Monthly Archives: June 2024

My task today is to identify three robotics stocks to buy in June that you can turn into $1 million from a $1,000 investment.

As I write this mid-way through June, the S&P 500 is already up nearly 15% on the year, while the largest U.S.-listed robotics exchange-traded fund, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (NASDAQ:BOTZ) with $2.75 billion in net assets, is up 43 basis points year-to-date relative to the index. Since its inception in September 2016, BOTZ has had a cumulative return of 114%.

BOTZ tracks the performance of the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index, a collection of 43 stocks that will benefit from robotics and artificial intelligence.

The global robotics market is expected to grow from $80 billion to $280 billion between 2022 and 2032. This gives investors a long growth runway. The ETFs top 10 holdings represent 65% of its top 10 holdings.

Ill want to select at least one stock from the top 10 holdings. Here are my three choices for June 2024.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) is the third-largest holding of BOTZ with an 8.7% weighting. Its shares are up nearly 30% year-to-date.

The company launched its first da Vinci surgical system in 1999. It was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for use in general laparoscopic surgery.According to the companys 2023 10-K form:

Da Vinci systems offer surgeons three-dimensional, high definition (3DHD) vision, a magnified view, and robotic and computer assistance. They use specialized instrumentation, including a miniaturized surgical camera (endoscope) and wristed instruments (e.g., scissors, scalpels, and forceps) that are designed to help with precise dissection and reconstruction deep inside the body.

Recently, the FDA found that patients who have robotic prostatectomies have overall cancer survival rates on par with open surgery. Robotic prostatectomies can cause shorter hospital stays and less blood loss than traditional non-robotic radical prostatectomies.

In the first quarter, worldwide procedures using da Vinci robotic systems increased by 16% from a year ago. It placed 313 da Vinci surgical systems in the quarter, about the same as last year. Its adjusted net income grew 23.8% to $541 million on $1.89 billion in revenue.

It remains the gold standard in surgical robotics.

Source: Daniel J. Macy / Shutterstock.com

ABB (OTCMKTS:ABBNY) is the second-largest holding of BOTZ with a 9.6% weighting. Its shares are up nearly 33% year-to-date. Its 10-year annualized total return is 25.7%.

The Swiss-based company provides many end markets with electrification, motion, and automation solutions and products. It generates more than $32 billion in annual revenue, and its Robotics and Discrete Automation business accounts for 11% of it. Its operational EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization) accounts for 9% of the $5.43 billion profit in 2023.

The segments two largest end markets are machine automation (34% of revenue) and automotive (33%). Europe accounts for 53% of the segments revenues, followed by China (22%), and the U.S. (10%).

Of the divisions $3.6 billion in revenue, robotics accounts for approximately 69%, while machine automation accounts for 31%.

Two highlights of ABBs first quarter was the $551 million in free cash flow generated, 240% higher than a year earlier. The companys operational EBITDA in the first quarter was 17.9%, 160 basis points higher than a year earlier.

Over the past five years, its stock has appreciated by 185%, more than double the index. Yielding 1.7%, its an excellent long-term buy.

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) isnt a holding of BOTZ. However, it provides industrial automation for industries such as auto manufacturing, food and beverage production, etc. Its shares are down over 14% this year.

Last October, it paid $565 million for Clearpath Robotics, a Canadian company specializing in industrial AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). The market for AMRs is expected to grow to $6.2 billion by 2027.

In May, Rockwell lowered its organic sales for fiscal 2024 (September year-end). It now expects them to fall by 7% at the midpoint of its guidance, down from a 1% gain previously. On the bottom line, it cut its earnings per share by 18% to $10.50. At its current share price, it trades at 25x the estimate, below its five-year average of 27x.

Despite the lower FY24 outlook, we are gaining share across many of our most important product lines and in North America, our largest market, said Blake Moret, chairman and CEO.

In North America, its organic sales fell just 3% compared to double-digit declines elsewhere. Once its industrial customers get their inventories in better shape, the market share gains will show up in future quarterly reports.

Buying ahead would be a timely call.

On the date of publication, Will Ashworth did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Will Ashworth has written about investments full-time since 2008. Publications where hes appeared include InvestorPlace, The Motley Fool Canada, Investopedia, Kiplinger, and several others in both the U.S. and Canada. He particularly enjoys creating model portfolios that stand the test of time. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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3 Robotics Stocks to Turn $1000 into $1 Million: June 2024 - InvestorPlace

By Natalia Rodriguez

On May 4, the X Academy Hephaestus team put seven months of effort on the line at a regional underwater robotics competition, and when they finished third out of 31 teams, team member Evelyn Potts, who attends Aptos High, didnt think they would qualify for the world championship.

Lauren and Evelyn Potts work on the float.

