Company:RobotLAB

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Short description: Robot Manufacturer
RobotLAB
IndustryRobotics, Education & Businesses
Founded2007
FounderElad Inbar
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas
Websitewww.robotlab.com

RobotLAB is an American educational technology company that manufactures robotics and virtual reality products for K-12 and higher education, as well as business robots for retail, hospitality, and medical companies.[1][2] The company distributes the Pepper and NAO[3] humanoid robots developed by SoftBank Robotics.[4][5] They are headquartered in Dallas, Texas.[6][7]

RobotLAB is a Google partner and powers Google Expeditions.[8][9]

Overview

In addition to distributing SoftBank’s Pepper, Nao,[10] and Whiz robots,[4][5][11][12] which can be used as personal assistants and educational tools, RobotLAB also provides educational robots designed for use in K-12 and other classrooms.[1] Their robots are programmed to help instructors teach subjects such as STEM.[13][14][15]

In 2020, Google announced their discontinuation of their virtual field trips app Google Expeditions. RobotLAB, as Google's partner for Expeditions, created a substitute in partnership with Avantis. The Google Expeditions alternative was named VR Expeditions 2.0.[8][9] RobotLAB also provides robots for assistance for use in retail, medical[16] and other types of businesses.[17]

History

RobotLAB was founded by Elad Inbar,[17] who is also the CEO of Robot App Store, under the name RobotsLAB in Israel in 2007.[18] The company was originally conceptualized as the educational division of Robot App Store.[19][20] The company eventually spun off into a separate entity and relocated to San Francisco in 2011 and changed its name to RobotLAB Inc.[18]

The company developed a STEM teaching tool, called the RobotsLAB Box.[19] RobotLAB won Robotic Business Review's Game Changer Award for Education in 2013.[21][22]

In 2014, RobotLAB released STEM-BOT 3D, a 3D-printed robot that students can assemble and program.[23][24] in 2014, RobotLAB also won the LAUNCHedu competition from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the SXSW EDU[25][26][27] and Kaplan's EdTech Accelerator award.[28]

In 2016, RobtLAB received the Inc 5000 fastest-growing private company award and also ranked first in educational technology category.[29]

In 2020, RobotLAB released VR Expeditions 2.0, an alternative to Google's Expeditions app and also partnered with Avantis to develop applications for ClassVR, a VR platform designed for use in the classroom.[8]

In 2021, RobotLAB became the distributor of their Pepper, Nao, and Whiz robots.[4][5][11][12] In the same year, the Roanoke County Public Library partnered with RobotLAB to create content and programming for Pepper robots used for library purposes.[6][30]

