Clearpath Robotics
{{Cleanup-PR|date=July 2020}}
{{short description|Canadian robotics company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Clearpath Robotics, Inc.
| logo =
| image = Clearpath Jackal UGV.jpg
| image_caption = Jackal UGV
| type = Subsidiary
| parent = Rockwell Automation
| industry = Autonomous robotics (robotics, manufacturing, logistics, mining, farming, industrial)
| foundation = {{Start date and age|June 2009}}
| founders = {{plainlist|
- Matthew Rendall
- Ryan Gariepy
- Pat Martinson
- Bryan Webb
}}
| location = Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
| key_people = {{plainlist|
- Matt Rendall (CEO)
- Bryan Webb (COO)
- Ryan Gariepy (CTO)
}}
| slogan =
| homepage = {{plainlist|
- {{url|clearpath.ai}}
- {{url|clearpathrobotics.com}}
- {{url|ottomotors.com}}
}}
}}
Clearpath Robotics, Inc. (also known as Clearpath) was founded in 2009 by a group of four University of Waterloo graduates, and remains headquartered in Waterloo Region, Canada. The original goal of Clearpath was to streamline field robotics research for universities and private corporations, but the company has since expanded and is now also manufacturing and selling the OTTO line of self-driving vehicles for industrial environments.
History
Clearpath Robotics was founded in 2009 by a group of four University of Waterloo graduates—Matthew Rendall, Ryan Gariepy, Pat Martinson and Bryan Webb—based on a growing demand for environmental monitoring and robotics research equipment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/startups/why-startups-need-to-start-putting-customers-first/article5721857/?arc404=true|title=Why startups need to start putting customers first|last=Thomas|first=Mario|date=2012-11-28|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-ca}} Unlike other robotics startups, they only raised a small amount of angel investment upon founding, and sought to achieve profitability before raising more.{{Cite news|url=https://www.therecord.com/news-story/2564623-clearpath-moves-ahead-with-robotic-precision/|title=Clearpath moves ahead with robotic precision {{!}} TheRecord.com|date=2010-09-12|work=TheRecord.com|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-CA}}
In 2012, Open Robotics (then the Open Source Robotics Foundation) was established to ensure that there was continuity in the work being done with ROS, with Clearpath CTO Ryan Gariepy joining the founding board.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-source-robotics-foundation-officially-announced|title=Open Source Robotics Foundation Officially Announced|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|language=en|access-date=2017-08-13}} Not too long after, original ROS creator Willow Garage announced a reduction in formal support.{{Cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/willow-garage-to-shut-down|title=UPDATED: Willow Garage to Shut Down? Company Says 'No, Just Changing'|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|language=en|access-date=2017-08-13}} Due to concerns raised by the academic community regarding the future of robotics research, Clearpath issued a statement to reinforce that it would continue to do what it could to support ROS.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ros.org/news/2013/02/clearpath-robotics-to-stand-firm-behind-ros.html|title=Clearpath Robotics to Stand Firm Behind ROS - ROS robotics news|website=www.ros.org|access-date=2017-08-13}}
With the complete shutdown of Willow Garage in early 2014, Clearpath took over complete maintenance and support of the PR2 robot until through at least 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-02-20/robotics-research-lab-willow-garage-shuts-down|title=Willow Garage's Last Days|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.willowgarage.com/blog/2014/01/17/willow-garage-selects-clearpath-robotics-service-and-support-pr2-robot-through-2016|title=Willow Garage selects Clearpath robotics to service and support the PR2 robot Through 2016 {{!}} Willow Garage|website=www.willowgarage.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-13}}
In August 2014, Clearpath became the first robotics company in the world to pledge not to make 'killer robots' (lethal autonomous weapons),{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/clearpath-robotics-joins-campaign-to-stop-killer-robots-2014-8|title=Here's The World's First Robotics Company To Pledge Not To Make 'Killer Robots'|work=Business Insider|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/01/05/growing-international-movement-against-killer-robots|title=The Growing International Movement Against Killer Robots|date=2017-01-05|work=Human Rights Watch|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en}} and continues to back initiatives to ensure AI and autonomous systems are developed in an ethical fashion.{{Cite web|url=https://standards.ieee.org/develop/indconn/ec/ec_bios.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420043229/https://standards.ieee.org/develop/indconn/ec/ec_bios.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2017|title=The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems Initiative Membership|date=18 May 2017|access-date=13 August 2017}}