Ten minutes before their time in the water at Watsonville High, the teams remote-operated vehicle was not floating and despite last-minute adjustments, it wasnt going to.

But the tethered vehicle did work, and the team accumulated so many points in the competition, they got an invitation to the Marine Advanced Technology Education Remotely Operated Vehicle World Championship, which is June 20-22 in Kingsport, Tennessee.

They are in the Ranger class for students with robotics experience.

Their task is to design and build an operational float able to descend to the bottom and rise to the surface again to collect data and monitor the oceans circulation, chemistry, biology, and overall health.

Essentially students create their own version of the remote-operated vehicles scientists use survey to water quality and monitor diseased coral a complex task indeed.

11 Schools

Evelyn is a student who enjoys mathematical problem-solving. Since fourth grade, shes been a member of the X Academy Math Circle, founded by Tim Sylvester, a Silicon Valley veteran and a software engineer at Joby Aviation, and his wife Barbara Meister, a network master who worked 12 years at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Evelyn is participating in the robotics competition with her twin sister Lauren, and students from 10 other schools.

From left at the pool: Kaden Collier, Ben Hillard, Uriel Marinez-Uribe, and Max Chen at the control station.

Hephaestus team members are:

The Hephaestus team is fittingly named for the Greek god of craftsmen, artisans and metalworking.

It is part of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education X Academy Robotics Clubs, a program launched at the start of the 2023-24 school year to offer hands-on experience in robotics to all high school students in Santa Cruz County at no cost.

Math Circle

Ten years ago Sylvester and Meister saw there was nothing in Santa Cruz for math-loving students like their son Andrew, so they started the Santa Cruz Math Circle.

Nami Brown

During the Covid-19 pandemic, participating students began building robots in their driveway. When more students wanted to participate, they rented space at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz. Thats how X Academy was born.

Last year, the X Academy team qualified for the MATE ROV World Championship, which took place in Colorado, and placed fifth of 35 teams.

Andrew, who was on that team, is now a math major at UC Santa Barbara.

A conversation with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education led to this question: Can this robotics program expand to Watsonville?

With funding from the county office, Sylvesters answer was Yes.

Expansion

Last fall, interest grew from 10 to 52, resulting in two teams, one meeting at Sequoia High School in Watsonville.

More than 40 students from 16 local schools participated and the second team, the Angry Otters, for novice high school students, finished second in the regional competition in the Navigator class.

Sylvester is the head mentor. Meister is the organizer. They had support from 15 mentors, parents and professors.

Parents are enthusiastic, Sylvester said.

When one professor saw these high school making circuit boards and writing software, he told Sylvester, This is what my kids do in college.

Students sometimes stay up late, putting in extra time solving problems.

As the dinner hour approached Monday, Sylvester said, The kids are at a pool right now testing the ROV.

Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County superintendent of schools, provided this statement, We are incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work of every student who entered the MATE ROV competition, and grateful to the X Academy for this impactful local partnership.

The Hephaestus team met weekly, working all the complex steps toward creating their robot, and preparing it to enter the pool.

Now they will compete against 37 top teams from around the globe, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Hong Kong, to name a few.

The team needs $2,500 per student to attend the world championship, and aims to raise $40,000.

So far they have 56% of their goal, about $22,000.

Do you have interest in supporting the future of youth robotics in Santa Cruz County? To donate, see http://www.xacademy.org/ To be a sponsor, email [emailprotected]

This years World Championships will be broadcast via Twitch, with color commentary by a University of Washington professor. See https://materovcompetition.org/

To learn more about local robotics, see https://cs.santacruzcoe.org/robotics

Editor Jondi Gumz contributed to this report.

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Local Students Head to Robotics World Championship - TPG Online Daily

Horseheads, N.Y., June 13--State Senator Tom OMara (R,C-Big Flats), Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning), and Assemblyman Chris Friend (R-C, Big Flats) last night honored the Southern Tier robotics team, Team TARDIS 5356, for the teams success at the New York Excelsior Regional Championship and the FIRST World Festival earlier this year.

Team TARDIS, founded in 2011, is one of three high school teams at Corning Robotics, sponsored by Corning, Inc. Team TARDIS is a 14-member team with students from Corning-Painted Post and Horseheads high schools.

In March, Team TARDIS received the Inspire Award, the competitions top award, at the New York Excelsior Region Championship held at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica. The Inspire Award recognizes the competitions superior team in robot design, innovation, programming, and performance, as well as for STEM outreach to area professionals and youth.

The teams victory in March earned Team TARDIS a spot at the FIRST World Festival in Houston, Texas, April 17-20. Team TARDIS was one of 224 teams representing every state in America and one of only three teams from Upstate New York and international teams in the competition. The team finished ranked No. 16 out of the 224 teams competing.

