Rethink Robotics just launched a version of their Baxter robot armed with a new SDK providing educators and researchers with almost limitless capabilities at an affordable cost. Using ROS and the new SDK, educators and researchers have the ability to share innovations and build on each other’s work and know-how. Read their press release.

Aldebaran Robotics’ launched their ASK NAO (Autism Solution for Kids) initiative for use in special education and for children with autism. More humanoid than Baxter, NAO is kid-sized, the new program provides educators with planning, monitoring and analyzing interactions to help set up lessons with NAO. Read the press release.

Although Baxter and NAO have different capabilities, the ability for researchers and educators to easily program applications – and share those apps with others – because of the open source nature of the software and SDK – is hoped by both companies (Aldebaran and Rethink) to accelerate new capabilities and apps for commercial use.