INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Northeastern team developed a new type of compliant robot arm that can apply over 1 Nm of torque
| Source: MassRoboticsMassRobotics announced the winners of its 3rd Form & Function University Robotics Challenge at the Robotics Summit &
Fifteen teams from around the globe showcased their projects at the show
The Transformative Robotics Lab team from Northeastern University won.The winning robot, a Soft Robotic Arm Screwdriver that spun and safely
scrubbed plates, was picked by a panel of judges from the robotics industry
The idea of this challenge is to create a robot that looks good (form) and works (function).As a first in Form & Function history, second
prize and audience choice were both awarded to the same team, the University of Waterloo’s Gripper for First Responders
This team had a unique gripper and arm that could assess victims in an emergency situation.Third prize was awarded to the returning Heat
Robotics University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus Wildfire Containment team
It won for its continued development and enhancements to its approach to fighting and preventing wildfires.The competition was intense this
year, and the judges said they felt compelled to give an honorable mention to the Kurtz Robotics Boston University Automated Grow Bed team
for its robot, which can pick tomatoes in a scalable, cost-effective way.All of the teams showcased innovative systems that impressed
Students reported that companies were already offering jobs or even to work with them on their robots
The experience of interacting and networking with industry professionals was priceless to researchers who often don’t get their work seen
outside of their campus or labs.MassRobotics sponsors, including Altium, AMD, Analog Devices, Autodesk, Copley
Controls, Danfoss, FESTO, Harmonic Drive, igus, Lattice Semiconductor, maxon, Mitsubishi Electric, and Novanta, donated components and
This allowed the student teams to use the latest offerings in the industry.MassRobotics residents, healthcare startups also exhibitAt the
Robotics Summit & Expo last week, MassRobotics also hosted a Startup Alley that showcased 21 of its resident startups, and the MassRobotics
Powered by Mass Tech Collaborative, each of the companies in the Accelerator cohort presented its technologies and business models.Startups
that participated included Haystack Ag, LiftLabs, Mito Robotics, Nexterity, p!ng, Redefine Surgery, ReviMo, Revolute Robotics, Tatum
Robotics, and Variable Machines.The Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program highlighted its latest cohort of startups who made their
final presentations, sharing their milestones and achievements made during this year’s program
Startups included OTSAW, ReviMo, Sixdof Space, Subtlebotic, TechNovator, Tenomix.Attendees were able to see innovations firsthand on the
showroom floor — from a patient-transfer system to surgical tool handling.The MassRobotics Form & Function Challenge on the Robotics
| Source: MassRoboticsStrategic partnership continues at 2025 Robotics SummitAs a strategic partner with WTWH Media for the 2025 Robotics
Summit & Expo, MassRobotics played a key role in providing guidance and leveraging its extensive global network to support the event
Over 5,000 attendees participated in sessions led by industry leaders such as PSYONIC, Symbotic, Amazon Robotics, MIT CSAIL, and Boston
Dynamics, gaining insights into the future of robotics development
The exhibit hall nearly doubled in its footprint from last year, with close to 200 exhibitors.“We set records for attendance and
exhibitors at the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo, attracting participants from more than 45 countries,” said Steve Crowe, chair of the event
and executive editor of The Robot Report.“This level of growth wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our strategic partner,
Its strong network of startups and deep industry connections bring invaluable energy, innovation, and expertise to the event,” he added
“We look forward to growing this event in Boston and working with MassRobotics for years to come.”Now accepting session submissions!The
post Northeastern soft robotic arm wins MassRobotics Form & Function Challenge at Robotics Summit appeared first on The Robot Report.
