The MassachuseTTs RoboTics RevoluTion InspIrIng InnovatIon, drIvIng growth

and competItIveness In leadIng IndustrIes

acknowledgements

The Mass Technology Leadership Council is grateful for the leadership and support that Governor Deval Patrick has

provided to MassTLC’s Robotics Cluster and looks forward to working with him and our colleagues at The Innovation Institute

at the MassTech Collaborative to implement the key recommendations made in this report.

This report and cluster initiatives would not be possible without the commitment and engagement of many talented leaders

and volunteers in the Mass Technology Leadership Council’s Robotics Cluster. Cluster leaders include Co-chairs; Tom Ryden,

COO and Founder, vGo Communications and Steve Kelly, President of Myomo. A special thanks to Mark Smithers, VP

Business Development, Boston Engineering for his help with the robotics survey follow up.

The council would also like to acknowledge the support of Pat Larkin and Bob Kispert of the MassTech Collaborative;

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP for their sponsorship of the Robotics Cluster; Kathleen Hagan of

Hagan and Co. for managing the research for the report; Robotics Trends for their support; and MIT Sloan Fellows, Abdallah

Hussein Khamis, Ricardo Victorero, Adil Utembayev, Mohd Ridzwan Nordin and Harvard Business School student, Samer

Abughannam, for sharing their Robotics Cluster Report completed for Dr. Michael Porter at the Harvard

Business School.

This report was funded by a grant from The Innovation Institute at the MassTech Collaborative.

Front cover sources (clockwise starting at upper left)

Waltham-based Boston Dynamics’ Big Dog robotic pack mule will accompany soldiers in terrain too rough for

conventional vehicles.

Baxter the robot developed by Boston-based Rethink Robotics will work alongside humans in industrial settings.

Waltham-based Boston Engineering’s GhostSwimmer AUV, initially developed as a joint effort with Olin College in Needham,

MA, mimics the motions of a tuna and is now being used for homeland security missions.

BiOM® Ankle System by Bedford-based iWalk helps people move with a natural gait at their chosen speed.

contentsabouT The Mass RoboTics clusTeR ........................................................................................................................ 1

execuTive suMMaRy ...................................................................................................................................................... 1

The RoboTics indusTRy ................................................................................................................................................ 4

Defining the Robotics Industry ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Types of Robots and Applications ....................................................................................................................................... 5

sTaTe oF RoboTics in MassachuseTTs .................................................................................................................... 6

Tradition of Innovation ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

Cluster Profile ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Cluster Companies and Environment ................................................................................................................................... 8

RevoluTionaRy RoboTics innovaTion ..................................................................................................................... 9

Research and Development Powering the Robotics Revolution ........................................................................................... 9

Educating the Innovators and Leaders of the Future .......................................................................................................... 12

disRupTive RoboTics innovaTion dRiving change acRoss Many indusTRies ........................................ 17

coMpeTiTive advanTages oF MassachuseTTs RoboTics indusTRy ............................................................ 21

The oppoRTuniTy TReMendous gRowTh in The global MaRkeTplace ..................................................... 23

Industrial Robot Market ..................................................................................................................................................... 23

Professional and Personal Service Robot Market ............................................................................................................... 24

leading The RoboTics RevoluTion ........................................................................................................................ 26

“Investing in robotics is more than just money for research and

development; it is a vehicle to transform American lives and revitalize the

American economy. Indeed, we are at a critical juncture where we are seeing

robotics transition from the laboratory to generate new businesses, create

jobs and confront the important challenges facing our nation.”

Helen Greiner, President, National Robotics Technology Consortium

About the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster

The Massachusetts Robotics Cluster is a community of

interest within the Mass Technology Leadership Council,

Inc., (MassTLC), a nonprofit organization that accelerates

innovation in companies that develop and deploy technology

across industry sectors. MassTLC is the Commonwealth’s

leading high technology organization, which represents 500

companies in Massachusetts.

In 2005, MassTLC established the Robotics Cluster to

bring together companies, institutions, and individuals

engaged in robotics research, education, product design,

and commercialization. The mission of the Massachusetts

Robotics Cluster is threefold:

■■ to raise awareness nationally and globally about New

England’s exciting robotics industry;

■■ to attract thought leaders and resources to support the

robotics industry; and

■■ to accelerate the growth of robotics by creating

opportunities for new and existing companies.

The robotics industry is growing rapidly in Massachusetts

and the New England region and accelerating the adoption

of “intelligent automation” across a broad range of

industries, including health care, life sciences, factory and

lab automation, distribution and logistics, materials handling,

marine underwater mapping and surveillance, defense,

transportation, consumer, education, and entertainment.

In February 2009, MassTLC, with the support of the

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, published

a comprehensive report on the robotics industry in

Massachusetts, achieving global leadership: a roadmap for

robotics in massachusetts. This was the first-ever analysis

of robotics in Massachusetts as a distinct and vibrant

industry cluster. This report defined the make-up of the

Massachusetts robotics industry; established that it is indeed

a very dynamic and high potential sector; and confirmed that

Massachusetts is a global leader in robotics innovation.

Executive Summary: The Robotics Revolution

The MassTLC Robotics Cluster has grown dramatically in

recent years, covering a broad spectrum of robotics

companies, from large leaders that are selling successfully to

consumer, industrial, and government markets to start-ups

and early-stage companies that are launching exciting

next-generation robotics products and systems.

Advanced robotics research and development (R&D) at

ten leading Massachusetts research institutions is fueling the

industry’s rapid growth. A phenomenal talent pool of highly

skilled engineers graduating from the Commonwealth’s many

world-class electrical, mechanical, and software engineering

degree programs, including the country’s first-of-its-kind fully

integrated undergraduate degree program in robotics

1

1500 B.C. 0 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900

1400 b.c. clepsydra Babylonians develop the clepsydra, a clock that measures time using the flow of water. It is considered one of the first “robotic” devices in history.

322 b.c. greek philosopher aristotle writes:“If every tool, when ordered, or even of its own accord, could do the work that befits it... then there would be no need either of apprentices for the master workers or of slaves for the lords.”

1495 da vinci knightLeonardo da Vinci designs a clockwork knight that will sit up, wave its arms, and move its head and jaw. It’s not certain whether the robot was ever built, but the design may constitute the first humanoid robot.

1801 Jacquard loom French silk weaver and inventor Joseph Marie Jacquard invents an automated loom that is controlled by punch cards. Within a decade it is being mass-produced, and thousands are in use across Europe.

1880s vending Machines The first commercial coin operated vending machine was introduced in London in the early 1880s and it dispensed post cards.

1888 vending Machines introduced in u.s. The Thomas Adams Gum Company Introduced the first vending machines to the United States. The machines were installed on the elevated subway platforms in New York City.

Robotics Evolution

Waltham based Boston Engineering’s GhostSwimmer AUV, initially developed as a joint effort with Olin College in Needham, MA, mimics the motions of a tuna and is now being used for homeland security missions.

engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), keeps

the talent pipeline flowing.

Innovations in electronics, hardware, and components

(such as sensors, motion controls, and vision systems) have

enabled the development of entirely new kinds of specialized,

smart automated products with military, commercial, medical,

marine and consumer applications. Today, robots perform

hazardous military missions and automate manufacturing

and warehouse logistics; robotic-assisted devices perform

noninvasive surgery and assist in physical rehabilitation;

unmanned underwater vehicles are used for oceanographic

survey and defense applications; and personal service robots

make everyday life easier by mowing lawns and

vacuum cleaning.

Robotics technology is revolutionary and disruptive.

Robots are intelligent tools for increasing productivity,

creating high-value jobs for new applications, and enabling

workers to make industries more globally competitive. Next-

generation robotics will be cheaper and easier to implement

and operate, and they will work with people rather than

substituting for people.

As new robotics applications emerge, new market

opportunities will have an impact in industries that are

strategic to the long-term competitiveness of the Massachusetts

and U.S. economy, such as healthcare and life sciences,

advanced manufacturing, defense and public safety,

distribution and logistics, and marine surveillance.

Massachusetts has the unique intellectual infrastructure,

talent pool, entrepreneurial environment, and track record of

success to claim its rightful place as the “Robotics Capital of

the World.” The Commonwealth’s competitive advantage in

robotics is firmly grounded in its:

■■ critical mass of world-class universities;

■■ cutting-edge robotics research and development;

■■ highly skilled workforce;

■■ innovative companies producing and utilizing

robotics applications; and

■■ skilled supporting and related industries.

In the three years since the first Massachusetts Robotics

Report was released, there has been dramatic growth in

both robotics R&D and business development in

Massachusetts. Recent industry research and the findings

of a 2012 MassTLC Robotics Cluster company survey

identify a number of factors for, and indicators of, this recent

surge in growth:

■■ new Research: There are now more than 35 distinct

robotics R&D programs and research projects at ten

Massachusetts research institutions. (Eleven institutions

including Brown University’s collaborative work with

Massachusetts research institutions.)

■■ More investment: Venture capital investment in robotics

start-ups in Massachusetts has increased from $17.6 million

in 2008 to $52.4 million in 2011 and over $60 million in the

first three quarters of 2012.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950

1913 automated assembly linesHenry Ford installs the world’s first moving conveyor belt-based assembly line in his car factory. A Model T can be assembled in 93 minutes.

1921 capek’s RobotaCzech playwright Karl Capek popularizes the term “robot” in a play called “R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robot).” The word comes from the Czech robota, which means drudgery or forced work.

1941 Robotics named and predictedScience fiction writer, Isaac Asimov, first uses the word “robotics” to describe the technology of robots and predicts the rise of a powerful robot industry.

1948 Modern Robotics conceivedNorbert Wiener, a professor at M.I.T., publishes his book, cybernetics, which describes the concept of communications and control in electronic, mechanical, and biological systems.

1948—49 autonomous Machinery launchedBritish robotics pioneer William Grey Walter creates autonomous machines called Elmer and Elsie that mimic lifelike behavior with very simple circuitry

Billerica, MA based Harvest Automation’s robots are designed to perform material handling tasks in unstructured, outdoor environments such as those typically found in commercial growing operations. The robots work safely alongside humans and require minimal training to operate, while reducing production costs and improving productivity.

3

■■ new companies: Eighteen new start-up robotics

companies have been launched since 2008 in

Massachusetts with applications in education, defense,

medical/healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, materials

handling, logistics, and transportation.

