Equity deals:

• Airware, already the most heavily venture-backed drone company in Silicon Valley, received an undisclosed investment from Intel Capital. Airware has developed an autopilot that enables drone makers to quickly build their device, pop in the Airware box, add their special application-specific payload, and not have to develop extensive piloting and navigation software.
• Gamma2 Robotics closed a $3.5M Series A round with a goal of rolling out their mobile Vigilant Security Robots. Funds came from Foxlink, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer who said: "We believe that it represents a sea change in the security industry, where no longer are human guards burdened with the dull, dirty and dangerous jobs. They can be reallocated to more high-value roles, leaving the robots to do the previous job at a technically superior level, at a fraction of the cost. We see -- and are actively pursuing -- immediate applications around the world."

​Acquisitons:

• SMD,a UK ROV builder and underwater services provider, was sold to a Chinese conglomerate for $190M.
• Beijing-based Ninebot acquired Segway and received $80M from two VCs to do the deal.
• Intellibot, a maker of industrial-grade robotic cleaning devices, was acuired by Swiss Sealed Air for an undisclosed amount.
• ABB, one of the robotic industry's Big Four of robot manufacturers, acquired gomTec for an undisclosed price. ABB simultaneously launched their new two-armed YuMi robot which is specifically oriented to electronics assembly. Both actions signal ABB's entrance into the collaborative robotics marketplace.

Other:

• Moscow-based Skolkovo announce that they and Chinese Cybernaut Investment Group will jointly develop, finance to the tune of $200M, and market high-tech Russian innovations to be manufactured and sold in China and globally.

The Chinese Factor:

• Note the various acquisitions, investment plans and investment positions made by Chinese investors in the transactions above.
• The Economist recently reported on the growing flow of Chinese money which is encapsulated in the chart on the right which shows the recent trend, some of which is in the robotics and automation sphere.

About Frank Tobe

Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report. After selling his business and retiring from 25+ years as computer direct marketing and materials and consulting to the Democratic National Committee and major presidential, senatorial, congressional, mayoral campaigns and initiatives all across the U.S., Canada and internationally, he has energetically pursued a new career in researching and investing in robotics.

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of ManufacturingTomorrow

Featured Product

FLIR Si1-LD - Industrial Acoustic Imaging Camera for Compressed Air Leak Detection

The FLIR Si1-LD is an easy-to-use acoustic imaging camera for locating and quantifying pressurized leaks in compressed air systems. This lightweight, one-handed camera is designed to help maintenance, manufacturing, and engineering professionals identify air leaks faster than with traditional methods. Built with a carefully constructed array of MEMS microphones for high sensitivity, the Si1-LD produces a precise acoustic image that visually displays ultrasonic information, even in loud, industrial environments. The acoustic image is overlaid in real time on a digital image, allowing you to accurately pinpoint the source of the sound, with onboard analytics which quantify the losses being incurred. The Si1-LD features a plugin that enables you to import acoustic images to FLIR Thermal Studio suite for offline editing, analysis, and advanced report creation. Field analysis and reporting can also be done using the FLIR Acoustic Camera Viewer cloud service. Transferring of images can be managed via memory stick or USB data cable. Through a regular maintenance routine, the FLIR Si1-LD can help facilities reduce their environmental impact and save money on utility bills.

More Products

Feature Your Product