Robots & Startups

Robots & Startups explores the intersection of robotics, AI, and startup culture, emphasizing advancements, challenges, and the future potential of robotics. It covers technological trends, industry insights, notable figures, and events from Silicon Valley, highlighting the global impact and opportunities within the robotics sector.

Technology Trends Artificial Intelligence Startup Culture Industry Insights Robotic Advancements Investment and Funding Human-Robot Interaction Events and Conferences Ethics and Regulation Educational Resources

The hottest Substack posts of Robots & Startups

And their main takeaways

Ranking the best humanoid robots of 2023

79 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Reviews AI
  1. Progress in humanoid robots has advanced significantly since challenges like the DARPA Robotics Challenge of 2015/2016.
  2. Various types of humanoid robots are now utilized commercially or in trial phases.
  3. The Avatar XPrize of 2019-2022 has been a notable event pushing advancements in robotics.

Amazon is the new robotics champion

19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Startups Events Innovation
  1. It took Amazon only 10 years to reach nearly 1 million robot deployments, showing rapid growth in the robotics industry.
  2. Amazon is investing heavily in robotics and AI technologies, with over €700 million allocated for advancements across Europe.
  3. Upcoming robotics events include RoboGames, Robotics Summit & Expo, and the Robotics Investment Summit, offering diverse opportunities for engagement and learning.

Robot startups need to 'Start Telling People' plus highlights from BARS 2023

59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Funding Research
  1. Robot startups should focus on 'Start Telling People' - effectively communicating their products and ideas is crucial for success
  2. BARS 2023 featured the latest robotics research showcasing the use of transformers and the rapid pace of innovation - a hub for cutting-edge robotics and AI insights
  3. Subscribe to Robots & Startups for access to in-depth posts and archives, with a 7-day free trial available - stay updated on the latest in robotics and startup trends
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Garbatrage: for sustainable robotics

59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Sustainability Funding Research
  1. A paper presented at the Association for Computing Machinery conference highlighted repurposing old hoverboards for robotics, showcasing sustainability in the field.
  2. Robots in New York City made from discarded hoverboards emphasize the potential for innovative recycling in creating sustainable robotics.
  3. Subscription to Robots & Startups offers a 7-day free trial, granting access to exclusive content and archives for deeper insights into the realm of robotics.

Unboxing my secret robot addiction - part 1

59 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Robots Crowdfunding 3D Printing Internet of Things
  1. The author has a long-standing interest in robots and technology, which began with building model rockets and circuits from a young age.
  2. Crowdfunding has played a significant role in supporting the author's robot addiction, allowing them to back various interesting robot campaigns over the years.
  3. Reflecting on impulsive robot purchases and considering cognitive behavioral therapies to manage the fascination for robots, showcasing the struggle of maintaining control over a growing collection.

Robots for Morocco earthquake, sustainability, choreography, agriculture, investment and IPOs

59 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Robots Sustainability Agriculture Investment
  1. Robots are being developed for various applications like earthquake response, sustainability, choreography, agriculture, investment, and IPOs.
  2. The robotics industry is exploring autonomous functions in trucking, driving, flying, bartending, education, fashion, and fast food.
  3. Key articles on interesting topics include one about Doosan and Bear Robotics, the NIST economic analysis of US manufacturing, and Madeline Gannon's robotic choreography installation in Miami.

Join my chat

59 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Subscription Chat Community
  1. The post announces a new subscriber chat feature on the Substack publication for exclusive conversations and updates.
  2. The chat functions as a group chat or live hangout, allowing subscribers to engage with short prompts and thoughts.
  3. Subscribers can access the chat with a 7-day free trial to Robots & Startups and participate in the discussions.

Motor City Magic, investment starting to bounce back, and are female robots sinister?

59 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Investment Technology News
  1. SVR is hosting robotics events in the next few weeks, including Bots&Beer. The community is excited for the events, promising a silver lining.
  2. TokyoTV (Nikkei) is interested in filming/interviewing robotics startups. They'd like to capture stories potentially related to Silicon Valley Bank.
  3. Subscribe to Robots & Startups for access to full post archives and a 7-day free trial. Stay updated on the latest robotics news and trends.

Remembering Joanne Pransky, World's First RoboPsychiatrist

59 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Innovation Women in Tech
  1. Joanne Pransky was the world's first RoboPsychiatrist, known for her effervescent personality and dedication to supporting social robots and women in robotics.
  2. Pransky worked in industrial robotics and often found herself as the sole woman in the field, showcasing her resilience and pioneering spirit.
  3. Her legacy lives on through initiatives like the Women in Robotics Scholarship, the Social Robot Museum, and celebrations of her impactful life in Boston and beyond.

The PARC treasure trove is open!

59 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Events Projects
  1. The PARC treasure trove is open, indicating a new event for Automate and ICRA soon.
  2. The author will be sharing links to robotics news and events regularly through the newsletter.
  3. Readers can get 7 days of free access by subscribing to Robots & Startups.

Unboxing my secret robot addiction - part 2

39 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Robots Startups Crowdfunding
  1. The post discusses a secret robot addiction and the impact of crowdfunding on it.
  2. There is a mention of falling for various robots and robot projects, like the unfunded Robogames documentary.
  3. Paid subscribers get exclusive early access to content, with full access becoming available to everyone after two weeks.

