The MassachuseTTs RoboTics RevoluTion InspIrIng InnovatIon, drIvIng growth
and competItIveness In leadIng IndustrIes
acknowledgements
The Mass Technology Leadership Council is grateful for the leadership and support that Governor Deval Patrick has
provided to MassTLC’s Robotics Cluster and looks forward to working with him and our colleagues at The Innovation Institute
at the MassTech Collaborative to implement the key recommendations made in this report.
This report and cluster initiatives would not be possible without the commitment and engagement of many talented leaders
and volunteers in the Mass Technology Leadership Council’s Robotics Cluster. Cluster leaders include Co-chairs; Tom Ryden,
COO and Founder, vGo Communications and Steve Kelly, President of Myomo. A special thanks to Mark Smithers, VP
Business Development, Boston Engineering for his help with the robotics survey follow up.
The council would also like to acknowledge the support of Pat Larkin and Bob Kispert of the MassTech Collaborative;
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP for their sponsorship of the Robotics Cluster; Kathleen Hagan of
Hagan and Co. for managing the research for the report; Robotics Trends for their support; and MIT Sloan Fellows, Abdallah
Hussein Khamis, Ricardo Victorero, Adil Utembayev, Mohd Ridzwan Nordin and Harvard Business School student, Samer
Abughannam, for sharing their Robotics Cluster Report completed for Dr. Michael Porter at the Harvard
Business School.
This report was funded by a grant from The Innovation Institute at the MassTech Collaborative.
Front cover sources (clockwise starting at upper left)
Waltham-based Boston Dynamics’ Big Dog robotic pack mule will accompany soldiers in terrain too rough for
conventional vehicles.
Baxter the robot developed by Boston-based Rethink Robotics will work alongside humans in industrial settings.
Waltham-based Boston Engineering’s GhostSwimmer AUV, initially developed as a joint effort with Olin College in Needham,
MA, mimics the motions of a tuna and is now being used for homeland security missions.
BiOM® Ankle System by Bedford-based iWalk helps people move with a natural gait at their chosen speed.
contentsabouT The Mass RoboTics clusTeR ........................................................................................................................ 1
execuTive suMMaRy ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
The RoboTics indusTRy ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Defining the Robotics Industry ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Types of Robots and Applications ....................................................................................................................................... 5
sTaTe oF RoboTics in MassachuseTTs .................................................................................................................... 6
Tradition of Innovation ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Cluster Profile ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Cluster Companies and Environment ................................................................................................................................... 8
RevoluTionaRy RoboTics innovaTion ..................................................................................................................... 9
Research and Development Powering the Robotics Revolution ........................................................................................... 9
Educating the Innovators and Leaders of the Future .......................................................................................................... 12
disRupTive RoboTics innovaTion dRiving change acRoss Many indusTRies ........................................ 17
coMpeTiTive advanTages oF MassachuseTTs RoboTics indusTRy ............................................................ 21
The oppoRTuniTy TReMendous gRowTh in The global MaRkeTplace ..................................................... 23
Industrial Robot Market ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
Professional and Personal Service Robot Market ............................................................................................................... 24
leading The RoboTics RevoluTion ........................................................................................................................ 26
“Investing in robotics is more than just money for research and
development; it is a vehicle to transform American lives and revitalize the
American economy. Indeed, we are at a critical juncture where we are seeing
robotics transition from the laboratory to generate new businesses, create
jobs and confront the important challenges facing our nation.”
Helen Greiner, President, National Robotics Technology Consortium
About the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster
The Massachusetts Robotics Cluster is a community of
interest within the Mass Technology Leadership Council,
Inc., (MassTLC), a nonprofit organization that accelerates
innovation in companies that develop and deploy technology
across industry sectors. MassTLC is the Commonwealth’s
leading high technology organization, which represents 500
companies in Massachusetts.
In 2005, MassTLC established the Robotics Cluster to
bring together companies, institutions, and individuals
engaged in robotics research, education, product design,
and commercialization. The mission of the Massachusetts
Robotics Cluster is threefold:
■■ to raise awareness nationally and globally about New
England’s exciting robotics industry;
■■ to attract thought leaders and resources to support the
robotics industry; and
■■ to accelerate the growth of robotics by creating
opportunities for new and existing companies.
The robotics industry is growing rapidly in Massachusetts
and the New England region and accelerating the adoption
of “intelligent automation” across a broad range of
industries, including health care, life sciences, factory and
lab automation, distribution and logistics, materials handling,
marine underwater mapping and surveillance, defense,
transportation, consumer, education, and entertainment.
In February 2009, MassTLC, with the support of the
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, published
a comprehensive report on the robotics industry in
Massachusetts, achieving global leadership: a roadmap for
robotics in massachusetts. This was the first-ever analysis
of robotics in Massachusetts as a distinct and vibrant
industry cluster. This report defined the make-up of the
Massachusetts robotics industry; established that it is indeed
a very dynamic and high potential sector; and confirmed that
Massachusetts is a global leader in robotics innovation.
Executive Summary: The Robotics Revolution
The MassTLC Robotics Cluster has grown dramatically in
recent years, covering a broad spectrum of robotics
companies, from large leaders that are selling successfully to
consumer, industrial, and government markets to start-ups
and early-stage companies that are launching exciting
next-generation robotics products and systems.
Advanced robotics research and development (R&D) at
ten leading Massachusetts research institutions is fueling the
industry’s rapid growth. A phenomenal talent pool of highly
skilled engineers graduating from the Commonwealth’s many
world-class electrical, mechanical, and software engineering
degree programs, including the country’s first-of-its-kind fully
integrated undergraduate degree program in robotics
1
1500 B.C. 0 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900
1400 b.c. clepsydra Babylonians develop the clepsydra, a clock that measures time using the flow of water. It is considered one of the first “robotic” devices in history.
322 b.c. greek philosopher aristotle writes:“If every tool, when ordered, or even of its own accord, could do the work that befits it... then there would be no need either of apprentices for the master workers or of slaves for the lords.”
1495 da vinci knightLeonardo da Vinci designs a clockwork knight that will sit up, wave its arms, and move its head and jaw. It’s not certain whether the robot was ever built, but the design may constitute the first humanoid robot.
1801 Jacquard loom French silk weaver and inventor Joseph Marie Jacquard invents an automated loom that is controlled by punch cards. Within a decade it is being mass-produced, and thousands are in use across Europe.
1880s vending Machines The first commercial coin operated vending machine was introduced in London in the early 1880s and it dispensed post cards.
1888 vending Machines introduced in u.s. The Thomas Adams Gum Company Introduced the first vending machines to the United States. The machines were installed on the elevated subway platforms in New York City.
Robotics Evolution
Waltham based Boston Engineering’s GhostSwimmer AUV, initially developed as a joint effort with Olin College in Needham, MA, mimics the motions of a tuna and is now being used for homeland security missions.
engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), keeps
the talent pipeline flowing.
Innovations in electronics, hardware, and components
(such as sensors, motion controls, and vision systems) have
enabled the development of entirely new kinds of specialized,
smart automated products with military, commercial, medical,
marine and consumer applications. Today, robots perform
hazardous military missions and automate manufacturing
and warehouse logistics; robotic-assisted devices perform
noninvasive surgery and assist in physical rehabilitation;
unmanned underwater vehicles are used for oceanographic
survey and defense applications; and personal service robots
make everyday life easier by mowing lawns and
vacuum cleaning.
Robotics technology is revolutionary and disruptive.
Robots are intelligent tools for increasing productivity,
creating high-value jobs for new applications, and enabling
workers to make industries more globally competitive. Next-
generation robotics will be cheaper and easier to implement
and operate, and they will work with people rather than
substituting for people.
As new robotics applications emerge, new market
opportunities will have an impact in industries that are
strategic to the long-term competitiveness of the Massachusetts
and U.S. economy, such as healthcare and life sciences,
advanced manufacturing, defense and public safety,
distribution and logistics, and marine surveillance.
Massachusetts has the unique intellectual infrastructure,
talent pool, entrepreneurial environment, and track record of
success to claim its rightful place as the “Robotics Capital of
the World.” The Commonwealth’s competitive advantage in
robotics is firmly grounded in its:
■■ critical mass of world-class universities;
■■ cutting-edge robotics research and development;
■■ highly skilled workforce;
■■ innovative companies producing and utilizing
robotics applications; and
■■ skilled supporting and related industries.
In the three years since the first Massachusetts Robotics
Report was released, there has been dramatic growth in
both robotics R&D and business development in
Massachusetts. Recent industry research and the findings
of a 2012 MassTLC Robotics Cluster company survey
identify a number of factors for, and indicators of, this recent
surge in growth:
■■ new Research: There are now more than 35 distinct
robotics R&D programs and research projects at ten
Massachusetts research institutions. (Eleven institutions
including Brown University’s collaborative work with
Massachusetts research institutions.)
■■ More investment: Venture capital investment in robotics
start-ups in Massachusetts has increased from $17.6 million
in 2008 to $52.4 million in 2011 and over $60 million in the
first three quarters of 2012.
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950
1913 automated assembly linesHenry Ford installs the world’s first moving conveyor belt-based assembly line in his car factory. A Model T can be assembled in 93 minutes.
1921 capek’s RobotaCzech playwright Karl Capek popularizes the term “robot” in a play called “R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robot).” The word comes from the Czech robota, which means drudgery or forced work.
1941 Robotics named and predictedScience fiction writer, Isaac Asimov, first uses the word “robotics” to describe the technology of robots and predicts the rise of a powerful robot industry.
1948 Modern Robotics conceivedNorbert Wiener, a professor at M.I.T., publishes his book, cybernetics, which describes the concept of communications and control in electronic, mechanical, and biological systems.
1948—49 autonomous Machinery launchedBritish robotics pioneer William Grey Walter creates autonomous machines called Elmer and Elsie that mimic lifelike behavior with very simple circuitry
Billerica, MA based Harvest Automation’s robots are designed to perform material handling tasks in unstructured, outdoor environments such as those typically found in commercial growing operations. The robots work safely alongside humans and require minimal training to operate, while reducing production costs and improving productivity.
3
■■ new companies: Eighteen new start-up robotics
companies have been launched since 2008 in
Massachusetts with applications in education, defense,
medical/healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, materials
handling, logistics, and transportation.