■■ new high value Jobs: Employment has surged. Despite

a severe economic recession, there has been an increase

of 1,050 new robotics jobs in New England in the past four

years—900 in Massachusetts alone.

■■ high growth Rates: Average annual revenue growth

rate in the robotics industry is currently an impressive 11%

(based on data gathered from 2008 to 2011).

■■ More Fresh Talent: New highly educated and trained

robotics engineers have joined the workforce of the robotics

economy, thanks to innovative undergraduate and graduate

robotics degree programs at Massachusetts institutions like

Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Olin College.

■■ significant corporate acquisitions: The high-valuation

sales of two leading robotics firms, Hydroid and Kiva

Systems, have confirmed the high return on investment for

smart robotics investments. (Combined total: $855 million).

MassTLC is proud to be a catalyst for the “robotics revolution”

in Massachusetts. This updated report provides a current

profile of the robotics economy in Massachusetts and the

increasing role that “intelligent automation”1 is playing in the

workplace, the factory, the lab, and the home.

We stand in awe of the cutting-edge work of the

Commonwealth’s many robotics researchers, engineers,

entrepreneurial and corporate leaders, investors, and

supporting companies, and their critical contribution to the

Massachusetts economy. MassTLC appreciates the time and

valuable volunteer efforts that the leadership and members of

the Robotics Cluster contribute to our work. Their collective

intelligence, skill, imagination, and energy have helped to

make the Cluster a key leader of the “robotics revolution” in

Massachusetts. We also thank the MassTech Collaborative

for its ongoing support of the MassTLC Robotics Cluster, in

particular for its support for this updated report on the state

of the industry.

—Tom hopcroft, ceo, Mass Technology

leadership council, december, 2012

1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965

1954 universal automationConnecticut industrial robotics pioneer George Devol files a patent for the first programmable robot and coins the term “universal automaton.”

1959 computer-assisted Manufacturing – the MiT Robot ashtrayThe Servomechanisms Laboratory at MIT demonstrates computer-assisted manufacturing. A robotic milling machine creates a commemorative ashtray for each attendee.

1959 birth of artificial intelligenceJohn McCarthy and Marvin Minsky start the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT.

1961 First Mechanical handHeinrich Ernst develops the MH-1, a computer - operated mechanical hand at MIT.

1962 First industrial Robotic armThe first digitally operated programmable robotic arm — the Unimate mechanical arm — is developed by George Devol and commercialized by his colleague, Joseph F. Engelberger. It is designed to complete repetitive or dangerous tasks on a General Motors assembly line.

1963 artificial Robotic arm prosthesisThe first artificial robotic arm to be controlled by a computer, The Rancho Arm, was designed as a tool for the handicapped and its six joints gave it the flexibility of a human arm.

Developed by QinetiQ North America in Waltham, MA, TALON robots can be configured for specific tasks including the disposal of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), reconnaissance, the identification of hazardous material, combat engineering support, and assistance to police units engaged in SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) operations. Currently, 2,800 TALON robots are deployed around the world.

1 For the purposes of this report the terms “robotics” and “intelligent automation” are used interchangeably

A Transformative Technology Driving Change in Many Industries

“Robotics is the science and technology of designing,

making, and applying robots, including technology from

many contributing fields. A robot is a mechanical or virtual

artificial agent. It is usually an electrical mechanical system

which, by its appearance or movements conveys, a sense

that it has intent or agency of its own.”

—encyclopedia of science, Mcgraw-hill

There are as many different working definitions of “robotics”

as there are applications…from “automation with motion”

to “computers that move” (Michael Kuperstein, founder of

Symbus). There are “stationary robots”

for factory and laboratory automation,

and a new class of “mobile robots” for

transportation, distribution, and military

uses. There are also “sub-sea robots”

for underwater surveillance and “medical

robots” for robotic-assisted surgery,

rehabilitation, and home healthcare.

Robotic systems essentially involve the

integration of electrical and mechanical

systems and hardware and software

engineering to create a machine that can take independent

action with multiple degrees of motion and control, as well as

the capability to sense its environment and sometimes make

decisions based on sensing.

Rapid advances in technology have facilitated the

development of more useful, economical, and agile robots

and robotic-assisted devices in a wide range of industries.

For example, advances in laser sensing, computer vision,

and autonomous navigation enable robots to quickly sense

and react to environments. New software tools make it easier

to integrate systems using different kinds of hardware. Also,

decreases in the cost of processing power enable roboticists

to build networks of wireless robots that can work together

as a team.

“Robotics” is both a distinct industrial sector and an

enabling technology for many industries.

Twenty-first century robotics provides

a technology toolkit for the integration

of advanced software, hardware,

electronics, and mechanical systems

in exciting new ways, creating new

products, processes, and systems

that bring intelligent automation into

the clinical setting, the factory, the

laboratory, the warehouse, the battlefield,

the underwater environment, the retail

setting, the classroom, the office, and the home.

1965 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978

1966 First Mobile RobotThe Artificial Intelligence Center at the Stanford Research Center begins development of Shakey, the first mobile robot. It is endowed with a limited ability to see and model its environment.

1978 brooks automation founded in Massachusetts Brooks Automation develops first industrial robot for semiconductor manufacturing.

1969 Robots in spaceNASA successfully uses the latest in computing, robotic and space technology to land Neil Armstrong on the moon.

1973 computer-controlled industrial RobotThe first commercially available minicomputer-controlled industrial robot is developed by Richard Hohn for Cincinnati Milacron Corporation.

1976 Robotic space probesRobot arms are used on the Viking 1 and 2 space probes with microcomputers incorporated into their design.

The Robotics industry Defining the Robotics Industry

“Robotics” is both

a distinct industrial

sector and an

enabling technology

for many industries.

Robotics Value PropositionDemographic trends globally reflect aging populations

that will require more services with fewer people to provide

them. Service robots have the potential to meet this social

need. Also, global competition is driving demand for cost-

effective, less labor-intensive technologies and business

processes. Robotics is keeping the U.S. industry competitive

through the development of “intelligent automation” of many

manufacturing processes. Moreover, advanced robotics

technology has created new products that provide precision

and safety for specialized applications such as robotic-

assisted surgery or field operations in difficult-to-access or

dangerous locations such as underwater, on battlefields, or in

hazardous terrain.

Types of Robots and Applications Industrial Robots

stationary robots automate for a range of industries,

including: automotive, chemical, food, machinery,

pharmaceutical, manufacturing, heavy industry,

semiconductor fabrication, and materials handling.

Service Robotsmobile robots function autonomously or semi-

autonomously, performing tasks in a variety of settings:

■■ professional use (business/government)■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

Defense, public safety/security, inspection systems,

underwater systems, medical, distribution/logistics,

materials handling, and facilities maintenance

■■ personal use (consumer/home)

Toys, home use (vacuums, lawnmowers, security), home

health assistance, and assistive or rehabilitative devices.

Components Elements of robotics systems include: sensors, actuators,

controllers, vision systems, human-machine interface,

software/hardware design/development, and systems integration.

5

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990

1983 Reconnaissance Robots deployedThe Remote Reconnaissance Vehicle became the first vehicle to enter the basement of Three Mile Island after a nuclear meltdown in March 1979. This vehicle worked for four years to survey and clean the resulting waste.

1986 First educational Robots LEGO and the MIT Media Lab collaborate to bring the first LEGO-based educational robotics products to market.

1989 Robot Takes First stepsA walking robot named Genghis is unveiled by the Mobile Robots Group at MIT. It becomes known for the way it walks, popularly referred to as the “Genghis gait”.

1981 Zymark Founded in MassachusettsThe first lab automation company in the world developed by Massachusetts entrepreneurs.

A precision five-axis edge grip robot from Brooks Automation, Chelmsford, MA, transfers 300-mm semiconductor wafers from one processing cell to the next.

The CorPath® 200 System provides procedure control from an interventional cockpit, allowing for robotic-assisted placement of coronary guidewires and stent/balloon catheters.

A Tradition of InnovationMassachusetts companies have been leaders in robotics

for decades, pioneering numerous commercially

successful products:

■■ First laboratory automation company in the world

■■ First to develop and continued leader in ground robots to

support U.S. troops

■■ First behavior-based robots

■■ First patient self-service robots in hospitals

■■ Leader in healthcare for intelligent prosthetics

■■ Leader in industrial robots for semiconductor

manufacturing

■■ Leader in home-use robots such as vacuum

cleaners, floor washers, and physical therapy

■■ Leader in professional service robots for use in

distribution/logistics, inventory management, and

materials handling

■■ Leader in underwater robotics for oceanographic

survey, defense, and security

Massachusetts Robotics Cluster Profile: Building on a Tradition of Innovation and Growth “The Robotics Cluster’s exciting growth is a contemporary

manifestation of Massachusetts’ and New England’s

legendary Yankee Ingenuity. The investment community is

starting to recognize and understand this innovation and the

huge business potential of emerging robotics companies.”

—Tom hopcroft, ceo, MassTlc

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

1997 Mars Rover RobotThe Pathfinder Mission lands on Mars. Its robotic rover, Sojourner, rolls down a ramp and onto Martian soil in early July. It continues to broadcast data from the Martian surface until September.

1998 Robots become the “it” Toy A fuzzy, batlike robot called Furby becomes the must-have toy of the holiday season. The $30 toys seemingly “evolve” over time, first speaking in gibberish but soon developing the use of preprogrammed English phrases. More than 27 million of the toys sell in a 12-month period.

1999 Robot dog with TalentSony releases the first version of AIBO, a robotic dog with the ability to learn, entertain, and communicate with its owner.

2002 First vacuum cleaner RobotThe Roomba robotic vacuum from the iRobot is released. The frisbee-shaped device has sold over 3 million units to date, making it the most commercially successful domestic robot in history.

2004 nasa’s Mars exploration programTwin Robot Geologists, Mars Exploration Rovers, land on Mars as part of a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet.

2003 Robot helicopterSeiko Epsom releases the smallest known robot, standing 7cm high and weighing just 10 grams. The robot helicopter is intended to be used as a “flying camera” during natural disasters.

state of Robotics in Massachusetts

MassTLC Robotics Growth Index

2008 2011 % Increase

sales $1.3 B $1.9 B 45

employment 2,300 3,200 39

private investment dollars

$17.7 M $52.4 M 200

private investment deals

3 8 167

exits $80 M $775 M (2012) 869

Note: Data based on 2012 survey. The 2008 revenue reported in 2012 survey surpasses data reported in 2008 and published in our 2009 report.

