Rethink Robotics

Rethink Robotics was an American robotics company founded in 2008 and based in Boston. It was established by renowned roboticist Rodney Brooks and investor Ann Whittaker, with the mission of creating collaborative robots, or cobots, that could work safely alongside humans in manufacturing environments. The company gained significant attention for its innovative approach to industrial automation, challenging traditional paradigms with its user-friendly and adaptable machines. It ceased operations in 2018, with its intellectual property and assets later acquired by the German automation group Hahn Group.

History

The company was founded in 2008 as Heartland Robotics before rebranding to Rethink Robotics in 2012. Its creation was driven by Rodney Brooks, a prominent figure from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-founder of iRobot, who sought to address the limitations of traditional industrial robots. With initial funding from venture capital firms like Charles River Ventures and Highland Capital Partners, the company developed its first product in secrecy. The launch of its Baxter robot in 2012 marked a pivotal moment, introducing a new category of affordable, easy-to-program collaborative robots to the market. Leadership later passed to Scott Eckert, who aimed to expand the company's reach in global manufacturing sectors.

Products

The company's flagship product was the Baxter, a dual-armed robot with an animated face on a screen, designed for simple material handling and machine tending tasks. Baxter was succeeded in 2015 by Sawyer, a smaller, faster, single-arm robot with higher precision, intended for more delicate tasks like circuit board testing and precise part insertion. Both robots were distinct for their series elastic actuators and force torque sensing capabilities, which provided inherent safety. They were sold with the proprietary Intera software platform, which allowed for programming via intuitive lead-through teaching and graphical interfaces, eliminating the need for complex code.

Technology

The core technological innovation was a novel approach to actuation and control for safe human-robot interaction. The robots utilized series elastic actuators at each joint, which incorporated springs to absorb impact forces and provide compliant motion. This was combined with advanced force torque sensing to enable sensitive contact detection. The Intera software platform was built on the Robot Operating System framework and featured an accessible, icon-based programming environment. This system allowed workers to train robots by physically guiding their arms through tasks, a method known as lead-through teaching, which dramatically reduced integration and deployment time compared to traditional industrial robot programming.

Impact and legacy

The company played a seminal role in popularizing and commercializing the concept of collaborative robots, influencing the entire automation industry. Its emphasis on safety, ease of use, and affordability challenged the dominance of established players like ABB Group, Fanuc, and KUKA, and spurred a wave of innovation in the cobot sector, including from newer entrants like Universal Robots. The robots were deployed in various settings, from small and medium-sized enterprises to large facilities of multinationals like General Electric and Coca-Cola. The company's vision of accessible robotics helped shift perceptions, demonstrating that automation could be flexible and deployed without extensive engineering expertise.

Closure and intellectual property

Despite its pioneering technology, the company faced significant commercial challenges, including slower-than-expected market adoption and intense competition. In October 2018, it ceased operations and laid off its staff. Shortly thereafter, the German automation conglomerate Hahn Group acquired its intellectual property, patents, and trademarks. The Hahn Group announced plans to continue development and support for the Sawyer platform under a new entity, integrating the technology into its portfolio of assembly line and plastics manufacturing systems. The closure marked the end of an influential chapter in modern robotics, though its technological concepts continue to influence product development across the industry.

Category:Robotics companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Boston Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of the United States Category:2008 establishments in Massachusetts Category:2018 disestablishments in Massachusetts