Seiko Epson Corporation (Nagano, Japan) has invested in U.S.-based robotic piece-picking solutions’ developer RightHand Robotics (Somerville, MA), a company that combines intelligent computer vision and machine learning to develop piece-picking solutions. The company was founded in 2015 by a DARPA Autonomous Robotics Manipulation (ARM) Program challenge-winning team from the Harvard Biorobotics Lab, the Yale GRAB Lab and MIT. Seiko Epson Corporation manufactures communications equipment, electronic devices, and precision products that include printers, scanners, liquid-crystal projectors, semiconductors, quartz devices and watches.
RightHand Robotics’ RightPick platform uses AI software equipped with advanced computer vision to recognize and reliably pick a wide range of products at a high rate with an intelligent gripper that combines suction and compliant fingers. The platform contributes to automated logistics operations in the warehouse supply chain process while also meeting the evolving needs of the fulfillment industry.
Epson currently utilizes efficient, compact and precision technologies along with expertise in volume production at factories worldwide that assemble small, precision products. The company seeks to leverage these strengths to drive innovations in manufacturing by co-creating flexible, high-throughput production systems that reduce environmental impacts. “By engaging with RightHand Robotics, Epson will respond to the growing demand for automation in factories beset by labour shortages, and will explore a range of applications to improve working environments,” the OEM added. “Going forward, Epson aspires to achieve a sustainable society by creating a variety of partnerships and synergies based on proprietary technologies, products and services.”