Leading Automation and Robotics Innovation Platforms

🤖 Top Robotics Companies & How They Tie Into PLC + SCADA Automation As someone working deep in the world of SCADA, PLCs, and municipal/industrial automation, I've noticed how robotics is no longer a "future" concept—it's actively reshaping how we think about control systems today. Here are some top robotics companies and how their work connects directly to PLCs, SCADA, and smart automation: 🔹 ABB Robotics – A true powerhouse in both robotics and PLC systems. ABB’s robots are engineered to seamlessly integrate with ABB PLCs and SCADA software like 800xA and Symphony Plus. 🔹 FANUC – Their industrial arms can be tightly coupled with Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLCs, often using Ethernet/IP or Profinet protocols for real-time control. You'll find these in welding, CNC, and packaging lines controlled by SCADA. 🔹 KUKA – Offers native OPC UA and other industrial protocols for easy integration with SCADA and MES systems. Their robotics controllers play well with Siemens TIA Portal environments. 🔹 Yaskawa Motoman – Known for precise motion control and frequent deployment alongside Rockwell PLCs in North American plants. Great for automotive and high-speed pick-and-place applications. 🔹 Universal Robots – Their cobots are incredibly flexible and SCADA/PLC-friendly. You can program them via Modbus/TCP or Ethernet/IP and visualize them through SCADA HMI panels for collaborative tasks. 🔹 Boston Dynamics – Spot the robot dog isn’t just a novelty. It’s being used for inspection and data collection—feeding data into SCADA historians or triggering alarms via remote I/O integration. 🔹 ANYbotics – Similar to Spot, their four-legged robots are automating hazardous inspections, often integrated with SCADA through MQTT or REST APIs to provide real-time telemetry. 🔹 Agility Robotics – As logistics automation accelerates, these bipedal bots can be tied into warehouse SCADA systems or triggered by PLC-controlled conveyor logic. 🔹 Teradyne (UR + MiR) – Combining collaborative arms with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), these systems can be orchestrated through SCADA dashboards and interact with PLC-based process logic. 🔹 NVIDIA Isaac Platform – While not a hardware manufacturer, this AI/robotics development kit enables vision, path planning, and simulation—often deployed on edge devices that report into SCADA for advanced HMI visualization. The convergence of robotics, PLCs, and SCADA is what turns disconnected machines into orchestrated systems. It’s also where control engineers like us can thrive—by designing the logic, network, and visualization layer that makes it all run. Are you seeing robots pop up in your SCADA/PLC environments yet? Which brands do you work with? #Robotics #SCADA #PLC #IndustrialAutomation #Cobots #SmartManufacturing #SystemIntegration #Engineering #ControlSystems #Industry40 #AutomationProfessionals #DigitalTwins

They are robotic(s). And that’s a compliment. Here is why. They move minds and machines alike. Wire empathy into algorithms. Design hardware with heart. And rethink what a robot can be. 📌 Cathy Pearl Programmed NASA sims, then reprogrammed how we speak. Wrote Designing Voice UIs, the voice-tech bible. Leads UX for Google’s Gemini conversational AI. Builds interfaces where tech listens and understands. 📌 Dr. Rana el Kaliouby Pioneered Emotion AI to read human feelings at scale. Co-founded Affectiva, making empathy a tech feature. Her work guides robots that sense emotion, not just data. Writes code that responds to the human behind the voice. 📌 Daniela Amodei Built AI safety protocols at OpenAI, then scaled them. Now runs Anthropic, creator of the Claude models. Her work keeps AI helpful, honest, and harmless. Codes ethics into systems. 📌 Albane Dersy Inbolt’s co-founder making robots smarter with vision. Her 3D AI guides arms across factories worldwide. Reduced error rates and human strain in industry. Turns precision work into an autonomous routine. 📌 Julia Astrid Riemenschneider Brings cutting-edge bots to global industrial floors. Leads go-to-market for United Robotics and Rethink. Makes robotic solutions scalable, usable, desirable. Turns lab tech into daily operations in motion. 📌 Feng (Kate) Xu Heads R&D for ABB Robotics across China’s markets. Built pipeline for STEM inclusion with “Girls in Tech.” Drives AI-meets-hardware innovation at global scale. Designs tomorrow’s automation with equity in mind. 📌 Yumie Kubota Leads Yaskawa’s AI × Robotics to automate the impossible. Built robot software powering next-gen manufacturing systems. Heads AI Cube to merge robotics with deep learning. Turns factories into living labs for machine evolution. 📌 Yunzhi (Amber) Qi Expands YOUIBOT’s AMRs across logistics & inspection. Her robots use SLAM to navigate complex factory spaces. Merges smart routing with scalable industrial automation. Drives China’s robotics precision onto the global stage. 📌 Melonee Wise Co-built ROS and TurtleBot at legendary Willow Garage. As Fetch CEO, led real-world mobile robot adoption. Scaled AMRs to solve warehouse and logistics challenges. Bridges lab innovation with commercial scale & speed. 📌 Andra Keay Runs Silicon Valley Robotics and boosts robotics startups. Champions diversity, ethics & access in automation. Fuels the field with contests, funding, and visibility. She wires the system, not just the machines. 📌 Dr. Goldie Nejat Designs social robots like Tangy for elder care. Her lab blends cognition with robotic interaction. Brings assistive AI into hospitals and care homes. Merges empathy and engineering to support aging minds. 📌 Dr. Danica Kragic Directs KTH’s robotics lab in perception & learning. Studies how machines sense and interact with objects. Her work boosts robot grasping and autonomy skills. Turns complex sensing into smooth robotic behavior. Are we ready for the 🤖 age? They are.

The Next Robotics Powerhouses: Why Silicon Valley May Not Lead the Charge 🤖 For years, Silicon Valley has been synonymous with tech innovation. But when it comes to robotics, the landscape is shifting—and fast. Having spent years analyzing automation trends, visiting with robotics startups, and exploring cutting-edge innovation, I’ve seen firsthand how Boston, Pittsburgh, and Detroit are quietly positioning themselves as the next big robotics hubs. 🔹 Boston: Home to MassRobotics, a thriving startup ecosystem, and powerhouse institutions like MIT, Boston has attracted over $5.5 billion in robotics investments since 2019. 🔹 Pittsburgh: Often overlooked, but with Carnegie Mellon University leading the charge, Pittsburgh has built a formidable robotics cluster. The city recently joined forces with Boston and Silicon Valley to form the US Alliance of Robotics Clusters, ensuring continued growth. 🔹 Detroit: The birthplace of American manufacturing is now embracing automation at scale. With deep expertise in industrial robotics, Detroit is leveraging its automotive legacy to drive innovation in AI-powered automation. The robotics industry is evolving, and regional specialization is becoming more important than ever. As companies rethink their strategies, these cities are proving that Silicon Valley isn’t the only game in town. #Robotics #Automation #TechInnovation #AI

Y Combinator’s Spring 2025 batch is out, and the US robotics cohort is particularly compelling. This group isn't just about flashy demos; they're tackling real-world problems with practical solutions. Here are the standouts: Mbodi AI – A game-changer in industrial robotics. Mbodi enables robots to learn new tasks instantly through natural language commands. Their AI platform combines generative models with classical robotics techniques, allowing real-time adaptation in high-mix, low-volume production environments. Their collaboration with ABB Robotics underscores their already impressive impact in making automation more accessible and flexible. SAVA Robotics – Addressing the skilled labor shortage in sheet metal manufacturing, SAVA is developing intelligent robots to operate existing machinery, starting with CNC press brakes. Their plug-and-play solution allows manufacturers to automate without overhauling their current setups. Zeon Systems (YC X25) – Revolutionizing lab work, Zeon offers AI-powered robotics that automates manual tasks in scientific labs. Scientists can describe experiments in plain English, and Zeon's system translates that into code, executing tasks with robotic arms. They're already piloting with labs at Stanford and UCSF. Vassar – Still in deep Stelath mode, so not much information is available, but the name and category suggest work in adaptive or flexible automation. We’ll be watching. The Robot Learning Company (YC X25) – Empowering engineers to build intelligent robot applications regardless of their experience level. By simplifying the development, training, and deployment of AI-powered robot control, they're removing barriers to in-house automation Notus Systems –  Their drones and land swarm robots run autonomous missions as coordinated groups, reducing military response time from minutes to milliseconds. HABIT – Deploying robotic services to neighborhoods, starting with robotic car detailing, OrangeDetail. Their approach combines the speed and convenience of automated services with the meticulous care of professional detailers, aiming to provide on-demand robotic cleaning services that are cost-effective and efficient for all areas. Kaizen – Leveraging browser agents to enable instant integration into websites without APIs. Kaizen allows leading AI companies to read and write data from legacy portals in logistics, healthcare, and financial services, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. #Robotics #YCombinator #AI #YC2025

