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Another victim of Trumpy's trade war with China: Rethink Robotics
Last Wednesday Rethink Robotics, a major player in the collaborative robotics world, closed up shop abruptly. The company’s robots Baxter and Sawyer were easily recognizable to any engineer, thanks to their big eyes and distinct red exteriors. But while the robots were major standouts, they weren’t selling. As reported by the Boston Globe, sales were down for both robots, and the company was trying to sell the company quickly and quietly. According to Rethink’s chief executive, Scott Eckert, the company had been running low on cash and at the very last minute, a potential buyer backed out.
Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008 by Rodney Brooks, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-founder of iRobot. Most everyone in the robotics space knew of Rethink Robotics. The company’s robots were some of the first cobots on the market, easily recognizable, and further distinguished by their programming ease. Each had a heads-up display that allowed the user to interact with the robot on the spot—no need to connect with a computer or a pendant device.
Rethink’s trouble sparked when a specialized order for a China distributor fell through. The company had designed and specialized robots for the Chinese market and were suddenly left with extra inventory that couldn’t be sold. However, the cobot market has also become crowded over the last few years. The major robotic vendors have entered the game including Kuka, Fanuc, and ABB. Each has their own version of a cobot and the companies have a longstanding pedigree in the automation world.
Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008 by Rodney Brooks, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-founder of iRobot. Most everyone in the robotics space knew of Rethink Robotics. The company’s robots were some of the first cobots on the market, easily recognizable, and further distinguished by their programming ease. Each had a heads-up display that allowed the user to interact with the robot on the spot—no need to connect with a computer or a pendant device.
Rethink’s trouble sparked when a specialized order for a China distributor fell through. The company had designed and specialized robots for the Chinese market and were suddenly left with extra inventory that couldn’t be sold. However, the cobot market has also become crowded over the last few years. The major robotic vendors have entered the game including Kuka, Fanuc, and ABB. Each has their own version of a cobot and the companies have a longstanding pedigree in the automation world.
More at: https://www.machinedesign.com/motion-control/fond-farewell-rethink-robotics?NL=MACD-001&Issue=MACD-001_20181012_MACD-001_594&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002209975&utm_campaign=20627&utm_medium=email&elq2=a7ffb488d9d04aa8a69133f03caaf328
PS. If you haven't heard the term, Cobot before is a collaborative robot. It is used to assist humans doing work, such as, holding heavy parts, handing tools, and parts to speed work.
