Category Archives: Robotics

The Honorable James Hondo Geurts

Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation Appoints the Honorable James Hondo Geurts Executive Vice Chairman

Geurts brings decades of leadership experience and a history of successfully working with both private enterprise and government entities to assist Sarcos in scaling its industrial robotics business

He has served in both Republican and Democratic Administrations, most recently performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy after successfully serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition and as the Acquisition Executive for the U.S. Special Operations Command

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation (Sarcos) (NASDAQ: STRC and STRCW), a leader in the development of robotic systems that augment humans to enhance productivity and safety, today announced that it has appointed the Honorable James Hondo Geurts as the companys Executive Vice Chairman, effective immediately. Geurts retired from his role performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy for the Biden administration in August after serving more than 34 years in various military and government positions.

In his role as Sarcos Executive Vice Chairman, Geurts will be responsible for working with the Sarcos executive team to foster leadership development, identify and evaluate acquisition opportunities, scale its operations as it prepares to commercially launch its award-winning Guardian XO full-body, battery-powered industrial exoskeleton and the Guardian XT teleoperated dexterous mobile robotic avatar system, and to refine its efforts to meet the needs of the defense industry.

Prior to performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, Geurts was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition under the Trump administration. Geurts also previously served in the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) as the Acquisition Executive and Director of SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. He was also the driving force for ThunderDrone and SOFWERX, the military-civilian incubators behind the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) robotic exoskeleton project. Geurts was commissioned as a U.S. Air Force Officer in 1987.

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I am honored and look forward to serving in the role of Executive Vice Chairman for Sarcos, said Geurts. Given my experience with bringing innovative new technologies to the field, and doing so with speed, cost-effectiveness, and quality in focus, I believe I am well-positioned to help Sarcos scale its business as the company brings its robotics technologies to market for both the commercial and military sectors. It is a thrilling time to be part of Sarcos given its recent public listing and the resources that it provides, as well as the impending commercialization of its award-winning products.

First and foremost, Hondo is one of the greatest leaders I have ever met, said Ben Wolff, chairman and CEO, Sarcos. He has demonstrated throughout his career an ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities others simply dont see. His focus on identifying, fielding, and scaling innovative solutions translates perfectly to our work in the development and deployment of our industrial robotic systems. We are thrilled to have him join our leadership team at a critical inflection point in our history, and I expect him to have an immediate positive impact on our business.

For more information on Sarcos, its leadership team, and its award-winning product portfolio, please visit http://www.sarcos.com.

About Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation

Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation (NASDAQ: STRC and STRCW) is a leader in industrial robotic systems that augment human performance by combining human intelligence, instinct, and judgment with the strength, endurance, and precision of machines to enhance employee safety and productivity. Leveraging more than 30 years of research and development, Sarcos mobile robotic systems, including the Guardian S, Guardian GT, Guardian XO, and Guardian XT, are designed to revolutionize the future of work wherever physically demanding work is done. Sarcos is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, please visit http://www.sarcos.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, Sarcos product roadmap, including the expected timing of commercialization or new product releases, Sarcos plans to expand its product availability and Sarcos use of capital, including Sarcos ability to accomplish the initiatives outlined above. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words believes, estimates, expects, projects, forecasts, may, will, should, seeks, plans, scheduled, anticipates, intends or continue or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Sarcos managements current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results, or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Sarcos is not under any obligation and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports, which Sarcos has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC. In addition to factors previously disclosed in Sarcos reports filed with the SEC and those identified in this press release, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: Sarcos ability to execute on its business strategy, address supply chain disruptions, launch its products within expected timelines, develop new products and services and enhance existing products and services; ability to respond rapidly to emerging technology trends; ability to compete effectively, recruit and retain qualified personnel and manage growth and costs; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in Sarcos definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 6, 2021 and other documents of Sarcos filed, or to be filed, with SEC. The documents filed by Sarcos with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.

Press Contact: SarcosBen Mimmack(801) 419-0438pr@sarcos.com ir@sarcos.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de194609-771d-4709-97e3-c55dfe2936be

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Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation Appoints the Honorable James Hondo Geurts Executive Vice Chairman - Yahoo Finance

The proportion of technology and communications companies hiring for robotics related positions rose in August 2021, with 22.1% of the companies included in our analysis recruiting for at least one such position.

