• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Electrical Engineering News and Products

Electronics Engineering Resources, Articles, Forums, Tear Down Videos and Technical Electronics How-To's

  • Products / Components
    • Analog ICs
    • Battery Power
    • Connectors
    • Microcontrollers
    • Power Electronics
    • Sensors
    • Test and Measurement
    • Wire / Cable
  • Applications
    • 5G
    • Automotive/Transportation
    • EV Engineering
    • Industrial
    • IoT
    • Medical
    • Telecommunications
    • Wearables
    • Wireless
  • Learn
    • eBooks / Handbooks
    • EE Training Days
    • Tutorials
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Educational Assets
    • Design Guide Library
    • Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • DesignFast
  • Videos
    • EE Videos and Interviews
    • Teardown Videos
  • EE Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online.com
  • Bill’s Blogs
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Saying Goodbye to Rethink Robotics’ Baxter Robot

October 10, 2018 By Tierney King

In 2012, Rethink Robotics released Baxter, an industrial robot that could be trained by workers to perform different tasks. It seemed like this could be “the future of robotics,” but recently the company announced it is shutting down, according to New Atlas.

What set Rethink Robotics apart was their claim that instead of users writing complicated code, all users had to do was grab the robot’s arms and physically guide them through the required motions. According to the company, anyone could train the robot including factory workers with minimum training.

Baxter also used integrated sensors to understand its surroundings, and would slow down its actions when humans were within proximity. If the robot came in contact with a person, it would entirely stop moving. The price for Baxter was set at $22,000, which was less expensive than a typical industrial robot.

In 2016, Rethink Robotics announced its one-armed robot, Sawyer, who was more compact and agile than Baxter.

Overall, Baxter seemed quite popular in different applications, such as bagging groceries and filling the role of an Amazon warehouse picker.

Despite its popularity, it seemed that not enough companies were quite interested in Baxter. Effective October 3rd, Chief Operating Officer Jim Lawton provided the following statement:

We were early to market with a very innovative product that was ahead of its time, and unfortunately, we did not achieve the commercial success we had expected. A planned acquisition of the company fell through at the last moment. All of Rethink Robotics’ employees are being actively recruited for roles in other robotics firms.

Since its founding in 2008, Rethink Robotics was a pioneer in the industry and has been recognized for creating the entirely new category of collaborative robots. We changed the way the world thinks about automation by designing robots that can safely be used near people, can sense their surroundings, and are able to perform tasks for which traditional robots were never a good fit. We remain excited about the future of collaborative robots and are pleased to see other providers incorporating our ideas into their automation solutions.

Credit: Rethink Robotics

You Might Also Like

Filed Under: Fiber Optics

Primary Sidebar

EE Engineering Training Days

engineering

Featured Contributions

zonal architecture

Addressing zonal architecture challenges in the automotive industry

zonal architecture

Addressing zonal architecture challenges in the automotive industry

A2L refrigerants drive thermal drift concerns in HVAC systems

Why outdoor charging demands specialized battery connectors

How Li-ion batteries are powering the shift in off-highway equipment

More Featured Contributions

EE Tech Toolbox

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“ee
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.
“bills
contribute

R&D World Podcasts

R&D 100 Episode 10
See More >

Sponsored Content

Designing for Serviceability: The Role of Interconnects in HVAC Maintenance

From Control Boards to Comfort: How Signal Integrity Drives HVAC Innovation

Built to Withstand: Sealing and Thermal Protection in HVAC Sub-Systems

Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Smart Factories

Smarter HVAC Starts at the Sub-System Level

Empowering aerospace E/E design and innovation through Siemens Xcelerator and Capital in the Cloud

More Sponsored Content >>

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • Why do fill dummy(logic)on the chip(layout)
  • Why need use TOPmetal Stacking?
  • Monte-Carlo simulation error on ADE-XL
  • Snooping Around is All
  • Identification of a 6 pin smd chip (sto-23-6) marked E2

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • My Advanced Realistic Humanoid Robots Project
  • Does US electric code allow branching ?
  • Fun with AI and swordfish basic
  • using a RTC in SF basic
  • Faulty heat air gun (dc motor) - problem to locate fault due to Intermittent fault
Search Millions of Parts from Thousands of Suppliers.

Search Now!
design fast globle

Footer

EE World Online

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • 5G Technology World
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Engineer's Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips

EE WORLD ONLINE

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Teardown Videos
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About Us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy