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The robot industry is heating up in 2024. February saw new product launches and some companies struggle with funding losses or closures. It's been a very exciting month for the industry, and there's no shortage of new robotics to cover.
Here are the 10 most popular stories: robot report February 2024. Subscribe robot report Receive our newsletter or listen to the Robot Report podcast to stay up-to-date on the robotics stories you need to know.
10. Sickle robot lawn mower adopts ‘Tesla charging standard’
Colorado-based Scythe Robotics is adopting the North American Charge Standard (NACS) charging port for its M.52 robotic lawn mower. The company said the move will see it integrate NACS functionality into its all-electric, fully autonomous commercial lawn mowers as early as the fourth quarter of 2024.
9. Cruise and Motional backers cut robotaxi funding
The road continues to be difficult for Robotaxi developers. Recently, leading American robotaxi companies Cruise and Motional lost a major source of funding that could significantly change their future. Let's start with the cruise. And if you've been following Cruise over the past few months, this news won't come as a shock. General Motors, which acquired Cruise in 2016, said this week it would cut spending on robotaxi units by about $1 billion in 2024. see more
8. 10 surgical robot companies to follow in 2024
The field of surgical robotics has seen major changes in the past year. “Robotics is difficult. Robotics in healthcare is difficult.” Hani Abouhalka, Group Chairman, Robotics and Digital, Johnson & Johnson. This pretty much sums up the situation for medical technology companies large and small trying to compete with Intuitive Surgical in the soft tissue surgery robotics space. Learn more
7. 10 startups selected for MassRobotics Accelerator
At its annual Partner Celebration, MassRobotics introduced 10 robotics startups selected to participate in its first equity-free accelerator. Each startup received a $100,000 non-dilutive grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) as part of a $5 million state initiative. Learn more
6. Cobots create the ‘dream of cell manufacturing’ for plastic thermoforming machines.
Thermoforming is a technology with over 100 years of history. When sheet plastic is heated, it softens, allowing vacuum forming in or around a mold. The excess plastic is then cut away to create the final product, which can range in size from a few inches to the size of a room. Learn more
5. Top 5 robotics trends for 2024 according to IFR
The International Federation of Robotics has selected the top five global robotics trends of the year. The Frankfurt, Germany-based organization attributes the growing demand for automation to technological innovation. Learn more
4. In December 2023, robotics investment reached $749 million.
The robotics company raised $749 million in December 2023 as a result of 41 investments. In 2023, robotics investment reached approximately $12.9 billion. Learn more
3. KUKA unveils industrial robot KR FORTEC
KUKA AG presents the industrial robot KR FORTEC. This latest robot fits between KUKA's KR QUANTED and KR FORTEC ultra robots. This state-of-the-art industrial robot features an extended arm with a reach of 145 inches (368.3 cm) and can handle payloads of up to 529 pounds (240 kg). The company said it hopes to offer a variety of functions with a smaller footprint with KR FORTEC. Learn more
2. Closure of Agtech startup Small Robot Company
Small Robot Company closes after failing to secure the funding needed to reach the next level. The company entered liquidation after a long struggle for survival. Despite signing the contract, the long-awaited investment failed to materialize before the company ran out of financial runway. Learn more
1. Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid handling a car support beam
With the onslaught of humanoids introduced in 2023, Atlas, the humanoid that laid the foundation for today's humanoid development, seems to have fallen out of the limelight. But on its YouTube channel, Boston Dynamics said it's not that fast. Learn more