■■ new high value Jobs: Employment has surged. Despite
a severe economic recession, there has been an increase
of 1,050 new robotics jobs in New England in the past four
years—900 in Massachusetts alone.
■■ high growth Rates: Average annual revenue growth
rate in the robotics industry is currently an impressive 11%
(based on data gathered from 2008 to 2011).
■■ More Fresh Talent: New highly educated and trained
robotics engineers have joined the workforce of the robotics
economy, thanks to innovative undergraduate and graduate
robotics degree programs at Massachusetts institutions like
Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Olin College.
■■ significant corporate acquisitions: The high-valuation
sales of two leading robotics firms, Hydroid and Kiva
Systems, have confirmed the high return on investment for
smart robotics investments. (Combined total: $855 million).
MassTLC is proud to be a catalyst for the “robotics revolution”
in Massachusetts. This updated report provides a current
profile of the robotics economy in Massachusetts and the
increasing role that “intelligent automation”1 is playing in the
workplace, the factory, the lab, and the home.
We stand in awe of the cutting-edge work of the
Commonwealth’s many robotics researchers, engineers,
entrepreneurial and corporate leaders, investors, and
supporting companies, and their critical contribution to the
Massachusetts economy. MassTLC appreciates the time and
valuable volunteer efforts that the leadership and members of
the Robotics Cluster contribute to our work. Their collective
intelligence, skill, imagination, and energy have helped to
make the Cluster a key leader of the “robotics revolution” in
Massachusetts. We also thank the MassTech Collaborative
for its ongoing support of the MassTLC Robotics Cluster, in
particular for its support for this updated report on the state
of the industry.
—Tom hopcroft, ceo, Mass Technology
leadership council, december, 2012
1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965
1954 universal automationConnecticut industrial robotics pioneer George Devol files a patent for the first programmable robot and coins the term “universal automaton.”
1959 computer-assisted Manufacturing – the MiT Robot ashtrayThe Servomechanisms Laboratory at MIT demonstrates computer-assisted manufacturing. A robotic milling machine creates a commemorative ashtray for each attendee.
1959 birth of artificial intelligenceJohn McCarthy and Marvin Minsky start the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT.
1961 First Mechanical handHeinrich Ernst develops the MH-1, a computer - operated mechanical hand at MIT.
1962 First industrial Robotic armThe first digitally operated programmable robotic arm — the Unimate mechanical arm — is developed by George Devol and commercialized by his colleague, Joseph F. Engelberger. It is designed to complete repetitive or dangerous tasks on a General Motors assembly line.
1963 artificial Robotic arm prosthesisThe first artificial robotic arm to be controlled by a computer, The Rancho Arm, was designed as a tool for the handicapped and its six joints gave it the flexibility of a human arm.
Developed by QinetiQ North America in Waltham, MA, TALON robots can be configured for specific tasks including the disposal of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), reconnaissance, the identification of hazardous material, combat engineering support, and assistance to police units engaged in SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) operations. Currently, 2,800 TALON robots are deployed around the world.
1 For the purposes of this report the terms “robotics” and “intelligent automation” are used interchangeably
A Transformative Technology Driving Change in Many Industries
“Robotics is the science and technology of designing,
making, and applying robots, including technology from
many contributing fields. A robot is a mechanical or virtual
artificial agent. It is usually an electrical mechanical system
which, by its appearance or movements conveys, a sense
that it has intent or agency of its own.”
—encyclopedia of science, Mcgraw-hill
There are as many different working definitions of “robotics”
as there are applications…from “automation with motion”
to “computers that move” (Michael Kuperstein, founder of
Symbus). There are “stationary robots”
for factory and laboratory automation,
and a new class of “mobile robots” for
transportation, distribution, and military
uses. There are also “sub-sea robots”
for underwater surveillance and “medical
robots” for robotic-assisted surgery,
rehabilitation, and home healthcare.
Robotic systems essentially involve the
integration of electrical and mechanical
systems and hardware and software
engineering to create a machine that can take independent
action with multiple degrees of motion and control, as well as
the capability to sense its environment and sometimes make
decisions based on sensing.
Rapid advances in technology have facilitated the
development of more useful, economical, and agile robots
and robotic-assisted devices in a wide range of industries.
For example, advances in laser sensing, computer vision,
and autonomous navigation enable robots to quickly sense
and react to environments. New software tools make it easier
to integrate systems using different kinds of hardware. Also,
decreases in the cost of processing power enable roboticists
to build networks of wireless robots that can work together
as a team.
“Robotics” is both a distinct industrial sector and an
enabling technology for many industries.
Twenty-first century robotics provides
a technology toolkit for the integration
of advanced software, hardware,
electronics, and mechanical systems
in exciting new ways, creating new
products, processes, and systems
that bring intelligent automation into
the clinical setting, the factory, the
laboratory, the warehouse, the battlefield,
the underwater environment, the retail
setting, the classroom, the office, and the home.
1965 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978
1966 First Mobile RobotThe Artificial Intelligence Center at the Stanford Research Center begins development of Shakey, the first mobile robot. It is endowed with a limited ability to see and model its environment.
1978 brooks automation founded in Massachusetts Brooks Automation develops first industrial robot for semiconductor manufacturing.
1969 Robots in spaceNASA successfully uses the latest in computing, robotic and space technology to land Neil Armstrong on the moon.
1973 computer-controlled industrial RobotThe first commercially available minicomputer-controlled industrial robot is developed by Richard Hohn for Cincinnati Milacron Corporation.
1976 Robotic space probesRobot arms are used on the Viking 1 and 2 space probes with microcomputers incorporated into their design.
The Robotics industry Defining the Robotics Industry
“Robotics” is both
a distinct industrial
sector and an
enabling technology
for many industries.
Robotics Value PropositionDemographic trends globally reflect aging populations
that will require more services with fewer people to provide
them. Service robots have the potential to meet this social
need. Also, global competition is driving demand for cost-
effective, less labor-intensive technologies and business
processes. Robotics is keeping the U.S. industry competitive
through the development of “intelligent automation” of many
manufacturing processes. Moreover, advanced robotics
technology has created new products that provide precision
and safety for specialized applications such as robotic-
assisted surgery or field operations in difficult-to-access or
dangerous locations such as underwater, on battlefields, or in
hazardous terrain.
Types of Robots and Applications Industrial Robots
stationary robots automate for a range of industries,
including: automotive, chemical, food, machinery,
pharmaceutical, manufacturing, heavy industry,
semiconductor fabrication, and materials handling.
Service Robotsmobile robots function autonomously or semi-
autonomously, performing tasks in a variety of settings:
■■ professional use (business/government)■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Defense, public safety/security, inspection systems,
underwater systems, medical, distribution/logistics,
materials handling, and facilities maintenance
■■ personal use (consumer/home)
Toys, home use (vacuums, lawnmowers, security), home
health assistance, and assistive or rehabilitative devices.
Components Elements of robotics systems include: sensors, actuators,
controllers, vision systems, human-machine interface,
software/hardware design/development, and systems integration.
5
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990
1983 Reconnaissance Robots deployedThe Remote Reconnaissance Vehicle became the first vehicle to enter the basement of Three Mile Island after a nuclear meltdown in March 1979. This vehicle worked for four years to survey and clean the resulting waste.
1986 First educational Robots LEGO and the MIT Media Lab collaborate to bring the first LEGO-based educational robotics products to market.
1989 Robot Takes First stepsA walking robot named Genghis is unveiled by the Mobile Robots Group at MIT. It becomes known for the way it walks, popularly referred to as the “Genghis gait”.
1981 Zymark Founded in MassachusettsThe first lab automation company in the world developed by Massachusetts entrepreneurs.
A precision five-axis edge grip robot from Brooks Automation, Chelmsford, MA, transfers 300-mm semiconductor wafers from one processing cell to the next.
The CorPath® 200 System provides procedure control from an interventional cockpit, allowing for robotic-assisted placement of coronary guidewires and stent/balloon catheters.
A Tradition of InnovationMassachusetts companies have been leaders in robotics
for decades, pioneering numerous commercially
successful products:
■■ First laboratory automation company in the world
■■ First to develop and continued leader in ground robots to
support U.S. troops
■■ First behavior-based robots
■■ First patient self-service robots in hospitals
■■ Leader in healthcare for intelligent prosthetics
■■ Leader in industrial robots for semiconductor
manufacturing
■■ Leader in home-use robots such as vacuum
cleaners, floor washers, and physical therapy
■■ Leader in professional service robots for use in
distribution/logistics, inventory management, and
materials handling
■■ Leader in underwater robotics for oceanographic
survey, defense, and security
Massachusetts Robotics Cluster Profile: Building on a Tradition of Innovation and Growth “The Robotics Cluster’s exciting growth is a contemporary
manifestation of Massachusetts’ and New England’s
legendary Yankee Ingenuity. The investment community is
starting to recognize and understand this innovation and the
huge business potential of emerging robotics companies.”
—Tom hopcroft, ceo, MassTlc
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005
1997 Mars Rover RobotThe Pathfinder Mission lands on Mars. Its robotic rover, Sojourner, rolls down a ramp and onto Martian soil in early July. It continues to broadcast data from the Martian surface until September.
1998 Robots become the “it” Toy A fuzzy, batlike robot called Furby becomes the must-have toy of the holiday season. The $30 toys seemingly “evolve” over time, first speaking in gibberish but soon developing the use of preprogrammed English phrases. More than 27 million of the toys sell in a 12-month period.
1999 Robot dog with TalentSony releases the first version of AIBO, a robotic dog with the ability to learn, entertain, and communicate with its owner.
2002 First vacuum cleaner RobotThe Roomba robotic vacuum from the iRobot is released. The frisbee-shaped device has sold over 3 million units to date, making it the most commercially successful domestic robot in history.
2004 nasa’s Mars exploration programTwin Robot Geologists, Mars Exploration Rovers, land on Mars as part of a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet.
2003 Robot helicopterSeiko Epsom releases the smallest known robot, standing 7cm high and weighing just 10 grams. The robot helicopter is intended to be used as a “flying camera” during natural disasters.
state of Robotics in Massachusetts
MassTLC Robotics Growth Index
2008 2011 % Increase
sales $1.3 B $1.9 B 45
employment 2,300 3,200 39
private investment dollars
$17.7 M $52.4 M 200
private investment deals
3 8 167
exits $80 M $775 M (2012) 869
Note: Data based on 2012 survey. The 2008 revenue reported in 2012 survey surpasses data reported in 2008 and published in our 2009 report.
