Rethink Robotics

Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics, Inc.^[1]) is a robotics company co-founded by Rodney Brooks and Ann Whittaker in 2008.^[3] In 2018 the assets of Rethink Robotics were bought by the German automation specialist HAHN Group.^[4] In 2021 Rethink Robotics joined the United Robotics Group GmbH.

Rethink Robotics GmbH

Formerly	Heartland Robotics, Inc.[1]
Industry	Robotics
Founded	2008
Founders	Rodney Brooks, Ann Whittaker
Headquarters	Boston , United States of America
Products	Reacher, Ryder, Riser
Owner	United Robotics Group GmbH
Number of employees	10 (2024)[2]
Website	rethinkrobotics.com

Rethink Robotics has won awards and has been an Edison Awards finalist.^[5]

Sawyer, the collaborative robot

History

Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008^[3] as a startup aiming to create low-cost robots.^[6] In 2012, they released the robot Baxter.^[7] In 2015, they released a smaller and more flexible counterpart to Baxter, Sawyer, that was designed to perform smaller, more detailed tasks.^[7][8]

In 2016, they released their collaborative robots (cobots) worldwide. These robots were designed to be easy to set up and work alongside, rather than replace, humans in factory environments.^[9]

In October 2018, Rethink Robotics ceased operations and sold off its assets.^[10][11] Other companies picked up support for the robots.^[12]

• Most of the Rethink Robotics assets were bought by a distributor, the HAHN Group, a German automation specialist.^[11][13] HAHN Group acquired all of Rethink's patents and trademarks as well as Rethink's Intera 5 software platform.^[14]

• About 100 Baxter robots and the rights to sell them in North America were bought by Hunan CoThink Robotics Technology Company.^[15]

In October 2019, one year after the acquisition of assets through the German HAHN Group, Rethink Robotics launched the new Sawyer BLACK Edition.^[16] The headquarters of Rethink Robotics moved from Rheinböllen to Bochum in mid 2020, and signed a partnership with Siemens.^[17]

In August 2024 Rethink Robotics GmbH was shut down due to operational reasons.

In September 2024 Rethink Robotics, Inc. reappears with new products. After a long hiatus, the company celebrated its rebirth at the IMTS The International Manufacturing Technology Show in 2024 with a new product portfolio including a cobot and AMR line.

References

1. "Heartland Robotics, Inc. Changes Name to Rethink Robotics - Yahoo Finance". 2016-02-03. Archived from the original on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
2. "Rethink's Story". Retrieved September 6, 2023.
3. "Company Overview of Rethink Robotics, Inc". Bloomberg Business. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
4. O'Brien, Chris (2018-11-13). "Rethink Robotics' assets bought by Hahn, Universal Robots hires 20 employees from pioneering firm". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
5. John Duhamel; et al. (May 20, 2013). "Rethink Robotics -- Finding a Market" (PDF). Stanford University. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
6. Guizzo, Erico; Ackerman, Evan (September 18, 2012). "How Rethink Robotics Built Its New Baxter Robot Worker". IEEE Spectrum. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
7. Jack Linshi (March 19, 2015). "Meet Sawyer, a New Robot That Wants to Revolutionize Manufacturing". Time. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
8. "One-armed factory robot Sawyer goes on sale". BBC News. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
9. Claire Roberta (January 29, 2016). "Impact Robotics introduces next-gen "cobots" in Australia". Australian Manufacturing. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
10. Vincent, James (2018-10-04). "Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
11. "Rethink Robotics Closes its Doors". The Robot Report. 2018-10-03. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
12. "Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support". Robotics Business Review. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2019-11-27. Rethink Robotics is gone — or is it? News from Germany and China should provide relief for owners of Baxter and Sawyer cobots worried about continuing support.
13. "Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
14. "HAHN Group acquires Rethink Robotics IP". The Robot Report. 2018-10-25. Archived from the original on 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
15. "Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support". Robotics Business Review. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
16. "Rethink Robotics launches Sawyer Black Edition". Robotics & Automation News. 2019-10-18. Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
17. Rethink Robotics moves into new HQ, partners with Siemens Archived 2023-04-01 at the Wayback Machine - Manufacturing Automation, 1 October 2020