OMara and Palmesano joined the members of the team and their coaches and mentors last night [see the attached photo] at the teams headquarters in Horseheads to present an official Legislative Resolution (J2485/K2178) they sponsored honoring the teams success at the state, national, and international levels. The resolution was approved by the state Senate and Assembly in May.

In a joint statement, OMara, Palmesano, and Friendsaid, Team TARDIS represents some of our best and brightest students from the Southern Tier who have had amazing success throughout the past year. Their commitment, creativity, enthusiasm, expertise, and vision stood out this year in prestigious competitions against local, state, national, and international teams. Its been an outstanding and memorable year for Team TARDIS. It has been a true testament to the excellence and hard work of these stellar students and their coaches and mentors, as well as to the incredible support from their families, communities, and Corning Incorporated. We appreciate and welcome these opportunities to honor success throughout our school communities. They represent inspiring stories, promising futures, and enormous pride for our entire region.

Team TARDIS Assistant Coach Mike Simons said, All of us coaches and parents couldn't be more proud of the work Team TARDIS did this season. From the start, they set a goal qualifying for the championship in Texas, and they reached it and then some! They built an incredible robot that competed with the very best our Excelsior region has to offer, and won the top prize, the Inspire Award, at regional championships in March. That earned them the ticket to the FIRST World Championships in Houston back in April, where they got to compete with the very best teams on the planet. The numbers speak for themselves. TARDIS finished ranked #16 of 224 teams at Worlds and wrapped up the season ranked #49 of 7,400+ teams globally, a Top 50 finish for our kids! The most important number this season, though, is the 900+ hours of STEM education outreach the team contributed to our Corning-Elmira community, reaching more than 1,600 kids, and teaching them about robotics through the power of science, technology, engineering, and math. We're grateful to Corning, Incorporated and our other sponsors in helping so generously to support our team members and families in making the trip to Texas a reality.

The OMara-Palmesano-Friend resolution recognizes the achievement of the Team TARDIS members: Adam Perry, Thang Tran, Thai Tran, Isaac Moyer, Luke McNaughton, Eavan Qin, Victor Roussey, Dean Simons, Nicole Miller, Tristan Lint, Graham Simons, Michael McNaughton, Seojun Cho, and Daphne Karacay.

The resolution also recognizes Paul Dohn, a founding father of Team TARDIS in 2011 and now its senior mentor. Following a nomination by the team in recognition of Dohns dedication to STEM education and the Corning Robotics program, Dohn was a second-place global finalist for the Compass Award honoring the best coaches and mentors in the world competition.

The resolution reads, in part, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, these students now stand honorably, with just pride in their accomplishments and in eager anticipation of future challenges and understanding and appreciating the caring counsel and support provided by teachers, mentors, and parents.

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Area legislators pay tribute to Southern Tier robotics team - The New York State Senate

KITT stock is up alongside heavy trading

Source: Manu Galdamez/ShutterStock.com

Nauticus Robotics(NASDAQ:KITT) stock is up on Tuesday alongside heavy pre-market trading of the ocean robots companys shares.

Nauticus Roboticsstock is experiencing heavy trading, with more than 41 million shares changing hands as of this writing. Thats a massive surge in trading volume compared to the companys daily average of about 14.1 million shares.

Investors will also note that KITT stock saw heavy trading and a rally yesterday. That resulted in more than 212 million shares changing hands yesterday. It also saw the stock rally 49% when markets closed on Monday.

Investors will keep in mind that this movement comes without any clear news from Nauticus Robotics. That includes a lack of press releases or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Theres also no analyst coverage that would cause the shares to rally.

Even without clear news, the heavy trading of KITT stock has the shares up this morning. That has the stock increasing 58.9% as of Tuesday morning. However, shares were down 60.9% year-to-date when markets closed on Monday.

Investors will also want to be careful with Nauticus Robotics as KITT is a penny stock. That comes from its prior closing price of 23 cents and market capitalization of only $14.416 million. This means its susceptible to volatility and could be the target of a pump and dump.

Investors will want to keep reading for even more of the most recent stock market stories today!

We have all of the hottest stock market news traders need to know about on Tuesday! That includes the biggest pre-market stock movers this morning, catalysts coming this week and more. All of this info is ready to go at the links below!

On Penny Stocks and Low-Volume Stocks:With only the rarest exceptions, InvestorPlace does not publish commentary about companies that have a market cap of less than $100 million or trade less than 100,000 shares each day. Thats because these penny stocks are frequently the playground for scam artists and market manipulators. If we ever do publish commentary on a low-volume stock that may be affected by our commentary, we demand thatInvestorPlace.coms writers disclose this fact and warn readers of the risks.

