Photo credit: www.therobotreport.com
Our enthusiasm for the transformative potential of robotics drives our ongoing commitment to recognize innovation in this field. For the past 14 years, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have celebrated exceptional robotics companies, their groundbreaking technologies, and dynamic applications worldwide.
This year, we reinstated three significant categories: Robot of the Year, Application of the Year, and Startup of the Year, while introducing a new category, Robots for Good, aimed at highlighting robots that contribute positively to society.
The RBR50 Gala is scheduled for April 30, from 6-8 PM in Boston, coinciding with the Robotics Summit & Expo. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leading figures in robotics. The Robotics Summit will feature a dedicated section on the expo floor showcasing this year’s RBR50 honorees. Please note that tickets for the RBR50 Gala are limited and can be acquired during the registration process for the Robotics Summit & Expo.
Detailed profiles of all the RBR50 winners are included at the end of this article.
Robot of the Year: Waymo Robotaxi
Waymo continues to exemplify the promise of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the United States. In 2024, the company significantly expanded its robotaxi operations, achieving over 150,000 paid trips weekly across its fleets in major cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This milestone followed a rapid growth curve, having crossed the 100,000 weekly trips threshold just two months prior.
Additionally, Waymo has announced plans to launch robotaxi services in Atlanta and Miami by 2025 and is set to commence testing in Tokyo for international operations.
The AV sector has been marred by numerous companies that have failed to deliver on their ambitious promises. Years of delays and technical difficulties have led many to doubt the feasibility of AVs becoming widespread. However, Waymo stands out as a leading innovator, demonstrating the viability of safe, large-scale autonomous ride-hailing services.
TEPCO Recognized as Application of the Year
Robotics excels in environments that are dull, dirty, or dangerous, and one application of this technology has proven especially critical. In October 2024, a remote-controlled robot, Telesco, was utilized to successfully retrieve a sample of radioactive fuel from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, marking a pivotal advancement in the ongoing decommissioning of three reactors that were impacted during the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 2011. This incident left approximately 880 tons of radioactive material abandoned.
Operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), this robot plays an essential role in ensuring safety by operating in highly radioactive areas where human presence is not feasible. The sample extracted, comparable in size to a grain of rice, yielded less radiation than anticipated, and scientists believe it will provide vital insights for refining decommissioning methodologies. Further sample retrieval missions are necessary for more comprehensive data collection.
Mytra Awarded Startup of the Year
Mytra is revolutionizing warehouse operations by automating traditionally manual processes related to pallet handling. Its innovative 3D lattice storage system optimizes space by eliminating aisles and enhancing flexibility, accommodating payloads that range from small items to 3,000-pound pallets.
Founded in 2022, Mytra’s technology has been successfully implemented by prominent companies like Albertsons, a major grocery retailer, where it streamlines inventory management in distribution centers. Mytra’s solutions demonstrate remarkable efficiency, with estimates suggesting up to an 88% reduction in labor hours across their client base.
The company was established by Chris Walti and Ahmad Baitalmal, both of whom previously held senior positions in robotics and manufacturing at Tesla and Rivian, respectively. Their firsthand experience in logistics and large-scale automation has guided Mytra in developing a product that addresses the common inefficiencies within modern warehouse settings.
Hello Robot Receives Robots for Good Award
Hello Robot’s Stretch 3 has been honored with the Robots for Good Award for its advancements in at-home assistive robotics. Designed to assist individuals facing mobility challenges, Stretch 3 is both compact and versatile, allowing it to navigate cluttered environments effectively.
Having already gained traction in over 20 countries, Stretch 3 is being employed to help individuals with severe mobility impairments regain autonomy, enhance social engagement, and alleviate the burden on caregivers. For instance, Henry Evans, who has quadriplegia, has shared how Stretch 3 enables him to contribute to household tasks and connect with his granddaughter in ways that were previously unattainable.