The Massachusetts Robotics cluster is a vibrant eco-system

of well-established robotics companies and young start-

ups. There have been 18 new robotics start-ups created in

Massachusetts since 2008. These new robotics ventures

include spin-offs of successful Massachusetts robotics

companies, such as iRobot, spin-outs from Massachusetts

and New England research institutions, as well as some

“robotics gurus in the garage” bringing technology

innovations to market from other parts of the U.S.

or the world.

Made up of close to 100 robotics companies and

10 research institutions (with over 35 different research

programs), the Massachusetts robotics cluster represents

all segments of the robotics sector including: component

suppliers; manufacturers; developers of cutting-edge

robotics systems for defense, marine, health care/assistive

technology; industrial and lab automation; consumer; and

educational robotics. The industry is experiencing another

period of rapid growth. The MassTLC survey of the leading

robotics companies in Massachusetts confirmed company

growth rates that ranged from 4% to 2900% over the past

three years, with an overall industry growth rate of 45% (rates

based on sales revenue).

7

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012

2006 humanoid Robot for battlefield extraction Vecna launches “The Bear” the most powerful humanoid robot in the world. It is used in military conflicts in the Middle East to locate, lift and extract people from harm’s way.

2007 wpi launches degree Worcester Polytechnic Institute starts the first integrated robotics programs in the U.S.

2009–2012 private and corporate investment in Robotics increases Rapidly $57 million in private investment in early stage Massachusetts robotics companies

2008 –2012 Rapid Robotics venture Formation. Eighteen new robotics companies launched in or moved to Massachusetts

2009 acquisition of hydroidHydroid, developer of autonomous underwater vehicles and located in Massachusetts is acquired by Norwegian marine electronics maker Kongsberg Maritime AS, a division of Kongsberg Gruppen AS, for $80 million.

2012 braingate2 establishes human brain robot interaction Dr. Leigh Hochberg (MGH/Harvard Medical School), Dr. John Donoghue (Brown University), and the Veterans Administration develop a transformative device connecting a patient’s brain motor-cortex directly to a robotic-assisted artificial limb. A paralyzed woman works a robotic arm with her thoughts to help herself to a cup of coffee.

Data from 2012 MassTLC Robotics survey of companies. Companies were able to select more than one sector in which their technology is applied.

■ Agriculture

■■Consumer

■■Education

■■Entertainment

■■Enterprise

■■Industrial (Factory/Facility Automation, Lab Automation, Distribution/Logistics)

■■■Medical Healthcare (Medical/Surgical, Rehabilitation, Assistive Devices, Healthcare Services)

■■Marine

■■Military/Defense

■■Public Safety

■■Transportation

Massachusetts Robotics Cluster Diversity

2012 acquisition of kiva systems Kiva Systems, developer of automated warehouse distribution systems and based in Massachusetts, is acquired by Amazon for $700 million.

The Pioneer 3-AT, developed by Adept MobileRobots located in southern New Hampshire, is an all-purpose outdoor base, used for research and prototyping applications.

Cluster Companies and Environment The Massachusetts robotics cluster continues to thrive and

grow with 11 new companies started since 2009 (18 new

companies since the 2008 MassTLC robotics survey). The

New England hub of innovation for the robotics industry has

commercialized robotic technologies for applications ranging

from agriculture and transportation to prosthetics and

manufacturing. While the core group of robotics companies

in Massachusetts consists of close to 100 companies, the

broader robotics ecosystem consists of over 200 companies,

manufacturers, suppliers, design and engineering service

firms, educational institutions, and research labs with

involvement directly or indirectly in robotics.

All data in this report, unless noted, is from the 2012

MassTLC survey of leading robotics companies in New

England. With a 50% response rate, the data provides a

reliable insight into the growth of the industry since 2008.

The respondents represented different robotics applications

and varying company sizes.

Today there are more than 3,200 people employed in the

Massachusetts robotics industry and annual sales exceed

$1.9 billion. These figures do not include $1.5 billion in sales

of New England–based companies, such as ABB systems

in Connecticut, and companies in New Hampshire and

Rhode Island, such as Segway, Adept Mobile Robots, vGo

Communications, and Valde Systems, that are part of the

extended Massachusetts robotics economy.

From 2008 to 2011 the overall growth rate in revenue

of robotics companies in Massachusetts is 45%, which

includes maturing companies. This growth is particularly

remarkable as it occurred during a national and global

recession of historic severity. Rapid rise of robotics

represents spectacular growth when compared with the

national economy, which is now growing at a 2% rate and

the Massachusetts economy, which is growing at 3%.

MassTLC surveyed robotics companies across New

England and found that the cluster is still populated with

young companies; close to 40 companies have been in

existence for 10 years or less. The impact of these young

companies on the Massachusetts robotics cluster is

staggering with their annual revenue growth rate of 93%

between 2008 and 2011 and a projected growth of 96%

between 2011 and 2012, these young Massachusetts

companies now make up 8% of the total robotics revenue,

up from 3% in 2008.

The investment community has also taken greater

interest in robotics, investing $209 million in Massachusetts

robotics over the last 5 years. Private investment in the

first three quarters of 2012 has already surpassed 2011

by $8 million. The success of publicly traded iRobot has

led to a new generation of start-ups by iRobot alumni

(Harvest Automation, Rethink Robotics, CyPhy, and vGo

Communications), fueling the demand and development

for robotics talent, as well as, the dynamism of the

robotics ecosystem.

With the acquisition of Kiva Systems by Amazon for $775M,

another wave of young robotics companies could be on

the way. Kiva Systems alumni starting successful robotics

companies here, along with the growing iRobot alumni

start-ups in Massachussetts could possibly create a cycle of

innovation for robotics in New England, not yet seen anywhere

else in the world.

When local robotics CEOs were asked why their companies

were located in Massachusetts, they overwhelmingly

answered that access to local research, the deep talent roots

in mechanical and software engineering, and hardware and

manufacturing resources were not replicable anywhere else.

When faced with the decision to move their companies,

several indicated that they could not leave the infrastructure

and talent pool here in Massachusetts.

MassTLC Robotics Company Survey Highlights

■■ Sales exceed $1.9 Billion

■■ Over 3,200 people employed in Massachusetts

■■ 60% of companies are less than 10 years old

■■ Over $200 million invested in robotics over the past 5 years

■■ 80% of respondents expect continued growth into 2013

■■ 18 government grants awarded since 2008

■■ Annual revenue growth between 2008 and 2011 is 11%

Massachusetts Private Investment in Robotics

Data from 2012 MassTLC Robotics survey. Massachusetts companies only are included in this chart.

Massachusetts is an internationally recognized robotics

center because it “has it all” for research and talent—from

advanced research on next-generation robotics, to applied

programs and specialized undergraduate and graduate

degree programs educating the best and the brightest

robotics engineers to be industry innovators and leaders in

the 21st century.

Massachusetts is home to a unique concentration of

academic centers of excellence in robotics education,

research, and technology commercialization. Ten of the

Commonwealth’s leading educational research institutions

offer thirty-five distinct and exciting world-class research

programs covering all aspects of robotics and “intelligent

automation.” Brown University, just over the Massachusetts

border in Providence, RI, has a collaborative relationship with

Massachusetts institutions, contributing to the overall

R&D ecosystem.

In addition, there are innovative robotics research programs

at leading institutions throughout the six New England states,

including: Brown University, Yale University, Dartmouth

College, and the Universities of Vermont, New Hampshire,

Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

These diverse R&D programs provide the intellectual

engine for robotics innovation and supply a highly skilled

talent pool for the rapidly growing Massachusetts and

regional robotics economy.

Massachusetts has become a robotics hub for the world

not only because of its world class robotics R&D, but

also because it is home to cutting-edge robotics product

development expertise and has an entrepreneurial track

record of bringing state-of-the-art robotics products

successfully to market.

Game-Changing Printable Robots for Rapid Design and Manufacture of Customized Goods

printable programmable machines enable anyone to

manufacture a customized robot

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is leading

an ambitious $10 million National Science Foundation

initiative to reinvent how robots are designed and produced.

The “printable robots” project will democratize access to

robotics by developing technology enabling the average

9

Revolutionary Robotics innovation Research and Development: Powering the Massachusetts Robotics Revolution

Recent work in the Distributed Robotics Laboratory at MIT, Cambridge, MA, in collaboration with Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory, proposes a new method to systematize the development of 3-D robots using inexpensive, fast, and convenient planar fabrication processes. This new paradigm is called “printable robots.” This 6-legged tick-like printable robot could be used to check a basement for gas leaks or to play with a cat.

user to design, customize, and print a specialized robot in a

matter of hours.

It currently takes years to design, program, and produce a

functioning robot, and it is an extremely expensive process,

involving hardware and software design, machine learning

and vision, and advanced programming techniques. MIT’s

research aims to automate the process of producing

functional 3-D robotic-enabled devices, allowing individual

users to design and build functional robots from materials

as easily accessible as a sheet of paper. A printable robot

might be made to play with a pet or to fetch small things for

someone whose knee is in a cast and has limited mobility.

Printable robot technology could also be used to rapidly

design and prototype custom tooling for small

volume manufacturing.

How will this work? First, an individual will identify a

household problem that needs assistance, then he or she will

go to a local printing store to select a blueprint from a library

of robotic designs and customize an easy-to-use robotic

device that can solve the problem. Within 24 hours, the robot

will be printed, assembled, fully programmed, and ready

for action.

“This research envisions a whole new way of thinking

about the design and manufacturing of robots, and could

have a profound impact on society,” says Dr. Daniela

Rus, Director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial

Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). “We believe that it has the potential

to transform manufacturing and to democratize access

to robots.”

High-Risk Research for Transformative Breakthroughs in Healthcare, Energy, and Manufacturing

Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired

Engineering, established in 2009, bases its robotics research

on nature’s design principles to develop bio-inspired

materials and devices that will transform medicine and create

a more sustainable world. http://wyss.harvard.edu

By emulating nature’s principles for self-organizing and

self-regulating, Wyss Institute researchers are developing

innovative robotics solutions for healthcare, energy,

architecture, and manufacturing. These technologies are

translated into commercial products and therapies through

collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances,

and start-up companies.