Read More:Penny Stocks How to Profit Without Getting Scammed

On the date of publication, William White did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to theInvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

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Why Is Nauticus Robotics (KITT) Stock Up 59% Today? - InvestorPlace

Nauticus Robotics's KITT short percent of float has fallen 59.37% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 1.29 million shares sold short, which is 3.36% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.0 days to cover their short positions on average.

Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. Short selling is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.

Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.

See Also: List of the most shorted stocks

As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Nauticus Robotics has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.

Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.

According to Benzinga Pro, Nauticus Robotics's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.40%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.

Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.

This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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How Is The Market Feeling About Nauticus Robotics? - Nauticus Robotics (NASDAQ:KITT) - Benzinga

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Collaborative Robotics has kept its actual robot out of public view. | Source: Adobe Stock, Photoshopped by The Robot Report

Collaborative Robotics, a developer of cobots for logistics, today announced the establishment of a Foundation Models AI team. Michael Vogelsong, a founder of Amazons Deep Learning Tech team, will lead the new team in Seattle.

Our cobots are already doing meaningful work in production on behalf of our customers, stated Brad Porter, CEO of Collaborative Robotics. Our investment in building a dedicated foundation models AI team for robotics represents a significant step forward as we continue to increase the collaborative potential of our cobots.

The foundation models AI team will explore the cutting-edge possibilities of AI in enhancing robotic capabilities, particularly in the area of bimanual manipulation and low-latency multimodal models, he added. We aim to achieve a new level of comprehension and control in our robots, enabling them to understand and respond effectively to complex tasks and environments. I am looking forward to seeing the innovations this talented team creates.

In April, Collaborative Robotics closed its $100 million Series B round toward commercializing its autonomous mobile manipulator. The company has been very secretive about the actual design of its system, releasing only scant details about the payload capabilities and the fact that is a wheeled collaborative robot.

At the time, Porter toldThe Robot Report that the new cobots base is capable of omnidirectional motion with four wheels and a swerve-drive design, along with a central tower-like structure that can acquire, carry, and place totes and boxes around a warehouse.

Brad Porter of Collaborative Robotics (far right) participated in a debate on whether humanoid robots are reality or hype at Robotics Invest this week in Boston. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

Foundation AI models are currently one of the hottest topics in robotics, with many companies investing in both talent and intellectual property to develop the technology. Foundation models offer the promise of generalizing behaviors and reducing the effort to build and maintain special-purpose models.

Collaborative Robotics said its new Foundation Models AI team will concentrate on integrating advanced machine-learning techniques into its production robots. By combining existing foundation models, novel research, and strategic partnerships with the practical experience from running systems live in production environments, the team aims to improve the adaptability and precision of robotic tasks.

Building on the companys earlier work in developing an Auditable Control and Planning Framework (ACoP), this research will explore how models that process text, vision, and actions can interact and create a real-time feedback loop for adaptive control.

The company also announced a that it is funding Ph.D. work at the University of Washington through a significant gift. This gift will sponsor the research of Prof. Sidd Srinivasa, an academic leader in AI and robotics, who also serves as an advisor to Collaborative Robotics.

The collaboration with Cobot supports our ongoing research at the University of Washington, said Srinivasa. Cobots commitment to advancing AI and robotics aligns well with our research goals and will help us advance robotic capabilities across multiple dimensions and particularly in the area of bimanual manipulation.

Collaborative Robotics plans this month to open its Seattle office, which will serve as a hub for these advanced research activities. The company said it expects the citys tech ecosystem to support its expansion and research goals.

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Collaborative Robotics expands with new Seattle office and AI team - Robot Report

As the broader indices like the Nasdaq continue their upward trajectory, now is a compelling time to consider investing in robotics stocks. The robotics industry, buoyed by rapid technological advancements and increasing demand across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, presents a wealth of opportunities for savvy investors looking for the best robotics stocks to buy.

Investing in these robotics stocks today could yield substantial gains as the industry is projected to grow significantly. The service robotics market, valued at $41.5 billion in 2023, is expected to soar to $84.8 billion by 2028, expanding at an annual growth rate of over 20%. By securing positions in these companies now, investors can lock in potential capital appreciation before the market peaks.

Here are seven of the best robotics stocks to buy in June 2024. These companies have immense growth potential and the capability to become market leaders in the burgeoning field of robotics. With the right investments, these stocks could become millionaires for forward-thinking investors.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) known for its da Vinci Surgical System, which has facilitated over 13 million surgical procedures. It is expected to continue expanding its installed base and clinical applications.

In 2023, ISRG placed 1,370 da Vinci surgical systems, up from 1,264 in 2022. This included a notable increase in systems placed under operating lease arrangements. The company saw its revenue grow to $7.12 billion, a 14.49% increase from $6.22 billion in 2022.

