ROBOTS
Colin Angle, the co-founder of iRobot and creator of the Roomba, is back in the robotics world with a new venture.
His company, Familiar Machines & Magic, is raising funds to create innovative home robots focused on health, wellness, and human-robot interaction.
A recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission shows Familiar Machines has raised $15 million from eight investors, aiming for a total of $30 million.
Backed by Data Point Capital, the company is in its early days, with no functional website yet but a trademark and domain name secured.
In an interview, Angle shared that the Boston-based company, which also plans a presence in Los Angeles, is working on AI-powered companion robots.
These could include interactive “furry pets” to support daily life.
Familiar Machines was co-founded by Chris Jones and Ira Renfrew, both former iRobot executives. Renfrew also worked on Amazon’s Scout delivery bot.
Key Features of familiar machines:
Health and wellness focus: Robots designed to support well-being in the home.
Human-robot interaction: Advanced AI for natural and interactive experiences.
AI-powered companions: Possible inclusion of “furry pets” for engagement.
The company is hiring AI researchers, software engineers, and other roles.
Job descriptions describe it as a pioneering effort in creating a new type of home robot.
The home robotics market has faced difficulties.
Companies like Mayfield Robotics (maker of Kuri), Jibo, and Anki (maker of Cozmo) all shut down after struggling to find success.
Most recently, Moxie, which built an AI-powered robot for children, also ceased operations.
Yet, major companies like Amazon and Apple are still exploring the space.
Amazon continues to work on its Astro home robot, while Apple is reportedly developing its own robotics projects.
The market shows potential despite these hurdles. Research estimates the household robotics industry could grow to $24.5 billion by 2028.
Since 2019, around 1,500 robotics startups have raised $90 billion, showing strong interest and investment in the sector.
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