We’re passionate concerning the affect robotics can have on the world. That’s why for 14 years, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have honored probably the most progressive robotics firms, applied sciences, and functions from world wide.
This 12 months we introduced again three main awards: Robotic of the 12 months, Software of the 12 months, and Startup of the 12 months. We added a fourth main honor: Robots for Good, which acknowledges a robotic making a significant affect on society.
The RBR50 Gala returns April 30 from 6-8 PM in Boston on the Robotics Summit & Expo. The Gala affords attendees an opportunity to community with the world’s main robotics innovators. The Robotics Summit additionally has a devoted part on the expo flooring highlighting this 12 months’s RBR50 winners. Tickets to the RBR50 Gala are restricted and may be bought on-line throughout Robotics Summit & Expo registration.
Profiles of all RBR50 winners may be discovered on the backside of this web page.
Robotic of the 12 months: Waymo robotaxi
Waymo is single-handedly conserving the promise of autonomous autos (AV) alive within the U.S. In 2024, it steadily scaled its robotaxi operations whereas others faltered. Waymo final October surpassed 150,000 paid journeys per week throughout its fleets in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This was after it exceeded 100,000 paid journeys per week simply two months earlier.
Waymo final 12 months additionally introduced plans to launch robotaxi companies in Atlanta and Miami in 2025. It additionally mentioned it’ll start testing in Tokyo for its first worldwide “street journey.”
The AV trade has lengthy been stricken by firms that overpromised and underdelivered. After years of delays, technical setbacks, and high-profile failures, many individuals query whether or not AVs will ever turn out to be a widespread actuality.
Waymo has confirmed to be the exception to this rule. It additional solidified its place because the dominant participant within the robotaxi market in 2024. And, extra importantly, it’s exhibiting that protected, autonomous ride-hailing at scale isn’t just potential – it’s already right here.
TEPCO wins Software of the 12 months
Robots are good for duties which are dully, soiled, or harmful. And maybe no job is extra harmful than the one carried out by the Software of the 12 months Winner.
In October 2024, a remote-controlled robotic named Telesco efficiently retrieved a small piece of radioactive gas from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. This marked a big step within the decommissioning efforts of three reactors that misplaced their cooling methods in the course of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, forsaking an estimated 880 tons of radioactive gas.
The robotic is being utilized by the Tokyo Electrical Energy Firm (TEPCO), which manages the plant. The potential excessive ranges of radiation within the broken reactors have made it unsafe for people. Scientists mentioned the pattern will present important knowledge to refine decommissioning methods. The pattern returned was the dimensions of a grain of rice. TEPCO mentioned the pattern was considerably much less radioactive than it anticipated. It mentioned extra sampling missions are needed to acquire extra knowledge.
The cleanup of nuclear waste is a gigantic problem. TEPCO’s use of robotics is vital to making sure employee security and minimizing human publicity to radioactive environments.
Mytra named Startup of the 12 months
Mytra helps its prospects optimize warehouse area by automating historically handbook pallet dealing with processes. Its 3D lattice storage system maximizes density and eliminates aisles whereas permitting flexibility in dealing with numerous payloads, from small objects as much as 3,000 lb. pallets.
Based in 2022, Mytra’s system has already been deployed by main firms, together with Albertsons, a number one American grocery enterprise. Albertson’s makes use of it in distribution facilities to buffer and sequence stock earlier than delivery to shops. The Mytra resolution can also be helpful for cross-docking warehouses as it may statically stage and retailer full pallets, queuing them for the trailer loading course of. Throughout its buyer base, Mytra estimates that warehouses save as much as 88% of labor hours.
Mytra was based by Chris Walti and Ahmad Baitalmal, former leaders in robotics and manufacturing at Tesla and Rivian, respectively. Their area data of logistics and large-scale automation has helped Mytra design a product that straight addresses the inefficiencies they skilled firsthand in fashionable warehouses.
Whats up Robotic wins Robots for Good Award
Whats up Robotic’s Stretch 3 cellular manipulator has been acknowledged with the Robots for Good Award for advancing in-home assistive robotics. Constructed to assist people with mobility challenges, Stretch 3 is compact, light-weight, and succesful in cluttered environments.
Stretch 3 has already gained traction in analysis establishments throughout greater than 20 nations and is gaining floor in real-world functions. People with extreme mobility impairments are utilizing it to regain independence, interact in social interactions, and ease the burden on caregivers. Henry Evans, a non-speaking grownup with quadriplegia, has shared how Stretch permits him to contribute to family chores and join together with his granddaughter in a approach that was beforehand unimaginable.
