Attabotics

The Attabotics system grew out of a thought experiment about what an automated warehouse designed specifically for robots might look like.{{Cite web |last=Kariuki |first=Jeremy |date=2022-08-15 |title=Attabotics: How leafcutter ants inspired supply chain innovation |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/attabotics-how-leafcutter-ants-inspired-supply-chain-innovation |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US}} After exploring multiple designs, founder Scott Gravelle took inspiration from the natural world:

"The original inspiration for the company was the leaf-cutter ant, whose Latin name is ‘Atta’... I saw a documentary where a researcher had poured molten aluminum down an ant colony and then dug it up. Ants integrate goods vertically."—Scott Gravelle, Attabotics Founder, CEO, CTO{{Cite web |last=Demaitre |first=Eugene |date=2019-08-16 |title=Attabotics brings vision of ant-like efficiency to supply chains |url=https://www.therobotreport.com/attabotics-brings-vision-ant-efficiency-supply-chains/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=The Robot Report |language=en-US}}

Attabotics' 3D storage system, known as The Studio, integrates order picking, packing, and shipping into a single solution, which consists of four interconnected systems:

• The Gallery: A modular, cube-based storage facility that provides three-dimensional access to inventory stored inside. Dense and stackable up to 9 meters, the Gallery can reduce warehouse space requirements by up to 85%.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lauren |date=2019-12-05 |title=How Nordstrom uses robots and shelves inspired by ants to deliver lipstick faster |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/05/nordstrom-partners-with-attabotics-and-tompkins-robotics-for-faster-delivery.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}
• The Attabot Blade: An intelligent robot designed to move horizontally and vertically throughout the Gallery structure to retrieve good and deliver them for sortation, packing, and shipping. Each robot functions independently and can access any bin without having to dig to reach it. The latest generation of Attabot was re-engineered in 2022 following millions of test cycles.{{Cite web |last=Demaitre |first=Eugene |title=Attabotics Introduces Re-engineered Attabot 2022 Robot to Increase Warehouse Efficiency |url=https://www.robotics247.com/article/attabotics_introduces_reengineered_attabot_2022_robot_increase_warehouse_efficiency |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Robotics 24/7 |language=en}}
• The Nodes: Configurable workstations incorporated into the Gallery where items are delivered for sortation. Additional nodes can be installed at any time to increase productivity.
• The Weave: A proprietary order management and control software that efficiently manages robot movement and order fulfillment. Optimized for the Gallery's three-dimensional design, it allows for intelligent inventory management and customized order processing.

Although the first generation of Attabotics solutions utilized existing technologies to deliver a proof-of-concept and pilot model, later designs incorporate several proprietary designs developed by the company.{{Citation |title=Factory Forward Attabotics CC 21NOV16 v1 | date=May 2, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQphpMu6oaQ |access-date=2023-08-14 |language=en}}

Attabotics was founded by Scott Gravelle in 2016 to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the growing AS/RS robotics market.{{Cite web |last=Kariuki |first=Jeremy |date=2022-08-15 |title=Attabotics: How leafcutter ants inspired supply chain innovation |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/attabotics-how-leafcutter-ants-inspired-supply-chain-innovation |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US}} The company developed their initial proof of concept in 2017 and received an investment from Alberta Innovates.

In December 2018 the company announced the development development of a new manufacturing site at Calgary's YYC Global Logistics Park in partnership with Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund.{{Cite press release |date=2018-12-12 |title=Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund selects ATTAbotics for funding |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2018/12/12/1666085/0/en/Opportunity-Calgary-Investment-Fund-selects-ATTAbotics-for-funding.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}} Also in 2018 the company begins its partnership with Gordon Food Service, one of North America's largest foodservice distributors to automate elements of its supply chain.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Attabotics Celebrates 4-Year Partnership with Gordon Food Service |url=https://calgary.tech/2022/10/26/attabotics-gordon-food-service/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Calgary.Tech |language=en-US}}

In June 2019 the company announced their plans to build a new headquarters in Calgary.{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=David |date=June 17, 2019 |title=ATTAbotics hires local company to design new building |url=https://calgaryherald.com/business/commercial-real-estate/parker-attabotics-hires-local-company-to-design-new-building/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=Calgary Herald}} In May 2019 established a new partnership with Microsoft to expand edge computing, LTE networking, and IoT capabilities.{{Cite news |last=Degrasse |first=Martha |date=May 29, 2020 |title=How Attabotics and Microsoft use private LTE to monitor robots |url=https://www.lightreading.com/private-networks/how-attabotics-and-microsoft-use-private-lte-to-monitor-robots/d/d-id/761359 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=Light Reading}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source does not actually mention a 'Partnership' with Microsoft, only that the company uses Microsoft products.|date=August 2024}}

In December of 2020 Attabotics received a $34 million investment from the Government of Canada.{{Cite web |last=Innovation |first=Science and Economic Development Canada |date=2020-12-15 |title=Government of Canada announces contribution to next-generation robotic warehouse solution |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2020/12/government-of-canada-announces-contribution-to-next-generation-robotic-warehouse-solution.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.canada.ca}}