This latest figure was higher than the 20.4% of companies who were hiring for robotics related jobs in July 2021 and an increase compared to the figure of 16.2% for the equivalent month last year.

When it came to the proportion of all job openings that were linked to robotics, related job postings kept steady in August 2021, with 0.6% of newly posted job advertisements being linked to the topic.

This latest figure was the lowest monthly figure recorded in the past year and is a decrease compared to the 0.7% of newly advertised jobs that were linked to robotics in the equivlent month a year ago.

Robotics is one of the topics that GlobalData, from whom our data for this article is taken, have identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years. Companies that excel and invest in these areas now are thought to be better prepared for the future business landscape and better equipped to survive unforseen challenges.

Our analysis of the data shows that technology and communications companies are currently hiring for robotics jobs at a rate higher than the average for all companies within GlobalData's job analytics database. The average among all companies stood at 0.4% in August 2021.

GlobalData's job analytics database tracks the daily hiring patterns of thousands of companies across the world, drawing in jobs as they're posted and tagging them with additional layers of data on everything from the seniority of each position to whether a job is linked to wider industry trends.

You can keep track of the latest data from this database as it emerges by visiting our live dashboard here.

Read more:

Robotics hiring levels in the tech industry rose in August 2021 - Verdict

DUBLIN, Oct. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Food Robotics Market by Type, Payload, Application, End Use, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The food robotics market is expected to reach USD 2.02 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 11.6 % during the forecast period, 2021-2028.

This market's growth is mainly attributed to increasing food safety regulations, rising investments in robots for the food industry, growing adoption of digitalization across the food & beverage industry, growing focus on efficient food packaging. Moreover, the increasing adoption of robots in emerging economies is expected to stimulate this market's growth.

Based on type, the collaborative robots segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the specialty of working in humid greenhouses, from refrigerated rooms to tending hot ovens, relieving employees from repetitive tasks that can cause injury in unfavorable environments. Collaborative robots have the potential to identify, align and place products with the pick-and-place action. Moreover, it supports several tasks along with quality analysis, which drives demand for these robots.

Based on payload, the low payload segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Low payload robots are preferred due to their compact design that allows operating in the limited workspace.

Based on application, the packaging and repacking segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on end use, the beverages segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this segment is mainly attributed to the growing need to cater to consumer demand, maintain quality, consistency, and hygiene, and optimize production.

Geographically, the Asia-Pacific food robotics market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The high growth of the food robotics market is attributed to the rising concerns regarding food hygiene and lifestyle that have directed the population towards ready-to-eat and packaged food items. The increase in consumer income has fueled the demand for advanced packaged food and beverages across the region.

Key Questions Answered in the Report

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraint

Opportunities

Challenges

The key players operating in the food robotics market are

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ilcbnh

Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Global Food Robotics Markets, 2021-2028 - Increasing Food Safety Regulations & Growing Focus on Efficient Food Packaging - PRNewswire

Credit: Shutterstock

The proportion of medical companies hiring for robotics related positions rose to a year-high in August 2021, with 38.1% of the companies included in our analysis recruiting for at least one such position.

This latest figure was higher than the 34.1% of companies who were hiring for robotics related jobs in July 2021 and an increase compared to the figure of 27.7% for the equivalent month last year.

When it came to the proportion of all job openings that were linked to robotics, related job postings dropped in August 2021, with 1% of newly posted job advertisements being linked to the topic.

This latest figure was a decrease compared to the 1.1% of newly advertised jobs that were linked to robotics in the equivlent month a year ago.

Robotics is one of the topics that GlobalData, from whom our data for this article is taken, have identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years. Companies that excel and invest in these areas now are thought to be better prepared for the future business landscape and better equipped to survive unforseen challenges.

Our analysis of the data shows that medical companies are currently hiring for robotics jobs at a rate higher than the average for all companies within GlobalData's job analytics database. The average among all companies stood at 0.4% in August 2021.

GlobalData's job analytics database tracks the daily hiring patterns of thousands of companies across the world, drawing in jobs as they're posted and tagging them with additional layers of data on everything from the seniority of each position to whether a job is linked to wider industry trends.

