The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail

Akasha Imaging closes Series A to improve robot vision in manufacturing

By The Robot Report Staff | December 9, 2020

Listen to this article
Voiced by Amazon Polly

Akasha Imaging, which has been developing “deep imaging” for industrial automation, announced today that it has closed a $10.5 million Series A round. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said the funding will enable it to hire more engineers and support go-to-market activities as it commercializes its proprietary technology based on artificial intelligence.

Akasha’s founding team includes some of the world’s top computational imaging scientists, including co-founder and Chief Scientist Achuta Kadambi, Ph.D., who has done extensive work developing the technology that came out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. Kadambi is currently an assistant professor at UCLA and was named to the 2019 Forbes “30 Under 30 in Science” list.

Founding scientist Ramesh Raskar, Ph.D., is an MIT professor and serial entrepreneur who previously worked at Google X and Facebook. Rounding out the founders is CEO Kartik Venkataraman, Ph.D., who was the chief technology officer and founder of Pelican Imaging (acquired by Xperi) and who holds more than 100 imaging patents.

Akasha delivers deep imaging

Akasha Imaging said it combines computational imaging, polarization techniques, and deep learning in a way that delivers high-resolution 3D images. The deep imaging technology is being applied in manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics markets to improve robotic vision, which Akasha said can drive greater efficiency, enhance worker safety, and reduce worker fatigue.

The company has developed the Akasha ClearSight Deep Imaging System, which it said produces extreme 3D images in unstructured environments. Akasha claimed that its technology can result in a 10x improvement in robotic vision on assembly lines by enabling robots to handle a variety of items with extreme accuracy, irrespective of size, material, or illumination condition.

ClearSight will make it possible to automate even more tasks in manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics that are monotonous, dangerous, and expensive, said Akasha. By enabling robots to handle precision work efficiently and accurately, the company said its deep imaging system can improve product quality by reducing errors and assembly-line downtime.

“In these uncertain economic times, when many manufacturing facilities are faced with scaling back because of safety rules and social distancing guidelines, Akasha is well positioned to help keep assembly lines running and producing high-quality products,” said Venkataraman. “We look forward to working with our investors, who have a strong focus on AI and robotics, to solve some of the biggest challenges facing the manufacturing, supply chain and logistics sectors today.”

Akasha Imaging closes Series A to improve robot vision in manufacturing

Source: Akasha Imaging

Investors support efforts to improve robot vision

Since its founding in 2019, Akasha has raised more than more than $12 million from Khosla Ventures, Sierra Ventures, Orbital Ventures and individual investors. Khosla Ventures led the Series A round.

“Akasha Imaging has a unique DNA, with founders who have shaped the field of computational imaging and are now bringing that technology to market to address real-world challenges,” said Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. “We believe there is much untapped potential for use of Akasha’s deep imaging techniques and completely new sensor technology in robotic automation to improve manufacturing processes and enhance worker safety, a market need further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the global supply chain. This is the team qualified to take deep imaging-enhanced robotic vision to market.”

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

teledyne software
Teledyne gives Sapera Vision software an AI upgrade
John Deere autonomous tractor
John Deere acquires camera-based perception tech from Light
MOV.AI and Ouster partner to advance sensing for mobile robots
SLAMcore closes Series A to develop spatial understanding for robots

2021 Robotics Handbook

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

State of robotic perception with RGo Robotics' Amir Bousani
See More >

Sponsored Content

  • Meet Trey, the autonomous trailer (un)loading forklift
  • Kinova Robotics launches Link 6, the first Canadian industrial collaborative robot
  • Torque sensors help make human/robot collaborations safer for workers
  • Roller screws unlock peak performance in robotic applications
  • Making the ROS development cycle manageable

RBR50 Innovation Awards

Leave us a voicemail

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail