RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024

The RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have honored industry leaders for the past 12 years. And now we’re taking the RBR50 to the next level.

We introduced three new categories in 2024 – Robot of the Year, Application of the Year, and Startup of the Year – and will be holding the inaugural RBR50 Gala on May 1 from 6-8 PM at the end of Day 1 of the Robotics Summit & Expo. The RBR50 Gala offers a chance to connect with the world’s leading robotics innovators. It’s also an evening of celebration to honor leading roboticists and their impressive achievements.

“The incredible work of this year’s RBR50 winners represents the cutting edge of robotics and raises the bar for the industry, said Steve Crowe, Executive Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. “We look forward to celebrating all of the innovators at the inaugural RBR50 Gala during the Robotics Summit & Expo. Congratulations to the RBR50.”

Here are some highlights and trends from this year’s winners.

Digit is Robot of the Year

2023 was the year of humanoids, and Agility Robotics has taken an early lead with commercial trials. The company’s Digit humanoid stole the show at ProMAT, where it demonstrated its ability to pick up totes from a shelf, walk over to a conveyor, and place the totes onto the conveyor.

Later in 2023, Agility announced pilots with two major customers to perform a similar task: Amazon and GXO Logistics, which claims to be the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider. Digit is 5 ft, 9 in. (175 cm) tall, weighs 143 lb. (64.8 kg), and can carry up to 35 lb. (15.8 kg).

Digit’s potential flexibility gives it an edge over other types of robots, including autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with top modules.

Autopicker wins Application of the Year

Cincinnati-based Brightpick, which spun out of Photoneo, was named the inaugural Application of the Year winner. In 2023, Brightpick unveiled Autopicker, which it said is the first commercially available AMR that can pick and consolidate orders directly in warehouse aisles.

Autopicker combines a mobile platform, a robotic arm, machine vision, and artificial intelligence for e-commerce fulfillment. The innovative system’s patented two-tote design enables it to retrieve orders from bins on shelving and pick items to one of its totes. This reduces the need for associates to spend time traveling with carts.

Electric Sheep named Startup of the Year

San Francisco-based Electric Sheep’s unique business model allows it to bring in revenue as it takes its time deploying its technology. This business model led to it being named Startup of the Year.

Electric Sheep develops autonomous robots for outdoor maintenance. Instead of selling or leasing the robots to commercial landscaping businesses, Electric Sheep is becoming vertically integrated by purchasing landscaping companies. This allows it to get to know how these businesses operate and where the robots can best be deployed while still bringing in revenue.

Since implementing this strategy, Electric Sheep said it has grown revenue by eight times. Last year, the company acquired four landscaping businesses.

RBR50 winners innovate in several areas

This year’s RBR50 demonstrated the growing relevance of generative AI to robotics. The availability of large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s ChatGPT is making new breakthroughs possible. For example, Sereact released PickGPT, a robotics transformer that combines LLMs with the company’s computer vision technology to create unique pick-and-place robots that use natural language.

Other notable winners include Harvard University’s development of a soft exoskeleton that helped a 73-year-old man with Parkinson’s walk without freezing. And Seattle-based startup Glidance developed a robot that offers autonomous mobility assistance for the visually impaired.

To learn more about the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024, peruse the winner profiles below.

RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024

Organization	Innovation
ABB Robotics	Modular industrial robot arms offer flexibility
Advanced Construction Robotics	IronBOT makes rebar installation faster, safer
Agility Robotics	Digit humanoid gets feet wet with logistics work
Amazon Robotics	Amazon strengthens portfolio with heavy-duty AGV
Ambi Robotics	AmbiSort uses real-world data to improve picking
Apptronik	Apollo humanoid features bespoke linear actuators
Boston Dynamics	Atlas shows off unique skills for humanoid
Brightpick	Autopicker applies mobile manipulation, AI to warehouses
Capra Robotics	Hircus AMR bridges gap between indoor, outdoor logistics
Dexterity	Dexterity stacks robotics and AI for truck loading
Disney	Disney brings beloved characters to life through robotics
Doosan	App-like Dart-Suite eases cobot programming
Electric Sheep	Vertical integration positions landscaping startup for success
Exotec	Skypod ASRS scales to serve automotive supplier
FANUC	FANUC ships one-millionth industrial robot
Figure	Startup builds working humanoid within one year
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics	evoBot features unique mobile manipulator design
Gardarika Tres	Develops de-mining robot for Ukraine
Geek+	Upgrades PopPick goods-to-person system
Glidance	Provides independence to visually impaired individuals
Harvard University	Exoskeleton improves walking for people with Parkinson’s disease
ifm efector	Obstacle Detection System simplifies mobile robot development
igus	ReBeL cobot gets low-cost, human-like hand
Instock	Instock turns fulfillment processes upside down with ASRS
Kodama Systems	Startup uses robotics to prevent wildfires
Kodiak Robotics	Autonomous pickup truck to enhance U.S. military operations
KUKA	Robotic arm leader doubles down on mobile robots for logistics
Locus Robotics	Mobile robot leader surpasses 2 billion picks
MassRobotics Accelerator	Equity-free accelerator positions startups for success
Mecademic	MCS500 SCARA robot accelerates micro-automation
MIT	Robotic ventricle advances understanding of heart disease
Mujin	TruckBot accelerates automated truck unloading
Mushiny	Intelligent 3D sorter ramps up throughput, flexibility
NASA	MOXIE completes historic oxygen-making mission on Mars
Neya Systems	Development of cybersecurity standards harden AGVs
NVIDIA	Nova Carter gives mobile robots all-around sight
Olive Robotics	EdgeROS eases robotics development process
OpenAI	LLMs enable embedded AI to flourish
Opteran	Applies insect intelligence to mobile robot navigation
Renovate Robotics	Rufus robot automates installation of roof shingles
Robel	Automates railway repairs to overcome labor shortage
Robust AI	Carter AMR joins DHL's impressive robotics portfolio
Rockwell Automation	Adds OTTO Motors mobile robots to manufacturing lineup
Sereact	PickGPT harnesses power of generative AI for robotics
Simbe Robotics	Scales inventory robotics deal with BJ’s Wholesale Club
Slip Robotics	Simplifies trailer loading/unloading with heavy-duty AMR
Symbotic	Walmart-backed company rides wave of logistics automation demand
Toyota Research Institute	Builds large behavior models for fast robot teaching
ULC Technologies	Cable Splicing Machine improve safety, power grid reliability
Universal Robots	Cobot leader strengthens lineup with UR30