Amazon underwhelms with Astro There have already been several failed attempts at multipurpose home robots. Amazon’s consumer robot will likely suffer the same fate. How ROS 2 is easing hardware acceleration for robotics The ROS 2 Hardware Acceleration Working Group is creating acceleration kernels based on open standards. 3 tips to developing outdoor robots for…

In this issue… Toyota Research Institute demonstrates household robot prototypes While most automakers have focused on robotics for manufacturing or on developing autonomous vehicles, Toyota Motor Corp. has also been investigating service robots for household use. Last month, Toyota Research Institute conducted a virtual open house of its research and development facilities in Los Altos,…

Jumpstarting the social robotics market 2018 has been a tough year for social robots for the home. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. The failures of Jibo and Mayfield Robotics, maker of Kuri, have been well-documented by The Robot Report. However, there are a couple companies that are not so eager to turn the…

Robotics topics covered in the The Robot Report special issue inserted into the August 2018 issue of Design World include:   –  Automatica 2018 Review – What’s Hot and what’s not at Europe’s largest robotics and automation event.   –  Industrial Exoskeletons Arrive – Exoskeleton systems designed for industrial work are now available, and more…

2019: the Year of Legged Robots 2019 will be the year of commercial class legged robots. That was the message delivered by Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics during their respective opening and closing keynotes at the inaugural Robotics Summit & Showcase, produced by The Robot Report and WTWH Media May 23-24 in Boston. Agility Robotics…