Analysts have set a 12-month price target for ISRG stock at an average of $403.67, ranging between $314 and $500. The consensus rating is a moderate buy based on 14 buy ratings and four hold ratings.

For Q1 2024, ISRG reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.50, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.40. The revenue for this quarter was $1.89 billion, beating the estimated $1.87 billion and marking an 11.5% year-over-year increase.

Source: Pavel Kapysh / Shutterstock

Cognex (NASDAQ:CGNX) specializes in machine vision systems used in manufacturing automation. It has strong financials and recently integrated AI and advanced analytics.

In Q1 2024, Cognex posted revenue of $210.8 million, a 5% increase year over year, surpassing the analyst estimate of $200.42 million. The companys net income for the quarter was $12 million, or $0.11 per share, beating expectations of $0.08 per share. This quarters performance was bolstered by strong contributions from its machine vision systems and the integration of advanced AI and analytics.

Looking ahead to 2024, Cognex has provided optimistic guidance, expecting revenue for Q2 2024 to be between $230 million and $245 million. This projected increase reflects typical seasonal trends and a recovery in consumer electronics revenue.

Analysts have set a 12-month price target for CGNX stock at an average of $49.15, ranging between $41 and $60. This suggests a potential upside of approximately 6.2% from the current price.

Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com

Symbotic (NASDAQ:SYM) specializes in warehouse automation with AI-embedded software. The company has shown strong financial growth and is working on diversifying its customer base.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2024, Symbotic reported revenue of $369 million, a significant increase from $206 million in the same period in 2023. Despite this growth, the company posted a net loss of $13 million, an improvement from the previous year. In the second quarter of fiscal 2024, Symbotics revenue rose to $424 million, although it reported a net loss of $41 million.

Looking forward, Symbotic has provided optimistic guidance for 2024. The company expects to continue its revenue growth trend, driven by its AI-enabled robotics technology for supply chains. Analysts predict the companys stock price could reach an average of $55.69 within the next year, suggesting a possible upside of 48.5% from the current price.

Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com

Teradyne (NASDAQ:TER) is a leader in industrial automation and robotics testing. Its products are crucial for ensuring the quality and functionality of advanced robotic systems.

For the first quarter of 2024, Teradyne reported revenue of $600 million, exceeding analysts expectations of $566.31 million. The company achieved a GAAP net income of $64.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share. Teradynes Q1 2024 non-GAAP earnings per share were $0.51, surpassing the guidance range of $0.38 to $0.48.

Teradyne has guided Q2 2024, projecting revenue between $665 million and $725 million, with GAAP net income per diluted share expected to range from $0.45 to $0.65.

The company continues to focus on expanding its market presence in industrial automation and robotics testing, which are crucial for ensuring the quality and functionality of advanced robotic systems.

Source: Michael Vi/ShutterStock.com

Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:ZBRA) provides solutions that enhance the efficiency of robotic systems in logistics and supply chain operations. These solutions offer critical tools for inventory and asset management.

In the first quarter of 2024, Zebra Technologies reported net sales of $1.175 billion, reflecting a 16.4% year-over-year decline. Net income for Q1 2024 was $115 million, with net income per diluted share at $2.23. Despite the decrease in sales, the company managed to control costs, which helped mitigate some of the impact on profitability.

Looking ahead, Zebras outlook for 2024 shows signs of modest recovery. The company has implemented expanded cost reduction plans, expected to drive $120 million in annualized net expense savings, up from the previously projected $100 million.

Analysts have a consensus moderate buy rating for ZBRA shares, with a price target range of $300 to $320, indicating growth potential.

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

iRobot (NASDAQ:IRBT) is known for its consumer-focused robotic products, particularly home cleaning. The company continues to innovate and expand its product offerings.

In the first quarter of 2024, iRobots revenue was $150 million, down from $160.3 million in the same period the previous year. The companys gross profit for Q1 2024 was $36.1 million, a slight decrease from $36.7 million in Q1 2023. Despite these declines, iRobot is making strategic moves to improve its financial position, including significant cost reduction initiatives and restructuring efforts.

For 2024, iRobot expects revenue between $825 million and $865 million, with a GAAP net loss per share ranging from $3.13 to $2.70. The company also projects an adjusted loss per share of $3.73 to $3.30, indicating efforts to manage expenses and improve margins.

Looking forward, iRobot remains committed to innovation and expanding its product offerings in the consumer robotics market, particularly home cleaning solutions. The company continues to develop new technologies and enhance existing products.

Source: T. Schneider / Shutterstock

Aurora Innovation (NASDAQ:AUR) provides hardware for autonomous trucks, and its self-detection and response system offers a competitive advantage.

