Draft:Carnegie Robotics, LLC

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Carnegie Robotics, LLC is a developer of advanced robotics and autonomous systems, specializing in rugged sensor systems and robotics platforms. The company was founded in 2010 as a spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), leveraging world-class expertise in robotics research and development.

History

The company was founded by John Bares in 2010 with a focus on engineering and commercializing autonomous solutions for large OEMs and the defense industry to produce autonomous technologies. John Bares earned his PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, where he later led the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC). During his tenure at NREC, Bares oversaw the development of groundbreaking autonomous systems for military and industrial use, which ultimately led him to found Carnegie Robotics LLC.

But by 2013, the company had moved into its current headquarters in what is now Robotics Row but was then nothing but a former steel mill in Pittsburgh, symbolizing the city's transformation into a tech hub. In 2014, they were selected by the U.S. Army to develop the autonomous mine detection system, SREHD.

In 2015, John Bares left the company to join Uber, where he played a pivotal role in creating Uber Advanced Technologies Group (ATG). ATG focused on developing autonomous driving technology, and Bares was instrumental in leading the initiative to build fully autonomous vehicles.

That same year, Carnegie Robotics collaborated with Uber in the establishment of Uber ATG, developing the first fully autonomous on-road vehicles and achieving over 1,000,000 miles of autonomous driving.

In 2016, the company partnered with Nilfisk to create the world's first fully autonomous, safety-certified floor cleaning robot. This partnership was so successful that it led to the creation of Thoro.ai, now an industry leader in safety-certified autonomous AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robots) solutions.

In 2019, founder John Bares returned to Carnegie Robotics after leaving Uber. His decision to return was driven by a desire to refocus on robotics and autonomous systems beyond self-driving cars, as well as to continue growing Carnegie Robotics as a leader in industrial and defense applications. His return also aligned with the company's expansion into more diverse autonomous and sensor-based solutions, reinforcing his commitment to advancing autonomous technology across multiple industries. That year, Carnegie Robotics acquired Skeyes Unlimited Corp, adding advanced sensor development and AMR control systems to its IP portfolio.

In 2020, the company was selected by DARPA for the RACER program, and in 2021, it designed, developed, and manufactured a key robotic system that became part of the largest commercial robotic system in the world. As of 2024, their autonomous robots had surpassed 5,000,000 operational hours.

In 2024, Carnegie Robotics expanded its capabilities further by acquiring the Duro GNSS product line from Swift Navigation.

Products and Services

Carnegie Robotics designs and manufactures highly reliable and customizable robotic systems, focusing on sensors, perception technologies, and unmanned systems. Their product portfolio includes 3D vision sensors, multi-spectral cameras, autonomous navigation systems, and ground robotics platforms. These technologies are utilized in a range of industries such as defense, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and industrial automation.

Technological Expertise

The company is known for its expertise in building rugged, field-ready systems, often deployed in challenging environments. Their autonomous systems integrate advanced perception technologies like LiDAR, stereo cameras, and machine learning algorithms to enable real-time, accurate decision-making in complex operational settings.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Carnegie Robotics has worked with several high-profile clients and partners across both the private and public sectors, including partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense, leading agricultural equipment manufacturers, and autonomous vehicle developers. The firm collaborates with Carnegie Mellon University's robotics programs and other academic institutions to advance robotics technologies.

Stereo Cameras

Carnegie Robotics' stereo cameras are advanced imaging solutions designed for autonomous vehicles, robotics, autonomous farming and industrial automation. Known for their rugged construction and high-performance capabilities, these cameras offer features such as global shutter stereo imagers, RGB integration, and thermal imaging. Carnegie Robotics pioneered the world's first on-camera stereo processing, enabling real-time depth calculations directly on the device. Manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, these cameras are engineered to perform in demanding environments, providing precise and reliable imaging for diverse applications.

Stallion

A powerful, rugged robotic platform designed for complex, real-world environments. Known for its durability and adaptability, Stallion integrates advanced sensors and perception systems, enabling autonomous navigation in harsh conditions. It is primarily used in defense and industrial applications, such as remote inspection, exploration, and logistics, where reliability and precision are critical.

Duro

A ruggedized, high-precision GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver designed for harsh environments and demanding applications. It provides reliable, centimeter-level positioning accuracy in real-time, making it ideal for autonomous vehicles, agricultural machinery, and industrial automation. Duro is built to withstand extreme weather and challenging field conditions, ensuring performance in the toughest environments.

Cardshark

A ruggedized, military-grade computer designed for real-time data processing particularly useful in mission critical situations due to its speed and reliability. Engineered to minimize size, weight with no performance compromise.

Solutions

Autonomous Farming Cropbot

Rowbot is commercializing small robots to fertilize row crops by applying nitrogen between crop rows when most beneficial. A single operator manages the fleet, providing support and maintenance. Partnering with Carnegie Robotics, Rowbot developed a fully autonomous system in under 8 months. The vehicle, powered by a diesel engine, moves at 4 mph through 30-inch cornrow spacing, applying nitrogen at the plant base. A front-mounted MultiSense SL camera guides the system autonomously through the rows.

Autonomous Floor Scrubber

A highly efficient cleaning robot designed for industrial and commercial environments. Equipped with advanced vision sensors and robotic automation technology, it navigates complex spaces independently, ensuring thorough and consistent cleaning. It allows for real-time mapping, obstacle avoidance, and optimal route planning, reducing the need for human intervention.

Marine Autonomy

Carnegie Robotics has teamed up with Brunswick Corporation, a leader in recreational marine technology, to develop an autonomous docking system for precise vessel maneuvering. The technology integrates Mercury Marine's cutting-edge joystick drive-by-wire system with Carnegie Robotics' advanced algorithms and sensor technology. Designed to enhance safety, this system enables even less experienced boaters to confidently maneuver large recreational vessels with ease.

SPOTCAM+IR

Carnegie Robotics and Boston Dynamics collaborated to create the Spot Cam, an advanced vision and sensing system integrated with Boston Dynamics' agile robot, Spot. Spot Cam enhances the robot's ability to inspect and monitor industrial environments, using high-resolution cameras and 360-degree video capabilities. It provides real-time video streaming, image capture, and data collection, enabling operators to remotely monitor and assess hard-to-reach areas like construction sites, factories, and hazardous environments. With Spot Cam, users gain enhanced situational awareness, safety, and efficiency in operations that require precision and mobility.

Big Lift Pallet Jack AMR

The partnership between Carnegie Robotics and Big Lift resulted in the development of the Pallet Jack AMR, the world's safest and most reliable autonomous pallet jack. Big Lift provides the industrial-grade pallet jack hardware, while Carnegie Robotics contributes advanced autonomy hardware and software to power the system. This collaboration combines Big Lift's expertise in durable material handling equipment with Carnegie Robotics' cutting-edge autonomous technology, creating a state-of-the-art solution designed to enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency in warehouses and industrial environments.

Defense Autonomy

Carnegie Robotics Defense Group has been chosen by the US military to lead the development of the SREHD Mine and IED Detection Robot. The SREHD is designed to semi-autonomously detect, mark, and potentially neutralize buried explosives, such as mines and IEDs, reducing the risk to soldiers.

Carnegie Robotics Defense Group has been chosen to participate in the DARPA RACER (Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resilience) program, highlighting the company's expertise and innovation in robotics. As a part of this program, CR Defense Group is at the cutting edge of developing resilient autonomous systems capable of navigating and operating in complex, challenging environments.