By March 2015, Clearpath announced a $14 million Series A investment led by RRE Ventures meant to fund the development of products capable of automating dangerous jobs in industrial and manufacturing facilities.{{Cite news|url=http://betakit.com/clearpath-raises-14-million-series-a-from-rre-inovia/|title=Clearpath Robotics raises $14 million Series A from RRE & iNovia|work=BetaKit|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-CA}} Shortly thereafter, they announced the first of their OTTO line of vehicles with General Electric as a first customer and strategic investor, as well as announced that Tesla, Inc. co-founder Marc Tarpenning had joined their advisory board.{{Cite web|url=https://techvibes.com/2015/09/23/clearpath-2015-09-23|title=Clearpath Robotics Launches Self-Driving Vehicle, Lands Investment from GE|website=Techvibes|date=27 April 2016 |access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://electrek.co/2016/03/11/tesla-founder-self-driving-vehicles-clearpath-robotics/|title=Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning: "Self-driving technology is clearly on the cusp of a major breakthrough"|last=Lambert|first=Fred|date=2016-03-11|website=Electrek|access-date=2017-08-13}} At the same time, it continued to develop and sell systems meant to fulfill its original mandate of helping researchers work more efficiently.{{Cite news|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-managing/its-a-robots-world-canadian-firm-clearpath-looks-to-automated-future/article23178969/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&|title=It's a robot's world: Kitchener's Clearpath looks to automated future|date=2015-02-24|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-GB}}
A Series B funding round was announced in October 2016 led by iNovia Capital, which also added Caterpillar Inc. as another strategic investor.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mining.com/caterpillar-invests-in-canadian-based-robotics-company/|title=Caterpillar, GE invest $30M in material-transport robotics company {{!}} MINING.com|date=2016-10-12|work=MINING.com|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US}}
Clearpath is currently one of the most well-known Canadian robotics startups, and is regularly recognized as one of the "Top 50 Most Influential Companies in Robotics" by Robotics Business Review.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nanalyze.com/2017/07/6-canadian-robotics-startups-not-clearpath/|title=6 Canadian Robotics Startups Not Called Clearpath|date=2017-07-24|website=Nanalyze|access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/download/2017-rbr50-list-names-robotics-industry-leaders-innovators/|title=The 2017 RBR50 List Names Robotics Industry Leaders. Innovators|work=Robotics Business Review|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US}}
In September 2023, Clearpath Robotics was acquired by an American industrial automation company Rockwell Automation in a deal valued at over {{US$|600}}{{nbsp}}million.{{Cite web |last=Silcoff |first=Sean |date=2023-09-12 |title=Waterloo's Clearpath Robotics sold to Rockwell Automation for US$600-million plus |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-waterloos-clearpath-robotics-sold-to-rockwell-automation-for-us600/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en}}
Divisions
= Clearpath Robotics =
The original Clearpath Robotics brand encompasses the manufacture and sale of a variety of land and sea vehicles used for robotics research, as well as the sale of individual components for robotics prototyping through its online store.{{Cite web|url=https://techvibes.com/2017/07/27/clearpath-robotics-launches-online-store|title=Clearpath Robotics Launches Online Store|website=Techvibes|date=27 July 2017 |access-date=2017-08-13}} It also provides custom robotics integration as well as ROS consulting services, with a portion of the revenue of the latter going to support Open Robotics.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ros.org/news/2015/05/clearpath-offers-ros-consulting-service.html|title=Clearpath offers ROS consulting service - ROS robotics news|website=www.ros.org|access-date=2017-08-13}}