In May of 2021 the company announced a partnership with AltaML and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) to improve supply chain efficiencies.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-07 |title=Attabotics partners with AltaML and Amii to bolster AI capabilities for supply chains |url=https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2021/05/07/attabotics-partners-with-altaml-and-amii-to-bolster-ai-capabilities-for-supply-chains/43024/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Robotics & Automation News |language=en-US}} In August of 2021 Attabotics filed a Patent infringement suit against competitor Urbx.{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Josh |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Attabotics secures $95 million CAD from EDC, Ontario Teachers' to scale its warehouse robots |url=https://betakit.com/attabotics-secures-95-million-cad-from-edc-ontario-teachers-to-scale-its-warehouse-robots/ |work=Betakit}}

In 2022 Attabotics expanded to work with companies in South Korea and the EU through partnerships and agreements with various companies, including Körber.{{Cite news |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Attabotics Partners with SYNUS Tech to Advance Smart Factory Robotic Solutions in the South Korean Market and Beyond |url=https://financialpost.com/pmn/press-releases-pmn/business-wire-news-releases-pmn/attabotics-partners-with-synus-tech-to-advance-smart-factory-robotic-solutions-in-the-south-korean-market-and-beyond |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=Financial Post}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-14 |title=Attabotics Pens Strategic EU Partnership with International Tech Group, Körber Supply Chain Automation |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220614005834/en/Attabotics-Pens-Strategic-EU-Partnership-with-International-Tech-Group-K%C3%B6rber-Supply-Chain-Automation |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}} In October of 2022 Attabotics was selected by KPMG and the United States Department of Defense for a new warehouse for the Marine Corps Logistics Command.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=KPMG and United States Department of Defense Appoint Attabotics as 3D Robotics Systems Provider for New 5G 'Smart Warehouse' |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221004006007/en/KPMG-and-United-States-Department-of-Defense-Appoint-Attabotics-as-3D-Robotics-Systems-Provider-for-New-5G-%E2%80%98Smart-Warehouse%E2%80%99 |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=August 2024}} In September of 2022 Richard Cheung was hired as the Chief Financial Officer.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Attabotics, the World's First 3D Supply Chain System for Modern Commerce, Hires Richard Cheung as Chief Financial Officer |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220913006136/en/Attabotics-the-World%E2%80%99s-First-3D-Supply-Chain-System-for-Modern-Commerce-Hires-Richard-Cheung-as-Chief-Financial-Officer |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Attabotics Hires Richard Cheung as Chief Financial Officer - MarTech Cube |url=https://www.martechcube.com/attabotics-hires-richard-cheung-as-chief-financial-officer/#:~:text=Attabotics,%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%203D%20supply%20chain%20system,embarks%20on%20its%20journey%20to%20scale%20the%20business. |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=MarTech Cube - Marketing Technology news and Martech Interviews |language=en-US}}

• CNBC Upstart 100 (2019){{Cite web |last=Sheng |first=Ellen |date=2019-11-12 |title=Amazon's ant-size competition in designing the warehouse of the future |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/12/amazons-ant-size-competition-in-creating-warehouse-of-the-future.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}
• Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2019{{Cite magazine |title=Attabotics: Special Mention on The 100 Best Inventions of 2019 |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2019/5734642/attabotics/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |magazine=Time |language=en-us}}
• CNBC Disruptor 50 Company (2020){{Cite web |date=2020-06-16 |title=These are the 2020 CNBC Disruptor 50 companies |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/16/meet-the-2020-cnbc-disruptor-50-companies.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}
• CBInsights Retail Tech 100 for 2020{{Cite web |title=Retail Tech 100 of 2020: The tech innovators transforming retail |url=https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/retail-tech-companies-2020/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=CB Insights Research |language=en-US}}
• Fast Company's 32nd Most Innovative Company of 2020{{Cite news |last=Sorokanich |first=Lara |date=March 10, 2020 |title=The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies: How a nature documentary inspired a cutting-edge design that shrinks massive warehouses into the space of an office building |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90457446/attabotics-most-innovative-companies-2020 |access-date=July 27, 2023}}
• BIG Innovation Award (2022){{Cite web |date=2022-01-14 |title=Attabotics Wins 2022 BIG Innovation Award |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220114005122/en/Attabotics-Wins-2022-BIG-Innovation-Award |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}
• Fast Company's 8th Most Innovative Robotics Company of 2023{{Cite news |last=Pegoraro |first=Rob |date=February 3, 2023 |title=The 10 most innovative companies in robotics of 2023 |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90849021/most-innovative-companies-robotics-2023 |access-date=August 1, 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news |title=Nordstrom partners with tech companies for faster delivery |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr4WtXooSpo |publisher=CNBC Television |date=2019-12-05 }}

• {{Official website|https://www.attabotics.com}}

Category:2016 establishments in Alberta

Category:Companies based in Calgary

Category:Technology companies of Canada

Category:Canadian companies established in 2016

Category:Technology companies established in 2016