In 2020, autonomous vehicles left other technology applications in the dust. Other areas of robotics receiving funding or merger and acquisition activity included supply chain automation, surgical robots, and quadrupeds.
Boston Dynamics talks about its big year and acquisition by Hyundai
In the final Robot Report Podcast for 2020, learn about Boston Dynamics’ plans for its legged robots after its acquisition by Hyundai Motor, as well as the DARPA Subterranean Challenge.
It’s official: Boston Dynamics is joining Hyundai
It’s official. Hyundai Motor Corp announced this morning it is acquiring a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics for about $880 million. Hyundai Motor will own 80% of Boston Dynamics, while a Softbank affiliate will retain the other 20%. The final numbers are a bit different than our initial reporting, but the deal values Boston Dynamics…
Hyundai to acquire Boston Dynamics for nearly $1B
Update at 1 PM EST on Dec. 11, 2020: Hyundai Motor Group announced this morning it is acquiring 80% of Boston Dynamics for $880 million. Read Story. Hyundai Motor will acquire Boston Dynamics. The acquisition will be finalized at Hyundai’s December 10 board meeting. News about the deal was first reported by The Korea Economic Daily,…
Percepto partners with Boston Dynamics on industrial inspection
Percepto, an Israel-based developer of drones for monitoring and analyzing industrial sites, raised $45 million in Series B funding and partnered with RBR50 company Boston Dynamics. The Series B funding, led by Koch Disruptive Technologies, brings Percepto’s total funding to date to $72.5 million. With the funding, Percepto is launching its Autonomous Inspection & Monitoring…
How a leading British architect uses Spot for site documentation
Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot, which went on sale for $74,500 in June, has found early success working in the construction industry. The RBR50 company recently announced a partnership with Trimble to expand Spot’s capabilities within the construction industry. As part of Boston Dynamics’ Early Adopter Program, Foster + Partners, a London-based architectural design and engineering…
Spot 2.1 from Boston Dynamics includes enhancements for autonomous data collection
Boston Dynamics said its Spot 2.1 release includes enhancements designed for ease of use and stronger integration with sensors and enterprise data systems.
FedEx’s Aaron Prather on AMR standards, Boston Dynamics sale rumors; looking at AV fundings
In the latest episode of The Robot Report Podcast, we speak with Aaron Prather, senior advisor for technology, research, and planning at FedEx, about robotics opportunities in logistics, as well as about recent autonomous vehicle deals.
Report: Hyundai in talks to acquire Boston Dynamics
We have often said – whether on The Robot Report Podcast or in various articles – 2020 has been the year of Boston Dynamics. Well, apparently others have noticed, too. According to Bloomberg, Hyundai Motor is in talks to acquire Boston Dynamics from SoftBank Group. The Bloomberg report, which cites multiple unnamed sources, said the…
Watch Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot explore Chernobyl
Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot is expanding to its resume every day, and the quadruped can add nuclear power plant exploration and radiation monitoring to the list. Engineers from the University of Bristol recently tested Spot around the Exclusion Zone territory of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The Exclusion Zone covers approximately a 1,000-square-mile area in…
How construction companies can save money, boost revenue with robots and AI
Labor shortages, dynamic work sites, and the need for accurate data are helping drive demand for robots, drones, and AI designed to serve the construction industry.
Boston Dynamics expanding Spot’s duties on construction sites
Boston Dynamics will integrate Trimble’s data collection sensors and field control software on Spot to automate site scans and surveying.
Sarcos’ Ben Wolff, Uber ATG low on fuel, ROS on Spot
Welcome to Episode 17 of The Robot Report Podcast, which brings conversations with robotics innovators straight to you. Join us every week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community. Listeners can subscribe to The Robot Report Podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Play, and…
Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot now for sale in Canada, Europe
It’s been quite a busy day for Boston Dynamics‘ Spot robot. Thanks to Clearpath Robotics, the Robot Operating System (ROS) now supports the famous quadruped robot. And now Boston Dynamics is opening up sales of its Spot robot to new parts of the world. The RBR50 company announced today the Spot robot is now available…
Clearpath to offer ROS-enabled Spot quadruped robot package to researchers
Clearpath Robotics has extended its support for the ROS operating system and Boston Dynamics’ Spot quadruped robot to help researchers.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MIT use Spot robot to measure patient vitals without contact
Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital hope to reduce the risk to healthcare workers posed by Covid-19 by using robots to remotely measure patients’ vital signs.
Veo on manufacturing challenges; tele-operating Spot; Amazon goes to the mall
Welcome to Episode 11 of The Robot Report Podcast, which brings conversations with robotics innovators straight to you. Join us every Wednesday for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community. Listeners can subscribe to The Robot Report Podcast on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Play and YouTube. Please…
We tele-operated Spot around Golden Gate Park from 3,000 miles away
The editors of The Robot Report were among the first civilians to tele-operate Boston Dynamics’ Spot, controlling the quadruped robot with Formant’s software across the U.S.
Podcast: Re-skilling coal miners; Jibo returns; Perseverance Rover heading to Mars
Episode 9 of The Robot Report Podcast talks re-skilling coal miners, the Perseverance Rover heads to Mars and Jibo returns.
Spot robots helping Ford survey Michigan plant
Two Spot robots from RBR50 company Boston Dynamics will soon help Ford survey its Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Mich. Starting in August, the Spot robots, which Ford nicknamed Fluffy and Spot, will scan the plant floor and assist engineers in updating the original CAD model of the plant, which is used when Ford…
Podcast: Boston Dynamics talks Spot launch; Universal Robots on cobot innovation
On Episode 3 of The Robot Report Podcast, Boston Dynamics discusses launching Spot and we catch up with Universal Robots President Jürgen von Hollen.
Spot’s commercial availability a milestone for quadrupeds
Nine months after the limited release of its Spot, Boston Dynamics today made the quadruped robot commercially available in the U.S. for $74,500.