You can keep track of the latest data from this database as it emerges by visiting our live dashboard here.

Air Purification and Sterilisation Systems for the Healthcare Industry

Cleaning Detergents for the Medical Device Industry

Laser Welding of Plastics with Modular Machines

Air Purification and Sterilisation Systems for the Healthcare Industry

28 Aug 2020

Cleaning Detergents for the Medical Device Industry

28 Aug 2020

Laser Welding of Plastics with Modular Machines

28 Aug 2020

Are you worried that your company is falling behind when it comes to Robotics? GlobalDatas report can help you understand the bigger picture by analyzing Robotics-related job trends across the Medical sector in 2021. Identify and leverage the hiring patterns of Medical giants to transform potential risks into opportunities when it comes to the disruptive technology. Read the report and gain a competitive edge today.

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Robotics hiring levels in the medical industry rose to a year-high in August 2021 - Verdict Medical Devices - Medical Device Network

Steve Dent is an associate editor at Engadget.More posts by this contributor

The humble USB-C port has been in the news because Europe wants to make it a standard for all mobile devices to reduce e-waste and Apple is the only manufacturer still not using the standard for its smartphones. Now, a robotics engineering student has proved that its possible to replace the iPhones Lightning connector with a USB-C port, Apple Insider has reported.

On his YouTube channel, EFPL masters student Ken Pillonel teased an iPhone X with a USB-C port, promising a full video later on how it was done. In an earlier blog post and video, he explained how he reverse-engineered the Lightning connector, then built a prototype PCB connector to prove the concept.

Pillonel discovered that Apple sells a Lightning connector to certified partners that build USB-C to Lightning cables. He managed to get one out of a third-party cable, then remove the metallic part and expose the PCB. With that done, he pulled the female Lightning port from an iPhone and soldered wires from the bare C94 board to a PCB with USB-C connectors. Once that was done I had my first working prototype, he said. Lightning is gone and only USB-C is left.

The next step was to fully reverse engineer the C94 board so that everything can be shrunk down to fit into a phone, he said. That part has apparently been done, judging by the video above, and will be fully explained in a second video.

An iPhone with a USB-C port is the dream for many users, as it would allow for faster PD charging and the use of standard, non-proprietary cables. Its also clearly feasible for Apple, given that the iPad Pro has a USB-C port. Europe has proposed a rule that would require USB-C charging for all phones and electronic devices, with the aim of reducing e-waste and consumer inconvenience.

Its not clear if this has been done before, but most folks shouldnt try a project like this at home. Pillonel has an electronics background and is working on a Masters degree in Robotics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). Thats without mentioning that it would obviously void your iPhones warranty.

Editors note: This article originally appeared on Engadget.

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The USB-C iPhone becomes a reality thanks to a robotics engineer - TechCrunch

Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the robotics market into various areas, including mobile robots on the factory floor, robots that can do a large number of tasks rather than being specialized on one, and robots that can stay in control of inventory levels as well as fetching orders for delivery.

Such advanced functionality has raised the complexity of robotics. Hence the need for AI.

Artificial intelligence provides the ability to monitor many parameters in real-time and make decisions. For example, in an inventory robot, the machine has to be able to know its own location, the location of all stock, know stock levels, work out the sequence to go and retrieve items for orders, know the location of other robots on the floor, be able to navigate around the site, know when a human is near and change course, take deliveries to shipping, keep track of everything, and more.

The mobile robot also has to interoperate with various shop floor systems, computer numerical control (CNC) equipment, and other industrial systems. AI helps all those disparate systems work together seamlessly by being able to process their various inputs in real-time and coordinate action.

The autonomous robotic market alone is worth around $103 billion this year, according to Rob Enderle, an analyst at Enderle Group. He predicts that it will more than double by 2025 to $210 billion.

It will only go vertical from there, Enderle said.

Thats only one portion of the market. Another hot area is robotic process automation (RPA). It, too, is being integrated with AI to deal with high-volume, repeatable tasks. By handing these tasks over to robots, labor costs are reduced, workflows can be streamlined, and assembly processes are accelerated. Software can be written, for example, to take care of routine queries, calculations, and record keeping.

