Rethink Robotics
 | |
| Formerly | Heartland Robotics, Inc.[1] |
|---|---|
| Industry | Robotics |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Rodney Brooks,Ann Whittaker |
| Headquarters | Boston ,United States of America |
| Products | Reacher, Ryder, Riser |
| Owner | United Robotics Group GmbH |
Number of employees | 10 (2024)[2] |
| Website | rethinkrobotics |
Rethink Robotics(formerlyHeartland Robotics, Inc.[1]) is a robotics company co-founded byRodney Brooksand Ann Whittaker in 2008.[3]In 2018 the assets of Rethink Robotics were bought by the German automation specialistHAHN Group.[4]In 2021 Rethink Robotics joined theUnited Robotics Group GmbH.
Rethink Robotics has won awards and has been anEdison Awardsfinalist.[5]
History
[edit]Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008[3]as a startup aiming to create low-cost robots.[6]In 2012, they released the robot Baxter.[7]In 2015, they released a smaller and more flexible counterpart to Baxter, Sawyer, that was designed to perform smaller, more detailed tasks.[7][8]
In 2016, they released their collaborative robots (cobots) worldwide. These robots were designed to be easy to set up and work alongside, rather than replace, humans in factory environments.[9]
In October 2018, Rethink Robotics ceased operations and sold off its assets.[10][11]Other companies picked up support for the robots.[12]
- Most of the Rethink Robotics assets were bought by a distributor, theHAHN Group,aGermanautomation specialist.[11][13]HAHN Group acquired all of Rethink's patents and trademarks as well as Rethink's Intera 5 software platform.[14]
- About 100 Baxter robots and the rights to sell them in North America were bought by Hunan CoThink Robotics Technology Company.[15]
In October 2019, one year after the acquisition of assets through the GermanHAHN Group,Rethink Robotics launched the new Sawyer BLACK Edition.[16]The headquarters of Rethink Robotics moved fromRheinböllentoBochumin mid 2020, and signed a partnership withSiemens.[17]
In August 2024 Rethink Robotics GmbH was shut down due to operational reasons.
In September 2024 Rethink Robotics, Inc. reappears with new products. After a long hiatus, the company celebrated its rebirth at the IMTS The International Manufacturing Technology Show in 2024 with a new product portfolio including a cobot and AMR line.
References
[edit]- ^ab"Heartland Robotics, Inc. Changes Name to Rethink Robotics - Yahoo Finance".2016-02-03. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-02-03.Retrieved2018-10-05.
- ^"Rethink's Story".RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
- ^ab"Company Overview of Rethink Robotics, Inc".Bloomberg Business.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2016.Retrieved3 February2016.
- ^O'Brien, Chris (2018-11-13)."Rethink Robotics' assets bought by Hahn, Universal Robots hires 20 employees from pioneering firm".VentureBeat.Retrieved2024-06-19.
- ^John Duhamel; et al. (May 20, 2013)."Rethink Robotics -- Finding a Market"(PDF).Stanford University.Archived(PDF)from the original on April 21, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 3,2016.
- ^Guizzo, Erico; Ackerman, Evan (September 18, 2012)."How Rethink Robotics Built Its New Baxter Robot Worker".IEEE Spectrum.Archivedfrom the original on February 9, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 3,2016.
- ^abJack Linshi (March 19, 2015)."Meet Sawyer, a New Robot That Wants to Revolutionize Manufacturing".time.Archivedfrom the original on 3 March 2016.Retrieved3 February2016.
- ^"One-armed factory robot Sawyer goes on sale".BBC News.2015-09-24.Retrieved2024-04-26.
- ^Claire Roberta (January 29, 2016)."Impact Robotics introduces next-gen" cobots "in Australia".Australian Manufacturing.Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2016.Retrieved3 February2016.
- ^Vincent, James (2018-10-04)."Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down".The Verge.Retrieved2024-04-26.
- ^ab"Rethink Robotics Closes its Doors".The Robot Report.2018-10-03.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-10-04.Retrieved2018-10-05.
- ^"Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support".Robotics Business Review.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-02-21.Retrieved2019-11-27.
Rethink Robotics is gone — or is it? News from Germany and China should provide relief for owners of Baxter and Sawyer cobots worried about continuing support.
- ^"Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-05-25.Retrieved2018-10-05.
- ^"HAHN Group acquires Rethink Robotics IP".The Robot Report.2018-10-25.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-04-13.Retrieved2018-11-05.
- ^"Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support".Robotics Business Review.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-02-21.Retrieved2019-11-27.
- ^"Rethink Robotics launches Sawyer Black Edition".Robotics & Automation News.2019-10-18.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-01-26.Retrieved2020-04-22.
- ^Rethink Robotics moves into new HQ, partners with SiemensArchived2023-04-01 at theWayback Machine- Manufacturing Automation, 1 October 2020
