Analysis:
HEBI’s new platform was initiated when a customer requested a robot to perform a task. HEBI realized the task required a different type of robot than what the customer was requesting. This led to the development of the original “Tready” robot. From that point on, customer requests and applications dictated this mobile platform should support various types of mobility and should be available in different sizes, form factors, and with a variety of manipulation and sensing capabilities. To bring the benefits of robotics to the variety of tasks outside the factory, it is helpful to use highly versatile tools. HEBI’s Lego-like building blocks could be key to enabling this level of flexibility. And the company has laid the groundwork for a modular mobile robot platform that can be modified in the field by the end user to tackle whatever is needed that day. - Steve Crowe