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2024 is heating up for the robotics industry. In February we saw new product launches, and some companies in hot water with funding losses or shutdowns. It was an exciting month for the industry, and there was no shortage of robotics new to cover.
Here are the top 10 most popular stories on The Robot Report in February 2024. Subscribe to The Robot Report Newsletter or listen to The Robot Report Podcast to stay updated on the robotics stories you need to know about.
10. Scythe robot lawnmowers adopting ‘Tesla charging standard’
Colo.-based Scythe Robotics is adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port for its M.52 robot lawnmower. The company said this move will integrate NACS capabilities into their all-electric, fully autonomous commercial mower as early as Q4 2024. Read More
9. Cruise and Motional backers slash robotaxi funding
The road continues to be bumpy for robotaxi developers. Recently, Cruise and Motional, two leading U.S.-based robotaxi companies, lost major funding sources that could significantly alter their futures. Let’s start with Cruise. And this news shouldn’t be shocking if you’ve been following Cruise for the past few months. General Motors, which acquired Cruise in 2016, said this week it will cut spending on the robotaxi unit by about $1 billion in 2024. Read More
8. 10 surgical robotics companies to follow in 2024
The surgical robotics space saw a major shakeup last year. “Robotics is hard. Robotics in healthcare is hard.” Hani Abouhalka, Johnson & Johnson’s company group chair for Robotics & Digital. It pretty much sums up the situation for medtech companies large and small that sought to compete against Intuitive Surgical in the soft-tissue surgical robotics space. Read More
7. 10 startups selected for MassRobotics Accelerator
During its annual partner celebration, MassRobotics introduced the 10 robotics startups chosen to participate in its inaugural equity-free accelerator. Each startup was awarded a $100,000, non-dilutive grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, or MassTech, as part of a $5 million state initiative. Read More
6. Cobot creates ‘cell manufacturing dream’ for plastics thermoformer
Thermoforming, a technology that is more than a century old, uses sheet plastic that is heated to become soft so it can be vacuum-formed in or around a mold. Excess plastic is then cut off to create final products with dimensions that range from a few inches to the size of a room. Read More
5. Top 5 robotics trends for 2024, according to the IFR
The International Federation of Robotics listed its picks for the top five global robotics trends of this year. The Frankfurt, Germany-based organization attributed growing demand for automation to technological innovations. Read More
4. Robotics investments top $749M in December 2023
Robotics companies raised $749 million in December 2023 as a result of 41 investments. Robotics investments reached about $12.9 billion for 2023. Read More
3. KUKA unveils KR FORTEC industrial robot
KUKA AG has revealed its KR FORTEC industrial robot. This latest robot fits between KUKA’s KR QUANTED and KR FORTEC ultra robots. This latest industrial robot has an extended arm that has a reach of 145 in. (368.3 cm) and can handle payloads of up to 529 lb. (240 kg). The company said that with the KR FORTEC, it hopes to deliver versatility with a smaller footprint. Read More
2. Agtech startup Small Robot Company shutting down
Small Robot Company is shutting down as it failed to get the funding needed to reach its next phase. The company has entered liquidation after an extended battle for survival. Despite having a signed term sheet, the awaited investment failed to materialize before the company’s financial runway ran out. Read More
1. Watch Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid handle automotive struts
With the onslaught of humanoids that were introduced in 2023, it seems Atlas, the humanoid that set the stage for so much of today’s humanoid progression, has fallen out of the limelight. But on its YouTube channel, Boston Dynamics said not so fast. Read More