Historically, two different teams were needed: one for robotics and another for factory automation. The robotics team consists of specialized technicians with their own programming language to deal with the complex kinematics of multi-axis robots. Factory automation engineers, on the other hand, use programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and shop floor systems that utilize different programming languages. But software is now on the market that brings these two worlds together.

Further, better software and more sophisticated hardware has opened the door to a whole new breed of robot. While basic models operate on two axes, the latest breed of robotic machine with AI is capable of movement on six axes. They can be programmed to either carry out one task, over and over with high accuracy and speed, or execute complex tasks, such as coating or machining intricate components.

See more: Artificial Intelligence Market

Hondas ASIMO has become something of a celebrity. This advanced humanoid robot has been programmed to walk like a human, maintain balance, and do backflips.

But now AI is being used to advance its capabilities with an eventual view toward autonomous motion.

The difficulty is no longer building the robot but training it to deal with unstructured environments, like roads, open areas, and building interiors, Enderle said.They are complex systems with massive numbers of actuators and sensors to move and perceive what is around them.

Sight Machine, the developer of a manufacturing data platform, has partnered with Nissan to use AI to perform anomaly detection on 300 robots working on an automated final assembly process.

This system provides predictions and root-cause analysis for downtime.

See more: Artificial Intelligence: Current and Future Trends

Siemens and AUTOParkit have formed a partnership to bring parking into the 21st century.

Using Siemens automation controls with AI, the AUTOParkit solution provides a safe valet service without the valet.

This fully automated parking solution can achieve 2:1 efficiency over a conventional parking approach, AUTOParkit says. It reduces parking-related fuel consumption by 83% and carbon emissions by 82%.

In such a complex system, specialized vehicle-specific hardware and software work together to provide smooth and seamless parking experience that is far faster than traditional parking. Siemens controls use AI to pull it all together.

Kawasaki has a large offering of robots that are primarily used in fixed installations. But now it is working on robotic mobility and that takes AI.

For stationary robots to work seamlessly with mobile robots, it is essential that they can exchange information accurately and without failure, said Samir Patel, senior director of robotics engineering, Kawasaki Robotics USA.

To meet such integration requirements, Kawasaki robot controllers offer numerous options, including EtherNet TCP/IP, EtherNet IP, EtherCat, PROFIBUS, PROFINET and DeviceNet. These options not only allow our robots to communicate with mobile robots, but also allow communication to supervisory servers, PLCs, vision systems, sensors, and other devices.

With so many data sources to communicate with and instantaneous response needed to provide operational efficiency and maintain safety, AI is needed.

Over time, each robot accumulates data, such as joint load, speed, temperature, and cycle count, which periodically gets transferred to the network server, Patel said. In turn. the server running an application, such as Kawasakis Trend Manager, can analyze the data for performance and failure prediction.

Sight Machine, in close cooperation with Komatsu, has developed a system that can rapidly analyze 500 million data points from 600 welding robots.

The AI-based system can provide early warning of potential downtime and other welding faults.

See more: Top Performing Artificial Intelligence Companies

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AI in Robotics: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence 2021 - Datamation

The Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI) has opened a 10,000-square-foot space dedicated to research, education and collaboration in automation and robotics on the University of Louisville campus.

Launched in 2020, LARRI is the only robotics research center in Kentucky. The institute is a collaboration of researchers and students working to provide solutions for manufacturing, health care and logistics challenges.

LARRI is moving from a virtual institute to a physical institute facility, said Dan Popa, director of LARRI and professor of electrical and computer engineering in UofLs J.B. Speed School of Engineering. This facility will provide space for collaborative ventures among students, faculty and community and industry partners and will help our faculty take advantage of nationally competitive funding opportunities and new cross-disciplinary educational programs.

LARRIs 12 dedicated faculty members, postdoctoral staff, affiliated faculty and more than 50 student researchers are investigating human-robot interaction, automation and robotics for industry, networked robots and autonomous vehicles, planning and control for mechatronic systems and other areas.

In a state with so many innovative manufacturing businesses and in a city that is a leader in health care innovation, LARRI is a vitally important collaborative and research resource, said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. And for our students, LARRI provides an opportunity to learn and practice with the emerging technologies that will allow them be leaders in engineering innovation.