The Massachusetts Robotics cluster is a vibrant eco-system
of well-established robotics companies and young start-
ups. There have been 18 new robotics start-ups created in
Massachusetts since 2008. These new robotics ventures
include spin-offs of successful Massachusetts robotics
companies, such as iRobot, spin-outs from Massachusetts
and New England research institutions, as well as some
“robotics gurus in the garage” bringing technology
innovations to market from other parts of the U.S.
or the world.
Made up of close to 100 robotics companies and
10 research institutions (with over 35 different research
programs), the Massachusetts robotics cluster represents
all segments of the robotics sector including: component
suppliers; manufacturers; developers of cutting-edge
robotics systems for defense, marine, health care/assistive
technology; industrial and lab automation; consumer; and
educational robotics. The industry is experiencing another
period of rapid growth. The MassTLC survey of the leading
robotics companies in Massachusetts confirmed company
growth rates that ranged from 4% to 2900% over the past
three years, with an overall industry growth rate of 45% (rates
based on sales revenue).
7
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012
2006 humanoid Robot for battlefield extraction Vecna launches “The Bear” the most powerful humanoid robot in the world. It is used in military conflicts in the Middle East to locate, lift and extract people from harm’s way.
2007 wpi launches degree Worcester Polytechnic Institute starts the first integrated robotics programs in the U.S.
2009–2012 private and corporate investment in Robotics increases Rapidly $57 million in private investment in early stage Massachusetts robotics companies
2008 –2012 Rapid Robotics venture Formation. Eighteen new robotics companies launched in or moved to Massachusetts
2009 acquisition of hydroidHydroid, developer of autonomous underwater vehicles and located in Massachusetts is acquired by Norwegian marine electronics maker Kongsberg Maritime AS, a division of Kongsberg Gruppen AS, for $80 million.
2012 braingate2 establishes human brain robot interaction Dr. Leigh Hochberg (MGH/Harvard Medical School), Dr. John Donoghue (Brown University), and the Veterans Administration develop a transformative device connecting a patient’s brain motor-cortex directly to a robotic-assisted artificial limb. A paralyzed woman works a robotic arm with her thoughts to help herself to a cup of coffee.
Data from 2012 MassTLC Robotics survey of companies. Companies were able to select more than one sector in which their technology is applied.
■ Agriculture
■■Consumer
■■Education
■■Entertainment
■■Enterprise
■■Industrial (Factory/Facility Automation, Lab Automation, Distribution/Logistics)
■■■Medical Healthcare (Medical/Surgical, Rehabilitation, Assistive Devices, Healthcare Services)
■■Marine
■■Military/Defense
■■Public Safety
■■Transportation
Massachusetts Robotics Cluster Diversity
2012 acquisition of kiva systems Kiva Systems, developer of automated warehouse distribution systems and based in Massachusetts, is acquired by Amazon for $700 million.
The Pioneer 3-AT, developed by Adept MobileRobots located in southern New Hampshire, is an all-purpose outdoor base, used for research and prototyping applications.
Cluster Companies and Environment The Massachusetts robotics cluster continues to thrive and
grow with 11 new companies started since 2009 (18 new
companies since the 2008 MassTLC robotics survey). The
New England hub of innovation for the robotics industry has
commercialized robotic technologies for applications ranging
from agriculture and transportation to prosthetics and
manufacturing. While the core group of robotics companies
in Massachusetts consists of close to 100 companies, the
broader robotics ecosystem consists of over 200 companies,
manufacturers, suppliers, design and engineering service
firms, educational institutions, and research labs with
involvement directly or indirectly in robotics.
All data in this report, unless noted, is from the 2012
MassTLC survey of leading robotics companies in New
England. With a 50% response rate, the data provides a
reliable insight into the growth of the industry since 2008.
The respondents represented different robotics applications
and varying company sizes.
Today there are more than 3,200 people employed in the
Massachusetts robotics industry and annual sales exceed
$1.9 billion. These figures do not include $1.5 billion in sales
of New England–based companies, such as ABB systems
in Connecticut, and companies in New Hampshire and
Rhode Island, such as Segway, Adept Mobile Robots, vGo
Communications, and Valde Systems, that are part of the
extended Massachusetts robotics economy.
From 2008 to 2011 the overall growth rate in revenue
of robotics companies in Massachusetts is 45%, which
includes maturing companies. This growth is particularly
remarkable as it occurred during a national and global
recession of historic severity. Rapid rise of robotics
represents spectacular growth when compared with the
national economy, which is now growing at a 2% rate and
the Massachusetts economy, which is growing at 3%.
MassTLC surveyed robotics companies across New
England and found that the cluster is still populated with
young companies; close to 40 companies have been in
existence for 10 years or less. The impact of these young
companies on the Massachusetts robotics cluster is
staggering with their annual revenue growth rate of 93%
between 2008 and 2011 and a projected growth of 96%
between 2011 and 2012, these young Massachusetts
companies now make up 8% of the total robotics revenue,
up from 3% in 2008.
The investment community has also taken greater
interest in robotics, investing $209 million in Massachusetts
robotics over the last 5 years. Private investment in the
first three quarters of 2012 has already surpassed 2011
by $8 million. The success of publicly traded iRobot has
led to a new generation of start-ups by iRobot alumni
(Harvest Automation, Rethink Robotics, CyPhy, and vGo
Communications), fueling the demand and development
for robotics talent, as well as, the dynamism of the
robotics ecosystem.
With the acquisition of Kiva Systems by Amazon for $775M,
another wave of young robotics companies could be on
the way. Kiva Systems alumni starting successful robotics
companies here, along with the growing iRobot alumni
start-ups in Massachussetts could possibly create a cycle of
innovation for robotics in New England, not yet seen anywhere
else in the world.
When local robotics CEOs were asked why their companies
were located in Massachusetts, they overwhelmingly
answered that access to local research, the deep talent roots
in mechanical and software engineering, and hardware and
manufacturing resources were not replicable anywhere else.
When faced with the decision to move their companies,
several indicated that they could not leave the infrastructure
and talent pool here in Massachusetts.
MassTLC Robotics Company Survey Highlights
■■ Sales exceed $1.9 Billion
■■ Over 3,200 people employed in Massachusetts
■■ 60% of companies are less than 10 years old
■■ Over $200 million invested in robotics over the past 5 years
■■ 80% of respondents expect continued growth into 2013
■■ 18 government grants awarded since 2008
■■ Annual revenue growth between 2008 and 2011 is 11%
Massachusetts Private Investment in Robotics
Data from 2012 MassTLC Robotics survey. Massachusetts companies only are included in this chart.
Massachusetts is an internationally recognized robotics
center because it “has it all” for research and talent—from
advanced research on next-generation robotics, to applied
programs and specialized undergraduate and graduate
degree programs educating the best and the brightest
robotics engineers to be industry innovators and leaders in
the 21st century.
Massachusetts is home to a unique concentration of
academic centers of excellence in robotics education,
research, and technology commercialization. Ten of the
Commonwealth’s leading educational research institutions
offer thirty-five distinct and exciting world-class research
programs covering all aspects of robotics and “intelligent
automation.” Brown University, just over the Massachusetts
border in Providence, RI, has a collaborative relationship with
Massachusetts institutions, contributing to the overall
R&D ecosystem.
In addition, there are innovative robotics research programs
at leading institutions throughout the six New England states,
including: Brown University, Yale University, Dartmouth
College, and the Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire,
Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
These diverse R&D programs provide the intellectual
engine for robotics innovation and supply a highly skilled
talent pool for the rapidly growing Massachusetts and
regional robotics economy.
Massachusetts has become a robotics hub for the world
not only because of its world class robotics R&D, but
also because it is home to cutting-edge robotics product
development expertise and has an entrepreneurial track
record of bringing state-of-the-art robotics products
successfully to market.
Game-Changing Printable Robots for Rapid Design and Manufacture of Customized Goods
printable programmable machines enable anyone to
manufacture a customized robot
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is leading
an ambitious $10 million National Science Foundation
initiative to reinvent how robots are designed and produced.
The “printable robots” project will democratize access to
robotics by developing technology enabling the average
9
Revolutionary Robotics innovation Research and Development: Powering the Massachusetts Robotics Revolution
Recent work in the Distributed Robotics Laboratory at MIT, Cambridge, MA, in collaboration with Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory, proposes a new method to systematize the development of 3-D robots using inexpensive, fast, and convenient planar fabrication processes. This new paradigm is called “printable robots.” This 6-legged tick-like printable robot could be used to check a basement for gas leaks or to play with a cat.
user to design, customize, and print a specialized robot in a
matter of hours.
It currently takes years to design, program, and produce a
functioning robot, and it is an extremely expensive process,
involving hardware and software design, machine learning
and vision, and advanced programming techniques. MIT’s
research aims to automate the process of producing
functional 3-D robotic-enabled devices, allowing individual
users to design and build functional robots from materials
as easily accessible as a sheet of paper. A printable robot
might be made to play with a pet or to fetch small things for
someone whose knee is in a cast and has limited mobility.
Printable robot technology could also be used to rapidly
design and prototype custom tooling for small
volume manufacturing.
How will this work? First, an individual will identify a
household problem that needs assistance, then he or she will
go to a local printing store to select a blueprint from a library
of robotic designs and customize an easy-to-use robotic
device that can solve the problem. Within 24 hours, the robot
will be printed, assembled, fully programmed, and ready
for action.
“This research envisions a whole new way of thinking
about the design and manufacturing of robots, and could
have a profound impact on society,” says Dr. Daniela
Rus, Director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial
Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). “We believe that it has the potential
to transform manufacturing and to democratize access
to robots.”
High-Risk Research for Transformative Breakthroughs in Healthcare, Energy, and Manufacturing
Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired
Engineering, established in 2009, bases its robotics research
on nature’s design principles to develop bio-inspired
materials and devices that will transform medicine and create
a more sustainable world. http://wyss.harvard.edu
By emulating nature’s principles for self-organizing and
self-regulating, Wyss Institute researchers are developing
innovative robotics solutions for healthcare, energy,
architecture, and manufacturing. These technologies are
translated into commercial products and therapies through
collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances,
and start-up companies.