Initial target applications include:

■■ bio-inspired robots for construction

and sustainability

■■ Robots that build bridges and structures autonomously

■■ Swarms of flying insect robots to assist dwindling

bee populations

■■ bio-inspired robots for inspection and search

■■ Conformable robots for inspection of narrow tubes and

pipes for medical and industrial applications

■■ Autonomous micro-robots for clinical diagnosis

and repair

■■ Distributed robots for search and rescue

■■ Highly agile autonomous robots for

environmental monitoring

This robot fly, developed at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Cambridge, MA, is capable of lift off and made using layered micro-machined composite structures. With a tiny carbon-fiber body and wings made of thin plastic sheets, this robot was inspired by the way real insects move.

Researchers at the Harvard Wyss Institute, Cambridge, MA, have built a flexible robot that can crawl, adjust its gait, and squeeze under obstacles.

■■ Robots that adapt and respond to changes

in environment

■■ Self-balancing walkways and building structures

■■ Adaptive and responsive furniture

■■ Deformable robots that conform, sense and locomote in

complex terrains

Scientists at the Wyss Institute are developing entirely new

types of robotic devices, such as tiny autonomous flying

machines, literally shaped like houseflies, that could pollinate

crops while the causes of bee colony collapse are identified

and solved. The Bio inspired Robotics team is also studying

social insects for what they can teach about programming

cooperation and adaptation among individual robots and

how global self-repair and adaptation can be achieved

through simple local behaviors.

UMass Lowell Launches New England’s First Robotics Testing Facility

In 2012, the highly successful Robotics Lab at the

University of Massachusetts Lowell established a state-

of-the-art testing facility, the new england Robotics

validation and experimentation (neRve) center,

http://nerve.uml.edu. NERVE will facilitate development of

robotic systems by both corporations and universities in

Massachusetts and the New England region.

UMass Lowell is collaborating with the National Institute

of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Army

on the development of New England’s first comprehensive

robot testing site. The NERVE Center is within an hour’s

drive of over 50 robotics companies and 10 universities that

conduct robotics research, which will allow robot systems

under development to be tested more easily, quickly, and

economically than they can be today.

The NERVE Center will increase knowledge about robotics

by developing metrics and standards for validating and

measuring progress in the field while allowing for convenient

testing of robotic systems. The ability to rapidly cycle

through prototyping, testing, and iterative improvements will

significantly speed up the process of translating robotics

technology from the laboratory into real-world applications.

The facility will be used for the study and evaluation of

robot systems in a number of areas, including:

■■ autonomous systems

■■ small unmanned ground vehicles for military use, urban

search and rescue, and HAZMAT

■■ assistive technologies

■■ mobile manipulation

■■ human-robot interaction

11

Developed by WPI undergraduate students, Prometheus is an

unmanned ground vehicle in Worcester, MA. The project goal is to

secure an entry in the annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle

Challenge (IGVC).

Artist rendering of the new UMass Lowell NERVE Center. The center will provide robotics companies and research institutions with a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) designed test course for year-round validation of robots and robotic systems. Collaborators include UMass Amherst and Tufts University. Worcester Polytechnic Institute and local robotics companies such as iRobot, QinetiQ, Black-I Robotics are likely to use the NERVE Center.

Educating the Innovators and Leaders of the Future

Massachusetts higher education institutions offer dozens

of advanced degree and certificate programs in electrical,

mechanical, and software engineering that supply the

robotics talent pool. Two recent examples of highly innovative

and focused robotics higher education programs are:

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) In 2007, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) launched

the nation’s first fully integrated Bachelor of Science degree

program in Robotics Engineering, which has already

graduated over 50 students. In 2009, WPI established an

MS in Robotics Engineering and a PhD program in Robotics

in 2010. Currently, 242 WPI undergraduates are majoring or

minoring in robotics and 32 graduate students are enrolled in

WPI’s Master’s and PhD programs in robotics.

http://robotics.wpi.edu

WPI students create robotic solutions to real world

problems such as developing:

■■ Search and Rescue Robots

■■ A Machine Tool Robotics Part Manipulator

■■ Tree-Climbing Robots to Detect Invasive Insects

■■ A Rehabilitative Robotic Glove and a Human

Hand Prosthesis

■■ Robots to Improve Communications Skills of

Autistic Children

Olin College Olin College educates highly skilled robotics engineers

through an innovative field-based undergraduate curriculum.

Seniors work in multi-disciplinary teams of five to seven

students on challenging, full-year robotics engineering

projects for partnering corporate sponsors.

Since its launch in 2005, Olin’s Scope Program has

deployed teams of engineering talent to more than 50

companies, developing and expanding on a range of

disciplines from creating robotics vehicles for the Army to

improving medical devices for Boston Scientific Corporation.

Olin’s robotics group is currently working in the areas of

unmanned ground, surface, and autonomous vehicles.

http://scope.olin.edu

MIT, Cambridge, MA, in partnership with Olin College, Needham, MA, and Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, competed in the 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge, a competition for cars and trucks that run without human help.

New England Robotics R&D Eco-System

13

Massachusetts R&D ProgramsBoston University

hybrid & networked systems

■■ Current application areas is networked mobile robotics.

http://robotics.bu.edu

intelligent Mechatronics lab

■■ The Intelligent Mechatronics Lab specializes in

medical robotics, structural dynamics, and mobile robot

communications. http://www.bu.edu/iml/

neuromorphics lab

■■ The Neuromorphics Lab studies biological intelligence

and embeds the derived fundamental principles into bio-

inspired computers and robots. Ongoing projects include

formal approaches to planning and control of robot motion

and interactive approaches for robot navigation and control.

www.nl.bu.edu

andersson lab

■■ Autonomous control of robots evolving in complex, real-

world settings and subject to such disturbances. Ongoing

projects include formal approaches to planning and control

of robot motion and interactive approaches for robot

navigation and control. http://robotics.bu.edu ■

bioRobotics Research group

■■ The BioRobotics Research Group (BRG) specializes

in medical robot and instrument design, development of

imaging techniques for surgical guidance, modeling of

tool-tissue interaction, and tele-operation/automation of

instrument motion. www.bu.edu/biorobotics

human adaptation lab

■■ Sargent College studies robotic exoskeletons for use

in human gait rehabilitation. http://www.bu.edu/sargent/

research/research-labs/human-adaptation-lab/

Brandeis Universitycomputer science laboratory

■■ The Dynamical & Evolutionary Machine Organization

(DEMO) Lab is focused on machine learning: solving the

problem of open-ended evolution in artificial media like

software and hardware. Long-term basic research on self-

creating robots couples the co-evolution of bodies and

brains to commercial off-the-shelf automated fabrication

and is known as the GOLEM project.

http://demo.cs.brandeis.edu

Harvard UniversityRobotics lab, division of engineering and

applied sciences

■■ The Harvard Division of Engineering Robotics Lab focuses

on micro-robotics, analog computation, choreography of

dynamical systems, control of quantum systems, pattern

generation, and robotic system identification.

www.harvard.edu.

wyss institute for biologically inspired engineering

■■ Wyss Institute’s research includes developing robotic tools

for rehabilitation and surgical assistance as well as other

innovative medical devices. Inspiration for these devices

comes from studying human biomechanics and collaboration

with practicing physicians. http://wyss.harvard.edu

MITcomputer science and artificial intelligence

laboratory (csail)

■■ CSAIL’s research focus includes: modular and self-

reconfiguring robots, distributed algorithms and systems

of self-organizing robots, networks of robots and sensors

for first-responders, mobile sensor networks, animals and

robots, cooperative underwater robotics, desktop robotics,

and forming, moving, and navigating sparse 2D and

3D structures.

http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

newman lab for biomechanics

■■ Part of the Mechanical Engineering department, the

Newman Lab focuses on physical therapy devices.

http://newmanlab.mit.edu■

MIT Media Lab personal Robots group

■■ Media Lab’s personal robotics research is on socially

engaging robots and interactive technologies that provide

people with long-term social and emotional support in order

to live healthier lives, connect with others, and learn better.

www.media.mit.edu/research/groups/personal-robots

Mechatronics group

■■ The Mechatronics Group research program seeks to

advance technologies that accelerate the merging of body

and machine, including device architectures that resemble

the body’s musculoskeletal design, actuator technologies

that behave like muscle, and control methodologies that

exploit principles of biological movement.

www.media.mit.edu/research/groups/biomechatronics

MiT sea grant auv lab

■■ MIT Sea Grant AUV Lab is dedicated to the development

and application of autonomous underwater vehicles. MIT

Sea Grant’s AUV Lab is a leading developer of advanced

unmanned marine robots. http://auvlab.mit.edu

Northeastern University Marine science center biomimetic underwater

Robot program

■■ The N.U. Marine Science Center employs biomimetic

approaches to confer the adaptive capabilities of marine

animal models to engineered devices. These devices

include: sensors, actuators, adaptive logic systems, and

electronic nervous systems.

http://www.neurotechnology.neu.edu/

biomedical Mechatronics lab (bMl) department of

Mechanical & industrial engineering

■■ The Biomedical Mechatronics Laboratory (BML) studies

the design, fabrication, control, and testing of novel robotic

and mechatronic systems for rehabilitation and medical

applications. http://www.robots.neu.edu/

Olin College of Engineering■■ Olin educates future leaders in robotics through an

innovative engineering education that bridges science and

technology, enterprise, and society. Olin’s robotics group is

currently working in the areas of unmanned ground, surface,

and air vehicles. http://scope.olin.edu

Tufts Universityneuromechanics and biomimetic devices laboratory

■■ The Neuromechanics Lab focuses on “biomimetic

soft-bodied robots” and incorporates biomaterials,

neuromechanical controllers, and compliant microelectronics.

http://ase.tufts.edu/bdl/news.asp

human Robot interaction lab

■■ Researchers in the Human Robot Interaction Laboratory

study affective control and evolution interactions between

affect and cognition; cognitive robotics for human-

robot interaction; embodied situated natural language

interactions; multi-scale agent-based and cognitive

modeling; and architecture development environments for

complex robots. http://hrilab.cs.tufts.edu/

advanced Technologies lab■

■■ Tufts also focuses on: mobile robot navigation, endoscopic

surgery, and educational robots. Tufts Center for Engineering

Educational Outreach works with teachers and schools

around the world in bringing robotics into the classroom as

a way to teach math, science, and engineering.

ceeo.tufts.edu/WorkshopsKids/kidsworkshops.html ■■■

University of Massachusetts-Lowell Robotics lab

■■ The Lab focuses on human-robot interaction including:

interface design, robot autonomy, and computer vision.

