Y Combinator notes that there has been a large increase in the number of hardware startups they fund. So in an effort to stimulate the renaissance, they are hosting a hardware hackathon together with Upverter (an open-source tool for hardware designers). The goal is to unite like-minded hardware hackers into one space to share ideas, design hardware and ultimately create more hardware startups.
"As demonstrated by dozens of cloud addressable wireless sensing systems shown at CES this year, a new generation of Internet connected systems is underway" notes Mareca Hatler of the global technology research firm ON World. According to this firm, within the next five years billions of Internet connected wireless smart objects will be in use.
Home control technology is gaining popularity among many companies. In the consumer electronics marketplace, where operators continuously try to find new streams of revenues, the connected home gives various opportunities. While the connected home comes in various forms, many consumers are already utilizing numerous smart devices and services for low-level smart home functionality.
The Yano Economic Research Institute in Japan has released survey results on the domestic 3D printing market. The survey forecasts that Japanese 3D printing market will increase to 7.7 billion yen ($85.11M) in 2015. 3D printers were used mostly by large enterprises, yet now educational institutions and minor enterprises have also begun to actively acquire 3D printers to meet rising market demands.
ExOne, a Pennsylvania-based company that provides 3-D printing machines and products to industrial customers, announced terms for an IPO. It aims to raise $75 million by offering 5 million shares at a range of $14 to $16 per share. The company booked $19 million in sales over the past 12 months. FBR Capital Markets & Co. is acting as the book-running manager for the proposed offering.
Shares of 3D Systems and Stratasys, hot stocks of this past year, fell yesterday. 3D Systems declined 14 percent to $59.50 at the close in New York, for the biggest drop since October. 3D Systems has gained over 250% in the last year, and Stratasys has over 100%. This has led some to note that 3D Systems is overvalued and that some investors are "3D printing a bubble."
An Internet of Things startup Thingsquare has announced the launch of the world's first professional training program for the Internet of Things. The program is for IT decision makers and developers who want to acquire a broad overview of how the Internet of Things can benefit their companies and who want to learn how to quickly develop world-class Internet of Things products.
O’Reilly Media has announced that it has turned its MAKE division into an independent company called Maker Media, Inc. Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other, with products and services, and with partners. Through media and events, Maker Media will support expanding communities of makers who bring a DIY / DIT (do it yourself or do-it-together) mindset to technology.
This new Internet of Things company is being heralded as the "Cisco of small things." Making its first public appearance earlier this month at CES, it aims to assists companies that want their products connected to the Internet. Arrayent is particularly targeting smartphones. The toy company Mattel and audio/video components supplier Monster Cable were among its first customers.
ModiBots is an example of how entrepreneurs can take advantage of 3D printing technology to build businesses. Founder Wayne Losey simply uploads his latest design on Shapeways, which then prints and ships the new toy to customers. ModiBots come in various forms (with more than 700 parts and accessories) that can be easily snapped together, allowing children of all ages to customize their toy.
The Maker Map is a needed project that will reflect the maker community as it grows. This map was born with maker communities in mind and its creators hope to see makers continue to develop it into a useful tool. This is an open source project - anyone can contribute to its growth by adding their favorite makerspaces, fabricators, and supply outlets.
The private company Belkin (which manufactures consumer electronics and specializes in connectivity devices), has announced its plans to acquire Cisco's Home Networking Business Unit, including its proven products and technology, as well as the Linksys brand and its employees. The merging of Linksys and Belkin will allow for the active development of next generation home networking technology.
According to the patent, this technology can be used for shoes that are "rated" for a certain number of steps or time of use. Consequently, the sensor alerts your smartphone when the shoes have expired. The sensor detects motion through an accelerometer, communicates through a wireless radio (most likely Bluetooth) to a smartphone, which then shows on your screen that the shoes are worn out.
The DeltaMaker team has decades of engineering and product development experience. They assert that this new 3d printer prints built on a delta robot platform is fast, its design allowing it to print objects at high resolution without the speed limitations imposed by traditional 3D printer designs. The team's goal is to shift 3D printing from industrial spaces to living rooms and classrooms.
Robotics enthusiast and investment fund manager Renaud Champion is co-founder of the professional investment fund Robolution Capital (with a target of 60 million euros in funding), which is focused on investing in the European market of service robotics. Champion believes that service robotics has great growth potential, both in the professional and the domestic market.
Adept has introduced the small mobile robot Lynx. It was officially introduced at the Automate show in Chicago, and it is designed to move items from one place to another. Weighing 60 kg, the robot can move 60 kg. It has a 13 hour run time, a 3.5 hour recharge time, and a turning radius of zero degrees thanks to differential steering. The robot also features programmable voice and audio prompts.