Initial target applications include:
■■ bio-inspired robots for construction
and sustainability
■■ Robots that build bridges and structures autonomously
■■ Swarms of flying insect robots to assist dwindling
bee populations
■■ bio-inspired robots for inspection and search
■■ Conformable robots for inspection of narrow tubes and
pipes for medical and industrial applications
■■ Autonomous micro-robots for clinical diagnosis
and repair
■■ Distributed robots for search and rescue
■■ Highly agile autonomous robots for
environmental monitoring
This robot fly, developed at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Cambridge, MA, is capable of lift off and made using layered micro-machined composite structures. With a tiny carbon-fiber body and wings made of thin plastic sheets, this robot was inspired by the way real insects move.
Researchers at the Harvard Wyss Institute, Cambridge, MA, have built a flexible robot that can crawl, adjust its gait, and squeeze under obstacles.
■■ Robots that adapt and respond to changes
in environment
■■ Self-balancing walkways and building structures
■■ Adaptive and responsive furniture
■■ Deformable robots that conform, sense and locomote in
complex terrains
Scientists at the Wyss Institute are developing entirely new
types of robotic devices, such as tiny autonomous flying
machines, literally shaped like houseflies, that could pollinate
crops while the causes of bee colony collapse are identified
and solved. The Bio inspired Robotics team is also studying
social insects for what they can teach about programming
cooperation and adaptation among individual robots and
how global self-repair and adaptation can be achieved
through simple local behaviors.
UMass Lowell Launches New England’s First Robotics Testing Facility
In 2012, the highly successful Robotics Lab at the
University of Massachusetts Lowell established a state-
of-the-art testing facility, the new england Robotics
validation and experimentation (neRve) center,
http://nerve.uml.edu. NERVE will facilitate development of
robotic systems by both corporations and universities in
Massachusetts and the New England region.
UMass Lowell is collaborating with the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Army
on the development of New England’s first comprehensive
robot testing site. The NERVE Center is within an hour’s
drive of over 50 robotics companies and 10 universities that
conduct robotics research, which will allow robot systems
under development to be tested more easily, quickly, and
economically than they can be today.
The NERVE Center will increase knowledge about robotics
by developing metrics and standards for validating and
measuring progress in the field while allowing for convenient
testing of robotic systems. The ability to rapidly cycle
through prototyping, testing, and iterative improvements will
significantly speed up the process of translating robotics
technology from the laboratory into real-world applications.
The facility will be used for the study and evaluation of
robot systems in a number of areas, including:
■■ autonomous systems
■■ small unmanned ground vehicles for military use, urban
search and rescue, and HAZMAT
■■ assistive technologies
■■ mobile manipulation
■■ human-robot interaction
11
Developed by WPI undergraduate students, Prometheus is an
unmanned ground vehicle in Worcester, MA. The project goal is to
secure an entry in the annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle
Challenge (IGVC).
Artist rendering of the new UMass Lowell NERVE Center. The center will provide robotics companies and research institutions with a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) designed test course for year-round validation of robots and robotic systems. Collaborators include UMass Amherst and Tufts University. Worcester Polytechnic Institute and local robotics companies such as iRobot, QinetiQ, Black-I Robotics are likely to use the NERVE Center.
Educating the Innovators and Leaders of the Future
Massachusetts higher education institutions offer dozens
of advanced degree and certificate programs in electrical,
mechanical, and software engineering that supply the
robotics talent pool. Two recent examples of highly innovative
and focused robotics higher education programs are:
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) In 2007, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) launched
the nation’s first fully integrated Bachelor of Science degree
program in Robotics Engineering, which has already
graduated over 50 students. In 2009, WPI established an
MS in Robotics Engineering and a PhD program in Robotics
in 2010. Currently, 242 WPI undergraduates are majoring or
minoring in robotics and 32 graduate students are enrolled in
WPI’s Master’s and PhD programs in robotics.
http://robotics.wpi.edu
WPI students create robotic solutions to real world
problems such as developing:
■■ Search and Rescue Robots
■■ A Machine Tool Robotics Part Manipulator
■■ Tree-Climbing Robots to Detect Invasive Insects
■■ A Rehabilitative Robotic Glove and a Human
Hand Prosthesis
■■ Robots to Improve Communications Skills of
Autistic Children
Olin College Olin College educates highly skilled robotics engineers
through an innovative field-based undergraduate curriculum.
Seniors work in multi-disciplinary teams of five to seven
students on challenging, full-year robotics engineering
projects for partnering corporate sponsors.
Since its launch in 2005, Olin’s Scope Program has
deployed teams of engineering talent to more than 50
companies, developing and expanding on a range of
disciplines from creating robotics vehicles for the Army to
improving medical devices for Boston Scientific Corporation.
Olin’s robotics group is currently working in the areas of
unmanned ground, surface, and autonomous vehicles.
http://scope.olin.edu
MIT, Cambridge, MA, in partnership with Olin College, Needham, MA, and Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, competed in the 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge, a competition for cars and trucks that run without human help.
Massachusetts R&D ProgramsBoston University
hybrid & networked systems
■■ Current application areas is networked mobile robotics.
http://robotics.bu.edu
intelligent Mechatronics lab
■■ The Intelligent Mechatronics Lab specializes in
medical robotics, structural dynamics, and mobile robot
communications. http://www.bu.edu/iml/
neuromorphics lab
■■ The Neuromorphics Lab studies biological intelligence
and embeds the derived fundamental principles into bio-
inspired computers and robots. Ongoing projects include
formal approaches to planning and control of robot motion
and interactive approaches for robot navigation and control.
www.nl.bu.edu
andersson lab
■■ Autonomous control of robots evolving in complex, real-
world settings and subject to such disturbances. Ongoing
projects include formal approaches to planning and control
of robot motion and interactive approaches for robot
navigation and control. http://robotics.bu.edu ■
bioRobotics Research group
■■ The BioRobotics Research Group (BRG) specializes
in medical robot and instrument design, development of
imaging techniques for surgical guidance, modeling of
tool-tissue interaction, and tele-operation/automation of
instrument motion. www.bu.edu/biorobotics
human adaptation lab
■■ Sargent College studies robotic exoskeletons for use
in human gait rehabilitation. http://www.bu.edu/sargent/
research/research-labs/human-adaptation-lab/
Brandeis Universitycomputer science laboratory
■■ The Dynamical & Evolutionary Machine Organization
(DEMO) Lab is focused on machine learning: solving the
problem of open-ended evolution in artificial media like
software and hardware. Long-term basic research on self-
creating robots couples the co-evolution of bodies and
brains to commercial off-the-shelf automated fabrication
and is known as the GOLEM project.
http://demo.cs.brandeis.edu
Harvard UniversityRobotics lab, division of engineering and
applied sciences
■■ The Harvard Division of Engineering Robotics Lab focuses
on micro-robotics, analog computation, choreography of
dynamical systems, control of quantum systems, pattern
generation, and robotic system identification.
www.harvard.edu.
wyss institute for biologically inspired engineering
■■ Wyss Institute’s research includes developing robotic tools
for rehabilitation and surgical assistance as well as other
innovative medical devices. Inspiration for these devices
comes from studying human biomechanics and collaboration
with practicing physicians. http://wyss.harvard.edu
MITcomputer science and artificial intelligence
laboratory (csail)
■■ CSAIL’s research focus includes: modular and self-
reconfiguring robots, distributed algorithms and systems
of self-organizing robots, networks of robots and sensors
for first-responders, mobile sensor networks, animals and
robots, cooperative underwater robotics, desktop robotics,
and forming, moving, and navigating sparse 2D and
3D structures.
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
newman lab for biomechanics
■■ Part of the Mechanical Engineering department, the
Newman Lab focuses on physical therapy devices.
http://newmanlab.mit.edu■
MIT Media Lab personal Robots group
■■ Media Lab’s personal robotics research is on socially
engaging robots and interactive technologies that provide
people with long-term social and emotional support in order
to live healthier lives, connect with others, and learn better.
www.media.mit.edu/research/groups/personal-robots
Mechatronics group
■■ The Mechatronics Group research program seeks to
advance technologies that accelerate the merging of body
and machine, including device architectures that resemble
the body’s musculoskeletal design, actuator technologies
that behave like muscle, and control methodologies that
exploit principles of biological movement.
www.media.mit.edu/research/groups/biomechatronics
MiT sea grant auv lab
■■ MIT Sea Grant AUV Lab is dedicated to the development
and application of autonomous underwater vehicles. MIT
Sea Grant’s AUV Lab is a leading developer of advanced
unmanned marine robots. http://auvlab.mit.edu
Northeastern University Marine science center biomimetic underwater
Robot program
■■ The N.U. Marine Science Center employs biomimetic
approaches to confer the adaptive capabilities of marine
animal models to engineered devices. These devices
include: sensors, actuators, adaptive logic systems, and
electronic nervous systems.
http://www.neurotechnology.neu.edu/
biomedical Mechatronics lab (bMl) department of
Mechanical & industrial engineering
■■ The Biomedical Mechatronics Laboratory (BML) studies
the design, fabrication, control, and testing of novel robotic
and mechatronic systems for rehabilitation and medical
applications. http://www.robots.neu.edu/
Olin College of Engineering■■ Olin educates future leaders in robotics through an
innovative engineering education that bridges science and
technology, enterprise, and society. Olin’s robotics group is
currently working in the areas of unmanned ground, surface,
and air vehicles. http://scope.olin.edu
Tufts Universityneuromechanics and biomimetic devices laboratory
■■ The Neuromechanics Lab focuses on “biomimetic
soft-bodied robots” and incorporates biomaterials,
neuromechanical controllers, and compliant microelectronics.
http://ase.tufts.edu/bdl/news.asp
human Robot interaction lab
■■ Researchers in the Human Robot Interaction Laboratory
study affective control and evolution interactions between
affect and cognition; cognitive robotics for human-
robot interaction; embodied situated natural language
interactions; multi-scale agent-based and cognitive
modeling; and architecture development environments for
complex robots. http://hrilab.cs.tufts.edu/
advanced Technologies lab■
■■ Tufts also focuses on: mobile robot navigation, endoscopic
surgery, and educational robots. Tufts Center for Engineering
Educational Outreach works with teachers and schools
around the world in bringing robotics into the classroom as
a way to teach math, science, and engineering.
ceeo.tufts.edu/WorkshopsKids/kidsworkshops.html ■■■
University of Massachusetts-Lowell Robotics lab
■■ The Lab focuses on human-robot interaction including:
interface design, robot autonomy, and computer vision.
