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Firms in North America purchased 31,159 robots in 2023. That’s a 30% decrease from 2022. And that’s not sitting effectively with robotics trade veteran Juan Aparicio.
“We don’t promote and deploy sufficient robots on this nation. There isn’t a human contingency to the necessity to reshore manufacturing within the quick time period, and the stakes are excessive,” mentioned Aparicio. Certainly, the stakes are excessive. There are at present 800,000 job openings in manufacturing. By 2030 the quantity is anticipated to succeed in 2 million, costing the U.S. financial system $1 trillion, based on the Nationwide Affiliation of Producers.
After working at Siemens for a decade and stops at Prepared Robotics and Fast Robotics, Aparicio hopes his new startup Reshape Automation can chip away at this downside. Reshape is launching its platform in a preview-release, specializing in a particular group of producers at first, and can totally launch in just a few months. Firms will be capable of request entry to the platform beginning right now, and attendees to Modex subsequent week will be capable of expertise it on the Reshape’s sales space (within the Startup Pavilion)
Within the preview launch, customers will profit from varied capabilities, together with:
- Automation Discovery: curated catalog of main automation manufacturers, merchandise, and turnkey options; powered by a 24/7 AI companion that’s educated with the world’s data in manufacturing and automation.
- Vendor matching: Reshape’s platform matches producers with essentially the most appropriate system integrators for his or her particular wants. Additionally, a challenge administration instrument permits real-time communication and knowledge sharing.
- Versatile Deployment Choices: Producers should purchase pre-configured options instantly by way of the platform or request customized modifications to go well with their particular wants, making certain a easy deployment course of. Help plans are additionally accessible as a service.
Reshape Automation desires to make it simpler for the U.S. manufacturing and logistics industries to undertake automation. On the core of the platform is an AI-powered market. Reshape’s market will launch with autonomous cellular robots (AMRs), robotic arms, and varied elements and options from manufacturers like Fanuc, Yaskawa, Robotize, Peer Robotics, Merchandise, Nova Automation, Genba, OnRobot, Doosan, Fairino, and extra.
Clients can design and buy pre-configured workcells and reference designs for functions similar to palletizing, welding, inspection, machine tending, sorting, packing, and extra. “Customized modifications may also be requested,” Aparicio mentioned.
However the platform doesn’t cease there. It options varied challenge administration instruments in an try and make the deployment of automation extra environment friendly and pleasurable. Reshape’s platform matches producers with essentially the most appropriate system integrators for his or her particular wants. Aparicio mentioned Reshape has additionally created AI brokers which might be accessible to deal with questions and supply steering.
And, maybe better of all, Reshape Automation is upfront concerning the prices of the system and integration, in addition to when clients can count on their robots to be shipped and put in. Aparicio mentioned this addresses the trade’s want for environment friendly vendor-customer communication and the elimination of trial-and-error strategies in choosing the proper system integrator.
“Automation may be daunting for lots of parents. This market is extremely fragmented. It simply results in evaluation paralysis,” he mentioned. “There are like 150 AMR manufacturers. How do you even choose one? We are attempting to index this trade.”
Reshape Automation raised $1.7 million in pre-Seed funding. The spherical was led by Schematic Ventures and included Bee Companions. There was additionally a contribution from Oliver Cameron, who began the autonomous car firm Voyage in 2017 and sold it to Cruise in early 2021. Different robotics firms funded partially by Schematic Ventures embody Plus One Robotics, Outrider, Root AI, which was acquired by AppHarvest for $60 million in 2021, and SVT Robotics.
“We had been excited to steer Reshape Automation’s pre-seed spherical final 12 months and help their mission to resolve automation challenges confronted by small and medium-sized producers,” mentioned Julian Counihan, common companion at Schematic Ventures. “The corporate’s end-to-end platform streamlines the automation course of, from discovery to deployment, leveraging AI for answer design, challenge administration and procurement. Reshape will make the U.S. manufacturing panorama extra environment friendly, cost-effective, and aggressive on a world scale.”
Aparicio might be talking on the Robotics Summit & Expo (Could 1-2 in Boston), which is produced by The Robotic Report. Aparicio might be on a panel about how generative AI is impacting robotics improvement. He’ll be joined by Sandra Skaff, senior alliances and ecosystem supervisor at NVIDIA, and Russ Tedrake, VP of robotics analysis on the Toyota Analysis Institute.
“I consider Reshape is in an thrilling place to personal a model new class of automation: producers want an automation companion from idea design, to deployment, to ongoing devoted Help – one who’s productizing their automation choices in each design and deploy classes,” mentioned Kira Noodleman, companion at Bee Companions.
Aparicio mentioned clients can use their smartphones to visualise a robotic or workcell in augmented actuality instantly at their facility. Or if they like, see the robots and purchase them from the moon utilizing AR/VR goggles, as Reshape will demo in Modex. And, finally, the AI brokers within the platform will be capable of robotically design workcells for patrons. At first, all they’d should do is enter the size of containers they need moved, for instance. The platform will then use these specs to configure the workcell, change dimensions and choose a robotic that’ll get the job completed. Sooner or later, Aparicio mentioned, the brokers will be capable of robotically design the primary sketch of workcell with simply plain english inputs, and even by importing a photograph or video of your handbook operations.
Aparicio co-founded Reshape Automation with Carlos Vanegas. The 2 met whereas dwelling in a SF suburb, the one two robotic lovers on the town, and whereas working collectively at Fast Robotics. Previous to Fast Robotics, Vanegas was senior director of software program engineering at Vibrant Machines for three-plus years. And this isn’t Vanegas’ first startup. He co-founded a software program firm, Synthicity, in 2012 that he bought to Autodesk in 2015.
“Producers within the U.S. are preventing an uphill battle with labor shortages. We owe it to them to place the newest advances in AI to their service in order that they’ll lastly undertake automation as a low-risk and reliable ally to win that battle,” mentioned Carlos Vanegas, co-founder and CTO of Reshape Automation. “On this first launch of our platform, our AI brokers act as a navigational help all through the producer’s automation journey, ranging from the preliminary discovery and design phases. Wanting forward, we’ll broaden the usage of AI to supply producers higher help and upkeep of their automation funding.”
Reshape mentioned its purpose is “to turn into the tide that raises all boats. By making it simpler to find, design and buy automation and labor, producers within the U.S. might be extra aggressive, and the ecosystem of automation distributors and integrators will thrive.”
“The U.S. barely makes the highest 10 by way of robotic density,” mentioned Aparicio. “If we’re profitable, there received’t be 30,000 robots deployed a 12 months, however hundreds of thousands, making a extra resilient and dynamic American manufacturing trade.”