RobotLAB also partnered with Curious Technologies, in 2021, to distribute the Elias robot model, which is an artificial intelligence designed for language learning.[31]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "RobotLAB introduces Engage! K–12 Platform for Teaching with Robots -". 2017-01-31. https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/01/31/robotlab-introduces-engage-k12-platform-for-teaching-with-robots.aspx. 
  2. Hand, Carol (2019-07-15) (in en). Careers in Robotics. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. pp. 23. ISBN 978-1-5081-8814-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=za7XDwAAQBAJ&dq=robotlab&pg=PA23. 
  3. "How Is NAO Doing Now!". 2022-02-06. https://www.i-programmer.info/news/169-robotics/15196-how-is-noa-doing-now.html. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "SoftBank's robotics ambitions short circuit as Pepper loses power". July 21, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/softbanks-robotics-ambitions-short-circuit-pepper-loses-power-2021-07-21/. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Where did SoftBank go wrong with Pepper?". July 22, 2021. https://insideretail.asia/2021/07/22/where-did-softbank-go-wrong-with-pepper/. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 Tyree, Elizabeth (August 29, 2018). "Roanoke libraries recruits humanoid robot". https://wset.com/news/local/roanoke-libraries-recruits-humanoid-robot. 
  7. "Softbank Robotics Europe cutting workforce 40% in shake-up | Robohub". 2021-07-21. https://robohub.org/softbank-robotics-europe-cutting-workforce-40-in-shake-up/. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "RobotLAB partners with Avantis to expand its educational virtual field trips through ClassVR". December 8, 2020. https://arvrnews.co/vr-news/robotlab-partners-with-avantis-to-expand-its-educational-virtual-field-trips-through-classvr/. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Looking for a Google Expeditions Replacement? Check Out These 2 AR/VR Tools | ISTE". https://www.iste.org/explore/tools-devices-and-apps/looking-google-expeditions-replacement-check-out-these-2-arvr-tools. 
  10. Papaneophytou, Neophytos; Das, Undurti N. (2021-06-10) (in en). Emerging Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Improving Communication, Behavior, and Family Dynamics. Academic Press. pp. 268. ISBN 978-0-323-85977-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=CI4TEAAAQBAJ&dq=robotlab&pg=PA268. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "RobotLAB and SoftBank Robotics America Partner to Offer Pepper, NAO, and Whiz in North America" (in en). 2021-06-20. https://www.robotics247.com/article/robotlab_softbank_robotics_announce_exclusive_channel_partnership_offer_pepper_nao_whiz_north_america. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Momentum builds in AI analytics platforms and robotics" (in en). 2021-08-04. https://constructionglobal.com/digital-construction/momentum-builds-ai-analytics-platforms-and-robotics. 
  13. Ascione, Laura (2020-02-05). "11 resources for STEM, STEAM, and makerspaces" (in en-US). https://www.eschoolnews.com/2020/02/05/11-resources-for-stem-steam-and-makerspaces/. 
  14. Marshall, Elisha (2014-04-03). "How RobotsLAB is Improving Education with Robots". https://edisonawards.com/news/how-robotslab-is-improving-education-with-robots/. 
  15. "Robots in the Classroom: What Are They Good For?". 2014-05-27. https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/35611/robots-in-the-classroom-what-are-they-good-for. 
  16. Butnaru, Denisa (2020-06-30) (in en). Medial Bodies between Fiction and Faction: Reinventing Corporeality. transcript Verlag. pp. 54. ISBN 978-3-8394-4729-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=oKjpDwAAQBAJ&dq=robotlab&pg=PA54. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 "NAO Is Your Tiny Robot Servant". 2014-09-09. https://social.techcrunch.com/2014/09/09/nao-is-your-tiny-robot-slave/. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 Brewster, Signe (December 12, 2013). "How robots can teach children math and inspire interest in the STEM fields". https://gigaom.com/2013/12/12/how-robots-can-teach-children-math-and-inspire-interest-in-the-stem-fields/. 
  19. 19.0 19.1 "RobotsLab Wants to Put a Box of Robots in Every Classroom". February 6, 2013. https://spectrum.ieee.org/robotslab-wants-to-put-a-box-of-robots-in-every-classroom. 
  20. Temple, James (May 25, 2013). "Robot App Store's growing pains". https://www.sfgate.com/technology/dotcommentary/article/Robot-App-Store-s-growing-pains-4548863.php. 
  21. "RoboBusiness 2013 in Silicon Valley". 2013-10-24. https://svrobo.org/robobusiness-2013-in-silicon-valley/. 
  22. "Robotics Business Review announces winners of the First Annual Game Changer Awards". 2013-10-23. https://www.mmh.com/article/robotics_business_review_announces_winners_of_the_first_annual_game_changer. 
  23. "Video Friday: Google's Project Tango, Visual Servoing, and Valkyrie at Work". February 21, 2014. https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-google-project-tango-visual-servoing-nasa-valkyrie. 
  24. "STEM Education Gets Boost from RobotsLAB". January 1, 2015. https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/rbr/stem_education_gets_boost_from_robotslab/. 
  25. "Launch Competition History". https://www.sxswedu.com/competitions/history/. 
  26. "RobotLAB - San Francisco, CA". https://www.inc.com/profile/robotlab. 
  27. "The Ten 2014 LAUNCHedu Finalists - EdSurge News". January 7, 2014. https://www.edsurge.com/news/2014-01-07-the-ten-2014-launchedu-finalists. 
  28. "Demo Day: Meet Kaplan's 11 Startups In Its 2014 EdTech Accelerator Class" (in en-US). 2014-10-23. https://techli.com/demo-day-meet-kaplans-11-startups-in-its-2014-edtech-accelerator-class/50602/. 
  29. "28 of the 500 fastest growing private businesses in the U.S. are from Bay Area". 2016-08-17. https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/techflash/2016/08/28-of-the-500-fastest-growing-private-businesses.html. 
  30. "Pepper, the Humanoid Robot". https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/2046/Pepper. 
  31. "Finnish educators are forming partnerships to advance learning around the world". May 6, 2021. https://worldakkam.com/finnish-educators-are-forming-partnerships-to-advance-learning-around-the-world/31329/.