus far). Brooks said the company’s new manufacturing robots “will be intuitive to use, intelligent and highly flexible.  They’ll be easy to buy, train and deploy and will be unbelievably inexpensive.”
… UPDATE 12-9: New reports from the Boston Globe indicate the Heartland robot will sell for $5,000, be on a rolling base rather than legs, be lightweight and human-like, be trainable without programming, and have sensors which enable it to work safely with humans. Most interesting is an Apple-like app store where users can share the robot’s routines and functions.
… Aethon, Inc. raises $2 million.  Aethon is the maker of TUG, the robotic transport device for hospital deliveries.
… NASA and WV University dedicate new $3.2 million Robotics Center. The center will partner with NASA and evaluate sensors and algorithms for space robotics of all types.

Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.

Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.