LARRI was formed to conduct state-of-the-art research in robotics and automation and help meet regional and national workforce needs in these technology areas, said Speed School Dean Emmanuel Collins. This new facility enables LARRI to expand its research footprint and provides more collaborative space for its researchers. This center already is excelling and we expect its progress to accelerate with the addition of this new space.

Several key research projects at LARRI focus on health care, including interactive robots to help individuals on the autism spectrum, a specialized chair to improve function in children with spinal cord injuries and an automated nursing assistant.

The theme is not robots replacing humans. It is humans and robots working together, Popa said. Humans do certain things; robots do other things. ARNA, the nursing assistant robot, will not replace nursing staff, but perform helpful basic tasks to alleviate overwork and stress and improve patient care.

LARRIs new space, made possible by the estate of Shih-Chung Chen, is located in the J.B. Speed School Innovation Center on Arthur Street, next to the Engineering Garage, a creative makerspace and workshop where students can explore, build and test their ideas, and around the corner from General Electrics FirstBuild, a similar makerspace.

LARRI already has hosted the robotics competition team from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) during the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency competition in the new space. The JPL team used the space as a base of operations for testing and preparation for the competition and demonstrated their robots for LARRI faculty, students and staff.

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University of Louisville opens dedicated space for robotics research, education and collaboration - uoflnews.com

In the past decade, robotics have evolved from a sci-fi fantasy set in some distant future to an industry capable of producing present-tense toys, companions, workers and self-driving cars. And this is just the beginning. The industry forecast calls for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 26 percent, which would mean a value of $210 billion by 2025.

The inventors (and users) of tomorrow are children sitting in preK-12 classrooms right now, who by and large are not learning about robotics. This represents a huge opportunity for education technology companies. Robots promise to become a bigger part of our daily lives as the industry shifts from being primarily industrial-driven to increasingly consumer-oriented. As they expand beyond the warehouse to wherever we need them, robots will become more diverse, intuitive and useful.

The speed of change has been impressive in recent years and will only accelerate as machine learning and neural networks endow robots with human-like senses, allowing them to see and even taste like we do. The skills children learn through robotics could certainly lead to career opportunities later, but thats not the only reason to embrace the ABCs of androids. In addition to a range of science and math skills, students can practice problem-solving and creativity as well. Weve arrived at a tipping point in robotics, and for education, that represents lifelong learning opportunities.

Heres what edtech companies can do to prepare, in terms of both product and platform, for the future needs of todays students.

1. Grow with students

There are a handful of companies creating strong educational tools in robotics for children, but they mostly target a particular age or stage. What if a robot (or set of robots) could advance as a student does? There is already a spectrum of teaching tools from various companies offering children of different ages the ability to learn about robotics (primarily coding), but how much more powerful would it be if a tool advanced organically with the student as they moved from preschool to high school and potentially even beyond? Just as coding lessons became more advanced, so too could other components of robotics such as engineering, electronics and, eventually, artificial intelligence. The pandemic took an eraser to the chalk line between home and school, so theres no reason teaching technology shouldnt follow this trend. Flexibility is key so students can learn at their own pace, when and where they want, for as long as they want.

Dmitry Krasovskiy, PhD, is Head of Education and Learning Services at EPAM Systems, Inc.

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4 ways to support the growing role robotics will have in society - eSchool News

The Beulah Middle School Robotics Team will complete in the BEST Robotics Competition on October 23 in Dothan, Alabama.

The Beulah team has met five times a week for the last six weeks to prepare for this intense competition. Each year, BEST ( Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) comes up with a real-world problem for the students to solve using robots.

The competitions theme this year is demolition, with the robotics teams tasked to create robots that will safely complete both demolition and cleanup. A solution would allow people to remain at a a safe distance from the demolition and not breathe harmful materials.

Teams like Beulah will compile an engineering notebook, prepare a marketing presentation, show their team exhibit, spirit and sportsmanship, and the robot performance. While preparing for each of these categories, the students learn how to apply science and technology, combat real-world engineering challenges, project management, leadership, teamwork, problem solving, marketing, technical writing and fundraising.

Silas Jackson and Campbell Ross have been on the Beulah Middle robotics team for three years.