Applications include: assistive technology, search and

rescue. www.robotics.cs.uml.edu■

neRve Testing center

■■ New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation will

service other research programs and companies developing

robotic systems in New England. http://nerve.uml.edu/

University of Massachusetts-Amherst laboratory for perceptual Robotics

■■ UMass-Amherst lab studies computational systems

that solve sensory and motor problems. Experimental

platforms include sensor networks, mobile manipulators,

and integrated bimanual humanoids. http://www robotics.

cs.umass.edu/

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth■■ UMass Dartmouth engineering research includes the

study of advanced controls for robotics.

http://www.umassd.edu/engineering/mne/research/

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) WPI is the first U.S. educational institution to design and

implement a fully integrated undergraduate robotics degree

program. http://robotics.wpi.edu/.

■■ WPI labs work on: intelligent vehicles, interventional

medicine, mobile manufacturing (for repair in accessible

locations), robot learning, human-robot interaction, and

advanced manufacturing.

http://sites.google.com/site/padirlab/

http://aimlab.wpi.edu/

http://ram.wpi.edu/people/ssnestinger/

http://web..wpiedu/~rail/

http://www.wpi.edu/academics/ece/cairn/index.html

http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~rich/hri/

15

http://www.me.wpi.edu/research/CAMLab/

http://users.wpi.edu/~etorresj/

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute ■■ Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

http://asl.whoi.edu/home/home.html

The Massachusetts robotics ecosystem also benefits

greatly from the research of leading independent nonprofit

laboratories such as MITRE (www.mitre.org), Draper Labs

(www.draper.com), and MIT Lincoln Labs (www.ll.mit.edu), which

focus on engineering innovation in a range of advanced

technologies including robotics.

New England Robotics Research

brown university www.braingate2.org and www.brown-

robotics.org

■■ Brown collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital

and the Veterans Administration as part of The BrainGate

initiative, which is focused on developing neurotechnologies

to restore the communication, mobility, and independence

of people with neurologic disease, injury, or limb loss.

yale university www.robotics.research.yale.edu

■■ GRAB Lab: Grasping and Manipulation, Rehabilitation

Robotics, and Biomechanics Human-Machine Interface Lab

Social Robotics Lab.

dartmouth college

www.cs.dartmouth.edu/devin/

■■ Mechanics of locomotion and manipulation—robot

interface with the physical world.

university of Maine

http://engineering.umaine.edu/department-research/

research-features/operation-robot/

■■ Biomechanical Compliant Hand Project — prosthetic

robot hand and rehabilitation devices.

university of connecticut http://www.engr.uconn.edu/alarm/

■■ Biomedical engineering laboratory.

■■ Advanced lab for automation, robotics and

manufacturing-control logic for dynamic systems.

university of new hampshire http://www.ece.unh.edu/

■■ Bionics Lab-applied robotics.

■■ Robotics and vibration control.■■

university of Rhode island http://mcise.uri.edu/datseris/

robotics/index.htm

■■ Center for Automation and Robotics Research — expert

systems, neural nets and software development for effective

design of novel mechanical devices.

university of vermont www.cs.uvm.edu

■■ Incremental behavior integration for evolutionary robotics.

naval undersea warfare center

■■ Autonomous Underwater Vehicles http://www.navsea.

navy.mil/nuwc/newport/default.aspx

The uBot-5, developed at the UMass Amherst Lab for Perceptual Robotics, is a small and lightweight research platform for mobile manipulation. It was designed to be an economical robot that is highly capable, durable, and safe to operate. It is well suited for environments designed for humans.

Tools for Tomorrow: Robots Working Side by Side with Workers of the Future

Massachusetts is an internationally recognized test-

bed for the world in robotics product innovation. The

Commonwealth’s robotics industry develops and

successfully sells a dazzling array of

products for a variety of industries

that are strategic to the future of the

Massachusetts economy. The robots

of the future will be intelligent tools

for increasing productivity, creating

high-value jobs for new applications,

and enabling workers to make

industries more globally competitive.

“Intelligent automation” is disruptive

to many industries and offers exciting

competitive advantages to

new adopters.

Massachusetts’ robotics innovators

are already proving that the robots of the future will be

different. Not only will next-generation robotics be cheaper

and easier to implement and operate, but they will work with

people rather than substituting for people. Robots will work

side by side with people as co-workers in the office, co-

producers in the factory, and household helpers in the home.

Healthcare, Medical, and Assistive Devices

“The ‘Age of Robots’ is upon us—extending independent

living at home will ultimately turn out to be the ‘killer app’ for

robots.” - colin angle, co-Founder and ceo, iRobot

Healthcare and medical robotics is in its early days, but

already has shown great promise in addressing major

healthcare challenges facing the U.S. healthcare

delivery system.

Robotics in healthcare is reducing costs and improving

patient outcomes along the continuum of care — from

robotic-assisted surgery to intelligent automation in the

hospital and in the “healthy home.” Intelligent prosthetic and

rehabilitation devices are dramatically improving the quality of

life for patients with disabilities and physical injuries.

Massachusetts benefits greatly from its installed base of

world-class teaching hospitals and

biomedical research institutes where

healthcare innovation is both a driver

and a beneficiary of advances in

robotics technology. Collaborative

relationships between and among

the robotics research community, the

entrepreneurial community, and local

healthcare leaders are accelerating

the adoption of cutting-edge

robotics innovation in the

healthcare marketplace.

applications:

■■ Robotic-assisted surgical devices for image-guided and

non-invasive surgery

■■ Rehabilitation in the hospital and in the home (e.g.,

intelligent prosthesis, smart rehabilitation devices, etc.)

■■ Hospital automation (e.g., patient transport, patient self-

service, couriers, pharmacy, etc.)

■■ Patient-centered medical home (e.g., remote monitoring,

medication management, etc.)

■■ Assistive devices/ADA innovations in the smart home and

in the healthy workplace

disruptive Robotics innovation: driving change in Many industries

17

“The Age of Robots is

upon us—extending

independent living at

home will ultimately turn

out to be the ‘killer app’

for robots.”

Colin Angle, Co-Founder and CEO, iRobot

Manufacturing and Lab Automation Distribution and Logistics, Materials Handling

“Robots will change how we think about manufacturing.

They will have intelligence and awareness. They will be

teachable, safe, and affordable. They will make us productive

in ways we never imagined.

Robots will reinvigorate industry and inject new life into the

economy. Making businesses more competitive. Keeping

jobs from moving overseas. Demonstrating the power of

American ingenuity.”- Rodney brooks, co-Founder,

iRobot; Founder, Rethink Robotics (formerly

heartland Robotics)

Robotics is creating smarter tools for factory workers

that result in greater efficiency, labor savings, and higher

productivity and create high-value skilled jobs.

Massachusetts has a rich tradition in both stationary

industrial robots for factory and lab automation and, more

recently, in mobile service robots for warehouse, logistics,

and materials handling automation.

The world’s first lab automation company, Zymark,

was launched in Massachusetts in 1981. Advanced lab

automation has supported the rapid growth of the dynamic

Life Sciences industry in Massachusetts and New England.

Local entrepreneurs are exploiting opportunities for

disruptive change in supply chain management with exciting

robotics solutions for warehouse automation, logistics and

materials handling in a range of industries including food,

retail and agriculture.

applications:

■■ High-precision semi-conductor manufacturing automation

■■ Lab compound, liquid and biological sample handling,

measurement, and storage

■■ Factory assembly, fabrication, and production

■■ Warehouse automation: pick and place for logistics and

distribution Inspection, packaging, and materials handling

Defense, Security, and Surveillance The defense industry is a vital sector in the Massachusetts

economy. Massachusetts currently ranks fifth nationally in

Department of Defense contract awards. Nine of the top ten

The Twister II Microplate Handler developed by Caliper Life Sciences, in Hopkinton, MA, is a high capacity plate stacker and bench top lab automation robotics system. Over 1,000 Twister II units have been shipped, making it an industry standard robotic plate mover for life science automation.

Symbotic, based in Wilmington, MA, offers warehouse automation with the ability to sort, store, and distribute materials with high degrees of speed, accuracy, and customization. Their autonomous, mobile robot— the Matrix Rover™—can travel freely throughout the storage structure accessing any product, in any location, and at any time at a very high throughput rate delivering product in sequence to build stable, store-friendly pallets.

Nashua, NH based VGo for Remote Students has opened up academic and social environments to other disabled and immune-deficient students as well. There are no longer boundaries between them and the world that was previously inaccessible.

2 Donahue Institute, Defense Industry in Mass, 20103 ABI Research

products sold to defense agencies are related to technology

and research. Massachusetts excels in the kind of highly

specialized research and technology-related products and

services that are expected to be an important focus of

defense spending in the future.2

Use of autonomous and semi-autonomous robots for

defense applications has grown dramatically around the

world in recent years as governments deploy them in

battlefield situations to take the place of, or assist, soldiers.

Defense robots include: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),

unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and autonomous

underwater vehicles (AUVs).

The key drivers for the robotics market in defense, security,

and surveillance include: the strong desire to prevent or

reduce military casualties in the field of operations; changes

in the tactics of warfare requiring new reconnaissance,

combat and task equipment, and tools; the need to reduce

military spending; and developments in the fields of materials

science, computer programming, and sensing technology

that help create more advanced robots.3

applications:

■■ Aerial and underwater surveillance

■■ Hazardous military missions (searching caves and

neutralizing IEDs)

■■ Transport of materials, supplies, and wounded soldiers

■■ Battlefield medicine (remote-medic, robotic-assisted

monitoring and treatment)

■■ Automated Weapon Systems—unmanned aerial vehicles

and unmanned ground vehicles; unmanned underwater

vehicles for intelligence gathering

■■ Public safety—fire and police search, seizure and

rescue operations

Public Safety and Municipal ServicesService robots also have proved to be of high value

in domestic public safety and security applications.

Municipalities are increasingly using robots to support fire,

emergency, police, and public safety personnel in dangerous

situations and conditions. For decades, Massachusetts

robots have been deployed to respond to world events

including search and rescue operations after 9-11, evaluating

oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico, and most recently sending

robots to Japan to assist in moving rubble as well as

surveillance after the tsunami hit and Fukishima nuclear

power plant disaster.