Auroras fourth-quarter 2023 revenue reached $565,000, reflecting an improvement in its pilot programs. However, the company continues to report substantial operating expenses, totaling $193 million for the quarter.

For the first quarter of 2024, Auroras revenue increased to $650,000, nearly doubling from the previous year. CEO Chris Urmson highlighted the companys ongoing focus on enhancing the Aurora Drivers autonomy performance and advancing its commercial launch plans.

Analysts have a mixed outlook on Aurora Innovation, with the companys stock price target varying widely. Some analysts see potential in Auroras long-term plans and technological capabilities, while others remain cautious due to the autonomous driving sectors high operating costs and competitive pressures.

However, I think AUR could be one of those robotics stocks that will deliver strong results for investors and should not be underestimated.

On the date of publication, Matthew Farley did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Matthew started writing coverage of the financial markets during the crypto boom of 2017 and was also a team member of several fintech startups. He then started writing about Australian and U.S. equities for various publications. His work has appeared in MarketBeat, FXStreet, Cryptoslate, Seeking Alpha, and the New Scientist magazine, among others.

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The 7 Best Robotics Stocks to Buy in June 2024 - InvestorPlace

Robots operating autonomously could soon become valuable data sources for industrial companies, providing insights and repeated measurements that humans struggle to match, according to the director of the Oxford Robotics Institute.

Speaking at the AI Summit London, Nick Hawes explained how his team has deployed autonomous robots like Boston Dynamics' robot dog Spot at sites like a former nuclear fusion reactor, gathering radiation data over 35 days with minimal human involvement.

The Oxford Robotics Institute consists of seven different research groups working across the robotics stack on tasks including dexterous control manipulators to fully AI-driven robots in industrial settings.

He said 80% of the Institutes work relates to AI both in a general setting working on fundamental research questions and in the client setting.

The Institutes early work in robotics led to the research that put the first autonomous cars on the road through Oxbotica, now known as Oxa.

Now theyre working on autonomy, specifically, deploying robots in industrial settings, getting robots into places humans cant reach.

Hawes said industrial companies are considering autonomy, but they largely prefer a human-in-the-loop approach, where operators collaborate with robots and can take control when necessary.

Related:Vodafone AI Expert Highlights Key Factors for Effective Business Chatbots

The move toward full autonomy wont occur overnight, Hawes explained, as systems need to get better at handling the uncertainty.

If the world was fixed and 100% predictable then wed write a Python script and be done, Hawes said. The reason you need AI on a robot is because it needs to respond to changes.

He outlined several autonomous robotic deployments his team has been involved in, including using quadrupedal robots from Boston Dynamics to patrol industrial plants.

For example, his team fitted Spot robots with lidar and advanced 3D mapping technologies so they could reliably navigate an industrial site autonomously as well as a mission or task-specific payload, like a hardware device for monitoring radiation levels, for example.

Oxford Robotics Institute showcased Boston Dynamic's Spot at AI Summit London | Ben Wodecki

In another deployment, Spot operated autonomously for 35 days, walking around the U.K.s former fusion reactor site. It was tasked with gathering data on alpha radiation emissions and Hawes said it required minimal involvement, programmed to return to its charging unit when its battery was low.

The robot had a little script that said, here are the six places I want you to look at and this is what your battery looks like, Hawes said. The robot was able to then plan and optimize for that information to get up every day, walk around the site, gather the information and go back home.

Related:Quantum, AI Combine to Transform Energy Generation, AI Summit London

With robots operating for long periods, theyre going to create multiple maps of the environment something Hawes said could prove helpful for operators as they can compare the findings.

The 35-day deployment created repeatable data that can be fed into a different solution, like a digital twin to create virtual representations of industrial environments, for example.

A robot is something that can deliver actionable data over long periods of time, Hawes said. Humans struggle because they get bored and point the camera at the wrong place or forget to take an image whereas a robot gives you a bit more reliability.

Hawes showed how the data from the fusion reactor site could be used to create a virtual environment emergency services could use to understand the environment before entering the building in case of a disaster.

Describing the concept of artificial general intelligence (AGI) as nonsense the professor said robotics developers like his team were focused on autonomy that flexibly changes what that robot performs.

Instead of AGI, he described autonomy as a robot having the ability to repeatedly perform tasks or measure data in the same way, every time.

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Robots as a Data Source: Obtaining Insights From Robotic Autonomy - AI Business

David Grossman is arguably one of Israels greatest living writers. He wrote a wrenching New York Times op-ed on March 1 titled Israel Is Falling into an Abyss. In it, he wrote about the fear, the shock, the fury, the grief and humiliation and vengefulness, all flowing into the open wound of October 7.

