Pausing Pepper, Packing Meat & Picking Berries - Simple Activities

Robotics Funding and the Pause on Pepper

Following our recent event in Pittsburgh, a comprehensive analysis of the interviews and profiles gathered will be available next week. Currently, a significant amount of investment news requires attention. It’s worth noting the Pittsburgh Robotics Network also hosted a major event concurrently, alongside visits from national political figures, highlighting the city’s vibrant robotics activity.

A Shift in the Robotics Landscape

As previously indicated, an increase in funding announcements was anticipated, and this expectation has been met. The traditional summer slowdown in investment appears to be a thing of the past, with venture capitalists maintaining a strong, optimistic outlook on robotics and continuing to invest heavily across the sector.

However, a note of reflection is necessary with the temporary halt in production of Pepper, the robotic greeter. A SoftBank Robotics representative confirmed to TechCrunch this decision. Reuters initially reported a restructuring within SoftBank’s robotics division, including a reduction of 40% of its 330 positions in France.

The company stated in a press release that, despite this change, SoftBank Robotics Group remains committed to the Pepper and NAO robots business and will continue to invest in Humanoid Robotics.

The History of Pepper

SoftBank Robotics acquired French robotics startup Aldebaran Robotics in 2021, leading to the development of both SoftBank Robotics and Pepper. Pepper evolved from Nao, a research robot widely used in academic and research settings, which remains prevalent in universities and institutes today.

Pepper represented an effort to extend this technology to a wider commercial audience. Designed as a life-sized robot capable of displaying information on a tablet and greeting individuals, its primary function was essentially that – a sophisticated robotic greeter.

The robot’s practical utility has always been questioned, and it’s debatable whether its capabilities necessitated advanced robotics. Conversely, specializing in research robotics may inherently operate at a loss.

Continued Investment in Robotics

Despite the scaling down of SoftBank Robotics, its investment arm remains optimistic about robotics applications beyond simple greeting functions. Vision Fund 2 spearheaded a $600 million Series D funding round for CMR Surgical, a U.K.-based surgical robotics company, achieving a valuation of $3 billion for its keyhole surgery technology.

The potential of this category lies in its ability to democratize access to specialized procedures, which could be particularly impactful in developing nations and markets with limited access to premium healthcare.

Robotics Addressing Real-World Challenges

Soft Robotics, distinct from SoftBank Robotics, attributed increased pandemic demand to a $10 million extension of its $23 million Series B funding. The meat processing industry faced significant challenges during the pandemic, and Soft Robotics offers solutions with its pneumatically powered grippers, designed to handle delicate food items.

Furthermore, Traptic, a 2019 Startup Battlefield finalist, has begun commercial deployment of its strawberry-picking robot, following a previously undisclosed $5 million Series A round, bringing its total funding to $8.4 million. The agricultural sector experienced substantial labor shortages during the pandemic.

Additional Funding Rounds

This week also saw Botrista announce a Series A funding round of $10 million for further deployment of its robotic drink-mixing kiosk, capable of preparing beverages with up to eight ingredients in approximately 20 seconds. Toggle, a New York-based construction robotics company, secured $8 million in its Series A funding.

The robotics landscape remains dynamic. Recent news, such as Zebra’s intention to acquire Fetch for $290 million, highlights this ongoing activity. Further insights on this acquisition will be shared shortly. As stated by Fetch CEO Melonee Wise…

Update: This article has been updated to correct the number of roles being eliminated within Softbank Robotics’ French team.

*Berry picking is distinct from other types of picking. We wish you success, Biz.*