Applications include: assistive technology, search and
rescue. www.robotics.cs.uml.edu■
neRve Testing center
■■ New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation will
service other research programs and companies developing
robotic systems in New England. http://nerve.uml.edu/
University of Massachusetts-Amherst laboratory for perceptual Robotics
■■ UMass-Amherst lab studies computational systems
that solve sensory and motor problems. Experimental
platforms include sensor networks, mobile manipulators,
and integrated bimanual humanoids. http://www robotics.
cs.umass.edu/
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth■■ UMass Dartmouth engineering research includes the
study of advanced controls for robotics.
http://www.umassd.edu/engineering/mne/research/
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) WPI is the first U.S. educational institution to design and
implement a fully integrated undergraduate robotics degree
program. http://robotics.wpi.edu/.
■■ WPI labs work on: intelligent vehicles, interventional
medicine, mobile manufacturing (for repair in accessible
locations), robot learning, human-robot interaction, and
advanced manufacturing.
http://sites.google.com/site/padirlab/
http://aimlab.wpi.edu/
http://ram.wpi.edu/people/ssnestinger/
http://web..wpiedu/~rail/
http://www.wpi.edu/academics/ece/cairn/index.html
http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~rich/hri/
15
http://www.me.wpi.edu/research/CAMLab/
http://users.wpi.edu/~etorresj/
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute ■■ Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
http://asl.whoi.edu/home/home.html
The Massachusetts robotics ecosystem also benefits
greatly from the research of leading independent nonprofit
laboratories such as MITRE (www.mitre.org), Draper Labs
(www.draper.com), and MIT Lincoln Labs (www.ll.mit.edu), which
focus on engineering innovation in a range of advanced
technologies including robotics.
New England Robotics Research
brown university www.braingate2.org and www.brown-
robotics.org
■■ Brown collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital
and the Veterans Administration as part of The BrainGate
initiative, which is focused on developing neurotechnologies
to restore the communication, mobility, and independence
of people with neurologic disease, injury, or limb loss.
yale university www.robotics.research.yale.edu
■■ GRAB Lab: Grasping and Manipulation, Rehabilitation
Robotics, and Biomechanics Human-Machine Interface Lab
Social Robotics Lab.
dartmouth college
www.cs.dartmouth.edu/devin/
■■ Mechanics of locomotion and manipulation—robot
interface with the physical world.
university of Maine
http://engineering.umaine.edu/department-research/
research-features/operation-robot/
■■ Biomechanical Compliant Hand Project — prosthetic
robot hand and rehabilitation devices.
university of connecticut http://www.engr.uconn.edu/alarm/
■■ Biomedical engineering laboratory.
■■ Advanced lab for automation, robotics and
manufacturing-control logic for dynamic systems.
university of new hampshire http://www.ece.unh.edu/
■■ Bionics Lab-applied robotics.
■■ Robotics and vibration control.■■
university of Rhode island http://mcise.uri.edu/datseris/
robotics/index.htm
■■ Center for Automation and Robotics Research — expert
systems, neural nets and software development for effective
design of novel mechanical devices.
university of vermont www.cs.uvm.edu
■■ Incremental behavior integration for evolutionary robotics.
naval undersea warfare center
■■ Autonomous Underwater Vehicles http://www.navsea.
navy.mil/nuwc/newport/default.aspx
The uBot-5, developed at the UMass Amherst Lab for Perceptual Robotics, is a small and lightweight research platform for mobile manipulation. It was designed to be an economical robot that is highly capable, durable, and safe to operate. It is well suited for environments designed for humans.
Tools for Tomorrow: Robots Working Side by Side with Workers of the Future
Massachusetts is an internationally recognized test-
bed for the world in robotics product innovation. The
Commonwealth’s robotics industry develops and
successfully sells a dazzling array of
products for a variety of industries
that are strategic to the future of the
Massachusetts economy. The robots
of the future will be intelligent tools
for increasing productivity, creating
high-value jobs for new applications,
and enabling workers to make
industries more globally competitive.
“Intelligent automation” is disruptive
to many industries and offers exciting
competitive advantages to
new adopters.
Massachusetts’ robotics innovators
are already proving that the robots of the future will be
different. Not only will next-generation robotics be cheaper
and easier to implement and operate, but they will work with
people rather than substituting for people. Robots will work
side by side with people as co-workers in the office, co-
producers in the factory, and household helpers in the home.
Healthcare, Medical, and Assistive Devices
“The ‘Age of Robots’ is upon us—extending independent
living at home will ultimately turn out to be the ‘killer app’ for
robots.” - colin angle, co-Founder and ceo, iRobot
Healthcare and medical robotics is in its early days, but
already has shown great promise in addressing major
healthcare challenges facing the U.S. healthcare
delivery system.
Robotics in healthcare is reducing costs and improving
patient outcomes along the continuum of care — from
robotic-assisted surgery to intelligent automation in the
hospital and in the “healthy home.” Intelligent prosthetic and
rehabilitation devices are dramatically improving the quality of
life for patients with disabilities and physical injuries.
Massachusetts benefits greatly from its installed base of
world-class teaching hospitals and
biomedical research institutes where
healthcare innovation is both a driver
and a beneficiary of advances in
robotics technology. Collaborative
relationships between and among
the robotics research community, the
entrepreneurial community, and local
healthcare leaders are accelerating
the adoption of cutting-edge
robotics innovation in the
healthcare marketplace.
applications:
■■ Robotic-assisted surgical devices for image-guided and
non-invasive surgery
■■ Rehabilitation in the hospital and in the home (e.g.,
intelligent prosthesis, smart rehabilitation devices, etc.)
■■ Hospital automation (e.g., patient transport, patient self-
service, couriers, pharmacy, etc.)
■■ Patient-centered medical home (e.g., remote monitoring,
medication management, etc.)
■■ Assistive devices/ADA innovations in the smart home and
in the healthy workplace
disruptive Robotics innovation: driving change in Many industries
17
“The Age of Robots is
upon us—extending
independent living at
home will ultimately turn
out to be the ‘killer app’
for robots.”
Colin Angle, Co-Founder and CEO, iRobot
Manufacturing and Lab Automation Distribution and Logistics, Materials Handling
“Robots will change how we think about manufacturing.
They will have intelligence and awareness. They will be
teachable, safe, and affordable. They will make us productive
in ways we never imagined.
Robots will reinvigorate industry and inject new life into the
economy. Making businesses more competitive. Keeping
jobs from moving overseas. Demonstrating the power of
American ingenuity.”- Rodney brooks, co-Founder,
iRobot; Founder, Rethink Robotics (formerly
heartland Robotics)
Robotics is creating smarter tools for factory workers
that result in greater efficiency, labor savings, and higher
productivity and create high-value skilled jobs.
Massachusetts has a rich tradition in both stationary
industrial robots for factory and lab automation and, more
recently, in mobile service robots for warehouse, logistics,
and materials handling automation.
The world’s first lab automation company, Zymark,
was launched in Massachusetts in 1981. Advanced lab
automation has supported the rapid growth of the dynamic
Life Sciences industry in Massachusetts and New England.
Local entrepreneurs are exploiting opportunities for
disruptive change in supply chain management with exciting
robotics solutions for warehouse automation, logistics and
materials handling in a range of industries including food,
retail and agriculture.
applications:
■■ High-precision semi-conductor manufacturing automation
■■ Lab compound, liquid and biological sample handling,
measurement, and storage
■■ Factory assembly, fabrication, and production
■■ Warehouse automation: pick and place for logistics and
distribution Inspection, packaging, and materials handling
Defense, Security, and Surveillance The defense industry is a vital sector in the Massachusetts
economy. Massachusetts currently ranks fifth nationally in
Department of Defense contract awards. Nine of the top ten
The Twister II Microplate Handler developed by Caliper Life Sciences, in Hopkinton, MA, is a high capacity plate stacker and bench top lab automation robotics system. Over 1,000 Twister II units have been shipped, making it an industry standard robotic plate mover for life science automation.
Symbotic, based in Wilmington, MA, offers warehouse automation with the ability to sort, store, and distribute materials with high degrees of speed, accuracy, and customization. Their autonomous, mobile robot— the Matrix Rover™—can travel freely throughout the storage structure accessing any product, in any location, and at any time at a very high throughput rate delivering product in sequence to build stable, store-friendly pallets.
Nashua, NH based VGo for Remote Students has opened up academic and social environments to other disabled and immune-deficient students as well. There are no longer boundaries between them and the world that was previously inaccessible.
2 Donahue Institute, Defense Industry in Mass, 20103 ABI Research
products sold to defense agencies are related to technology
and research. Massachusetts excels in the kind of highly
specialized research and technology-related products and
services that are expected to be an important focus of
defense spending in the future.2
Use of autonomous and semi-autonomous robots for
defense applications has grown dramatically around the
world in recent years as governments deploy them in
battlefield situations to take the place of, or assist, soldiers.
Defense robots include: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and autonomous
underwater vehicles (AUVs).
The key drivers for the robotics market in defense, security,
and surveillance include: the strong desire to prevent or
reduce military casualties in the field of operations; changes
in the tactics of warfare requiring new reconnaissance,
combat and task equipment, and tools; the need to reduce
military spending; and developments in the fields of materials
science, computer programming, and sensing technology
that help create more advanced robots.3
applications:
■■ Aerial and underwater surveillance
■■ Hazardous military missions (searching caves and
neutralizing IEDs)
■■ Transport of materials, supplies, and wounded soldiers
■■ Battlefield medicine (remote-medic, robotic-assisted
monitoring and treatment)
■■ Automated Weapon Systems—unmanned aerial vehicles
and unmanned ground vehicles; unmanned underwater
vehicles for intelligence gathering
■■ Public safety—fire and police search, seizure and
rescue operations
Public Safety and Municipal ServicesService robots also have proved to be of high value
in domestic public safety and security applications.
Municipalities are increasingly using robots to support fire,
emergency, police, and public safety personnel in dangerous
situations and conditions. For decades, Massachusetts
robots have been deployed to respond to world events
including search and rescue operations after 9-11, evaluating
oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico, and most recently sending
robots to Japan to assist in moving rubble as well as
surveillance after the tsunami hit and Fukishima nuclear
power plant disaster.