A funny thing happened to me on my way to writing a more hopeful response. I encountered some of the very best of Israel its youth and discovered firsthand not an abyss into which Israel is falling but a steep challenging mountain that young Israelis are ascending with energy, courage, and brilliance. I spoke with some of the youth who will build and rebuild our countrys future.

On April 18, a group of young Israelis from Cramim Binyamina High School boarded a British Airways plane on their way to Houston, Texas. It was only four days after Iran sent some 300 drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic rockets at Israel, at midnight Saturday, between April 13 and 14, 190 days after October 7.

With many airlines canceling flights, it was not certain they and other participants would make it to Houston. A few never did.

The group sophomores, juniors, and seniors were headed to Texas to compete in the global four-day FIRST robotics competition. With them came their little robots. In all, some 550 youth and adults comprising 14 Israeli teams traveled to Houston, competing in several events.

A few days later, the Orbit 1690 team from Cramim was on its way home as world champions. Their team built robots that outclassed the field. Israeli youth Israel: population almost 10 million had competed with, and cooperated with, teams from the US (population 330 million) and China (1.4 billion). And emerged champions. (See box: Winning team members).

I spoke with Mika Elias, a team member specializing in software code at the Technion. A high school senior, she was part of a group of 31 young people completing their high school education, and this fall about to start a year of National Service, mentoring young people in FIRST robotics and encouraging them to study STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

From Elias, I learned the inspiring story of how this talented, creative, and determined handful of young people from a high school in Binyamina won the Super Bowl of robotic competitions.

Full disclosure: Eliass grandfather is my Technion colleague, emeritus professor Ezra Elias, mechanical engineering; and her grandmother is Noa Elias, a school psychologist and longtime friend and colleague of my wife, Dr. Sharone Maital.

Elias said that her grandfather helps her study physics and math, and her grandmother offers wise counsel.

Values come FIRST: FIRST is an international youth organization. The acronym stands for For inspiration and recognition of science and technology. It was founded by Dean Kamen in 1989.

Kamen is best known as the genius inventor of the Segway, a two-wheeled, self-balancing personal vehicle. Born to a Jewish family in Long Island, New York, he showed early talent as an entrepreneur. In high school, he was already earning $60,000 a year building light and sound systems for local musical bands.

Kamen was disappointed with the paucity of young people worldwide who chose science and technology careers dj vu for Israel. Kamen partnered with legendary MIT professor Woodie Flowers, who developed a design competition for his famous MIT course 2.007 Design and Manufacturing. It became an annual MIT event for over five decades and is widely emulated around the world. Kamen says of all his innovations, he is most proud of FIRST.

From the first competition in 1992, FIRST has grown to include over 3,000 high school teams from some 60 countries. Unlike cutthroat team sport competitions, FIRST imbues Flowers gracious professionalism, built on empathy and respect for other teams, structured around coopetition in which teams learn equally to compete and to collaborate.

Incoming FIRST Israel CEO Gila Kusan told The Jerusalem Posts reporter Eyal Green that there is intensive work on the core values, to give the kids a sense of security. Throughout the teams preparation, there is a feeling of camaraderie we are the FIRST family; despite that horrific [October 7] event, we found a way to have this activity, and it allowed us to attain incredible achievements.

Elias enumerated to me the core values she learned in the FIRST program: inclusiveness, fun, innovation, discovery, teamwork, impact on and service to the community. In her National Service year, she will mentor young people in their FIRST teams, including those evacuated from the Gaza and northern borders, to help instill those values. She will then join the IDF and spend six years writing software code.

How the competition works: Elias explained that it all began in early January with a broadcast on Twitch, an American live-streaming service, explaining the mission to design robots that pick up disks and toss them high into a bin. High school teams all over the world receive an instruction manual, defining the specifications, and a set of parts to which they can add off-the-shelf. (Next years competition will apparently involve underwater robots).

Teams organize and choose management leaders and specialists in mechanics, software, and CAD (computer-aided design). They plan, build, test, and code leading up to the late April global contest in the US.

Defense, defense: I asked Elias why she thought the Orbit 1690 team from Cramim won. She lauded the teams robot driver, Yoav Rahmani.

Hes a terrific driver! she said. Robots are partly autonomous, driven by software, but partly non-autonomous, with drivers who operate them.

Like soccer teams, robots attack, to score points by flipping disks into bins; and defend, to prevent opponent robots from scoring.

In the championship final contest, four Blue teams, including Israels Orbit 1690, battled four Red teams. The Blue squad chose a kind of Iron Dome strategy, defending aggressively to keep the opponent from scoring. It worked. The Blue squad won five of six bouts in the final.

There is a powerful lesson here. Part of FIRSTs value-based culture is focused on fostering collaboration. In the final, Orbit 1690 had to collaborate with three other teams in a very short time teams they were unfamiliar with. It was rather like Argentinas soccer team merging with rivals Brazil in the World Cup, seamlessly integrating the two teams, and then competing with a merged France-England team, all in just a day or two.

