Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics, Inc.[1]) is a robotics company co-founded by Rodney Brooks and Ann Whittaker in 2008.[3] In 2018 the assets of Rethink Robotics were bought by the German automation specialist HAHN Group.[4] In 2021 Rethink Robotics joined the United Robotics Group GmbH.
Rethink Robotics has won awards and has been an Edison Awards finalist.[5]
Sawyer, the collaborative robot
History
Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008[3] as a startup aiming to create low-cost robots.[6] In 2012, they released the robot Baxter.[7] In 2015, they released a smaller and more flexible counterpart to Baxter, Sawyer, that was designed to perform smaller, more detailed tasks.[7][8]
In 2016, they released their collaborative robots (cobots) worldwide. These robots were designed to be easy to set up and work alongside, rather than replace, humans in factory environments.[9]
In October 2018, Rethink Robotics ceased operations and sold off its assets.[10][11] Other companies picked up support for the robots.[12]
Most of the Rethink Robotics assets were bought by a distributor, the HAHN Group, a German automation specialist.[11][13] HAHN Group acquired all of Rethink's patents and trademarks as well as Rethink's Intera 5 software platform.[14]
About 100 Baxter robots and the rights to sell them in North America were bought by Hunan CoThink Robotics Technology Company.[15]
In October 2019, one year after the acquisition of assets through the German HAHN Group, Rethink Robotics launched the new Sawyer BLACK Edition.[16] The headquarters of Rethink Robotics moved from Rheinböllen to Bochum in mid 2020, and signed a partnership with Siemens.[17]
In August 2024 Rethink Robotics GmbH was shut down due to operational reasons.
In September 2024 Rethink Robotics, Inc. reappears with new products. After a long hiatus, the company celebrated its rebirth at the IMTS The International Manufacturing Technology Show in 2024 with a new product portfolio including a cobot and AMR line.
^"Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support". Robotics Business Review. Archived from the original on 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2019-11-27. Rethink Robotics is gone — or is it? News from Germany and China should provide relief for owners of Baxter and Sawyer cobots worried about continuing support.
