Case study: Rethink Robotics in workshop for the disabled

First of all, I know that the word "workshop for the disabled" is no longer appropriate, but I couldn't find a suitable one. Because integration in the narrow sense is not the issue here.

It has been quieter around Rethink Robotics since Siemens entered the company almost 15 months ago. It is known that the headquarters have been moved to Bochum and rebuilt there. However, the announced new robot is not yet to be seen. One reason for this, it is heard in the industry, is the hiring of numerous new employees who, in turn, have brought new ideas that are still to be implemented. One thing seems clear: Within a year, the bar has been raised significantly by the new or announced models on the market.

Development work in Bochum is correspondingly busy: In 2020, intangible assets (i.e., the sum of the price for the purchase of rights and own developments) increased by a further €2 million to over €34 million. This means that the internal planning provides for high revenues in the future. Otherwise, this high valuation would not be justifiable.

Funding enables purchase of 9 Sawyer

Special robotics funding is almost non-existent; the easiest way at present is probably to try via Digital-Jetzt. Here, however, the volume is limited. It is all the more remarkable that an employee of the Iserlohn workshops successfully fought her way through the funding jungle, including all the formalities, and thus made a €900,000 (!) project possible. The money was used to purchase nine Rethink Robotics cobots. In terms of design, they seem to me to be ideal for such a workshop. The advantage of the Sawyer here is the compensation of the limited movement radius of the humans. So this case is also a template for other companies where, for example, an employee is no longer as mobile as before due to an accident. After my last racing bike accident (elbow fracture), for example, I could no longer easily put on a jacket for several months. In other words, the company might have had to look for a new job for me.

Projection of the work steps

I find the projection of the work steps on the work table shown in the video just as ideal and creative as the use of the Sawyer. This is generally interesting for quickly integrating unskilled workers into assemblies etc. Watching the video is therefore worthwhile!

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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/ robotics project Boost-Bot. He advises robotics companies and investors on market (entry)/ business development and funding/subsidies. More about him can be found here.