October kept signaling AI’s shift from experiment to infrastructure. Capital, consolidation, and corporate strategy aligned around one theme: AI is becoming the infrastructure of industry. From SoftBank’s $5.3B robotics acquisition to NVIDIA’s industrial AI expansion and record funding across autonomous systems, the month marked the next phase of automation’s economic scale-up. Here are the key strategic moves from this past October: • SoftBank acquires ABB Robotics for $5.3B → Expands industrial automation leadership through one of the largest robotics acquisitions in history. • Neolix raises $600M → Scales autonomous RoboVan logistics across Asia and the Middle East. • Dexory lands $165M → Grows AI-driven inventory robotics in European logistics networks. • Avride gains up to $375M → Expands robotaxi and autonomous delivery operations. • Einride raises $100M → Strengthens electric and autonomous freight corridors in the U.S. and Europe. • Oso Electric Equipment acquires Electric Sheep → Consolidates outdoor automation under a single industrial brand. • Serve Robotics eyes $100M stock sale → Fuels growth in autonomous sidewalk delivery. • Starship Technologies gains $50M → Advances Series C funding for autonomous delivery expansion. • NVIDIA partners with Uber on 2027 AV deployments → Extends AI compute into real-world mobility infrastructure. • Rockwell Automation begins in-house AMR production → Vertical integration to secure manufacturing capacity. • Amazon and Carnegie Mellon University launch AI Innovation Hub → Accelerates embodied AI and robotics perception research. • GrayMatter Robotics opens Physical AI Innovation Center → Expands R&D for industrial automation and finishing systems. • Diligent Robotics adds advisors and unveils Moxi 2.0 → Strengthens healthcare AI automation leadership. • Waymo announces 2026 London robotaxi launch → Expands autonomous mobility footprint in Europe. • Nestlé automates global operations while preserving 16,000 jobs → Balances productivity with workforce redeployment. • Vention expands full-stack AI automation platform → Deepens integration of design and production systems. • Boston Dynamics partners with Analog AI to deploy robots in the UAE → Marks expansion of industrial robotics into Middle Eastern infrastructure projects. • HavocAI secures $85M → Funds development of autonomous marine robotics for logistics and defense applications. • Energy Robotics raises Series A → Scales AI-powered inspection solutions for energy and industrial infrastructure. • Advantech introduces edge AI systems for robotics → Expands industrial compute offerings for real-time automation applications. • Robotec.ai collaborates with AMD and Liquid AI → Joint development applies agentic AI models to warehouse robotics systems. • TGW Logistics builds record 102-crane automated warehouse for Ekol Logistics → Highlights large-scale automation infrastructure growth across Europe.

Another week, another robotics map! 🇬🇧 This time, we will take a closer look at the busy streets of London and see what robotics companies are located there. London has excellent engineers and researchers, especially from universities like Imperial College London and UCL, which are well known for robotics, AI, and engineering. Many robotics founders and early employees come directly from these universities. London is home to Google DeepMind, one of the world’s leading AI labs. Its work on robot learning, control, and general AI has helped push forward how robots learn and adapt in the real world. The city also has one of Europe’s strongest investor ecosystems. London is a major global finance hub, so it’s easier to find venture capital, corporate investors, and early customers, especially for robotics companies working in areas like logistics, healthcare, and automation. It is very international and business-friendly. It’s easy to hire talent from around the world, set up a company, and sell globally. → Humanoid builds general-purpose AI-driven humanoid robots capable of physical tasks across domains. → Automata Tech develops easy-to-deploy robotic automation hardware and software for SMBs to reduce manual labor. → Shadow Robot creates advanced dexterous robotic hands and manipulation systems for research and industrial automation. → Paddington Robotics designs small autonomous robots for retail and service environments to assist staff. → KAIKAKU builds robotics and AI enterprise solutions to optimize warehouse and logistics processes. → Automated Architecture (AUAR) develops spatial computing and robotic systems that blend physical and digital environments for construction and design. → Recycleye creates AI-powered robotics that identify, sort, and automate recycling and waste processing, and has raised ~$20M+ in funding. → Neuracore builds AI-based perception and planning software for autonomous robots, and has raised $10M+ in venture funding. → Apian Health develops autonomous robotic systems for automated medication dispensing and hospital logistics. → Slamcore offers high-performance SLAM navigation and vision software to help robots map and localize in complex environments, and has raised ~$6M+. → Moley Robotics builds fully automated robotic kitchen systems (“robotic chef”) and has raised tens of millions in funding (reports ~$30M+). → Dexory develops autonomous warehouse robots and AI software that continuously scan inventory and turn it into real-time operational insights, and has raised $80M Series B and a $165M Series C & growth round. → Extend Robotics builds tele-operation technology for robots, and helps with orchestrating the fleets of robots. It seems that if you wanted to explore London from the perspective of robotic startups, it would take a few days! What city should I do next? :) ~~ ♻️ Join the weekly robotics newsletter, and never miss any news → ziegler.substack.com