MarineMassachusetts is a global leader in Marine Sciences and

Technology for a range of applications including: education

and research, geological mapping, intelligence, and

surveillance. The vibrant Marine Robotics sector is supported

by the world-class undersea research at the Woods Hole

Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in Falmouth, Massachusetts,

and the MIT Center for Ocean Engineering.

WHOI is a lead institution in a national $300 million National

Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative

(OOI). The OOI initiative will provide 25–30 years of sustained

ocean measurements to study climate variability, ocean

circulation and ecosystem dynamics, air-sea exchange,

seafloor processes, and plate-scale geodynamics. Robotics

technologies developed in collaboration with WHOI will play a

vital part in the national Ocean Observatories Initiative.

The leading global players in autonomous underwater

vehicles (AUVs) for scientific, commercial, and defense

applications are all Massachusetts companies. Teledyne

Benthos, Bluefin Robotics, Hydroid, Oceanserver, and

iRobot, among others, continue to grow as AUVs are being

increasingly used for underwater exploration, mapping,

and surveillance.

The Bluefin 12-S, shown here being launched in Quincy, MA, is a highly modular, flexible, autonomous underwater vehicle used for a variety of shallow-water applications such as search and salvage, oceanography, scientific research, mine countermeasures, and more.

19

ConsumerMassachusetts is well positioned to take advantage of the

explosive growth expected in personal robotics (personal

robots, home robots, educational robots, smart toys and

hobby robots), having already developed commercially

successful consumer robotics for home use.

Related and Supporting IndustriesThe Massachusetts robotics industry draws on a robust

array of local supporting industries that contribute to the

sector’s rapid growth including:

■■ Machine Vision

■■ Computer Software

■■ Artificial Intelligence

■■ Electronics & Hardware/Manufacturing & Services

■■ Design and Systems Engineering Services

■■ Component suppliers (sensors, actuators, controllers,

vision systems, interface)

■■ Precision Manufacturing

The Roomba 780 is one of the popular autonomous cleaning devices from Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot. The Roomba celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012.

“Boston (Robotics Cluster)

ranks first, having started in the

early 1960s, followed by Pittsburgh

and then Silicon Valley. Boston has

the most robotics companies in

the cluster, numbering more than

80, greater than the two other

clusters combined” - harvard

university student report on the

Massachusetts Robotics cluster

(May 2012)

The U.S leadership in robotics is supported by exciting

robotics R&D at many leading U. S. research institutions

including: Stanford, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia

Institute of Technology, and others. However, Massachusetts

is unique in the U.S., and in the world, with its intense

concentration of world class R&D programs and its

tremendous track record in product

development and commercialization.

A 2012 Harvard University student

study on the competitiveness of the

Massachusetts Robotics Cluster,

conducted under the direction

of Harvard Business School

Professor Michael Porter, credited

the “unique industry-academia-

federal government collaboration”

as a critical success factor of the

Massachusetts Robotics Cluster.

The Harvard University study was based on Professor

Porter’s “Framework for Institutions for Collaboration in

Cluster Environment” and cited favorable factor conditions as

a key competitive advantage of the Massachusetts Robotics

Cluster relative to competing clusters in the U.S.

The competitive advantage of the Robotics industry in Massachusetts

“Paradoxically, the enduring

competitive advantages in a

global economy lie increasingly

in local things—knowledge,

relationships, motivation that

distant rivals cannot match.”Professor Michael Porter,

Harvard Business School 4

Figure modified from Harvard University student report on the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster (May 2012)21

4 clusters and the new economics of competition

The Competitive Advantage of the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster

Note: Table based on Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter’s “Framework for Competition in the Cluster Environment.”

■■ National and international competition

■■ Diverse industry base across multiple applications and segments

■■ Growing rivalry between players in segments

■■ Population Demographics

Demand Conditions■■ Military

■■ Laboratory

■■ Marine

■■ Consumer

■■ Health Care

■■ Distribution

■■ Manufacturing

Related & Supporting Industries

■■ Computer Software

■■ Artificial Intelligence

■■ Machine Vision

■■ Electronics & Hardware/ Manufacturing & Services

■■ Design and Systems Engineering Services

■■ Component Suppliers (sensors, actuators, controllers, vision systems, interface)

■■ Higher Education

■■ Precision Manufacturing

■■ Data Storage

■■ Energy Storage

Context for Firm Strategy & Rivalry

Factor (Input) Conditions■■ Highly skilled work force

■■ R&D infrastructure

■■ Available capital

The global market for robotics products, components,

and systems is growing rapidly as technological advances

make robotics a cost-effective alternative to labor-intensive

systems. Robotics as a platform technology for a wide range

of vertical industry applications is driving growth through

disruptive innovations that create markets for

new applications.

Industrial Robots Market“Manufacturing will still need people, if not so many in the

factory itself. All these automated machines require someone

to service them and tell them what to do. Some machine

operators will become machine minders, which often calls for

a broader range of skills”- The Economist 5

The global market for industrial robots (stationary robots

used in factory automation and assembly lines) is currently

$17.5 billion (including software, peripherals, and systems),

according to the International Federation of Robotics.

Industrial robotics is the largest segment of the robotics

industry, growing globally at 4.2% a year.

In North America, sales of industrial robotics grew

dramatically last year (2011) in unit sales by 47% with 38%

growth in sales dollar value.6

In the North American market, orders for industrial robotic

systems rebounded in 2011 after a slump in sales in 2009–

2010 due to the global economic downturn. Unit sales rose

47% in 2011 and dollar value of sales grew 38%. A total of

19,337 robots valued at $1.17 billion were sold to companies

in North America.7

This significant growth was driven in large measure by

demand for advanced robotics systems from the automotive,

packaging, food, and chemical sectors. These sectors are

cyclical, so demand can fluctuate with economic conditions.

According to the Robotics Industry Association, key drivers

for the strong rebound in industrial robotics sales in 2011

were revitalized due to demand in the auto sector and the

decision by many U.S. manufacturing companies to keep

manufacturing at home by automating, and in some cases,

even bringing back manufacturing that had previously been

located overseas.

Demand is expected to continue to grow as new robotics

technologies and applications emerge and as the electronics,

The opportunity: Tremendous growth in the global Marketplace

6 The Economist. manufacturing and Innovation, 4/21/126 robotics Industry association7 robotics Industry association

ABB robots IRB 6400 on spotwelding line at car factory. ABB’s Corporate Research Center is located in Windsor, CT.

23

automotive, and life sciences industries continue to invest in

automation. There are 213,000 robots now at work in U.S.

factories and laboratories, placing the United States second

only to Japan in overall robot use. More than one million

industrial robots are installed worldwide, 40% of them

in Japan.8

The rebound in the U.S. and global

market for industrial robots is good news

for Massachusetts’ leading industrial

market suppliers including: Caliper-Perkin

Elmer, Brooks Automation, Teradyne,

Thermo Fisher, and GE Fanuc.

Professional and Personal Service Robots Market

The global market for service robots is

currently estimated to be $9.1 billion, a

more than fourfold increase since 2004.

The global market for service robots has

been growing rapidly at an average annual rate of:

■■ 17.5% for professional use

■■ 11.5% for personal use

■■ 19% for health care, assistive technology9

While the overall service robot market grew by 4% in 2010,

analysts predict an explosive growth in service robots. The

total global service robotics market is expected to be worth

$21 billion by 2014.10 Massachusetts is uniquely positioned

to take the lead in the global market for professional and

service robots with its successful track record of bringing to

market innovative service robots for many leading industries.

Professional Service RobotsThe total number of professional service robots sold in

2010 rose by 4% compared to 2009 to 13,741 units. The

value of sales increased by 15% to $3.2 billion. Seventy-five

percent of the total unit sales of professional service robots in

2010 were defense or field robots.

Defense RobotsBetween 50 and 80 countries either already utilize defense

robotic systems, or are a process of building or acquiring

the technology to incorporate them into their military

programs. These robots include unmanned aerial vehicles

(UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and unmanned

underwater vehicles (UUVs) and have in common the

purpose of substituting for, or assisting, humans in

battlefield situations.

According to a new study by ABI Research, “Defense

Robots: UAVs, UGVs, UUVs, and Task

Robots for Military Applications,” the

global market for military robotics will

grow from $5.8 billion in 2010 to more

than $8 billion in 2016.11

In the U.S. market, despite a short-term

trend toward limiting military spending,

the Defense Department’s long-term

appetite for robotic solutions for the

battlefield, for military operations, and

for care of the soldier and the veteran is

strong. A rebound is expected after 2014

when several new U.S. defense programs

of record begin using unmanned ground

systems for more than just counter-

explosive device operations.

The U.S. Congress has mandated that by the year 2015,

one-third of ground combat vehicles will be unmanned,

and the Department of Defense (DOD) is now developing

a multitude of unmanned systems that it intends to rapidly

deploy in the field. Meanwhile, thousands of robotics

researchers worldwide are making impressive gains in

networking robots and boosting the sophistication and

autonomy of these systems. This projection does not include

Analysts predict an

explosive growth in

service robots. The

total global service

robotics market

is expected to be

worth $21 billion by

2014.10

8 robotics Industry association9 e-Marketer and International Federation of Robotics10 International Federation of Robotics11 ABI Research

Packbot, developed by Bedford, MA-based iRobot, provided the first images inside the disabled reactors, approximately one week after the earthquake/tsunami. Their primary role was to go where humans could not, get visual data, measure temperature and radiation/oxygen levels inside the Fukishima nuclear reactor, and assist with clean up of radioactive debris and dust. Packbots have also been deployed at Ground Zero after 9/11 and in Iraq and Afgahanistan.

unmanned air or underwater vehicles which are also growing

in use by the military.12

In developed countries, military spending is often

recession-proof. Short-term economic conditions are

unlikely to impact long-term defense robot spending greatly,

especially because the most expensive robot systems

are far less expensive than equivalent manned systems.

While robots improve efficiency, accuracy, and operational

performance in the military, the primary reason their use has

increased is their ability to reduce injury and death in

combat situations.

Medical Robots Sales of robotics for medical applications increased in

2010 by 14% compared to 2009.13

The market for surgical robotics alone is projected to reach

$14 billion in 2014.14

In recent years, a steady increase in the use of medical

robots in the hospital setting confirms the tremendous

potential of medical robotics to assist surgeons with image-

guided, minimally invasive surgery; provide patient transport

and nurse assistance; improve medical education through

the use of simulators; and reduce the costs of patient care.

