Smart Robot Developer 'Roobo' Secures USD 100 Mln Series A
Sina Tech, 9/21/16
Beijing-based smart robot developer Intelligent Steward Technology (Roobo) completed USD 100 mln Series A funding in late 2015 led by speech recognition technology company iFlytek (002230.SZ) and with participation from two funds, revealed Roobo CEO Liu Yingbo at a press conference. The funds are being used for R&D and the creation of a robot ecosystem.
Roobo also announced the launch of an artificial intelligence robot system, voice recognition chip CI1006, pet robot Domgy, and a commercial service robot.
In addition, Roboo unveiled its first quadruped robot dog, XDog. The motor-driven robot can walk stably on four legs, and offers some features similar to those of Boston Dynamics' "BigDog" quadruped robot dog.
Four-legged pet robot Domgy was designed by Korean robotics company Innovative Play Lab (IPL) with Roobo developing the AI, providing content, and manufacturing the robot. Domgy's face is a touch screen which can adjust settings or open the robot's app menu. Domgy can also be controlled through a mobile app. Domgy's AI includes facial recognition technology that allows it to produce emotional responses and interact with family members.
The CI1006 speech recognition chip is a supplement for a robot's "brain" and audio-video sensors. Localized neural network data processing reduces the reliance on cloud processing, speeding up the response and control time for voice commands.
Roobo, founded in November 2014, develops and manufactures robots, drones, and integrated virtual reality headsets. Products include Pudding, a children's robot with artificial intelligence, capable of interactive dialogue and offering a variety of education and entertainment content; Skye Orbit, a quadcopter drone; Runbone, a smart bone conduction headphone for sports enthusiasts, featuring heart rate monitoring, activity data collection and activity impact analysis; and Idealens, a 295 gram virtual reality headset with dual OLED screens, high refresh rate of 90Hz, low afterglow, and a battery compartment located at the back of the body.
Roobo will kick off the next round of funding at the end of 2016.
Keywords: Roobo funding Series A M&A VC hardware iFlytek 002230.SZ Liu Yingbo virtual reality robot
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