Past particular person use, Stretch 3 is being examined in assistive functions comparable to an NIH-funded research exploring robotic assist for older adults with early-stage dementia. Whats up Robotic has additionally partnered with the ALS Affiliation to develop options tailor-made to that neighborhood’s wants. With open-source software program and continued growth, Stretch 3 is accelerating the way forward for at-home assistive robots.
To be taught extra concerning the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2025, peruse the winner profiles under. We hope you be a part of us on the RBR50 Gala to have fun this 12 months’s winners and join with the brightest minds in robotics.
RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2025
CompanyInnovation
ABB RoboticsLaunches next-generation OmniCore robotics management platform
Agility RoboticsDigit is the primary humanoid deployed in a industrial software
Amazon RoboticsAmazon opens its most automated facility ever
Asensus SurgicalSenhance brings minimally-invasive robotic surgical procedure to youngsters
BeewiseHeat Chamber kills 99% of honeybee mites, chemical-free
Boston DynamicsElectric model of Atlas a game-changer for humanoids
Chef RoboticsRobots assist meals producers enhance manufacturing
Clearpath Robotics by Rockwell AutomationHusky A300 affords rugged cellular robotics platform
CogniboticsHKM1800 selecting robotic enhances productiveness of warehouses
Collaborative RoboticsProxie cellular manipulator simplifies materials dealing with
cyngnDriveMod permits autonomy throughout indoor and outside areas
EndiatxSwallowable robotic affords real-time abdomen diagnostics
FBRHadrian X blocklaying robotic builds first 5 properties
ForceNRedefines force-torque sensing with plug-and-play method
Geek+Robots assist create Unilever’s largest manufacturing facility
GrayMatter RoboticsScan&Sand automates labor-intensive ambulance manufacturing
HEBI RoboticsInchworm-style robots supply a novel method to mobility
Whats up RobotStretch 3 brings in-home assistive robots to life
HumotechCaplex improves prosthetic becoming with real-time emulation
IsochronicSimultaneous pick-and-place tech will increase throughput
Johns Hopkins UniversityResearchers use imitation studying to coach surgical robots
KUKARobots help with larvae breeding on Danish insect farm
Levita MagneticsDual-robot surgical procedure efficiently removes human prostate
Libiao RoboticsSkechers enhances warehouse effectivity with AirRob system
LimX DynamicsTRON 1 multi-modal biped affords a novel R&D platform
Locus RoboticsMobile robots surpass 4 billion picks worldwide
MAB RoboticsWaterproof Honey Badger quadruped navigates land and water
MassRoboticsMassRobotics startups elevate greater than $1 billion
maxonHigh Effectivity Joints set a brand new normal for robotic actuators
Mbodi AIHybrid AI structure helps robots be taught through pure language
MytraAutomated storage simplifies case and pallet dealing with
NASAIngenuity Helicopter ends three-year historic run on Mars
Northrop GrummanManta Ray underwater drone passes first army take a look at
NVIDIAOpen-source Isaac Lab accelerates robotic studying
NYU LangoneDoctors carry out world’s first absolutely robotic double lung transplant
OpteranEuropean House Company assessments Thoughts autonomy platform
OTTO by Rockwell AutomationOTTO solves interoperability points for big automotive OEM
Pickle RobotHelps unload greater than 1.5 million lbs. of Randa attire
Mission CETIResearchers use robotics to higher perceive sperm whales
Reflex RoboticsWheeled cellular manipulator makes use of teleoperation to multi-task
Roboto AIPlatform helps robotics builders streamline knowledge evaluation
Sturdy.AICarter Professional AMR takes human-robot interplay to the subsequent degree
SaildroneMaritime drones map unexplored areas of the Gulf of Maine
Shadow RobotDEX-EE hand helps advance robotic manipulation
SKA RoboticsRobot tightens fasteners inside 1GW utility-scale mills
SymboticBreakPack resolution drastically reduces every selecting prices
TennibotPartner robotic ball machine a glimpse into way forward for sports activities coaching
Tokyo Electrical Energy CompanyRobot removes radioactive materials at Fukushima nuclear reactor
Teradyne RoboticsMC600 cellular manipulator handles heavy objects
WaymoRobotaxis surpass 150,000 paid rides per week
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