For the record, Israels team joined with Team SCREAM from Sedalia, Missouri; Team 8-Bit from Phoenix, Arizona; and Team RoboLancers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to win the championship.

The Shadow of October 7: Elias and her fellow team members worked intensively on their robots in the shadow of the October 7 trauma.

FIRST Israel CEO Ido Mazursky was called up for IDF reserve duty for the first three weeks of the war. On his return, he gathered the FIRST mentors and told them to get the kids to the workshops. He told The Jerusalem Post that this years preparation and competition were dedicated to five FIRST alumni who fell in Gaza and the southern border: Itai Seif; Joseph Yosef Gitarts; Ohad Ashur; Jonathan Mimon; and Marguerite Gosak.

Kudos to the school: Cramim Binyamina is a six-year state high school, grades 7-12, with about 1,700 students and 170 teachers and administrative staff. The schools website asserts, We are a school that combines science and technology studies, together with social and humanistic studies ...We provide personal treatment to each of our students in a warm inclusive environment, while providing a large variety of social options. The schools professional team educates our students in values, professionalism, and excellence and encourages them to develop their abilities.

Well done, Cramim! Israels Education Ministry is criticized almost daily for its failings. Lets recognize that there are many terrific schools, with equally terrific kids and inspired teachers, who will lead Israels hi-tech economy to new heights.

The Cramim team was not the only Israeli winner. A team from a Holon high school excelled, too. They were finalists for the coveted Impact award for community service with youth evacuated from border areas.

Jewish values: In last years global FIRST event, an Israeli high school robotics team from a school in Modiin, the national champion, withdrew from competition the day before the finals. They explained in a letter that because the finals were scheduled for Shabbat, they could not compete. Their letter was read over the loudspeakers and drew a standing ovation from the crowd.

What makes a champion? I was eager to learn Israels secret sauce. What is it about our youth that leads them to excel in robot competitions, in defending our country, and later, in building hi-tech start-ups that drive our economy?

Elias recounted her family history. As a young child, she spent six years in the US, when her fathers start-up Coral Sense operated there. Then she lived for 18 months with her family on a catamaran (double-hulled boat), sailing in the Caribbean and being home-schooled, when she was eight and nine. Later, she attended Amirim Elementary School in Binyamina; her classmates were among those who later became her FIRST teammates at Cramim. Her father taught her software coding, a skill which she later expanded through study, mentoring, and courses.

The secret sauce? We have flocks of visitors from abroad to the Technion, eager to learn the recipe. I tell them candidly that I dont know what it is. Perhaps our peoples 3,500 years of struggle, survival, resilience, and creative thinking. And our Torah, which commands us to strive to be a blessing to the world.

An abyss is a seemingly bottomless pit. The word abyss is also used to describe an unbridgeable gap between competing ideologies or policies.

Yes, David Grossman, it did seem for a time that Israel was indeed creating and falling into an abyss, long before October 7. At times, it still seems so. But since 1967, I have had the privilege, nearly every single workday, to interact with bright young people.

I wish my readers could have joined me, sitting opposite Mika Elias, to bask in the boundless energy, optimism, and hopefulness she radiated. Her eyes sparkled as she recounted her adventure, describing how she and the Cramim team planned, built, and operated those amazing little robots.

It cannot be denied. Our young people are capable of amazing feats. And they will lead us toward a better, brighter future. Count on it.

For the record, these are the Cramim School robotics team members that brought home the world championship: Management Team: Hadar Bar Aharoni, team captain & CAD lead; Ella Lidor, team captain; Software Team: Omer Prag, software lead robot; Amit Chayko, Mika Elias; Omri Lerner, software lead vision; Itamar Schwartz, software lead apps; Itay Nauman, Michal Landwer, Amit Askof, Dor Inon, Ido Zipori, Doron Malka, Yan Vazan, Ori Krisi, Yahav Fruchter; CAD Team: Noam Tal, Jonathan Shaharabani, Bat Chen Shaked, Alon Gonen, Aviv Rozen, Ella Nuriel, Shai Nisenbaum, Yonatan Harel; Yoav Rahmani, Yotam Manash; Mechanics Team: Tamir Sivan, Mechanics lead; Raz Peretz, Mechanics lead; Eitan Katzir, Dana Nisim, Noga Shubinsky, Gabrielle Garih; Danny Bryskin; Jonathan Musli, Tomer Harduff.

The writer heads the Zvi Griliches Research Data Center at S. Neaman Institute, Technion. He blogs at http://www.timnovate.wordpress.com.

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FIRST robotics victory is a win and hope for Israeli education - The Jerusalem Post