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Symbotic CTO James Kuffner.
James Kuffner, a notable figure in the field of robotics, has recently been appointed as the chief technology officer of Symbotic, a prominent player in warehouse automation technology. He takes over the role from George Dramalis, who retired on January 1, 2025. Kuffner’s primary goal will be to propel Symbotic’s technological advancements and foster sustained growth for the company.
Throughout his esteemed career, Kuffner has made significant contributions to areas such as autonomous vehicles and cloud robotics. His most recent position was at Toyota, where he spent over nine years in various leadership capacities. Prior to his tenure at Toyota, he worked for more than six years at Google, focusing on robotics and the development of autonomous driving technologies. As a co-founder of Google’s robotics division in 2013, Kuffner played an essential role in the creation of Google’s self-driving vehicles, which now operate under the name Waymo.
Kuffner is credited with coining the term “cloud robotics” in 2010, emphasizing the potential for robots connected to networks to leverage external computational resources and cloud-stored data. Between 2002 and 2008, he served as an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, where he was instrumental in research and taught both computer science and robotics.
“James has more than 30 years of leadership experience in robotics,” noted Rick Cohen, CEO and chairman of Symbotic. “He has significantly contributed to pioneering technological innovations at Toyota, Google, and Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute.”
In addition to his managerial experience, Kuffner is recognized as a co-inventor of the rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) algorithm, a standard benchmark in robot motion planning. He has authored over 125 technical papers and holds more than 50 patents in the field.
“After nine amazing years at Toyota, I have decided to embark on a new adventure with Symbotic,” Kuffner shared on LinkedIn. “There has never been a more exciting time to be developing and deploying advanced robotics and AI technology. Drop me a note if you are interested in joining a world-class team to work on some incredible new projects. We are hiring!”
Symbotic’s Expanding Influence
Symbotic was recognized with an RBR50 Award from The Robot Report in 2024, underscoring its success in the logistics automation sector. Based in Wilmington, Massachusetts, the company utilizes high-density storage, mobile robots, and machine learning technologies to tackle intricate distribution challenges for a diverse clientele that includes major retailers, wholesalers, and grocers.
Among its notable customers are Walmart, Target, C&S Wholesalers, and Albertsons. Walmart has announced plans to implement Symbotic’s systems across all 42 of its regional distribution centers, further solidifying its partnership with the company, of which it owns a stake.
Symbotic achieved $1.8 billion in revenue for 2024, marking a 55% increase from the previous year. In the fourth quarter, the company reported revenues of $577 million, a net income of $28 million, and an adjusted EBITDA of $55 million, despite incurring a net loss of $51 million for the entire year.
The company also established a new subsidiary, Symbotic Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., aimed at catering to clients in Mexico and capitalizing on the burgeoning global demand for warehouse automation solutions.
In addition to its expansion efforts, Symbotic made at least two significant acquisitions in the robotics sector in 2024. In August, it purchased almost all assets of Veo Robotics for $8.7 million. Veo’s FreeMove technology enhances safety protocols for industrial robots, effectively transforming them into collaborative machines.
In December 2024, Symbotic acquired OhmniLabs, a Silicon Valley-based company specializing in healthcare robotics. The financial specifics of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2015, OhmniLabs develops robots for disinfection and telepresence, employing a solely in-house development approach that accelerates its market entry. With this strategic acquisition, Symbotic aims to boost its automation capabilities and bring innovative solutions to customers in both the supply chain and healthcare sectors.
Source
www.therobotreport.com