Rethink Robotics
{{short description|Robotics company headquartered in Germany}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rethink Robotics GmbH
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = Rethink Robotics GmbH
| logo_caption =
| logo = Rethink_Robotics_logo.png
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| type =
| industry = Robotics
| founded = 2008
| defunct =
| founders = Rodney Brooks, Ann Whittaker
| hq_location =
| hq_location_city = Boston
| hq_location_country = United States of America
| area_served =
| num_employees = 10 (2024){{cite web |url=https://www.rethinkrobotics.com/fileadmin/user_upload/rethink/RR_Timeline_Infografik_6000x4000_ENG_Ver2_light.jpg |title=Rethink's Story |access-date=September 6, 2023}}
| products = Reacher, Ryder, Riser
| brands =
| services =
| owner = United Robotics Group GmbH
| website = {{URL|rethinkrobotics.com}}
}}
Rethink Robotics (formerly Heartland Robotics, Inc.) is a robotics company co-founded by Rodney Brooks and Ann Whittaker in 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=62245405 |title=Company Overview of Rethink Robotics, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=3 February 2016 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203144319/http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=62245405 |url-status=live }} In 2018 the assets of Rethink Robotics were bought by the German automation specialist HAHN Group.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Chris |date=2018-11-13 |title=Rethink Robotics’ assets bought by Hahn, Universal Robots hires 20 employees from pioneering firm |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/failed-rethink-robotics-assets-bought-by-hahn-but-universal-robots-hires-20-employees-from-pioneering-firm/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} In 2021 Rethink Robotics joined the [https://unitedrobotics.group/en United Robotics Group GmbH].
Rethink Robotics has won awards and has been an Edison Awards finalist.{{cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/class/ee204/Publications/Rethink%20Robotics%202013-204-1.pdf|title=Rethink Robotics -- Finding a Market|author=John Duhamel|date=May 20, 2013|publisher=Stanford University|accessdate=February 3, 2016|display-authors=etal|archive-date=April 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421071750/http://web.stanford.edu/class/ee204/Publications/Rethink%20Robotics%202013-204-1.pdf|url-status=live}}
History
Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008 as a startup aiming to create low-cost robots.{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/rethink-robotics-baxter-robot-factory-worker |title=How Rethink Robotics Built Its New Baxter Robot Worker |first1=Erico |last1=Guizzo |first2=Evan |last2=Ackerman |date=September 18, 2012 |work=IEEE Spectrum |access-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-date=February 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209124649/http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/industrial-robots/rethink-robotics-baxter-robot-factory-worker |url-status=live }} In 2012, they released the robot Baxter. In 2015, they released a smaller and more flexible counterpart to Baxter, Sawyer, that was designed to perform smaller, more detailed tasks.{{cite web |url=https://time.com/3749307/rethink-robotics-sawyer-robot/ |title=Meet Sawyer, a New Robot That Wants to Revolutionize Manufacturing |author=Jack Linshi |date=March 19, 2015 |website=Time |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303122422/http://time.com/3749307/rethink-robotics-sawyer-robot/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2015-09-24 |title=One-armed factory robot Sawyer goes on sale |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34350234 |access-date=2024-04-26 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
In 2016, they released their collaborative robots (cobots) worldwide. These robots were designed to be easy to set up and work alongside, rather than replace, humans in factory environments.{{cite web|url=http://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/35576/impact-robotics-introduces-next-gen-cobots-in-australia|title=Impact Robotics introduces next-gen "cobots" in Australia|author=Claire Roberta|date=January 29, 2016|publisher=Australian Manufacturing|accessdate=3 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203145750/http://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/35576/impact-robotics-introduces-next-gen-cobots-in-australia|url-status=live}}
In October 2018, Rethink Robotics ceased operations and sold off its assets.{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=James |date=2018-10-04 |title=Pioneering creator of collaborative ‘cobots’ Rethink Robotics shuts down |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/4/17935820/rethink-robotics-shuts-down-baxter-sawyer-robot-cobots |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=The Verge |language=en}} Other companies picked up support for the robots.{{Cite news|
url=https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/manufacturing/continuing-support-rethink-cobots/|
title=Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support|
work=Robotics Business Review|
access-date=2019-11-27|
quote=Rethink Robotics is gone — or is it? News from Germany and China should provide relief for owners of Baxter and Sawyer cobots worried about continuing support.|
archive-date=2020-02-21|
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221020016/https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/manufacturing/continuing-support-rethink-cobots/|
url-status=live}}
- Most of the Rethink Robotics assets were bought by a distributor, the HAHN Group, a German automation specialist.{{Cite news|url=https://www.therobotreport.com/rethink-robotics-closes-its-doors/|title=Rethink Robotics Closes its Doors|date=2018-10-03|work=The Robot Report|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004103806/https://www.therobotreport.com/rethink-robotics-closes-its-doors/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/4/17935820/rethink-robotics-shuts-down-baxter-sawyer-robot-cobots|title=Pioneering creator of collaborative 'cobots' Rethink Robotics shuts down|work=The Verge|access-date=2018-10-05|archive-date=2023-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525195609/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/4/17935820/rethink-robotics-shuts-down-baxter-sawyer-robot-cobots|url-status=live}} HAHN Group acquired all of Rethink's patents and trademarks as well as Rethink's Intera 5 software platform.{{Cite news|url=https://www.therobotreport.com/hahn-group-acquires-rethink-robotics-ip/|title=HAHN Group acquires Rethink Robotics IP|date=2018-10-25|work=The Robot Report|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413195809/https://www.therobotreport.com/hahn-group-acquires-rethink-robotics-ip/|url-status=live}}
- About 100 Baxter robots and the rights to sell them in North America were bought by Hunan CoThink Robotics Technology Company.{{Cite news|
url=https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/manufacturing/continuing-support-rethink-cobots/|
title=Rethink Robotics Cobots get Continuing Support|
work=Robotics Business Review|
access-date=2019-11-27|
archive-date=2020-02-21|
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221020016/https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/manufacturing/continuing-support-rethink-cobots/|
url-status=live}}
In October 2019, one year after the acquisition of assets through the German HAHN Group, Rethink Robotics launched the new Sawyer BLACK Edition.{{Cite web|url=https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2019/10/18/rethink-robotics-launches-sawyer-black-edition/26345/|title=Rethink Robotics launches Sawyer Black Edition|date=2019-10-18|website=Robotics & Automation News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-22|archive-date=2020-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126045602/https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2019/10/18/rethink-robotics-launches-sawyer-black-edition/26345/|url-status=live}} The headquarters of Rethink Robotics moved from Rheinböllen to Bochum in mid 2020, and signed a partnership with Siemens.[https://www.automationmag.com/rethink-robotics-moves-into-new-hq-partners-with-siemens/ Rethink Robotics moves into new HQ, partners with Siemens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401234824/https://www.automationmag.com/rethink-robotics-moves-into-new-hq-partners-with-siemens/ |date=2023-04-01 }} - Manufacturing Automation, 1 October 2020
In August 2024 Rethink Robotics GmbH was shut down due to operational reasons.
In September 2024 Rethink Robotics, Inc. reappears with new products. After a long hiatus, the company celebrated its rebirth at the IMTS The International Manufacturing Technology Show in 2024 with a new product portfolio including a cobot and AMR line.