The Robot Launch Pad - Latest Comments

Re: Consumer robotics hots up with Bosch funding Rotimatic

George Fomichev — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 23:52:46 -0000

on 27-th of April George I Fomitchev will tell everyone on his TED-like show talk about future of robots http://www.slideshare.net/G...

Re: 2015 sees mobile manipulators coming to market

Andra Keay — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 19:20:25 -0000

Added Care-o-bot from Fraunhoffer - hat tip to Hizook for reminder.

Re: Play-i want to bring a robot to every child

Arian kis — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:56:34 -0000

When they are saying one robot to every child, I'm thinking the intention is good but because of the price your target is actually a very small group of kids of this world...

Re: Countdown to Maker Faire

Andra Keay — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:49:44 -0000

I'm sure I missed some but think Barobo, Fellow Robotics, OpenROV, IOIO and EZ-Robot are great. And the new Arduino Robot.

Re: Countdown to Maker Faire

Bob Christopher — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:21:55 -0000

what are your favorites Andra?

Re: CES gets robots all wrong

Anne van Rossum — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 09:31:56 -0000

As a startup from Holland we build services around existing robots with focus on autonomy, adding intelligent behaviour, and connecting them to the internet. However, there are just not so many full-fledged functional robots on the market to build services around. Hence, we have to work for example with a suitcase company to make a robotic suitcase that follows you around (ample examples online but no commercial ones). Leveraging the "internet of things" to kickstart new types of robots will be a common theme in the years to come. I don't think that CES gets robots wrong. I just think that robots as a disruptive technology has yet to occur and it's just too early. The current state-of-the-art in computer vision, machine learning, etc. is just not yet there. Check for example Ralf Der's papers/book on autonomy in robots to see how immature the field is, and I have great respect for his work! If robots barely are able to distinguish their own actions from changes in the environment, how would they be able to function as a security guard, a smart vacuum cleaner, a butler, etc.? It's our responsibility to fill this "pure robotics" session with smart robots that are actually autonomous and that correspond to ideas of people watching science fiction movies. It's not the fault CES we can't do so!

Re: CES gets robots all wrong

Andra Keay — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:01:24 -0000

You're absolutely right. The point is that having a robot zone is not useful to anyone (other than PR for robotics, which often enough misses the mark).

Re: CES gets robots all wrong

Travis_D — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:41:58 -0000

"However, they weren’t listed as robot companies." --> Nor should they be. We love robots, but that should not be companies' focus. They're trying to disrupt their respective industries, not be known for making cool robots (though they certainly do!).

Re: Call to Startups

Silas — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 05:15:50 -0000

thanks for the reply, thats a shame but i'm really enjoying what you're doing. keep it up

Re: Call to Startups

Andra Keay — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:56:24 -0000

Sorry, only in the UK by remote telepresence robot at present.

Re: Call to Startups

Silas — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:09:55 -0000

Hi, do you operate internationally? I'm from the uk with a recent startup and would like to see what you have to offer over here.

Re: Kickstarter and Robots – not always #botiful

@CreativeCommunications — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:56:08 -0000

We have a successful kickstarter campaign and we'd be happy to talk about as to how we can help you. http://www.kickstarter.com/.... We also have opportunities for involvement with robot design at http://liftport.com/topic/8... thanks!

Re: Lean Robot Startup Workshop

Andra — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:06:13 -0000

Hi Mohit,

We are working towards having the Robot Lean Startup Workshop online although it might take a few months for the content to be developed from the workshops. I'm really interested in your plans for setting up an OEM robot facility. I'll follow up with you :) Andra

Re: Lean Robot Startup Workshop

Mohit Motani — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 06:42:24 -0000

I reside in Mumbai, India. I am a Robotic Engineer by qualification and am working in SK Group of Companies (Listed BSE) in a Management Trainee program. My long term goal is to setup an OEM Robot Manufacturing Facility in India.

I am interesed in attending your Robot Lean Startup Workshop. Pl suggest how i can do this online. I am available to talk on +9122 43332500

Much appreciate your help

Re: Why Robot Startups Now? part 2

Andra Keay — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:53:00 -0000

The leasing model is proving successful for robotics companies in the health sector, as it avoids some liability or legislative issues by inserting a service industry between manufacturer and final customer. Also, over the course of time leasing business models offer more revenue and fewer risks for investors. Giraff is an interesting example of this.

http://www.giraffplus.eu/in...

I think that Lean Startup Methodology and/or industrial and UX designers are important steps in bridging the gap between 'what the product can do' and 'what the product can do for me'.

Re: Why Robot Startups Now? part 2

Michael Harries — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:58:00 -0000

Nice post. Will you elaborate more on the lease model for robotics - there's something important here, in terms of reducing adoption risk/fear. And Rodney Brookes' comment on user's just wanting to get a job done (not caring about cool robots) has direct corollaries in the disconnect between software engineer enthusiasm for software and patterns, and the same wish by the end user to 'just make my life easier', without details.

Re: Why Robot Startups Now?

Andra Keay — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:56:00 -0000

Kickstarter is simply one form of crowdfunding which will make VC investment less relevant to many robot startups. For those robotics startups going the VC route, then the rise of robotics service industries, less capital intensive business models, repurposing existing robot platforms and introducing leasing structures all make robotics a more attractive ROI for VCs.

Re: Why Robot Startups Now?

Michael Harries — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:28:00 -0000

I like the top 10 list (+1). I'm particularly looking forward to the discussion on demand side (zeitgeist?). Can you elaborate more on how funding will work for robot startups is likely to work after the initial hit of crowdfunding? Is robotics the path to a more reliable return for the VC?

Re: Why Robot Startups Now? part 2

Andra Keay — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:53:15 -0000

http://www.giraffplus.eu/in...

I think that Lean Startup Methodology and/or industrial and UX designers are important steps in bridging the gap between 'what the product can do' and 'what the product can do for me'.

Re: Why Robot Startups Now? part 2

michaelharries — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:58:34 -0000

Re: Why Robot Startups Now?

Andra Keay — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:56:12 -0000

Re: Why Robot Startups Now?

michaelharries — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:28:25 -0000

Re: Being Startup Robot Shoes

Andra Keay — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:56:00 -0000

I agree. Most good robots will be boring. Erin Rapacki has posted about that at IEEE Spectrum: http://spectrum.ieee.org/au....

Re: Being Startup Robot Shoes

FAKE GRIMLOCK — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:51:00 -0000

WHY BUILD THING NORMAL PERSON WANT?

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE NORMAL.

MAYBE THAT BORING. BE FAILURE EVEN MORE BORING.

LITTLE BORING NOW FOR SUPER RICH GENIUS ROCKSTAR LATER IS DECENT TRADE.

Re: Why Are We Doing This?

Andra Keay — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:19:00 -0000

Join the community.. just be patient with our clumsy use of technology. Need more robots in charge of social media.