Robotics Revolution In Full Swing: A Sampling of Over 200 Robotics Startups

R2D2 and C3PO of Star Wars fame were imaginary robots created in Hollywood. Today, engineers and scientists are leading a revolution in the design, engineering and production of robots applied to all aspects of human life from macro inventions like “asteroid” capturing robots to microscopic robots that can travel in the bloodstream. In the industry most closely aligned with science fiction the revolution has arrived.

One might expect the center of the robotics revolution to be Silicon Valley but robotics companies are being created all across the US and perhaps most frequently in Greater Boston; over 100 robotics companies and a number of leading robotics research labs, most notably at MIT and Harvard, are churning out new robotics research and products daily.

Robots Across the Board

Medical, military, domestic, mobile, assembly, industrial, micro, rescue, school, and reading bots with names and functions including: robobees, sand fleas, snakes, pack mules, ropes, squishies, whiskers, bad breath detectors, crawlers, ravens, insect-eyes, dancers, cheetah-cubs, turtles, pickers, robo riders and placers to name a few.

Researchers believe the day is not far off when robots will become as ubiquitous in middle-class homes as TVs, vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens. One leading company called Rethink Robotics, has invented an affordable industrial learning robot, Baxter, and iWalk which is a machine learning system for prosthetic and bionic limbs.

Following is a list of over 200 recent robotics start-ups in the US and around the world and a brief note on their focus:

3Detection Labs (RU) – biomedical face recognition
5D Robotics – advanced robotics software
9th Sense now called fellowrobtos – telepresence robots
Abankos Robotics (FR) – industrial robots
Adele Robots – robotic companions including animals
Advanced Unmanned – aerial imagery
Adventure Robotics – mobile robots
Aeon Scientific AG (SW) – medical device robots
Aerovel – miniature robotic aircraft
Air Robotics – airborne vehicle systems, small durable
American Unmanned Systems – unmanned helicopters for real time surveillance

AMS Mekatronik (TR) – robotic mobilization devices: electronic walkers, standers, towers
Applewhite Aero – small sleek planes and drones
Aquiles Robotics Systems S.L. – robots for use in rehabilitation of people
ArcBotics – for education of youth in science and technology – low cost open source
Argo Medical Technologies – helping people walk again with rewalkers
Arimaz SA (SW) – entertainment and communications robotscalled “desk friend”
Artificial Life Source Holding PLC – holographics systems, caregiver robots, and REACH – remote access to Clinic Hospital
ASR Inc (MIS-Robotics GmbH) – minimally invasive surgery robots
Astrobotic Technology, Inc. – space rovers and landers
Autonomous Marina Systems – low cost ocean & marine observation systems – autonomous
Autonomous Tractor – no more need to sit on your mower
Axilum Robotics – MRI and brain medical robotics systems
B-Temia – human mobility and regeneration, heavy loads, work safety and clinical rehabilitation
Barobo Inc. – Kickstarter project for education, hacking and customizing robots
BEAR Oceanics – energy and sustainability using robots
Beatbots – social robots for engaging kids, human social robot interaction
BioServo Technologies – hand strengthening robot gloves to help old, weak or injured
BirdBrain Technologies – creating robots to educate and inspire
Bitcraze AB (Sweden) – manufacturers of “Crazyfile Kits” including mini helicopters
Blue Belt Technologies (Healthpoint) – partial knee replacement system
Blue River Technologies – advanced robotics for agriculture
Bossa Nova Robotics – 21st century personal robot developers. A robot in every home.
BotObjects – state of the are 3D Prodesk and Desktop Printer
Bright Cloud Intl – rehabilitative and assistive technologies

Butterfly Haptics – magnetic levitation haptic interfaces
Carnegie Robotics – smart sensors for robots
Catheter Robotics – medical robots
Cognitive Spring – biped humanoid robot systems
Commonplace Robotics GmbH – variety of robots from robot arms to mobile platforms and grippers
Compogrip AB (Swe) – grippers
Corindus Vascular Robotics – cardiac robots
Crescent Unmanned Systems – unmanned systems, drones, industrial, law enforcement
CT-Asia Robotics – robots to help patients contact and communicate with doctors. Thailand.
CtrlWorks Pte Ltd – robotic telepresence platforms. Singapore

CyberHeart Inc. – non-invastive robotic ablation treatment for cardiac arrhythmias
CYCOGS, LLC – robotic wheel drive systems
CyPhy Works – high definition systems for persistent aerial reconnaissance and communications
David Vision Systems GmbH – 3D laser scanner systems
Deezmaker – 3D printers
Delair-Tech Airborne Sensoring (FR) – robotic pipeline and offshore wind farm survelliance, industrial monitoring, enviromental surveys, aerial photography
Dextérité Surgical (FR) – innovative roboticized instruments for advanced surgery
DO Bots (NL) – “Fireswarm” cooperating robots, remote robots, and distributed organisms (DOs)
Doner Robotu – fast food and restaurant robots
Double Robotics – wheels for your IPad

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DreamBots Ltd. – massage device for families
Drones Networking (Sweden) – Swedish fire fighting robot
Dynamic Devices (CH) – rehabilitative robots for medical
Ebotlution Systems – robotic distributed data acquisition systems
Edge Robotics – robotics for outdoor exploration platforms

Emoshape Ltd (UK) – desktop multimedia solutions
Empire Robotics – “Gust Startup Site”: robotic gripper
EndoMaster (SN) – endoscopy
Entact Robotics – custom haptics and robotics
EOS Innovation (FR) – mobile robotics – warehouse security, monitoring and prevention
Ethos Surgical – surgical platform for minimally invasive surgery
Etnamatica (IT) – Industrial robotics and automation, service robots and robot vehicles, embedded systems

Exocetus Development – coastal and ocean gliders, hydrophones, research vessels,
F5 Innovations (Canada) – photography, policy, military, underwater ROV, development platforms, custom designed robotics
Falkor Systems – drones, helicopters,
Fast Robotics – Icarus rovers, helicopters, flyers
Femto Tools GmbH (SW) – atomic force assembly, tools, microparts, sensing and assembly systems
FoldiMate – robotic smart laundry folding machine
Formlabs – high resolution 3D printer
FTR Systems (CaddyTrek) – next generation golf caddy and scooters
Gade Autonomous Systems (IN) – advertising and marketing robotic mobile information desk
Gamma Two Robotics – autonomous mobile camera platform for security
GeckoSystems – mobile robot solutions
Giraff Technologies AB – robots for assisted living for seniors and patients
Grabit Inc. – electroadhesion for logistics, aerospace, manufacturing, assemply, robotics
Grey Orange Robotics (IN) – warehouse automation solutions
Grid Bots – advanced combat robotics solutions for Battle Field, industrial robotics, survelliance, automation, research, consumer robotics
Hanho Tech (KR) – smarphone home service cradle
Harvest Automation – agricultural innovation using robots
HeartLander Surgical – robotic procedures on a beating heart
Helical Robotics – portable space inspection robots
HiDOF – personal robots and commercial robots
Hipersfera d.o.o. (Croatia) – airships for continuous surveillance systems