While numerous robot models are now available, roughly 70% of North American warehouses aren't automated. Why is that? Challenges include the need to get user feedback during the development process and for operator training upon commercialization. Addverb Technologies Pvt. this week opened a new Center of Excellence for Advanced Robotics Research and Development in Fremont, Calif.
Addverb's center of excellence will focus on automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), artificial intelligence, human-machine collaboration, and biomedical robotics. The company serves the manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, consumer packaged goods, and healthcare industries.
The Noida, India-based company also opened new U.S. headquarters in Irvine, Calif., as part of its ongoing expansion in the Americas. It previously had offices in Frisco, Texas. Addverb claimed that the R&D center will help it tap into Silicon Valley's talent pool and that its U.S. headquarters will help it support customers.
Tapan Pattnayak, director of system architecture at Addverb and head of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Robotics Research and Development, responded to Robotics 24/7's questions about the company's plans.
Addverb to develop own staff, partnerships
Will Addverb work with partners in its new space, or will your own staff be conducting most R&D?
Pattnayak: Addverb will work with its own staff. However, it will take advantage of the location by talking to customers and semiconductor vendors in the North American region.
For example, we are talking to three major semiconductor vendors on the West Coast who are deeply involved with our platform.
On what sorts of projects do you expect to collaborate with the Association for Advancing Automation (A3)?
Pattnayak: We would be mostly collaborating on the platform and safety side with A3.
Addverb seeks to hire innovators
Will Addverb be hiring new staffers for this Center of Excellence for Advanced Robotics Research and Development?
Pattnayak: Yes, we are aggressively looking to hire exciting talent in the robotics space.
We are presenting at career fairs including at various universities, including Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Maryland. We are also scouting for talent in the local job space.
What sorts of innovations are your company's customers looking for?
Pattnayak: In the innovation front, two new architectures on safety and communication have already been developed. We are eagerly preparing to bring this to the market.
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