Sarcos Robotics has acquired RE2 Robotics, a developer of intelligent mobile manipulation systems, to create solutions that can complete dangerous tasks in the aviation, construction, defence, and energy sectors.
The expanded team will look to develop robotics systems which could replace humans working in unstructured spaces, where full automation can be difficult.
The initial product line will include the Guardian full-body, battery-powered industrial exoskeleton and the Guardian teleoperated dexterous mobile robotic avatar system. There will also be the Sapien line of arms (pictured above) which feature several models with capabilities ranging from precision arms for surgical applications, rugged outdoor arms for construction tasks, and the Sapien Sea Class system that can operate in shallow and deep water to perform inspection and maintenance tasks across multiple industries.
Sarcos CEO, Kiva Allgood, said: “This transaction brings an innovative company with a complementary but additive suite of products into the Sarcos family, allowing us to offer a much wider range of solutions to address our customers’ needs.
“It will also allow us to expand our offerings to new industries such as medical and subsea, deepen our team of robotics experts, and advance the development of AI and machine learning technologies for use in unstructured environments.”
The deal valued at US$100m (£76.3m) includes US$30m ($22.8m) in cash and US$70m (£53.4m) in Sarco stocks and is expected to close in Q2. Sarcos notes that RE2’s 100+ employees will stay on-board during the transition, this includes CEO Jorgen Pedersen, who will step into the COO position.
Pedersen added: “The RE2 team is looking forward to joining Sarcos and accelerating the development and adoption of intelligent robotic systems. Across the globe, robotic technologies are changing the way workers perform complex, often dangerous tasks, particularly during a time of widespread skilled labour shortages. By combining our organisations, Sarcos can now offer a variety of robotic solutions to a broader customer base.”