My future career choice is to be an aerospace engineer. Robotics can help me with the career I choose because it can help me develop better collaboration skills, communication skills, and robotics can help me get more experience with technology and brainstorming, Jackson said.

My future career is design engineering. This years game theme helps my future career because design engineers design the visual look of a robot. Designing the robot helps me know what I want the robot to look like and what parts should go where to have a functional robot, Ross said. They have to figure out the proportions for the robot so it isnt very heavy on one side of the robot, and this years game helps me get used to altering proportions and figuring out what makes the robot the most effective. This competition is an opportunity to put my skills to the test and to improve those skills as well.

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Beulah Middle Team Headed To BEST Robotics Competition - NorthEscambia.com

Well, Medtronic finally did it. After some delays, the Dublin-based company has won CE-mark for Hugo, its long-awaited robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. This is the latest in a line of key milestones Medtronic is aiming for in the surgical robotics market.

Hugos CE Mark is for urologic and gynecologic procedures, which make up about half of all robotic procedures performed today, Medtronic said.

"This day has been a long time coming, not just for Medtronic, but for the surgeons and hospital leaders who have partnered with us on this journey to bring the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to more patients around the world, Megan Rosengarten, president of the Surgical Robotics business, which is part of the Medical-Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic, said in a release. We know our solution is more meaningful because of their insights. With the Hugo RAS system in our European customers' hands and our dedicated team by their side, together we will redefine what is possible in robotic-assisted surgery."

The company said Hugo would eventually come to the U.S. market, but did not give specifics about an expected timeframe.

Medtronic currentlyhas an investigational device exemption approval to proceed with our U.S. urology clinical trial, called Expand URO, Rosengarten told MD+DI. So, timing for U.S. availability will depend on completion of that study and subsequent review by FDA.

Medtronic said in a release that the Hugo RAS system was designed to address the historic cost and utilization barriers that have stifled robotic surgery adoption for two decades.Keep in mind, Intuitives da Vinci surgical robotics system was first cleared in 2000 - about 21 years ago!

When asked about the potential competition from Hugo, Intuitive Surgical told MD+DI, it has been competing with other surgical modalities, other treatments, and other companies throughout our history. We have always focused on the need to demonstrate measurable benefits to patients, surgeons, and care teams when compared to alternatives.

At one point, Medtronic was extremely scarce with new details about Hugo - but that changed in 2019, when the company began openly speaking about the system revealing partnership that would incorporate Karl Storzs 3D vision system and visualization components.

This measure set off a chain reaction in the market because about a month later, Sunnyvale, CA-based Intuitive Surgicalacquired the robotic endoscope portionof Schlly Fiberoptics business for an undisclosed sum.

Johnson & Johnson, the other large strategic vying for approval in the space, would go on to buy out the remaining stake in its Verb Surgical venture with Verily Lifesciences.

In February of 2020, Intuitive and Medtronic both made significant acquisitions.

Intuitive fired first, announcing it acquired Orpheus Medical to deepen and expand its integrated informatics platform.

Medtronic would further strengthen Hugo with the acquisition of Digital Surgery, a company that specializes in digitizing surgical protocols to use computing and to support the delivery of consistent, data-driven, and evidence-based surgical care.

All eyes are now on J&J. The company shook up the space in 2020 when it announced it was altering plans for its surgical platform. During a 2Q20 earnings call, J&J said it would not pursue a 510(k) pathway for the Ottavaplatform but would instead have the first-in-human studies in the late half of 2022.

In an email sent to MD+DI Monday, J&J went into detail about the surgical robotics ecosystem it was developing and its Ottava Platform.

J&J told MD+DI in an email, we remain relentlessly committed to revolutionizing the future of medical intervention - developing an end-to-end digital ecosystem that will connect our portfolio including orthopedics, endoluminal, and general surgery, fully leveraging the global scale of J&J. Within this, we continue to commercialize and expand Velys Robotic-Assisted Solution and Monarch platform, and advance the development of Ottava. We believe Ottava has the potential to revolutionize surgery and provide optimal surgical outcomes.

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Medtronic Just Caused the Surgical Robotics Landscape to Change - Medical Device and Diagnostics Industry