Two years ago, a couple of VCs from Shea Ventures, a 50-year-old, L.A. -based investment firm, banded together to create a Pasadena, Ca.-based early stage venture firm called Calibrate Ventures. Investors clearly like what they’re building. Firm founders Kevin Dunlap and Jason Schoettler are today announcing that they have closed their debut effort with $80 […]
View More L.A. gets more moolah, thanks to Calibrate Ventures and its new, $80 million fundCategory: Soft Robotics
Your vegetables are going to be picked by robots sooner than you think
In the very near future, robots are going to be picking the vegetables that appear on grocery store shelves across America. The automation revolution that’s arrived on the factory floor will make its way to the ag industry in the U.S. and its first stop will likely be the indoor farms that are now dotting […]
View More Your vegetables are going to be picked by robots sooner than you thinkSoft Robotics raises $20 million to expand operations
Massachusetts-based Soft Robotics announced this week that it’s raised $20 million in funding, courtesy of Scale Venture Partners, Calibrate Ventures, Honeywell Ventures and Tekfen Ventures, along with existing investors like robotics giant, ABB. The round follows a $5 million Series A the company closed back in late-2015. The investment interest is pretty clear on this […]
View More Soft Robotics raises $20 million to expand operationsThis soft robotic arm is straight out of Big Hero 6 (it’s even from Disney)
The charming robot at the heart of Disney’s Big Hero 6, Baymax, isn’t exactly realistic, but its puffy bod is an (admittedly aspirational) example of the growing field of soft robotics. And now Disney itself has produced a soft robot arm that seems like it could be a prototype from the movie.
View More This soft robotic arm is straight out of Big Hero 6 (it’s even from Disney)The Army is building 3D printed soft robots
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory has teamed up with the University of Minnesota to explore the wonders of soft robots. The teams have published a study describing their findings as they look to build invertebrate-inspired robotics able to squeeze into and maneuver around obstacles. “Successful stealthy maneuvering requires high structural flexibility and distributive control to […]
View More The Army is building 3D printed soft robotsSoft Robotics introduces a low-cost, AI-driven picking system for its rubbery grippers
Massachusetts-based Soft Robotics has already shown us some pretty impressive capabilities for its rubbery robotic grippers, but the demos have mostly been straightforward picks off of a conveyor belt. The startup’s latest trick if the much sought-after activity of bin picking. It’s a surprisingly tough task, given the complexity of picking up even several of […]
View More Soft Robotics introduces a low-cost, AI-driven picking system for its rubbery grippersGomer is a soft robot that can bother your cat
If there’s any sort of trend in robotics this year it’s soft hands. Robots with soft pinchers are quite useful in picking up – and not breaking – objects and now you can enjoy a soft-handed robot at home. The robot is called Gomer and it’s available now on Indiegogo. The little robot had an expressive face and a big claw on top. You can play games with Gomer… Read More