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This yr, we coated over 50 mergers, acquisitions and SPAC offers price billions of {dollars}. Listed here are 10 acquisition tales, in chronological order, on The Robotic Report that stood out to us this yr.
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1. Hyundai acquires Boston Dynamics
Whereas the deal was technically introduced on the finish of 2020, it wasn’t finalized till June, so we’re going to let this one slide. It’s arduous to look again on the final yr in robotics and never take into consideration the way it began.
Hyundai spend $880 million for 80% of Boston Dynamics, an organization that has been handed between a couple of totally different palms within the final decade. In 2013, it was purchased by Google, after which offered to Softbank in 2017. Softbank maintained a 20% stake within the firm after the acquisition. Boston Dynamics typically good points loads of consideration for the way in which that it has pushed the boundaries of the robotics business, from Spot the robotic canine to Atlas.
Nonetheless, there’s been a query about how commercially viable the corporate is. Six months earlier than the acquisition was introduced, Spot turned commercially out there. In that point, Boston Dynamics had offered about 400 robots. Learn Story
2. Teledyne acquires FLIR
Only a few days into the brand new yr, Teledyne introduced that it could purchase FLIR for $8 billion in a cash-and-stock deal that gave Teledyne a possibility to beef up its product portfolio.
Whereas the 2 firms had comparable product choices, like sensor programs, cameras and unmanned programs, there wasn’t a lot overlap between the 2. The sensors have been construct on totally different semiconductor applied sciences for various wavelengths, and Teledyne created unmanned programs for maritime drones, whereas FLIR makes them for aerial drones and floor automobiles. The mixed firms have an edge within the unmanned car subject, as it will possibly produce the sensors and cameras for its programs in-house. Learn Story
3. Vicarious Surgical SPAC deal
Particular objective acquisition firm (SPAC) offers gave the impression to be its personal development in 2021, as a number of robotics firms went public by means of SPACs all year long. Vicarious stands out amongst them due to the corporate’s presence within the surgical robotics area.
Vicarious is amongst a dozen firms which are main gamers within the robot-assisted surgical procedure subject. Within the $1.1 billion deal, Vicarious merged with Hong Kong primarily based D8 Holdings. Different necessary gamers within the subject, like former Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak, former Verb Surgical and Volcano Corp. CEO Scott Huenneken and former iRythm COO Karim Karti, are chairing their very own SPACs. Learn Story
4. Ondas acquires American Robotics
In the beginning of 2021, American Robotics made information by changing into the primary firm that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had authorized to fly drones beyond-visual-line-of-sight and not using a human operator on the bottom. This approval might have introduced Ondas’ consideration.
In 2017, American Robotics was the primary resident of MassRobotics, the Boston-based non-profit group serving because the innovation hub for robotics and linked units. The corporate’s fully-automated business drone system Scout is designed for knowledge gathering purposes in industrial, agricultural and governmental settings. The acquisition bodes properly for the drone business as a complete. Learn Story
5. Zebra Applied sciences acquires Fetch Robotics
July noticed 4 main acquisitions that made it on to this checklist, Zebra Applied sciences buying Fetch Robotics being the primary. The $290 million acquisition makes Zebra a one-stop-shop for warehouse expertise wants. Fetch Robotics develops autonomous cell robots (AMRs), the product lacking from Zebra’s providing. AMRs noticed loads of development in 2021, notably in acquisitions. Learn Story
6. Aurora SPAC deal
In a SPAC take care of Reinvent Expertise Companions Y, Aurora went public. The mixed firm, Aurora Innovation Inc, was valued at $13 billion after the merger.
Aurora develops an L4 autonomous driving system for robotaxis and semi vehicles. Aurora continues the SPAC development, in addition to a development of autonomous car firms going public, like Embark, Plus and TuSimple. Previous to the acquisition, Aurora acquired Uber’s self-driving division. Learn Story
7. Novanta acquires ATI Industrial Automation
Novanta acquired ATI Industrial Automation for $172 million lower than per week after Novanta acquired Schneider Electrical Movement USA for $115 million. The acquisition expands Novanta’s presence within the robotics business, and will increase its buyer base and IP portfolio.
ATI develops end-of-arm tooling like robotic altering programs, power/torque sensors, and collision sensors for industrial, collaborative and medical robotic purposes. Novanta is a provider of expertise options for medical and superior tools producers, however didn’t have any end-of-arm tooling in its portfolio. Learn Story
8. ABB acquires ASTI Cellular Robots
Like Zebra Expertise’s acquisition of Fetch Robotics, this $190 million acquisition is an instance of an set up robotics firm including AMRs to its portfolio. ABB already produced industrial and collaborative robots, however was one of many greatest robotics suppliers on the time that didn’t have an AMR. ABB is the fourth greatest robotics supplier on the planet.
The acquisition offers ASTI the chance to develop its buyer base from 20 to over 50 firms. Previous to the acquisition, ASTI made $50 million a yr, and was rising 30% yearly. Learn Story
9. Locus Robotics acquires Waypoint Robotics
Not like ABB or Zebra Expertise, Locus Robotics was already an AMR producer when it acquired fellow AMR firm Waypoint Robotics. Nonetheless, Waypoint’s AMRs have been able to larger payloads than Locus’. Waypoint’s heavy-duty payload capabilities opens up a brand new marketplace for Locus.
That wasn’t the one issue driving the acquisition, nonetheless. Jason Walker, CEO and co-founder of Waypoint Robotics, expressed concern that Waypoint could possibly be muscled out of the market by greater firms producing AMRs. The acquisition offers Waypoint extra legitimacy within the business, as Walker stated that firms have been involved about working with a smaller AMR producer. Learn Story
10. iRobot acquires Aeris Cleantec AG
iRobot is greatest recognized for its family vacuuming Roomba robots. Nonetheless, this acquisition is, in accordance iRobot chairman and CEO Colin Angle, the least robotic factor the corporate has ever completed. iRobot paid $72 million for the Switzerland-based air air purifier firm.
Whereas the acquisition helps iRobot’s sensible residence focus, and the corporate plans so as to add new options and performance to Aeris’ merchandise, the corporate appears to be transferring away from the family robotics it turned well-known for. The acquisition is iRobot’s first non-robotics product acquisition, however not it’s first non-robotics product. Earlier in 2021, iRobot launched its H1 handheld vacuum. Learn Story
Honorable Mentions
It’s arduous to select solely 10 necessary acquisitions, so listed here are a couple of that didn’t fairly make the checklist. In April, Brooks Automation acquired Exact Automation for $70 million, increasing Books’ product line into collaborative robots and automation subsystems. In the identical month, Woven Plant Holdings, a Toyota subsidiary, acquired Lyft’s self driving unit, Degree 5, for $550 million. This comes after Aurora purchased Lyft’s self driving unit in 2020, as firms appear to be realizing that creating autonomous automobiles will likely be dearer than they beforehand thought. Lastly, in August, John Deere acquired Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million. Jahmy Hindman, CTO at John Deere, stated that the corporate sees autonomy as an necessary step ahead for farming.
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