Also, service robots for remote presence and patient self-

service are enabling the delivery of more healthcare support

and services in the home.

The global demographic trend of aging populations

requiring more care from fewer people is driving demand

for adoption of smarter technology in healthcare services.

Service robots to assist the elderly and provide intelligent

automation for the home

will enable successful

“aging in place” and

reduce the burden on

healthcare systems.

Personal Service Robots

Approximately 2.2 million

service robots for personal

and domestic use were

sold globally in 2010—35%

more than in 2009. The value

of sales increased by 39%

to U.S. $538 million. Projections for the period 2011–2014

anticipate that 87,500 new service robots for professional

use will be installed.15

So far, service robots for personal and domestic use are

mainly used for household tasks, such as vacuum cleaning

and lawn mowing, or for entertainment and leisure, including

toy robots, hobby systems, education, and research.

While the market for consumer robots is currently smaller

than the market for industrial robots, sales of service robots

are projected to overtake industrial robotics in the next few

years. Personal robotics is the area of robotics with the

strongest predicted growth. According to ABI Research, the

global market for service-consumer robots is expected to be

worth $15 billion by 2015.

The Japanese Robot Association has predicted that the

personal robot industry will achieve annual sales of $50 billion

by 2025. This explosive growth will be

driven by demographics and the needs of

aging populations, which will require more

services with fewer people to provide

them. Projections for the period of 2011

to 2014 predict that about 14.4 million

units of service robots for personal use

will be sold.

The growing global market for service

robots represents a gigantic commercial

opportunity for Massachusetts innovators

who are already leading the robotics

race for the design, development, and

adoption of service robots.

Global robot market outlook

Source Ministry of Knowledge & Economy – South Korea, Jan. 2011

12 IEEE Spectrum Autonomous Robots in the Fog of War (August 2011)13 International Federation of Robotics 14 Wintergreen Research15 International Federation of Robotics

Vecna Technologies, Cambridge, created the QC Bot as a hospital courier, tele-presence and patient self-service robot.

25

Robotics is becoming as ubiquitous a platform technology

as computing is today and will transform industry and

everyday life.

Massachusetts leads the world in robotics education,

R&D, product development, and product sales. Leveraging

the competitive strengths of the Commonwealth’s unique

intellectual resources and talent pool, robotics has already

created dozens of new companies, hundreds of new jobs,

many new applications, and increased productivity in leading

industries including healthcare, life sciences, advanced

manufacturing, defense, and marine science. No other new

platform technology impacts so many critical industries.

Massachusetts is leading in the development of innovative

service robots. The global market for professional and

personal service robots is experiencing explosive growth and

projected to be worth $21 billion by 201416 and a whopping

$50 billion by 2025.17 As a world leader in the design and

development of professional and personal service robots,

Massachusetts is ideally positioned to dominate the global

market for service robots. The fact that the majority of the

robotic start-ups launched in Massachusetts since 2008 are

service robots is a sign of the quickening pace of innovation

in the design and development of service robots in

the Commonwealth.

Key early adopters in Massachusetts have demonstrated

a propensity to innovate, making those industries ideal

collaborators (e.g., defense trend toward new warfare

technology; healthcare reform and demographics demanding

technology solutions for healthcare delivery; advanced

manufacturing seeking revitalization through automation;

etc.). The Massachusetts Robotics Cluster is now entering

an inflection point of even more rapid robotics adoption and

industry growth.

Although the U.S. holds the lead in robotics, other

countries are making huge investments in robotics

technology. It is imperative that Massachusetts protect and

strengthen its leadership position in robotics not only to grow

the Commonwealth’s economy but also to help maintain U.S.

competitiveness as a global leader in robotics development

and adoption.

Faster Forward: Accelerating Robotics Growth in Massachusetts

Massachusetts can accelerate the growth of the

robotics industry in the Commonwealth and protect its

global competitive advantage. The future of robotics in

Massachusetts depends on promoting the industry and

strengthening key critical success factors, including:

The vitality of the intellectual infrastructure

■■ Attracting new and varied R&D investment.

■■ Fostering more collaboration among universities

and between universities and industry both within the

Commonwealth and throughout the New England region.

The vibrancy of the Talent pool

■■ Attracting and retaining robotics entrepreneurs, investors,

workers, and established companies to Massachusetts.

leading the Robotics Revolution

16 International Federation of Robotics 17 Japanese Robot Association

Artaic’s versatile robotic system assists the production of custom mosaic projects at speeds once deemed impossible.

■■ Developing and growing robotics talent and existing

businesses in Massachusetts.

■■ Assessing the skills gap along the entire hierarchy of talent

requirements of the robotics industry and its supporting

industries, from basic level and “middle skills” to higher skills

in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering.■

The supply of “smart Money” for Robotics

investment and Mentoring for entrepreneurs

■■ Facilitating business development and financing for start-

up and young robotics firms through new and existing state

entities and programs.

■■ Educating the investment community about the potential

return on robotics investments.

■■ Supporting networking and mentoring of new and existing

robotics entrepreneurs and executives.

The dynamic cycle of commercialization

■■ Exploiting robotics R&D by supporting

increased technology commercialization and new

product development.

■■ Facilitating robotics adoption by industry innovators

by establishing new links between key customers and

applications that leverage local strengths in healthcare, life

sciences, manufacturing, defense, and marine

technology, etc.

■■ Promoting robotics adoption within the public sector

in Massachusetts.

The cohesiveness and commitment of the

Robotics community

■■ Promoting dynamic connections and collaboration within

the diverse Massachusetts robotics community, as well as

externally with regional, national, and international robotics

associations, researchers, innovators, and centers

of excellence.

■■ Connecting robotics talent and ideas with industries

across the full spectrum of potential applications, especially

those with high potential for growth in the Massachusetts

and regional economy.

The GEARS-SMP is a research quality Surface Mobility Platform designed for university, college, and high school programs engaged in real-world robotic research. This research robot was developed using mobile platform technology and created by GEARS Educational Systems for a client-authored NSF grant.

27

MassTLC’s Role in the Robotics Revolution

MassTLC is proud to be a catalyst for growth of the

Massachusetts robotics sector. The Council has been

working with the Robotics Cluster leadership since 2005 and

continues to accelerate growth by:

Raising awareness of robotics potential with local

stakeholders, educators, government officials, investors, the

business community, and the general public; promoting and

celebrating the Massachusetts Robotics Cluster regionally,

nationally, and internationally.

creating community by establishing productive

links for the Robotics Cluster and its members within the

Commonwealth’s diverse robotics community as well as with

the investment community, the entrepreneurial community,

academia, government leaders, international delegations,

adjacent industries, and robotics thought leaders.

convening and connecting robotics entrepreneurs,

investors, inventors, researchers, and stakeholders for

idea sharing and discussion of both technological and

business challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

MassTLC plays a key role in helping entrepreneurs grow their

businesses through unique mentoring opportunities with

people who can them get where they are going faster.

Tracking the cluster’s growth through publication

of the first industry analyses of its kind, the achieving

global leadership robotics report (2009), and the new

robotics growth Index (2012). Advocating for policies and

interventions to support the sector’s continued growth.

We are proud of the exciting progress the robotics industry

has made in recent years and pleased to play a unique role in

keeping Massachusetts at the forefront by leveraging our role

as an organization that spans the many technologies and

industries impacted by the robotics revolution

in Massachusetts.

SourcesAccess Science Encyclopedia of Science and Technology

Online from McGraw Hill

ABI Research: Defense Robots: UAVs, UGVs, UUVs and

Task Robots for Military Applications

Donahue Institute University of Massachusetts, Defense

Industry in Massachusetts 2010

Clusters and the New Economics of Competition

The Economist. Manufacturing and Innovation, 2012

E-Marketer

From Internet to Robotics: A Roadmap for U.S. Robotics, Computing Research Association & Computing Community Consortium, 2009

International Federation of Robotics: World Robotics

Industrial Robots 2011, World Robotics Service

Robots 2011

IEEE Spectrum Autonomous Robots in the Fog of War,

2011

MIT Sloan School Robotics Cluster Report, 2012

Mass Technology Leadership Council

Process Engineering, ARC Advisory Group (London)

Robotic Business, Robotics Trends (EH Publishing)

Robotic Industries Association, Robotics Online and

Industry Statistics

Wintergreen Research Market Forecasts 2008-2014

Header Picture Referencespage 4 header

Cambridge-based Energid’s Actin robotic control software

was developed to make the most of complex robotic

hardware. The Cyton arm shown here uses Actin to enable

a wide application of robotics.

page 6 header

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick visits Bluefin

Robotics in Quincy, MA to recognize their positive

economic impact on the area.

page 9 header

ORYX 2.0 was designed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute

students for operation on rough terrain to facilitate space

related research and Earth exploration missions.

page 17 header

Aurora Flight Sciences with their research and

development office in Cambridge, MA has been part of the

Global Hawk (shown here in flight) team since 1995.

page 20 header

Myomo based in Cambridge, MA is an MIT spin-out that

has developed the mPower 1000, a powered arm brace

that is intended to increase arm movement for individuals

affected by brain injuries such as a stroke.

page 22 header

North Reading-based Kiva Systems, recently acquired

by Amazon, is a mobile robotic fulfillment system for

eCommerce and other order processing operations.

page 25 header

Cambridge based Jaybridge Robotics has partnered with

Kinze Manufacturing on the first autonomous grain

cart system.

back cover

Quincy-based Bluefin Robotics launches an autonomous

underwater vehicle in the Boston Harbor.