MarineMassachusetts is a global leader in Marine Sciences and
Technology for a range of applications including: education
and research, geological mapping, intelligence, and
surveillance. The vibrant Marine Robotics sector is supported
by the world-class undersea research at the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in Falmouth, Massachusetts,
and the MIT Center for Ocean Engineering.
WHOI is a lead institution in a national $300 million National
Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative
(OOI). The OOI initiative will provide 25–30 years of sustained
ocean measurements to study climate variability, ocean
circulation and ecosystem dynamics, air-sea exchange,
seafloor processes, and plate-scale geodynamics. Robotics
technologies developed in collaboration with WHOI will play a
vital part in the national Ocean Observatories Initiative.
The leading global players in autonomous underwater
vehicles (AUVs) for scientific, commercial, and defense
applications are all Massachusetts companies. Teledyne
Benthos, Bluefin Robotics, Hydroid, Oceanserver, and
iRobot, among others, continue to grow as AUVs are being
increasingly used for underwater exploration, mapping,
and surveillance.
The Bluefin 12-S, shown here being launched in Quincy, MA, is a highly modular, flexible, autonomous underwater vehicle used for a variety of shallow-water applications such as search and salvage, oceanography, scientific research, mine countermeasures, and more.
19
ConsumerMassachusetts is well positioned to take advantage of the
explosive growth expected in personal robotics (personal
robots, home robots, educational robots, smart toys and
hobby robots), having already developed commercially
successful consumer robotics for home use.
Related and Supporting IndustriesThe Massachusetts robotics industry draws on a robust
array of local supporting industries that contribute to the
sector’s rapid growth including:
■■ Machine Vision
■■ Computer Software
■■ Artificial Intelligence
■■ Electronics & Hardware/Manufacturing & Services
■■ Design and Systems Engineering Services
■■ Component suppliers (sensors, actuators, controllers,
vision systems, interface)
■■ Precision Manufacturing
The Roomba 780 is one of the popular autonomous cleaning devices from Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot. The Roomba celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012.
“Boston (Robotics Cluster)
ranks first, having started in the
early 1960s, followed by Pittsburgh
and then Silicon Valley. Boston has
the most robotics companies in
the cluster, numbering more than
80, greater than the two other
clusters combined” - harvard
university student report on the
Massachusetts Robotics cluster
(May 2012)
The U.S leadership in robotics is supported by exciting
robotics R&D at many leading U. S. research institutions
including: Stanford, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia
Institute of Technology, and others. However, Massachusetts
is unique in the U.S., and in the world, with its intense
concentration of world class R&D programs and its
tremendous track record in product
development and commercialization.
A 2012 Harvard University student
study on the competitiveness of the
Massachusetts Robotics Cluster,
conducted under the direction
of Harvard Business School
Professor Michael Porter, credited
the “unique industry-academia-
federal government collaboration”
as a critical success factor of the
Massachusetts Robotics Cluster.
The Harvard University study was based on Professor
Porter’s “Framework for Institutions for Collaboration in
Cluster Environment” and cited favorable factor conditions as
a key competitive advantage of the Massachusetts Robotics
Cluster relative to competing clusters in the U.S.
The competitive advantage of the Robotics industry in Massachusetts
“Paradoxically, the enduring
competitive advantages in a
global economy lie increasingly
in local things—knowledge,
relationships, motivation that
distant rivals cannot match.”Professor Michael Porter,
Harvard Business School 4
Figure modified from Harvard University student report on the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster (May 2012)21
4 clusters and the new economics of competition
The Competitive Advantage of the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster
Note: Table based on Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter’s “Framework for Competition in the Cluster Environment.”
■■ National and international competition
■■ Diverse industry base across multiple applications and segments
■■ Growing rivalry between players in segments
■■ Population Demographics
Demand Conditions■■ Military
■■ Laboratory
■■ Marine
■■ Consumer
■■ Health Care
■■ Distribution
■■ Manufacturing
Related & Supporting Industries
■■ Computer Software
■■ Artificial Intelligence
■■ Machine Vision
■■ Electronics & Hardware/ Manufacturing & Services
■■ Design and Systems Engineering Services
■■ Component Suppliers (sensors, actuators, controllers, vision systems, interface)
■■ Higher Education
■■ Precision Manufacturing
■■ Data Storage
■■ Energy Storage
Context for Firm Strategy & Rivalry
Factor (Input) Conditions■■ Highly skilled work force
■■ R&D infrastructure
■■ Available capital
The global market for robotics products, components,
and systems is growing rapidly as technological advances
make robotics a cost-effective alternative to labor-intensive
systems. Robotics as a platform technology for a wide range
of vertical industry applications is driving growth through
disruptive innovations that create markets for
new applications.
Industrial Robots Market“Manufacturing will still need people, if not so many in the
factory itself. All these automated machines require someone
to service them and tell them what to do. Some machine
operators will become machine minders, which often calls for
a broader range of skills”- The Economist 5
The global market for industrial robots (stationary robots
used in factory automation and assembly lines) is currently
$17.5 billion (including software, peripherals, and systems),
according to the International Federation of Robotics.
Industrial robotics is the largest segment of the robotics
industry, growing globally at 4.2% a year.
In North America, sales of industrial robotics grew
dramatically last year (2011) in unit sales by 47% with 38%
growth in sales dollar value.6
In the North American market, orders for industrial robotic
systems rebounded in 2011 after a slump in sales in 2009–
2010 due to the global economic downturn. Unit sales rose
47% in 2011 and dollar value of sales grew 38%. A total of
19,337 robots valued at $1.17 billion were sold to companies
in North America.7
This significant growth was driven in large measure by
demand for advanced robotics systems from the automotive,
packaging, food, and chemical sectors. These sectors are
cyclical, so demand can fluctuate with economic conditions.
According to the Robotics Industry Association, key drivers
for the strong rebound in industrial robotics sales in 2011
were revitalized due to demand in the auto sector and the
decision by many U.S. manufacturing companies to keep
manufacturing at home by automating, and in some cases,
even bringing back manufacturing that had previously been
located overseas.
Demand is expected to continue to grow as new robotics
technologies and applications emerge and as the electronics,
The opportunity: Tremendous growth in the global Marketplace
6 The Economist. manufacturing and Innovation, 4/21/126 robotics Industry association7 robotics Industry association
ABB robots IRB 6400 on spotwelding line at car factory. ABB’s Corporate Research Center is located in Windsor, CT.
23
automotive, and life sciences industries continue to invest in
automation. There are 213,000 robots now at work in U.S.
factories and laboratories, placing the United States second
only to Japan in overall robot use. More than one million
industrial robots are installed worldwide, 40% of them
in Japan.8
The rebound in the U.S. and global
market for industrial robots is good news
for Massachusetts’ leading industrial
market suppliers including: Caliper-Perkin
Elmer, Brooks Automation, Teradyne,
Thermo Fisher, and GE Fanuc.
Professional and Personal Service Robots Market
The global market for service robots is
currently estimated to be $9.1 billion, a
more than fourfold increase since 2004.
The global market for service robots has
been growing rapidly at an average annual rate of:
■■ 17.5% for professional use
■■ 11.5% for personal use
■■ 19% for health care, assistive technology9
While the overall service robot market grew by 4% in 2010,
analysts predict an explosive growth in service robots. The
total global service robotics market is expected to be worth
$21 billion by 2014.10 Massachusetts is uniquely positioned
to take the lead in the global market for professional and
service robots with its successful track record of bringing to
market innovative service robots for many leading industries.
Professional Service RobotsThe total number of professional service robots sold in
2010 rose by 4% compared to 2009 to 13,741 units. The
value of sales increased by 15% to $3.2 billion. Seventy-five
percent of the total unit sales of professional service robots in
2010 were defense or field robots.
Defense RobotsBetween 50 and 80 countries either already utilize defense
robotic systems, or are a process of building or acquiring
the technology to incorporate them into their military
programs. These robots include unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and unmanned
underwater vehicles (UUVs) and have in common the
purpose of substituting for, or assisting, humans in
battlefield situations.
According to a new study by ABI Research, “Defense
Robots: UAVs, UGVs, UUVs, and Task
Robots for Military Applications,” the
global market for military robotics will
grow from $5.8 billion in 2010 to more
than $8 billion in 2016.11
In the U.S. market, despite a short-term
trend toward limiting military spending,
the Defense Department’s long-term
appetite for robotic solutions for the
battlefield, for military operations, and
for care of the soldier and the veteran is
strong. A rebound is expected after 2014
when several new U.S. defense programs
of record begin using unmanned ground
systems for more than just counter-
explosive device operations.
The U.S. Congress has mandated that by the year 2015,
one-third of ground combat vehicles will be unmanned,
and the Department of Defense (DOD) is now developing
a multitude of unmanned systems that it intends to rapidly
deploy in the field. Meanwhile, thousands of robotics
researchers worldwide are making impressive gains in
networking robots and boosting the sophistication and
autonomy of these systems. This projection does not include
Analysts predict an
explosive growth in
service robots. The
total global service
robotics market
is expected to be
worth $21 billion by
2014.10
8 robotics Industry association9 e-Marketer and International Federation of Robotics10 International Federation of Robotics11 ABI Research
Packbot, developed by Bedford, MA-based iRobot, provided the first images inside the disabled reactors, approximately one week after the earthquake/tsunami. Their primary role was to go where humans could not, get visual data, measure temperature and radiation/oxygen levels inside the Fukishima nuclear reactor, and assist with clean up of radioactive debris and dust. Packbots have also been deployed at Ground Zero after 9/11 and in Iraq and Afgahanistan.
unmanned air or underwater vehicles which are also growing
in use by the military.12
In developed countries, military spending is often
recession-proof. Short-term economic conditions are
unlikely to impact long-term defense robot spending greatly,
especially because the most expensive robot systems
are far less expensive than equivalent manned systems.
While robots improve efficiency, accuracy, and operational
performance in the military, the primary reason their use has
increased is their ability to reduce injury and death in
combat situations.
Medical Robots Sales of robotics for medical applications increased in
2010 by 14% compared to 2009.13
The market for surgical robotics alone is projected to reach
$14 billion in 2014.14
In recent years, a steady increase in the use of medical
robots in the hospital setting confirms the tremendous
potential of medical robotics to assist surgeons with image-
guided, minimally invasive surgery; provide patient transport
and nurse assistance; improve medical education through
the use of simulators; and reduce the costs of patient care.
