These 5 Robotics Startups Are Changing The Way Work Gets Done
Industrial robots don't always get as much attention as their humanoid counterparts, but they are changing the life of humans just as much, if not more.
By Catherine Clifford •
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Even if you aren’t sitting next to a humanoid robot that squeaks and beeps pseudo-robot-speak R2D2 style, robots are affecting the world you live in. In particular, they are changing the kind of work humans do and how they do it.
For example, robots are increasingly performing repetitive motion work in factories, being sent before humans into dangerous situations and helping create new innovations through 3-D printing.
At the RoboUniverse expo in New York City, we checked out five robotics startups, that are, each in their own way, changing what humans are capable of and how they are getting work done.
Related: At This Store, Robots Will Replace Human Employees. But, Wow, They Are Adorable.
Blue WorkforceBlue Workforce’s pick-and-place robots speed up repetitive manufacturing processes.
Company name: Blue Workforce
Headquarters: Fiskerihavnsgade, Denmark
Launch date: 2012
Founder: Preben Hjørnet
What the company does: Manufactures modular pick-and-place robots.
What is the industry being disrupted: The robot picks has a moveable arm that picks up pieces and moves them to another location. The robots can be used in packing, sorting, manufacturing, stocking and stocking in a range of industrial settings ranging from large scale bakeries, fish sorting companies, meat cutting facilities, logistics facilities, waste handling and more.
What does it cost: Starts at 9,630 euros or approximately $10,955.
Related: Say Hello to the Little Robot That Wants to Deliver Your Groceries
Transcend RoboticsTranscend Robotics robots keep humans safe by performing surveillance in dangerous locations.
Company name: Transcend Robotics
Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
Launch date: 2014
Founders: Phillip Walker and Andrew Ferguson
What the company does: Robotics that can climb stairs and maneuver obstacles
What is the industry being disrupted: The Transcend Robotics models are used in the mining industry because they can traverse rugged terrain and can fit into narrow crawl spaces to detect dangerous gases. Also, because they can come equipped with cameras they are used for remote construction site surveillance and by SWAT and bomb squads to suss out a situation and determine whether rescue teams can follow.
What does it cost: Prices start at $9,995 for a basic model
Related: Ray Kurzweil: Computers Will Not Rob Us of Our Humanity. They Will Make Us More Profoundly Human.
Universal RobotsUniversal Robots collaborative robots work alongside manual laborers, increasing their efficiency.
Company name: Universal Robots
Headquarters: Odense, Denmark
Launch date: 2005
Founder: Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy and Kristian Kassow
What the company does: Makes robots that automate repetitive tasks
What is the industry being disrupted: While many industrial robots need to be cloistered behind a cage away from human laborers, this is not the case with Universal Robots. They work alongside human workers, thus earning the name “collaborative robots,” and will stop their motion if they bump into a human. Universal’s collaborative robots are best suited to completing repetitive processes, such as machine tending, assembly, gluing, polishing and product testing.
What does it cost: Starts at $23,000
Related: The Robots Will Take Our Jobs. Here's Why Futurist Ray Kurzweil Isn't Worried.
FormlabsFormlabs laser 3-D printers allow extreme precision in prototyping.
Company name: Formlabs
Headquarters: Somerville, Mass.
Launch date: 2012
Founder: Max Lobovsky
What the company does: Formlabs manufactures stereolithography 3-D printing machines.
What is the industry being disrupted: The 3-D printers made by Formlabs are used for industrial prototyping, medical device production, dentistry, the construction of personalized implants and prosthesis and more. These machines use lasers to cure resin, allowing much more fine resolution than more typical, desktop 3-Dprinters.
What does it cost: Starts at $3,499
Related: This Handy Robot Holds a Pen and Writes Exactly Like You Do
BOT FactoryBOT Factory 3-D printers make it affordable and efficient to manufacture circuit boards.
Company name: BOT Factory
Headquarters: New York City
Launch date: 2013
Founders: Nico Vansnick, Carlos Ospina and Mike Knox
What the company does: Manufactures electronic 3-D printers
What is the industry being disrupted: Circuit boards are primarily mass manufactured in China and to get a single circuit board produced can be costly. Universities, researchers and hobbyists are now turning to the BOT Factory to purchase 3-D printer, enabling faster prototyping, experimentation and research.
What does it cost: $2,999
Related: Say Hello to Musio, a Ridiculously Cute AI Robot That's Keen to Chat