What else has been happening in robotics?

59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Robotics AI
  1. The post discusses the state of AI in robotics and highlights Agility Robotics' perspective, offering a fresh view on the situation.
  2. There is concern about the level of misinformation and hype surrounding AI currently, indicating a need for clear and accurate information in this field.
  3. Readers can access more information and support the author's work by subscribing to the Robots & Startups publication.

The robots of FIRA-USA 2023, CA policy and new agrobotics data standards

39 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Robots
  1. FIRA-USA highlighted that agrobots are ready and farmers are interested, with advancements in electric and multipurpose agrobots.
  2. Farmers in California are concerned about regulations requiring a safety driver for every autonomous robot in the field, unlike in other regions.
  3. The agrobotics field is evolving with new data standards and technologies, including drones, teleoperation, affordable robot arms, and more.

Robodogs with guns vs robodogs calming dementia patients?

39 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Artificial Intelligence Emerging Tech
  1. The post discusses the contrast between robodogs equipped with guns and robodogs designed to calm dementia patients.
  2. It offers a deep dive into the YC model and the concept of applying 'a small amount of force at the right time'.
  3. The author's focus is on leveraging information to create economic value, particularly in supporting robotics startups.

Summer robotics fun and funding!

39 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Funding Events
  1. Summer robotics event features job fair component with companies hiring and interested individuals reaching out.
  2. The event is hosted by The Hardware Collective at Circuit Launch and includes discussions on Women in Robotics and Founder & Funders topics.
  3. Readers can access full post archives with a 7-day free trial subscription to Robots & Startups.

Weekend robotics reading

59 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Robotics
  1. The author enjoys sharing weekly collections of interesting robotics reads
  2. They find Substack great for longer content, but miss the ease of sharing links with short summaries like they could with Revue
  3. The author plans to send out a collection of links every weekend even if they don't write a longer piece

Move over SVB, time for some good news in robotics

59 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Startups Funding Robotics
  1. Startups in robotics face challenges raising funds, often dealing with slow progress and avoiding predatory lending terms.
  2. Despite the funding challenges, there is good news in the robotics industry, with new startups emerging and innovative projects like designing giant robots.
  3. The robotics landscape is slowly evolving, but there are positive developments that showcase growth and potential for the future.

Ranking the best humanoid robots of 2024

19 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Robots AI Innovation Startups Tech industry
  1. There are currently 41 companies working on developing humanoid robots for commercial and industrial purposes. These robots are more affordable than the DARPA robots from previous challenges.
  2. The goal in humanoid robotics is to achieve sophistication while keeping the price under $50,000. This is a benchmark as cars, which are larger and perform autonomously, are priced similarly.
  3. Advancements in humanoid robots have been showcased in events like the Avatar XPrize. The aim is to combine sophistication and affordability in these machines.

The humanoid space is going crAIzy!

39 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Analytics Startups
  1. Big-data analytics firm Databricks has open-sourced a new AI model that rivals ChatGPT with impressive speed and efficiency.
  2. The AI model was trained in less than three hours on a single machine, requiring far less data compared to other models.
  3. The field of generative artificial intelligence is continuously evolving with advancements like these, showcasing the rapid progress in AI technology.

Thanksgiving for friends and researchers who are passionate about robots for good of society

19 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Robots Events Research Innovation
  1. The post expresses gratitude for friends and researchers passionate about robots for the betterment of society.
  2. There is a discussion about potential competition between companies to produce the 'world's first mass produced' humanoid robot.
  3. The post highlights the transition of Dani Carillo Zapata from Robohub to managing an EU project in wellness, along with updates on humanoids, robotics news, and events.

The 5 Levels of Sustainable Robotics

19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Sustainability
  1. Robots can contribute significantly to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals beyond just the application area.
  2. In the field of Sustainable Robotics, it is important to consider not just how robotics can enhance sustainability in various applications, but also the associated costs and benefits.
  3. Subscribing to Robots & Startups allows access to more insights and a 7-day free trial for exploring posts like 'The 5 Levels of Sustainable Robotics.'

More interesting things about robotics, Why you SHOULD see M3GAN & Bye Bye Revue

39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Tech Companies
  1. The movie 'M3GAN' is generating a lot of excitement and took inspiration from Bay Area tech companies.
  2. AI researcher Murray Shanahan highlights the risks posed by large language models that don't truly understand language and 'truth' like humans.
  3. Exciting developments in the robotics world are happening, such as the OSRC team joining Intrinsic, impacting the ROS community.

Barney the purple robot dinosaur and the importance of being embodied in AI

19 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Research
  1. The Open X-Embodiment Repository holds over 1 million robot trajectories across 22 different embodiments, showing improvements in robot models and performance.
  2. Researchers are already observing enhanced generalization and performance in models like RT-1-X and RT-2-X, indicating promising outcomes from the research.
  3. Exploring embodied AI, as seen through projects like Barney the purple robot dinosaur, highlights the importance of physical form in artificial intelligence development.

IROS 2023 best papers on demand

19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🔬 Science Technology Robots Research
  1. IROS on Demand for 2023 is available to the public for free until Oct 9th the following year.
  2. Other posts worth reading about IROS include insights from Robohub.org and Silicon Valley Robotics.
  3. Access more content and a 7-day free trial by subscribing to Robots & Startups.