In Episode 213 of The Robotic Report Podcast, hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the main robotics information of the week.
Dustin Vaughan, VP of R&D for Robotics at Ascensus.
This week’s present options Dustin Vaughan, VP of R&D for Robotics at Ascensus Surgical, who discusses the strategic course and priorities of his staff, with a deal with the event of the Luna platform.
Vaughan highlights the significance of performance-guided surgical procedure and the mixing of augmented intelligence to boost scientific assist techniques. Vaughan additionally addresses the challenges of navigating regulatory landscapes and cybersecurity issues whereas emphasizing the potential of robotics and automation within the medical subject.
He expresses optimism about the way forward for surgical robotics, notably in pediatric care, in addition to the function of AI in enhancing surgical outcomes. The dialog underscores the dedication to delivering revolutionary, cost-effective options that improve affected person care and operational effectivity within the working room.
Asensus was a 2025 RBR50 award winner for its Senhance answer.
Additionally featured throughout the information part is Anders Beck, VP of Expertise, Common Robots, with a producer’s perspective on the brand new collaborative robotics requirements adjustments.
Present timeline
- 05:39 – Dialog with Anders Beck, VP of Expertise, Common Robots
- 14:37 – Information of the week
- 27:30 – Dialog with Scott Kuindersma, VP of robotics analysis at Boston Dynamics
Information of the week
Determine AI turns into a robotics unicorn: Determine AI passes $1B with Collection C funding towards humanoid robotic improvement
Determine AI Inc. right this moment introduced that, with its Collection C funding spherical, it has surpassed $1 billion in dedicated capital, bringing its post-money valuation to $39 billion. In accordance with Crunchbase, the corporate has raised $1.9B up to now over 5 rounds.
Determine AI mentioned it plans to construct out its Helix platform for an embodied intelligence platform and the BotQ high-volume manufacturing surroundings unveiled in March. The corporate plans to ship 100,000 humanoids over the subsequent 4 years.
Parkway Enterprise Capital led Determine AI’s Collection C spherical, with participation from Brookfield Asset Administration, NVIDIA, Macquarie Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, Tamarack International, LG Expertise Ventures, Salesforce, T-Cell Ventures, and Qualcomm Ventures.
Jaime Lee from Tamarack International appeared on the podcast, again in episode 147 in March 2024. Return and hearken to this episode to get a greater sense of the joy shared by the investor group for the promise of humanoids.
Rethink Robotics shuts down
Rethink Robotics Inc., which rose as a force- and power-limited arm pioneer, has shut down for a second time. Robotics innovators Rodney Brooks and Ann Whittaker co-founded Heartland Robotics in 2008 with the intent of making low-cost robots. In 2012, the then-Boston-based firm renamed itself Rethink Robotics and launched the two-armed Baxter, one of many first so-called collaborative robots. It was initially common with researchers.
In 2015, Rethink launched Sawyer, a one-armed cobot with a smaller design and higher programming flexibility. It raised $150 million alongside the best way. Nevertheless, Rethink’s robots suffered from nagging issues with precision and repeatability due to the selection of sequence elastic actuators.
In 2018, Rethink went bankrupt, and HAHN Group acquired its mental property (IP). HAHN Robotics deliberate to “apply German engineering” to refurbish the cobots. Within the meantime, Denmark’s Common Robots had change into the market chief, and even industrial automation suppliers that had as soon as scoffed on the class had introduced their very own choices. By September 2024, United Robotics Group (URG) relaunched Rethink and returned the firm from Germany to the U.S. Nevertheless, its newest Reacher robotic arms, Ryder autonomous cellular robots (AMRs), and Riser cellular manipulator robots (MMRs) introduced new challenges.
Catch the most recent on humanoid and surgical robotic improvement at RoboBusiness 2025. Be part of Deepu Talla, vp of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA, for a keynote titled “Bodily AI for the New Period of Robotics.”
