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Rethink Robotics

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Rethink Robotics GmbH
FormerlyHeartland Robotics, Inc.[1]
IndustryRobotics
Founded2008
FoundersRodney Brooks, Ann Whittaker
Headquarters
Boston
,
United States of America
ProductsReacher, Ryder, Riser
OwnerUnited Robotics Group GmbH
Number of employees
10 (2024)[2]
Websiterethinkrobotics.com

Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics, Inc.[1]) is a robotics company co-founded by Rodney Brooks and Ann Whittaker in 2008.[3] In 2018 the assets of Rethink Robotics were bought by the German automation specialist HAHN Group.[4] In 2021 Rethink Robotics joined the United Robotics Group GmbH.

Rethink Robotics has won awards and has been an Edison Awards finalist.[5]

Sawyer collaborative robot
Sawyer, the collaborative robot

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, the HAHN Group, a German automation 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 German HAHN Group, Rethink Robotics launched the new Sawyer BLACK Edition.[16] The headquarters of Rethink Robotics moved from Rheinböllen to Bochum in mid 2020, and signed a partnership with Siemens.[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]
  1. ^ a b "Heartland Robotics, Inc. Changes Name to Rethink Robotics - Yahoo Finance". 2016-02-03. Archived from the original on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  2. ^ "Rethink's Story". Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Company Overview of Rethink Robotics, Inc". Bloomberg Business. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  4. ^ O'Brien, Chris (2018-11-13). "Rethink Robotics' assets bought by Hahn, Universal Robots hires 20 employees from pioneering firm". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  5. ^ John Duhamel; et al. (May 20, 2013). "Rethink Robotics -- Finding a Market" (PDF). Stanford University. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  6. ^ Guizzo, Erico; Ackerman, Evan (September 18, 2012). "How Rethink Robotics Built Its New Baxter Robot Worker". IEEE Spectrum. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Jack Linshi (March 19, 2015). "Meet Sawyer, a New Robot That Wants to Revolutionize Manufacturing". time.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. ^ "One-armed factory robot Sawyer goes on sale". BBC News. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  9. ^ Claire Roberta (January 29, 2016). "Impact Robotics introduces next-gen "cobots" in Australia". Australian Manufacturing. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  10. ^ Vincent, James (2018-10-04). "Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  11. ^ a b "Rethink Robotics Closes its Doors". The Robot Report. 2018-10-03. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  12. ^ "Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support". Robotics Business Review. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2019-11-27. 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.
  13. ^ "Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  14. ^ "HAHN Group acquires Rethink Robotics IP". The Robot Report. 2018-10-25. Archived from the original on 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  15. ^ "Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support". Robotics Business Review. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  16. ^ "Rethink Robotics launches Sawyer Black Edition". Robotics & Automation News. 2019-10-18. Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  17. ^ Rethink Robotics moves into new HQ, partners with Siemens Archived 2023-04-01 at the Wayback Machine - Manufacturing Automation, 1 October 2020
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