Clearpath was one of the original manufacturers and distributors of the TurtleBot series of open-source research robots,{{Cite web|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-turtlebot-inventors-tell-us-everything-about-the-robot|title=TurtleBot Inventors Tell Us Everything About the Robot|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|language=en|access-date=2017-08-13}} with the newest version now being produced in partnership with Open Robotics and iRobot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.therobotreport.com/turtlebot-4-re-designed-ground-up-ros-2/|title=TurtleBot Redesigned from ground up with ROS2|website=The Robot Report|date=20 October 2021 |language=en|access-date=2022-03-23}}
= OTTO Motors =
The complete OTTO Motors brand was announced in 2016,{{Cite news|url=http://www.cantechletter.com/2016/03/clearpath-robotics-unveils-otto-100-autonomous-warehouse-vehicle/|title=Clearpath Robotics unveils OTTO 100 autonomous warehouse vehicle|date=2016-03-23|work=Cantech Letter|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US}} and is Clearpath's first known entry into the large scale deployment of autonomous vehicles. Its first customer was General Electric, and other notable clients include John Deere and Toyota.{{Cite news|url=http://www.plant.ca/general/ge-uses-otto-motors-to-support-lean-manufacturing-of-medical-equipment-167316/|title=GE deploys OTTO robots at Milwaukee medical manufacturing facility [VIDEO]|date=2017-04-25|work=PLANT|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.geektime.com/2016/10/06/kitcheners-clearpath-robotics-and-otto-motors-rake-up-whopping-30-million-investment/|title=Kitchener's Clearpath Robotics & OTTO bag $30 million round|date=2016-10-06|website=Geektime|access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/technology/canadian-robotics-firm-clearpath-gets-foot-door-u-s-toyota-plant-185121/|title=Canadian robotics firm Clearpath gets foot-in-the-door at U.S. Toyota plant - Canadian Manufacturing|date=2017-02-15|work=Canadian Manufacturing|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US}}
Litigation
In August 2016, Clearpath filed a complaint in the Northern district of California against Otto (company) with respect to Clearpath Robotics Inc.'s OTTO brand.{{Cite web|url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/3:2016cv04891/302470|title=Clearpath Robotics, Inc. v. Ottomotto LLC|website=Justia Dockets & Filings|language=en|access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite news|url=https://qz.com/770885/otto-the-self-driving-trucking-startup-bought-by-uber-is-being-sued-for-trademark-infringement/|title=Otto, the self-driving trucking startup bought by Uber, is being sued for trademark infringement|last=Griswold|first=Alison|work=Quartz|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US}} The action was dismissed with prejudice on February 1, 2017. As of May 2017, Uber has ceased using the OTTO trademark, and Clearpath continues to operate the OTTO brand.{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/05/uber-walks-away-from-otto-trademark/|title=Uber walks away from Otto trademark|work=Ars Technica|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-us}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattdrange/2017/05/25/otto-changes-name-uber-trademark-infringe/#42c3cf5a5992|title=Uber Quietly Drops Otto Truck Unit Name Following Trademark Spat|last=Ohnsman|first=Alan|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/5/15924010/uber-otto-self-driving-truck-new-look-lidar|title=Uber's self-driving trucks have a new, fresh, Otto-less look|last=Hawkins|first=Andrew J.|date=2017-07-05|website=The Verge|access-date=2017-08-13}}
In light of Waymo LLC v. Uber Technologies, Inc. et al.,{{Cite web|url=http://tsi.brooklaw.edu/cases/waymo-llc-v-uber-technologies-inc-ottomotto-llc-otto-trucking-llc|title=Waymo LLC v. Uber Technologies, Inc; Ottomotto LLC; Otto Trucking LLC {{!}} Trade Secrets Institute|website=tsi.brooklaw.edu|language=en|access-date=2017-08-13}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/23/technology/document-waymo-uber-complaint.html|title=Waymo's Complaint Against Uber|date=2017-02-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Clearpath has issued a statement to clarify brand confusion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ottomotors.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/otto-motors-releases-statement-on-waymo-v-ottomotto-lawsuit|title=OTTO Motors Releases Statement on Waymo v. Ottomotto Lawsuit|date=2017-08-12|website=OTTO Motors|language=en-us|others=OTTO Motors|access-date=2017-08-13}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.clearpathrobotics.com/ Clearpath Robotics Official Site]
- [https://www.ottomotors.com/ OTTO Motors Official Site]
Category:Canadian companies established in 2009
Category:Companies based in Kitchener, Ontario