The Robot Report

3 days ago | therobotreport.com | Steve Crowe

We are passionate about the impact robotics can have on the world. That’s why for 14 years, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have honored the most innovative robotics companies, technologies, and applications from around the world. This year we brought back three major awards: Robot of the Year, Application of the Year, and Startup of the Year. We added a fourth major honor: Robots for Good, which recognizes a robot making a meaningful impact on society.

4 days ago | therobotreport.com | Eugene Demaitre

Aldebaran, the producer of the Nao and Pepper humanoid robots, reportedly filed for bankruptcy in mid-February and has laid off much of its staff as it looks for another buyer. The robots were well-known in educational and service applications. Bruno Maisonnier founded Aldebaran in 2005. Its bipedal Nao and wheeled Pepper robots were designed with curved white surfaces and were shorter than adults to be non-threatening.

5 days ago | therobotreport.com | Sean Whooley

Johnson & Johnson MedTech last week announced results from a study of its Monarch platform for robotic bronchoscopy procedures. Results from the TARGET study showed that clinicians could reach small and peripherally located lung nodules in more than 98% of cases with Monarch. They also biopsied those nodules with a safety profile compared with non-robotic bronchoscopy procedures. Investigators published findings in the journal CHEST.

5 days ago | therobotreport.com | Eugene Demaitre

While the U.S. does not have a centralized industrial policy, various stakeholders have worked to elevate the priority of robotics. Last week, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) announced the relaunch of the Congressional Robotics Caucus. McGovern will serve as co-chair of the caucus with Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA).

1 week ago | therobotreport.com | Mike Oitzman

In Episode 198 of The Robot Report Podcast, our guest is Nicolaus Radford, co-founder and CEO of Persona AI. The company said it is commercializing a multi-purpose humanoid to personify AI, enabling the next wave in robotics. No longer are robots confined to the factory floor performing pick-and-place, welding, or painting. They are now also capable of tasks traditionally reserved only for human-level coordination and mobility, said Persona AI.