Venture capital companies to fund robotic navigation technology

Austrian intelligent robotic navigation developer RobArt has announced the closing of a financial round in which Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Innovacom, and SEB Alliance have invested a total of € 3 million to expand RobArt’s activities and begin volume production for an intelligent low-cost robotic navigation unit.

RobArt’s navigation unit, the artificial intelligence control unit (AICU), was designed to provide navigation for robots in potentially unpredictable indoor environments using statistical and logical methods. Algorithms developed by the company reportedly enable RobArt to “move the complexity of a typical robotic navigation unit from hardware to software.” AICU consists of a low-cost sensor and circuit board with an embedded processor, motor controls, and several inputs and outputs. In addition, the unit has an interface that allows the designing and programming of different robotic solutions without changing the hardware.

The navigation units are designed specifically for autonomous robotic household devices, including those that may be used for cleaning, home security, fetch and carry, or elderly care applications. With the investment, RobArt will be able expand its operations and customer base, as well as accelerate market entry, according to Michael Schahpar, co-founder and CFO of RobArt

Bruno Dizengremel, partner of Innovacom and also a new member of RobArt's board, identifies RobArt’s market potential as a primary reason for investment.

"RobArt's exceptional team of engineers has developed a very advanced technology for robot navigation in consumer products,” he said. “The market potential for this technology is huge and RobArt will become the key enabler for intelligence in devices for cleaning, security as well as fetch and carry. We are keen to take part in their expansion."

In addition, Jan Westerhues, investment partner of RBVC and board-member of RobArt, also said that RobArt’s navigation unit could increase the use of robotics for consumer applications.

"We are convinced that this technology will significantly drive the use of robotics for consumer applications. Furthermore, RobArt's navigation unit offers unique possibilities for users and developers of smart connected home products and is thus an important advance for the Internet of Things."

View more information on RobArt.

Pictured: ERWIN (Emotional robot with intelligent network), a robot developed by researchers from the University of Lincoln’s School of Computer Science that is being used as part of a PhD study to learn more information about the relationships between humans and “companion” robots.

Also check out:
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10 innovative current and future robotic applications
Live from the AIA Vision show: An outlook on collaborative robots

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