Also, service robots for remote presence and patient self-
service are enabling the delivery of more healthcare support
and services in the home.
The global demographic trend of aging populations
requiring more care from fewer people is driving demand
for adoption of smarter technology in healthcare services.
Service robots to assist the elderly and provide intelligent
automation for the home
will enable successful
“aging in place” and
reduce the burden on
healthcare systems.
Personal Service Robots
Approximately 2.2 million
service robots for personal
and domestic use were
sold globally in 2010—35%
more than in 2009. The value
of sales increased by 39%
to U.S. $538 million. Projections for the period 2011–2014
anticipate that 87,500 new service robots for professional
use will be installed.15
So far, service robots for personal and domestic use are
mainly used for household tasks, such as vacuum cleaning
and lawn mowing, or for entertainment and leisure, including
toy robots, hobby systems, education, and research.
While the market for consumer robots is currently smaller
than the market for industrial robots, sales of service robots
are projected to overtake industrial robotics in the next few
years. Personal robotics is the area of robotics with the
strongest predicted growth. According to ABI Research, the
global market for service-consumer robots is expected to be
worth $15 billion by 2015.
The Japanese Robot Association has predicted that the
personal robot industry will achieve annual sales of $50 billion
by 2025. This explosive growth will be
driven by demographics and the needs of
aging populations, which will require more
services with fewer people to provide
them. Projections for the period of 2011
to 2014 predict that about 14.4 million
units of service robots for personal use
will be sold.
The growing global market for service
robots represents a gigantic commercial
opportunity for Massachusetts innovators
who are already leading the robotics
race for the design, development, and
adoption of service robots.
Global robot market outlook
Source Ministry of Knowledge & Economy – South Korea, Jan. 2011
12 IEEE Spectrum Autonomous Robots in the Fog of War (August 2011)13 International Federation of Robotics 14 Wintergreen Research15 International Federation of Robotics
Vecna Technologies, Cambridge, created the QC Bot as a hospital courier, tele-presence and patient self-service robot.
25
Robotics is becoming as ubiquitous a platform technology
as computing is today and will transform industry and
everyday life.
Massachusetts leads the world in robotics education,
R&D, product development, and product sales. Leveraging
the competitive strengths of the Commonwealth’s unique
intellectual resources and talent pool, robotics has already
created dozens of new companies, hundreds of new jobs,
many new applications, and increased productivity in leading
industries including healthcare, life sciences, advanced
manufacturing, defense, and marine science. No other new
platform technology impacts so many critical industries.
Massachusetts is leading in the development of innovative
service robots. The global market for professional and
personal service robots is experiencing explosive growth and
projected to be worth $21 billion by 201416 and a whopping
$50 billion by 2025.17 As a world leader in the design and
development of professional and personal service robots,
Massachusetts is ideally positioned to dominate the global
market for service robots. The fact that the majority of the
robotic start-ups launched in Massachusetts since 2008 are
service robots is a sign of the quickening pace of innovation
in the design and development of service robots in
the Commonwealth.
Key early adopters in Massachusetts have demonstrated
a propensity to innovate, making those industries ideal
collaborators (e.g., defense trend toward new warfare
technology; healthcare reform and demographics demanding
technology solutions for healthcare delivery; advanced
manufacturing seeking revitalization through automation;
etc.). The Massachusetts Robotics Cluster is now entering
an inflection point of even more rapid robotics adoption and
industry growth.
Although the U.S. holds the lead in robotics, other
countries are making huge investments in robotics
technology. It is imperative that Massachusetts protect and
strengthen its leadership position in robotics not only to grow
the Commonwealth’s economy but also to help maintain U.S.
competitiveness as a global leader in robotics development
and adoption.
Faster Forward: Accelerating Robotics Growth in Massachusetts
Massachusetts can accelerate the growth of the
robotics industry in the Commonwealth and protect its
global competitive advantage. The future of robotics in
Massachusetts depends on promoting the industry and
strengthening key critical success factors, including:
The vitality of the intellectual infrastructure
■■ Attracting new and varied R&D investment.
■■ Fostering more collaboration among universities
and between universities and industry both within the
Commonwealth and throughout the New England region.
The vibrancy of the Talent pool
■■ Attracting and retaining robotics entrepreneurs, investors,
workers, and established companies to Massachusetts.
leading the Robotics Revolution
16 International Federation of Robotics 17 Japanese Robot Association
Artaic’s versatile robotic system assists the production of custom mosaic projects at speeds once deemed impossible.
■■ Developing and growing robotics talent and existing
businesses in Massachusetts.
■■ Assessing the skills gap along the entire hierarchy of talent
requirements of the robotics industry and its supporting
industries, from basic level and “middle skills” to higher skills
in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering.■
The supply of “smart Money” for Robotics
investment and Mentoring for entrepreneurs
■■ Facilitating business development and financing for start-
up and young robotics firms through new and existing state
entities and programs.
■■ Educating the investment community about the potential
return on robotics investments.
■■ Supporting networking and mentoring of new and existing
robotics entrepreneurs and executives.
The dynamic cycle of commercialization
■■ Exploiting robotics R&D by supporting
increased technology commercialization and new
product development.
■■ Facilitating robotics adoption by industry innovators
by establishing new links between key customers and
applications that leverage local strengths in healthcare, life
sciences, manufacturing, defense, and marine
technology, etc.
■■ Promoting robotics adoption within the public sector
in Massachusetts.
The cohesiveness and commitment of the
Robotics community
■■ Promoting dynamic connections and collaboration within
the diverse Massachusetts robotics community, as well as
externally with regional, national, and international robotics
associations, researchers, innovators, and centers
of excellence.
■■ Connecting robotics talent and ideas with industries
across the full spectrum of potential applications, especially
those with high potential for growth in the Massachusetts
and regional economy.
The GEARS-SMP is a research quality Surface Mobility Platform designed for university, college, and high school programs engaged in real-world robotic research. This research robot was developed using mobile platform technology and created by GEARS Educational Systems for a client-authored NSF grant.
27
MassTLC’s Role in the Robotics Revolution
MassTLC is proud to be a catalyst for growth of the
Massachusetts robotics sector. The Council has been
working with the Robotics Cluster leadership since 2005 and
continues to accelerate growth by:
Raising awareness of robotics potential with local
stakeholders, educators, government officials, investors, the
business community, and the general public; promoting and
celebrating the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster regionally,
nationally, and internationally.
creating community by establishing productive
links for the Robotics Cluster and its members within the
Commonwealth’s diverse robotics community as well as with
the investment community, the entrepreneurial community,
academia, government leaders, international delegations,
adjacent industries, and robotics thought leaders.
convening and connecting robotics entrepreneurs,
investors, inventors, researchers, and stakeholders for
idea sharing and discussion of both technological and
business challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
MassTLC plays a key role in helping entrepreneurs grow their
businesses through unique mentoring opportunities with
people who can them get where they are going faster.
Tracking the cluster’s growth through publication
of the first industry analyses of its kind, the achieving
global leadership robotics report (2009), and the new
robotics growth Index (2012). Advocating for policies and
interventions to support the sector’s continued growth.
We are proud of the exciting progress the robotics industry
has made in recent years and pleased to play a unique role in
keeping Massachusetts at the forefront by leveraging our role
as an organization that spans the many technologies and
industries impacted by the robotics revolution
in Massachusetts.
SourcesAccess Science Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
Online from McGraw Hill
ABI Research: Defense Robots: UAVs, UGVs, UUVs and
Task Robots for Military Applications
Donahue Institute University of Massachusetts, Defense
Industry in Massachusetts 2010
Clusters and the New Economics of Competition
The Economist. Manufacturing and Innovation, 2012
E-Marketer
From Internet to Robotics: A Roadmap for U.S. Robotics, Computing Research Association & Computing Community Consortium, 2009
International Federation of Robotics: World Robotics
Industrial Robots 2011, World Robotics Service
Robots 2011
IEEE Spectrum Autonomous Robots in the Fog of War,
2011
MIT Sloan School Robotics Cluster Report, 2012
Mass Technology Leadership Council
Process Engineering, ARC Advisory Group (London)
Robotic Business, Robotics Trends (EH Publishing)
Robotic Industries Association, Robotics Online and
Industry Statistics
Wintergreen Research Market Forecasts 2008-2014
Header Picture Referencespage 4 header
Cambridge-based Energid’s Actin robotic control software
was developed to make the most of complex robotic
hardware. The Cyton arm shown here uses Actin to enable
a wide application of robotics.
page 6 header
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick visits Bluefin
Robotics in Quincy, MA to recognize their positive
economic impact on the area.
page 9 header
ORYX 2.0 was designed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute
students for operation on rough terrain to facilitate space
related research and Earth exploration missions.
page 17 header
Aurora Flight Sciences with their research and
development office in Cambridge, MA has been part of the
Global Hawk (shown here in flight) team since 1995.
page 20 header
Myomo based in Cambridge, MA is an MIT spin-out that
has developed the mPower 1000, a powered arm brace
that is intended to increase arm movement for individuals
affected by brain injuries such as a stroke.
page 22 header
North Reading-based Kiva Systems, recently acquired
by Amazon, is a mobile robotic fulfillment system for
eCommerce and other order processing operations.
page 25 header
Cambridge based Jaybridge Robotics has partnered with
Kinze Manufacturing on the first autonomous grain
cart system.
back cover
Quincy-based Bluefin Robotics launches an autonomous
underwater vehicle in the Boston Harbor.
