Robotics Factory Selects Five Startups for Residency Pilot Cohort

The Robotics Factory, a Pittsburgh-based organization established to scale robotics companies, has accepted five new companies into its Scale Residency program. 

Robotics startups ESTAT Actuation, KEF Robotics, Thiopoly, Thorne Baby and Piximo were selected to join the program as part of its pilot cohort. 

The companies’ robotic innovations span a range of applications. 

ESTAT Actuation, a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff, creates electro-adhesive clutches and brakes for robotics, motion control and safety equipment applications. KEF Robotics creates autonomy software to power self-flying aircraft, while Throne Baby developed a play yard for children that opens automatically and requires no assembly.

Thiopoly develops an automatic medication dispensing system and Piximo offers remote-controlled delivery robots called “mobile minimarts” that work in crowds.

Over the next year, the companies will receive access to Robotics Factory facilities in the Tech Forge building in Lawrenceville, as well as grant funding, connections to local manufacturers and educational resources to support prototyping and manufacturing.

“The Scale program helps these companies grow from concept to commercialization,” said Kevin Dowling, Robotics Factory managing director. “Our staff of engineers and entrepreneurs offer guidance to these budding startups, all of which have found a fit in their respective markets and further solidify this region as a global robotics hub.”

Related:MassRobotics Launches Robotics Accelerator Program

The Robotics Factory was launched last year as part of the $63 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative.