Rethink Robotics Explained

Rethink Robotics GmbH
Logo Alt:Rethink Robotics GmbH
Former Name:Heartland Robotics, Inc.[1]
Industry:Robotics
Founded:2008
Founders:Rodney Brooks, Ann Whittaker
Hq Location City:Bochum
Hq Location Country:Germany
Areas Served:-->
Key People:Jürgen Kutschinski, CEO since February 2023
Num Employees:50 (2021)[2]
Products:Sawyer, Intera, ClickSmart
Owners:--> United Robotics Group GmbH

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]

History

Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008 as a startup aiming to create low-cost robots.[6] In 2012, they released the robot Baxter. 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] Other companies picked up support for the robots.[11]

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Heartland Robotics, Inc. Changes Name to Rethink Robotics - Yahoo Finance. https://web.archive.org/web/20160203150903/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/heartland-robotics-inc-changes-name-130000156.html. dead. 2016-02-03. 2016-02-03. 2018-10-05.
  2. Web site: Rethink's Story . September 6, 2023.
  3. Web site: Company Overview of Rethink Robotics, Inc. . Bloomberg Business . 3 February 2016 . 3 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203144319/http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=62245405 . live .
  4. Web site: O'Brien . Chris . 2018-11-13 . Rethink Robotics’ assets bought by Hahn, Universal Robots hires 20 employees from pioneering firm . 2024-06-19 . VentureBeat . en-US.
  5. Web site: Rethink Robotics -- Finding a Market. John Duhamel. May 20, 2013. Stanford University. February 3, 2016. etal. April 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150421071750/http://web.stanford.edu/class/ee204/Publications/Rethink%20Robotics%202013-204-1.pdf. live.
  6. Web site: How Rethink Robotics Built Its New Baxter Robot Worker . Erico . Guizzo . Evan . Ackerman . September 18, 2012 . IEEE Spectrum . February 3, 2016 . February 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160209124649/http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/industrial-robots/rethink-robotics-baxter-robot-factory-worker . live .
  7. Web site: Meet Sawyer, a New Robot That Wants to Revolutionize Manufacturing . Jack Linshi . March 19, 2015 . time.com . 3 February 2016 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303122422/http://time.com/3749307/rethink-robotics-sawyer-robot/ . live .
  8. News: 2015-09-24 . One-armed factory robot Sawyer goes on sale . 2024-04-26 . BBC News . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Impact Robotics introduces next-gen "cobots" in Australia. Claire Roberta. January 29, 2016. Australian Manufacturing. 3 February 2016. 3 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160203145750/http://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/35576/impact-robotics-introduces-next-gen-cobots-in-australia. live.
  10. Web site: Vincent . James . 2018-10-04 . Pioneering creator of collaborative ‘cobots’ Rethink Robotics shuts down . 2024-04-26 . The Verge . en.
  11. News: Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support. Robotics Business Review. 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.. 2020-02-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200221020016/https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/manufacturing/continuing-support-rethink-cobots/. live.
  12. News: Rethink Robotics Closes its Doors. 2018-10-03. The Robot Report. 2018-10-05. en-US. 2018-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004103806/https://www.therobotreport.com/rethink-robotics-closes-its-doors/. live.
  13. News: Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down. The Verge. 2018-10-05. 2023-05-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20230525195609/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/4/17935820/rethink-robotics-shuts-down-baxter-sawyer-robot-cobots. live.
  14. News: HAHN Group acquires Rethink Robotics IP. 2018-10-25. The Robot Report. 2018-11-05. en-US. 2023-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20230413195809/https://www.therobotreport.com/hahn-group-acquires-rethink-robotics-ip/. live.
  15. News: Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support. Robotics Business Review. 2019-11-27. 2020-02-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200221020016/https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/manufacturing/continuing-support-rethink-cobots/. live.
  16. Web site: Rethink Robotics launches Sawyer Black Edition. 2019-10-18. Robotics & Automation News. en-US. 2020-04-22. 2020-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20200126045602/https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2019/10/18/rethink-robotics-launches-sawyer-black-edition/26345/. live.
  17. https://www.automationmag.com/rethink-robotics-moves-into-new-hq-partners-with-siemens/ Rethink Robotics moves into new HQ, partners with Siemens

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