In addition to individual applications, Stretch 3 is part of an NIH-funded research project exploring robotic support for older adults diagnosed with early-stage dementia. Collaborating with the ALS Association, Hello Robot aims to create customized solutions to meet the community’s distinct needs. With its open-source software and ongoing enhancements, Stretch 3 is paving the way for the future of assistive robotics in homes.
For more information about the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2025, and to view the winner profiles listed below, we encourage you to join us at the RBR50 Gala, where we will honor this year’s outstanding winners and foster connections with the leading minds in robotics.
RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2025
CompanyInnovation
ABB RoboticsLaunches next-generation OmniCore robotics control platform
Agility RoboticsDigit is the first humanoid deployed in a commercial application
Amazon RoboticsAmazon opens its most automated facility ever
Asensus SurgicalSenhance brings minimally-invasive robotic surgery to kids
BeewiseHeat Chamber kills 99% of honeybee mites, chemical-free
Boston DynamicsElectric version of Atlas a game-changer for humanoids
Chef RoboticsRobots help food manufacturers increase production
Clearpath Robotics by Rockwell AutomationHusky A300 offers rugged mobile robotics platform
CogniboticsHKM1800 picking robot enhances productivity of warehouses
Collaborative RoboticsProxie mobile manipulator simplifies material handling
cyngnDriveMod enables autonomy across indoor and outdoor spaces
EndiatxSwallowable robot offers real-time stomach diagnostics
FBRHadrian X blocklaying robot builds first five homes
ForceNRedefines force-torque sensing with plug-and-play approach
Geek+Robots help create Unilever’s largest production facility
GrayMatter RoboticsScan&Sand automates labor-intensive ambulance manufacturing
HEBI RoboticsInchworm-style robots offer a unique approach to mobility
Hello RobotStretch 3 brings in-home assistive robots to life
HumotechCaplex improves prosthetic fitting with real-time emulation
IsochronicSimultaneous pick-and-place tech increases throughput
Johns Hopkins UniversityResearchers use imitation learning to train surgical robots
KUKARobots assist with larvae breeding on Danish insect farm
Levita MagneticsDual-robot surgery successfully removes human prostate
Libiao RoboticsSkechers enhances warehouse efficiency with AirRob system
LimX DynamicsTRON 1 multi-modal biped offers a unique R&D platform
Locus RoboticsMobile robots surpass 4 billion picks worldwide
MAB RoboticsWaterproof Honey Badger quadruped navigates land and water
MassRoboticsMassRobotics startups raise more than $1 billion
maxonHigh Efficiency Joints set a new standard for robotic actuators
Mbodi AIHybrid AI architecture helps robots learn via natural language
MytraAutomated storage simplifies case and pallet handling
NASAIngenuity Helicopter ends three-year historic run on Mars
Northrop GrummanManta Ray underwater drone passes first military test
NVIDIAOpen-source Isaac Lab accelerates robot learning
NYU LangoneDoctors perform world’s first fully robotic double lung transplant
OpteranEuropean Space Agency tests Mind autonomy platform
OTTO by Rockwell AutomationOTTO solves interoperability issues for large automotive OEM
Pickle RobotHelps unload more than 1.5 million lbs. of Randa apparel
Project CETIResearchers use robotics to better understand sperm whales
Reflex RoboticsWheeled mobile manipulator uses teleoperation to multi-task
Roboto AIPlatform helps robotics developers streamline data analysis
Robust.AICarter Pro AMR takes human-robot interaction to the next level
SaildroneMaritime drones map unexplored areas of the Gulf of Maine
Shadow RobotDEX-EE hand helps advance robotic manipulation
SKA RoboticsRobot tightens fasteners inside 1GW utility-scale generators
SymboticBreakPack solution drastically reduces each picking cost
TennibotPartner robot ball machine a glimpse into future of sports training
Tokyo Electric Power CompanyRobot removes radioactive material at Fukushima nuclear reactor
TeradyneMC600 mobile manipulator handles heavy objects
WaymoRobotaxis surpass 150,000 paid rides per week
Source
www.therobotreport.com