Backed by Y Combinator and Google Ventures, startup CircuitHub has launched to become the world's first free online, collaborative electrical parts library. This tool is especially for makers (also open for group collaboration), and works with popular design programs. By having a comprehensive and detailed parts library, CircuitHub plans to be the main resource for finding electronic components.
CES 2014 will showcase 7-inch phones, 8K TVs, Internet TV service from Apple or Intel, as well as bigger tabletop computers. Contrary from CES 2013, which had no Chinese automotive car vendors, CES 2014 will probably have at least one Chinese carmaker. Their vehicles will closely resemble those from either US or European vendors, while also being high quality and low-cost.
Freedonia (research group) has noted that "sophisticated, high-value industrial and medical robots" won't be the big factors in pushing robotic sales to over $20B by 2016. The main push will come from less expensive service robots. Kiplinger (business forecasting company), asserts: "The U.S. is on the cusp of an explosion in robotics that will have a significant impact on business and economy..."
iRobot Corp. has filed a US patent called "Robotic Fabricator", a fully autonomous all-in-one product fabrication robot that handles manufacturing (including 3D printing) and all the post printing work from seed component to mature product. The Fabricator automates the manufacture and assembly processes to reduce the need for human labor, lower manufacturing costs, and improve product quality.
In order to support research and development in the field of robotics, and particularly in personal and service robotics, the Fund "Skolkovo" will host an international conference to unite prominent international experts, venture capital funds (such as Grishin Robotics), research and scientific organizations, colleges and universities. The International Conference will open on February 10th.
Automate 2013 has begun in Chicago and hosts a broad array of integrated automation solutions, the latest technology advances, and lectures from the industry's leading experts (who are also offering practical training during the Automate Conference). Hundreds of exhibitors demonstrate how the latest robots, machine vision, motion control and automation solutions can help companies succeed.
Veterbot has finished the new version of their robot - a small tracked vehicle that might be of interest to researchers and DIY enthusiasts. All the CAD models, assembling instructions and software are open source. The body of the vehicle is 3D printed. The BeagleBoard-xM is used as on-board computer to control a wide range of sensors, such as ultrasonic range finders, compass, cameras, and GPS.
A Thingiverse user has been building the robot InMoov since early 2012. He began with making a right hand, which was designed in Blender and printed on a 3D Touch. After designing and redesigning, he eventually added a shoulder, head, brain, and voice command to InMoov. It is designed to be a robot one can 3D print and animate following the maker's instructions.
Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars from Universe Architecture in Amsterdam has designed a house that has been created using the D-Shape 3D Printer and is also "endless" in its design. The "Landscape House", as the architect calls it, is designed to be one unified piece, yet it will actually be separate pieces printed out that lock together.
Cloud robotics offers unparalleled opportunities for robot learning. Apart from using the Internet for faster communication or faster computation, it offers a key opportunity that allows robots to create and collaboratively update shared knowledge repositories. Vision and speech-to-text-to-speech web services could largely improve human-robot interaction.
To support the 3D printing industry in China, Asian Manufacturing Association and the China 3D Printing Technology Industry Alliance will establish innovation centers in ten industrial cities in 2013. These centers are to be headquarters where 3D printing will be researched and implented. Affected by the above news, nine 3D printing related stocks in China reached their daily trading limit.
 in 2015. 3D printers were used mostly by...&p[images][0]=http://grishinrobotics.com/sites/default/files/styles/left_image2/public/content/news-external1/yano-survey-report2.jpg?itok=xIh807lP "Japan`s 3D Printing Market Will Reach $85.11M in 2015")
, has announced its plans to acquire Cisco's Home Networking Business Unit, including its proven products and technology, as well as the...&p[images][0]=http://grishinrobotics.com/sites/default/files/styles/left_image2/public/content/news-external1/linksys.jpg?itok=GFhfgpT3 "Belkin Intends to Acquire Cisco`s Home Networking Business Unit")
, which is focused on investing in the European market of service...&p[images][0]=http://grishinrobotics.com/sites/default/files/styles/left_image2/public/content/news-external1/renaud_champion.jpg?itok=ecIQLHIy "Interview with Renaud Champion, Co-Founder of Robolution Capital")
, and works with...&p[images][0]=http://grishinrobotics.com/sites/default/files/styles/left_image2/public/content/news-external1/default_65.jpeg?itok=h4hc6bKc "CircuitHub Launches Free Online Electronics Parts Library")
