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RobotLAB

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b "RobotLAB introduces Engage! K–12 Platform for Teaching with Robots -". THE Journal. 2017-01-31.
  2. ^ Hand, Carol (2019-07-15). Careers in Robotics. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-5081-8814-8.
  3. ^ "How Is NAO Doing Now!". www.i-programmer.info. 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  4. ^ a b c "SoftBank's robotics ambitions short circuit as Pepper loses power". Reuters. July 21, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Where did SoftBank go wrong with Pepper?". Inside Retail. July 22, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Tyree, Elizabeth (August 29, 2018). "Roanoke libraries recruits humanoid robot". WSET.
  7. ^ "Softbank Robotics Europe cutting workforce 40% in shake-up | Robohub". robohub.org. 2021-07-21.
  8. ^ a b c "RobotLAB partners with Avantis to expand its educational virtual field trips through ClassVR". December 8, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Looking for a Google Expeditions Replacement? Check Out These 2 AR/VR Tools | ISTE". www.iste.org.
  10. ^ Papaneophytou, Neophytos; Das, Undurti N. (2021-06-10). Emerging Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Improving Communication, Behavior, and Family Dynamics. Academic Press. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-323-85977-6.
  11. ^ a b "RobotLAB and SoftBank Robotics America Partner to Offer Pepper, NAO, and Whiz in North America". Robotics 24/7. 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  12. ^ a b "Momentum builds in AI analytics platforms and robotics". constructionglobal.com. 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  13. ^ Ascione, Laura (2020-02-05). "11 resources for STEM, STEAM, and makerspaces". eSchool News. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  14. ^ Marshall, Elisha (2014-04-03). "How RobotsLAB is Improving Education with Robots". edisonawards.com.
  15. ^ "Robots in the Classroom: What Are They Good For?". KQED. 2014-05-27.
  16. ^ Butnaru, Denisa (2020-06-30). Medial Bodies between Fiction and Faction: Reinventing Corporeality. transcript Verlag. p. 54. ISBN 978-3-8394-4729-1.
  17. ^ a b "NAO Is Your Tiny Robot Servant". techcrunch.com. 2014-09-09.
  18. ^ a b Brewster, Signe (December 12, 2013). "How robots can teach children math and inspire interest in the STEM fields". Gigaom.
  19. ^ a b "RobotsLab Wants to Put a Box of Robots in Every Classroom". IEEE Spectrum. February 6, 2013.
  20. ^ Temple, James (May 25, 2013). "Robot App Store's growing pains". SFGATE.
  21. ^ "RoboBusiness 2013 in Silicon Valley". Silicon Valley Robotics. 2013-10-24.
  22. ^ "Robotics Business Review announces winners of the First Annual Game Changer Awards". www.mmh.com. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  23. ^ "Video Friday: Google's Project Tango, Visual Servoing, and Valkyrie at Work". IEEE Spectrum. February 21, 2014.
  24. ^ "STEM Education Gets Boost from RobotsLAB". Robotics Business Review. January 1, 2015.
  25. ^ "Launch Competition History". sxswedu.com. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  26. ^ "RobotLAB - San Francisco, CA". Inc.com.
  27. ^ "The Ten 2014 LAUNCHedu Finalists - EdSurge News". EdSurge. January 7, 2014.
  28. ^ "Demo Day: Meet Kaplan's 11 Startups In Its 2014 EdTech Accelerator Class". Techli. 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  29. ^ "28 of the 500 fastest growing private businesses in the U.S. are from Bay Area". bizjournals.com. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  30. ^ "Pepper, the Humanoid Robot". roanokecountyva.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  31. ^ "Finnish educators are forming partnerships to advance learning around the world". worldakkam.com. May 6, 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
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