29

Appendix A – Alphabetical List of Massachusetts Companies and Institutions

Acon

Advanced Control Systems Corporation

Airventions

Aldebaran

AndrosRobotics

AOA Xinetics Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

Applied Systems Engineering

Aptima Inc

Aquabotix Technology Corporation

Argo Medical Technologies

Artaic Innovative Mosaic

Aurora Flight Systems

Autogen

Automated Medical Instruments

Autonomous Exploration

Aware

Axis New England

Barrett Technology

Battelle Memorial Institute

BBN Technologies

Berkshire Group LTD

Bioscale

Bitflow

Black-I Robotics

Bluefin Robotics

BlueShift Technologies

Boston Dynamics

Boston Engineering

Boston University

Braingate2

Brandeis University

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Brooks Automation

Caliper Life Sciences

Charles River Analytics

CoAutomation

Cognex

Corindus Vascular Robotics

Cortical Physiology Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital

Custom Systems and Controls

CyPhy Works

Dangel Robotics & Machinery

Deep Sea Systems International

Digilab Genomic Solutions

Dinkum Software

Dolan-Jenner Industries

Draka Cableteq USA

Draper Labs

DS SolidWorks Corporation

Electra Studios

Electromechanica

Elm Electrical

Energid Technologies

Eutechnics Incoroprated

Falmouth Scientific

Fiberoptic Components LLC

FTR Systems

Gears Educational Systems LLC

Geartronics Industries Inc

Gibson Engineering

Gleason Research

Goddard Technologies

GTC Falcon

Harmonic Drive Technologies

Harvard Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Harvard Robotics Lab

Harvard Wyss Institute

Harvest Automation

Heartlander Surgical

HighRes Biosolutions

Hitec Corporation

Hocoma

Holoverse Group

Hstar Technologies

Hydroid

IBM

Iconics

Immersive Design

Innovent Technologies LLC

Interactive Motion Technologies

Intersense

intuVision

Invensys Operations Management

iRobot Corporation

iWalk

J+H Machine

Jaybridge Robotics

Kaztek Systems

Kiva Systems

Lockheed Martin Sippican

Manta Product Development

Manufacturing Resource Group

Mass Automation Corporation

Medrobotics (formerly CardioRobotics)

Mekinesis

Mercury Computer Systems

MicroE Systems

Microsoft Corporation

Middlesex General Industries

MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

MIT Media Lab

MITRE Corporation

Mohawk Cable

More Industries

Myomo

Nascent Technology Corporation

Neurala

Neuron Robotics

Newport Corporation

NortekUSA

Northeastern University

Oceanserver Technology

Olin College of Engineering

Opco Laboratory

Optimum Technologies

Oracle Engineering

Orchid Technologies Engineering & Consulting

Performance Motion Devices

Persimmon Technologies

Polymer Corporation

PowerHydrant

Precision Flow Technologies

Protonex Technology Corporation

QinetiQ North America (formerly Foster-Miller)

Quiet Logistics

Quvium Asthma Signals

RailPod

Ranger Automation Systems

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems

Red Hat

Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics)

Robitech

Robonica

RPU Technology

RT Engineering Corporation

Schott North America

Scientific Systems Company

Seegrid Corporation

Sensable Technologies

Smart Robots

Sotax

Symbotic LLC

Teledyne Benthos

Teledyne Webb Research Corporation

Teradyne

Textron Systems

Thermo Fisher Scientific

TIAX LLC

Titian Software

TR Aeronautics LLC

Tufts University

Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems

UMass Amherst

UMass Lowell

Vaccon Company

Vecna Technologies

Viking Systems

Vishwa Robotics and Automation LLC

WAY-2C

Whitney Systems

WobbleWorks LLC

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

31

Appendix B – Robotics Companies and Institutions by ApplicationAcademic Institutions

Boston University (Boston)

Brandeis University (Waltham)

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston)

Cortical Physiology Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)

Harvard Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (Cambridge)

Harvard Robotics Lab (Cambridge)

Harvard Wyss Institute (Cambridge)

MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (Cambridge)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory (Lexington)

MIT Media Lab (Cambridge)

Northeastern University (Boston)

Olin College of Engineering (Needham)

Tufts University (Medford)

UMass Amherst (Amherst)

UMass Lowell (Lowell)

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Woods Hole)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester)

ComponentsAcon Incorporated (South Easton)

Advanced Control Systems Corporation (Pembroke)

AOA Xinetics Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (Cambridge)

Applied Systems Engineering Incorporated (Sandwich)

Aware Incorporated (Bedford)

Axis New England (Danvers)

Boston Engineering (Waltham)

CoAutomation (Westborough)

Cognex (Natick)

Dolan-Jenner Industries Incorporated (Boxborough)

Draka Cableteq USA (North Dighton)

DS SolidWorks Corporation (Waltham)

Falmouth Scientific (Cataumet)

Fiberoptic Components LLC (Sterling)

Geartronics Industries (North Billerica)

Gleason Research (Concord)

Goddard Technologies (Beverly)

GTC Falcon Incorporated (Plymouth)

Harmonic Drive Technologies (Peabody)

Hitec Corporation (Littleton)

Holoverse Group (Yarmouth Port)

IBM (Waltham)

Iconics (Foxborough)

Innovent Technologies LLC (Peabody)

Intersense (Billerica)

intuVision (Woburn)

Invensys Operations Management (Foxboro)

J+H Machine (Amesbury)

Kaztek Systems (Acton)

Manta Product Development (Cambridge)

Manufacturing Resource Group (Norwood)

Mekinesis (Arlington)

Mercury Computer Systems (Chelmsford)

MicroE Systems (Bedford)

Microsoft Corporation (Cambridge)

Mohawk Cable (Leominster)

Nascent Technology Corporation (Lexington)

Neuron Robotics (Somerville)

NortekUSA (Boston)

Opco Laboratory Incorporated (Fitchburg)

Optimum Technologies (Southbridge)

Oracle Engineering Incorporated (Sudbury)

Orchid Technologies Engineering & Consulting (Maynard)

Performance Motion Devices Incorporated (Boxborough)

Polymer Corporation (Rockland)

Protonex Technology Corporation (Southborough)

Robitech Incorporated (Ipswich)

RPU Technology (Needham)

Schott North America (Southbridge)

Scientific Systems Company (Woburn)

Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems (Braintree)

Viking Systems (Westborough)

WAY-2C (Arlington)

ConsumerAirventions (Boston)

Aldebaran (Boston)

Aptima (Woburn)

Aquabotix Technology Corporation (Fall River)

Electra Studios

Electromechanica (Mattapoisett)

FTR Systems (Wakefield)

Gears Educational Systems LLC (Hanover)

Harvest Automation (Billerica)

Interactive Motion Technologies (Watertown)

iRobot Corporation (Bedford)

PowerHydrant (Westwood)

Robonica (Boston)

Smart Robots (Dalton)

WobbleWorks LLC (Newton)

Factory Automation / DistributionArtaic Innovative Mosaic (Boston)

Barrett Technology (Cambridge)

Berkshire Group LTD (Westfield)

Brooks Automation (Chelmsford)

Custom Systems and Controls (Framingham)

Dangel Robotics & Machinery (Bedford)

Elm Electrical (Westfield)

Eutechnics (Acton)

Gibson Engineering (Norwood)

Kiva Systems (North Reading)

Mass Automation Corporation (Bourne)

Newport Corporation (North Billerica)

Precision Flow Technologies (Shrewsbury)

Quiet Logistics (Andover)

Ranger Automation Systems (Shrewsbury)

Rethink Robotics (Boston)

RT Engineering Corporation (Franklin)

Seegrid Corporation (Lowell)

Symbotic LLC (Wilmington)

Vishwa Robotics and Automation LLC (Brighton)

Whitney Systems (Chelmsford)

Healthcare / Medical / Assistive Technology

AndrosRobotics (Boston)

Argo Medical Technologies (Boston)

Automated Medical Instruments (Needham)

Barrett Technology (Cambridge)

Braingate2 (Boston)

Corindus Vascular Robotics (Natick)

Heartlander Surgical (Westwood)

Hocoma (Norwell)

Hstar Technologies (Cambridge)

Interactive Motion Technologies (Watertown)

iRobot Corporation (Bedford)

iWalk (Cambridge)

Medrobotics (Raynham)

Myomo (Cambridge)

Quvium (Woburn)

Sensable Technologies (Wilmington)

Vecna Technologies (Cambridge)

Vishwa Robotics and Automation LLC (Brighton)

Lab AutomationAutogen (Holliston)

Bioscale Incorporated (Lexington)

BlueShift Technologies (Andover)

Caliper Life Sciences (Hopkinton)

Digilab Genomic Solutions (Holliston)

HighRes Biosolutions (Woburn)

Middlesex General Industries (Woburn)

Persimmon Technologies (Wakefield)

Sotax (Hopkinton)

Teradyne Incorporated (North Reading)

Thermo Fisher Scientific (Waltham)

Vaccon Company (Medway)

Military / Public Safety (Ground, Marine, Aerospace Robots)

Aquabotix Technology (Fall River)

iRobot Corporation (Bedford)

Aurora Flight Systems (Cambridge)

Autonomous Exploration (Andover)

Black-I Robotics (Tyngsboro)

Bluefin Robotics (Quincy)

Boston Dynamics (Waltham)

Boston Engineering (Waltham)

CyPhy Works (Danvers)

Deep Sea Systems International (Falmouth)

Draper Labs (Cambridge)

Hydroid (Pocasset)

Lockheed Martin Sippican (Marion)

MITRE Corporation (Bedford)

More Industries

Oceanserver Technology (Fall River)

QinetiQ North America (Waltham)

33

RailPod (Hull)

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (Waltham)

Teledyne Benthos (North Falmouth)

Teledyne Webb Research (East Falmouth)

Textron Systems (Wilmington)

TIAX LLC (Lexington)

TR Aeronautics LLC (Boston)

Vecna Technologies (Cambridge)

Robotics SoftwareBBN Technologies (Cambridge)

Bitflow (Woburn)

Charles River Analytics (Cambridge)

Dinkum Software (Falmouth)

Energid Technologies (Cambridge)

Immersive Design (Acton)

IBM (Waltham)

Jaybridge Robotics (Cambridge)

Kaztek Systems (Acton)

Microsoft (Cambridge)

Neurala (Boston)

Neuron Robotics (Somerville)

Red Hat (Westford)

Titian Software (Westborough)

35

“Imagine being present at the birth of a new industry. It is an industry based on

groundbreaking new technologies, wherein a handful of well-established corporations

sell highly specialized devices for business use and a fast-growing number of start-up

companies produce innovative toys, gadgets for hobbyists, and other interesting niche

products…… (like the computer industry) …trends are now starting to converge and

I can envision a future in which robotics devices will become a nearly ubiquitous part

of our day-to-day lives. Technologies such as distributed computing, voice and visual

recognition, and wireless broadband connectively will open the door to a new generation

of autonomous devices that enable computers to perform tasks in the physical world on

our behalf. We may be on the verge of a new era, when the PC will get up off the desktop

and allow us to see, hear, touch, and manipulate objects in places where we are not

physically present.”

Bill gates

20 Mall Road, Suite 151 ■ Burlington, MA 01803 ■ Phone: (781) 993-9000 ■ www.masstlc.org