🤖Is This the "iPhone Moment" for Robotics?👇 Move beyond the static humanoid form. The robotics landscape is witnessing a paradigm shift with China's introduction of the D-Infinite, the world's first fully modular embodied intelligent robot. This isn't just another incremental improvement; it's a fundamental rethinking of robotic architecture that could redefine automation's role across industries Developed by D-Infinite Robotics, the robot features a revolutionary plug-and-play module architecture. This allows its arms, legs, and sensors to be swapped out in minutes, not days, adapting its form and function to specific tasks with unprecedented agility Powered by a high-performance onboard AI computing unit and a multi-form mobility system, the D-Infinite is engineered for heavy-duty performance, capable of carrying significant loads and operating for up to five hours continuously 🔧The Engine of an Ecosystem This launch signifies a deeper trend. It reflects China's strategic push to dominate the next wave of automation, moving from fixed robots to adaptive, intelligent systems. Consider the context: ✅An Automation Juggernaut: China is already the world's largest robotics market, installing a record 295,000 industrial robots in 2024 alone—more than the rest of the world combined . This new innovation builds on that massive industrial base. ✅Hardware Meets AI: The D-Infinite exemplifies the fusion of advanced hardware with sophisticated AI. This aligns with the broader industry trend where companies like D-Robotics are creating powerful development infrastructure, including AI acceleration engines delivering up to 128 TOPS for embodied intelligence applications ✅Democratizing Robotics?: Modularity could dramatically lower long-term costs and barriers to entry. Instead of purchasing multiple specialized machines, a single, reconfigurable platform could serve numerous functions. This echoes the consumer-grade accessibility seen with other Chinese robots, like the Bumi humanoid priced under $1,400 , but at an industrial scale This move from monolithic design to modular architecture mirrors the logic that revolutionized consumer electronics. It poses a significant challenge to Western robotics models, which often prioritize highly optimized but single-purpose machines 💭 Does the future of automation lie in creating perfect, single-purpose machines, or in building versatile, upgradable platforms that can evolve with our needs? #Robotics #Innovation #AI #Industry40 #Automation #China #Tech #Future #Hardware #MohammadAlsaheb #Leadership #Work #EmbodiedAI

𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗶𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀? 🤖📱 The release of D‑Infinite, the world’s first fully modular embodied intelligent robot from China, could mark a turning point, not just for robotics, but for industrial automation as a whole. Gone are the days of rigid, single‑purpose machines. D‑Infinite introduces a plug‑and‑play architecture where limbs, sensors, and components can be swapped in minutes, transforming one platform into many. Powered by a high‑performance onboard AI unit and multi‑form mobility, it can carry heavy loads and operate continuously for hours, merging hardware adaptability with AI intelligence. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹: ✅ China’s scale advantage, already deploying more industrial robots than the rest of the world combined. ✅ Hardware + AI convergence, accelerating embodied intelligence at the infrastructure level. ✅ Modularity as democratization, reconfigurable robots that reduce costs and expand access. This shift mirrors the leap that smartphones brought to consumer tech, from fixed function to adaptive ecosystem. 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀: Will the future of automation belong to perfect single‑purpose machines, or to versatile, upgradable platforms that evolve as fast as we do? #Robotics #AI #Automation #Innovation #EmbodiedIntelligence #IndustrialRobotics #ChinaTech #FutureOfWork