29
Appendix A – Alphabetical List of Massachusetts Companies and Institutions
Acon
Advanced Control Systems Corporation
Airventions
Aldebaran
AndrosRobotics
AOA Xinetics Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
Applied Systems Engineering
Aptima Inc
Aquabotix Technology Corporation
Argo Medical Technologies
Artaic Innovative Mosaic
Aurora Flight Systems
Autogen
Automated Medical Instruments
Autonomous Exploration
Aware
Axis New England
Barrett Technology
Battelle Memorial Institute
BBN Technologies
Berkshire Group LTD
Bioscale
Bitflow
Black-I Robotics
Bluefin Robotics
BlueShift Technologies
Boston Dynamics
Boston Engineering
Boston University
Braingate2
Brandeis University
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brooks Automation
Caliper Life Sciences
Charles River Analytics
CoAutomation
Cognex
Corindus Vascular Robotics
Cortical Physiology Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital
Custom Systems and Controls
CyPhy Works
Dangel Robotics & Machinery
Deep Sea Systems International
Digilab Genomic Solutions
Dinkum Software
Dolan-Jenner Industries
Draka Cableteq USA
Draper Labs
DS SolidWorks Corporation
Electra Studios
Electromechanica
Elm Electrical
Energid Technologies
Eutechnics Incoroprated
Falmouth Scientific
Fiberoptic Components LLC
FTR Systems
Gears Educational Systems LLC
Geartronics Industries Inc
Gibson Engineering
Gleason Research
Goddard Technologies
GTC Falcon
Harmonic Drive Technologies
Harvard Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Harvard Robotics Lab
Harvard Wyss Institute
Harvest Automation
Heartlander Surgical
HighRes Biosolutions
Hitec Corporation
Hocoma
Holoverse Group
Hstar Technologies
Hydroid
IBM
Iconics
Immersive Design
Innovent Technologies LLC
Interactive Motion Technologies
Intersense
intuVision
Invensys Operations Management
iRobot Corporation
iWalk
J+H Machine
Jaybridge Robotics
Kaztek Systems
Kiva Systems
Lockheed Martin Sippican
Manta Product Development
Manufacturing Resource Group
Mass Automation Corporation
Medrobotics (formerly CardioRobotics)
Mekinesis
Mercury Computer Systems
MicroE Systems
Microsoft Corporation
Middlesex General Industries
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Media Lab
MITRE Corporation
Mohawk Cable
More Industries
Myomo
Nascent Technology Corporation
Neurala
Neuron Robotics
Newport Corporation
NortekUSA
Northeastern University
Oceanserver Technology
Olin College of Engineering
Opco Laboratory
Optimum Technologies
Oracle Engineering
Orchid Technologies Engineering & Consulting
Performance Motion Devices
Persimmon Technologies
Polymer Corporation
PowerHydrant
Precision Flow Technologies
Protonex Technology Corporation
QinetiQ North America (formerly Foster-Miller)
Quiet Logistics
Quvium Asthma Signals
RailPod
Ranger Automation Systems
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
Red Hat
Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics)
Robitech
Robonica
RPU Technology
RT Engineering Corporation
Schott North America
Scientific Systems Company
Seegrid Corporation
Sensable Technologies
Smart Robots
Sotax
Symbotic LLC
Teledyne Benthos
Teledyne Webb Research Corporation
Teradyne
Textron Systems
Thermo Fisher Scientific
TIAX LLC
Titian Software
TR Aeronautics LLC
Tufts University
Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems
UMass Amherst
UMass Lowell
Vaccon Company
Vecna Technologies
Viking Systems
Vishwa Robotics and Automation LLC
WAY-2C
Whitney Systems
WobbleWorks LLC
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
31
Appendix B – Robotics Companies and Institutions by ApplicationAcademic Institutions
Boston University (Boston)
Brandeis University (Waltham)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston)
Cortical Physiology Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
Harvard Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (Cambridge)
Harvard Robotics Lab (Cambridge)
Harvard Wyss Institute (Cambridge)
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (Cambridge)
MIT Lincoln Laboratory (Lexington)
MIT Media Lab (Cambridge)
Northeastern University (Boston)
Olin College of Engineering (Needham)
Tufts University (Medford)
UMass Amherst (Amherst)
UMass Lowell (Lowell)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Woods Hole)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester)
ComponentsAcon Incorporated (South Easton)
Advanced Control Systems Corporation (Pembroke)
AOA Xinetics Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (Cambridge)
Applied Systems Engineering Incorporated (Sandwich)
Aware Incorporated (Bedford)
Axis New England (Danvers)
Boston Engineering (Waltham)
CoAutomation (Westborough)
Cognex (Natick)
Dolan-Jenner Industries Incorporated (Boxborough)
Draka Cableteq USA (North Dighton)
DS SolidWorks Corporation (Waltham)
Falmouth Scientific (Cataumet)
Fiberoptic Components LLC (Sterling)
Geartronics Industries (North Billerica)
Gleason Research (Concord)
Goddard Technologies (Beverly)
GTC Falcon Incorporated (Plymouth)
Harmonic Drive Technologies (Peabody)
Hitec Corporation (Littleton)
Holoverse Group (Yarmouth Port)
IBM (Waltham)
Iconics (Foxborough)
Innovent Technologies LLC (Peabody)
Intersense (Billerica)
intuVision (Woburn)
Invensys Operations Management (Foxboro)
J+H Machine (Amesbury)
Kaztek Systems (Acton)
Manta Product Development (Cambridge)
Manufacturing Resource Group (Norwood)
Mekinesis (Arlington)
Mercury Computer Systems (Chelmsford)
MicroE Systems (Bedford)
Microsoft Corporation (Cambridge)
Mohawk Cable (Leominster)
Nascent Technology Corporation (Lexington)
Neuron Robotics (Somerville)
NortekUSA (Boston)
Opco Laboratory Incorporated (Fitchburg)
Optimum Technologies (Southbridge)
Oracle Engineering Incorporated (Sudbury)
Orchid Technologies Engineering & Consulting (Maynard)
Performance Motion Devices Incorporated (Boxborough)
Polymer Corporation (Rockland)
Protonex Technology Corporation (Southborough)
Robitech Incorporated (Ipswich)
RPU Technology (Needham)
Schott North America (Southbridge)
Scientific Systems Company (Woburn)
Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems (Braintree)
Viking Systems (Westborough)
WAY-2C (Arlington)
ConsumerAirventions (Boston)
Aldebaran (Boston)
Aptima (Woburn)
Aquabotix Technology Corporation (Fall River)
Electra Studios
Electromechanica (Mattapoisett)
FTR Systems (Wakefield)
Gears Educational Systems LLC (Hanover)
Harvest Automation (Billerica)
Interactive Motion Technologies (Watertown)
iRobot Corporation (Bedford)
PowerHydrant (Westwood)
Robonica (Boston)
Smart Robots (Dalton)
WobbleWorks LLC (Newton)
Factory Automation / DistributionArtaic Innovative Mosaic (Boston)
Barrett Technology (Cambridge)
Berkshire Group LTD (Westfield)
Brooks Automation (Chelmsford)
Custom Systems and Controls (Framingham)
Dangel Robotics & Machinery (Bedford)
Elm Electrical (Westfield)
Eutechnics (Acton)
Gibson Engineering (Norwood)
Kiva Systems (North Reading)
Mass Automation Corporation (Bourne)
Newport Corporation (North Billerica)
Precision Flow Technologies (Shrewsbury)
Quiet Logistics (Andover)
Ranger Automation Systems (Shrewsbury)
Rethink Robotics (Boston)
RT Engineering Corporation (Franklin)
Seegrid Corporation (Lowell)
Symbotic LLC (Wilmington)
Vishwa Robotics and Automation LLC (Brighton)
Whitney Systems (Chelmsford)
Healthcare / Medical / Assistive Technology
AndrosRobotics (Boston)
Argo Medical Technologies (Boston)
Automated Medical Instruments (Needham)
Barrett Technology (Cambridge)
Braingate2 (Boston)
Corindus Vascular Robotics (Natick)
Heartlander Surgical (Westwood)
Hocoma (Norwell)
Hstar Technologies (Cambridge)
Interactive Motion Technologies (Watertown)
iRobot Corporation (Bedford)
iWalk (Cambridge)
Medrobotics (Raynham)
Myomo (Cambridge)
Quvium (Woburn)
Sensable Technologies (Wilmington)
Vecna Technologies (Cambridge)
Vishwa Robotics and Automation LLC (Brighton)
Lab AutomationAutogen (Holliston)
Bioscale Incorporated (Lexington)
BlueShift Technologies (Andover)
Caliper Life Sciences (Hopkinton)
Digilab Genomic Solutions (Holliston)
HighRes Biosolutions (Woburn)
Middlesex General Industries (Woburn)
Persimmon Technologies (Wakefield)
Sotax (Hopkinton)
Teradyne Incorporated (North Reading)
Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham)
Vaccon Company (Medway)
Military / Public Safety (Ground, Marine, Aerospace Robots)
Aquabotix Technology (Fall River)
iRobot Corporation (Bedford)
Aurora Flight Systems (Cambridge)
Autonomous Exploration (Andover)
Black-I Robotics (Tyngsboro)
Bluefin Robotics (Quincy)
Boston Dynamics (Waltham)
Boston Engineering (Waltham)
CyPhy Works (Danvers)
Deep Sea Systems International (Falmouth)
Draper Labs (Cambridge)
Hydroid (Pocasset)
Lockheed Martin Sippican (Marion)
MITRE Corporation (Bedford)
More Industries
Oceanserver Technology (Fall River)
QinetiQ North America (Waltham)
33
RailPod (Hull)
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (Waltham)
Teledyne Benthos (North Falmouth)
Teledyne Webb Research (East Falmouth)
Textron Systems (Wilmington)
TIAX LLC (Lexington)
TR Aeronautics LLC (Boston)
Vecna Technologies (Cambridge)
Robotics SoftwareBBN Technologies (Cambridge)
Bitflow (Woburn)
Charles River Analytics (Cambridge)
Dinkum Software (Falmouth)
Energid Technologies (Cambridge)
Immersive Design (Acton)
IBM (Waltham)
Jaybridge Robotics (Cambridge)
Kaztek Systems (Acton)
Microsoft (Cambridge)
Neurala (Boston)
Neuron Robotics (Somerville)
Red Hat (Westford)
Titian Software (Westborough)
“Imagine being present at the birth of a new industry. It is an industry based on
groundbreaking new technologies, wherein a handful of well-established corporations
sell highly specialized devices for business use and a fast-growing number of start-up
companies produce innovative toys, gadgets for hobbyists, and other interesting niche
products…… (like the computer industry) …trends are now starting to converge and
I can envision a future in which robotics devices will become a nearly ubiquitous part
of our day-to-day lives. Technologies such as distributed computing, voice and visual
recognition, and wireless broadband connectively will open the door to a new generation
of autonomous devices that enable computers to perform tasks in the physical world on
our behalf. We may be on the verge of a new era, when the PC will get up off the desktop
and allow us to see, hear, touch, and manipulate objects in places where we are not
physically present.”
Bill gates