Collaborative Robotics, founded in 2022 by Brad Porter, has hired Michael Vogelsong to lead the new Foundation Models AI team in Seattle. The company is also making a grant to the UW Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering to support research led by Sidd Srinivasa. Collaborative Robotics, also known as Cobot, is building a mobile collaborative robot currently in use at a transload facility in Seattle. Porter describes Cobot’s robot as human-capable but not humanoid and less constrained in design compared to those mimicking the human form.
Competitors in the AI and robotics field include Covariant, Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and others. Collaborative Robotics’ expansion in Seattle, following a $100 million Series B funding, highlights Seattle’s rise as an AI hub. The company is optimistic about recruiting AI talent in Seattle, as there are fewer options for specialists looking to join startups compared to Silicon Valley. The company has leased space for about 30 people, with opportunities for expansion in the future along the Northlake Avenue corridor.
Collaborative Robotics employs about 40 people and the new Seattle office will serve as a workplace for some remote employees, shifting to a hybrid model locally. AI will play a crucial role in advancing robotics, particularly in areas like manipulation and human collaboration. The company aims to create robots that can better understand humans and assist with tasks using advanced foundation models. Vogelsong, who worked on AI and robotics projects at Amazon, will lead the new Foundation Models AI research team.
The team will focus on fundamental research into AI foundation models, partnering with others to advance the field. Collaborative Robotics is hiring for roles such as AI Research Scientist and AI Research Engineer. The field of robotic task learning and manipulation is benefiting from growing multimodal capabilities of AI foundation models, including text, language, and computer vision. The company plans to attend the annual Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference in Seattle to stay informed about industry developments.
Collaborative Robotics’ $100 million funding round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from Bison Ventures, Industry Ventures, and Lux Capital. Former Amazon and Microsoft public sector leader Teresa Carlson has joined the company as an advisor. With total funding exceeding $140 million, Collaborative Robotics continues to innovate in the AI and robotics space. Its commitment to research and advancement in fundamental AI technologies positions it as a key player in shaping the future of robotics technology.
