Meka Robotics
{{Short description|Former San Francisco–based robotic systems company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Meka Robotics
| logo = Logo of Meka Robotics.gif
| type = Subsidiary
| founder = Aaron Edsinger
Jeff Weber
| key_people =
| industry = Robotics
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = Alphabet Inc.
| num_employees =
| parent = X
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|mekabot.com}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
| caption =
| foundation = {{start date and age|2006}}
| location_city = San Francisco, California
| location_country = United States
}}
Meka Robotics was a San Francisco–based company that made robotic systems.
History
Founded in 2006 by Aaron Edsinger and Jeff Weber, it was originally a spin-off of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory{{cite journal
| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-161943210.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140611030728/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-161943210.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = June 11, 2014
| title = Is there a robot in your future?
| author = Ackerman, Elise
| publisher = McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
| pages = 1C
| journal = San Jose Mercury News
| date = April 12, 2007
| access-date = June 8, 2012
| quote = Edsinger said Meka Robotics is planning to focus on health care applications and possibly the entertainment industry ...
}}
|url = http://mekabot.com/about-us/
|title = About Us | Meka Robotics
|publisher = mekabot.com
|access-date = June 8, 2012
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120509162727/http://mekabot.com/about-us/
|archive-date = May 9, 2012
}} before the founders relocated to San Francisco.
In 2007, the company provided a forearm and hand for MIT Media Lab's new robot, Nexi.
In 2008, the company teamed with the Socially Intelligent Machines Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology to develop Simon, an upper torso humanoid platform for human robot interaction.
In 2012, the company teamed with the Human Centered Robotics Group at the University of Texas at Austin to develop HUME, a "bipedal robot for human-centered hyper-agility."{{cite journal
| url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/meka-and-ut-austin-developing-hyperagile-bipedal-robot
| title = Meka and UT Austin Developing 'Hyper-Agile' Bipedal Robot
| author = Ackerman, Evan
| journal = IEEE Spectrum
| date = March 27, 2012
| access-date = June 7, 2012
| url = https://techland.time.com/2012/03/28/new-sprinting-humanoid-robot-will-one-day-come-with-flexible-arms-and-tactile-skin/
| title = New Sprinting Humanoid Robot Will One Day Come with Flexible Arms and Tactile Skin
| magazine = Time
| date = March 28, 2012
| author = Wagstaff, Keith
| access-date = June 7, 2012
| url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/252719/meet_the_robot_that_can_run_like_a_human.html
| title = Meet the Robot That Can Run Like a Human
| author = Daw, David
| journal = PCWorld
| date = March 27, 2012
| access-date = June 7, 2012
| url = http://www.me.utexas.edu/~lsentis/files/DW-2012-abstract-2
| title = HUME: A Bipedal Robot for Human-Centered Hyper-Agility
| author = M. Slovich
| author2 = N. Paine
| author3 = K.Kemper
| author4 = A. Metzger
| author5 = A. Edsinger
| author6 = J. Weber
| author7 = L. Sentis
}}
In 2012, the company entered into a joint venture with Willow Garage and SRI International to found Redwood Robotics, a company specializing in robotic arms.{{cite web|url=http://www.hizook.com/blog/2012/05/03/redwood-robotics-new-silicon-valley-startup-meka-robotics-willow-garage-and-sri|title=Redwood Robotics: New Silicon Valley Startup by Meka Robotics, Willow Garage, and SRI|author=Deyle, Travis|date=May 3, 2012|work=Hizook.com|access-date=June 6, 2012}}{{cite web
| url = http://www.xconomy.com/san-francisco/2012/05/04/redwood-robotics-aims-to-build-next-generation-of-robot-arms/
| title = Redwood Robotics Aims to Build Next Generation of Robot Arms
| work = Xconomy.com
| author = Roush, Wade
| date = May 4, 2012
| access-date = June 6, 2012
}}{{cite journal|author=Green, Tom|date=May 6, 2012|title=Redwood Could Well Be The Apple, Inc. Of Robotics?|url=http://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/article/redwood_could_well_be_the_apple_inc._of_robotics|access-date=June 6, 2012|journal=Robotics Business Review}} {{subscription required}}{{cite web
| url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/redwood-robotics-brings-big-names-to-next-gen-robot-arms
| title = Redwood Robotics Brings Big Names to Next Gen Robot Arms
| work = IEEE Spectrum
| date = May 7, 2012
| author = Ackerman, Evan
| access-date = June 6, 2012
}}
On December 5, 2013, Google X acquired Meka Robotics.{{Cite web|title=Google robotics: A review|url=https://www.therobotreport.com/stifled-ambitions-review-google-robotics/|date=2017-10-20|website=The Robot Report|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}
Products
{{Expand section|date=June 2012}}
- M1 Mobile Manipulator{{cite journal
| url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/meka-robotics-announces-mobile-manipulator-with-kinect-and-ros
| title = Meka Robotics Announces Mobile Manipulator With Kinect and ROS
| author = Guizzo, Erico
| journal = IEEE Spectrum
| date = February 16, 2011
| access-date = June 7, 2012
| url = http://www.fastcompany.com/1728736/meka-robot-with-kinect-sensor-aboard-is-coming-to-steal-your-job
| title = Meka Robot Works Well With Others--and Is Coming to Steal Your Job
| journal = Fast Company
| author = Eaton, Kit
| date = February 17, 2011
| access-date = June 7, 2012
|url = http://mekabot.com/products/m1-mobile-manipulator/
|title = Meka M1 - A Dexterous Mobile Manipulator for Researchers
|publisher = mekabot.com
|access-date = June 8, 2012
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120529103719/http://mekabot.com/products/m1-mobile-manipulator/
|archive-date = May 29, 2012
}}
- S2 Humanoid Head{{cite journal
| url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/interview-meka-robotics-talks-up-its-animestyle-expressive-head
| title = Video: Meka Robotics Talks Up its Anime-Style Expressive Head
| author = Ackerman, Evan
| date = October 12, 2011
| journal = IEEE Spectrum
| url = http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/99573-the-next-stage-of-human-robot-love-meet-mekas-anime-robot-girl
| title = The next stage of human-robot love: Meet Meka's anime robot girl
| author = Anthony, Sebastian
| date = October 12, 2011
| work = ExtremeTech
| access-date = June 7, 2012
| url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20120845-1/doe-eyed-dreamer-robot-looking-for-friends/
| title = Doe-eyed Dreamer robot looking for friends
| author = Hornyak,Tim
| date = October 15, 2011
| work = CNET
| access-date = June 7, 2012
| url = https://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/meka-ut-austin-researchers-show-off-sociable-dreamer-robot-he/
| title = Meka, UT Austin researchers show off 'sociable' Dreamer robot head
| author = Melanson, Donald
| work = Engadget
| date = November 29, 2010
| access-date = June 7, 2012
|url = http://mekabot.com/products/humanoid-head/
|title = S2 Humanoid Head | Meka Robotics
|publisher = mekabot.com
|access-date = June 8, 2012
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121011013129/http://mekabot.com/products/humanoid-head/
|archive-date = October 11, 2012
}}
See also
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=25em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20090413150650/http://mekabot.com/}}
Category:Defunct robotics companies of the United States
Category:Manufacturing companies based in San Francisco
Category:Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area
Category:2006 establishments in California
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