Specialized systems also saw a resurgence, with autonomous vehicles and surgical robots making notable progress. The startup funding landscape shifted, with a concentration of investment in fewer companies and larger funding rounds. Despite these advancements, the promise of general-purpose robots remains elusive, and the field continues to face challenges in achieving high reliability and cost-effectiveness. Overall, 2024 marked a year of increased attention and development in robotics, setting the stage for future growth and opportunities.
Key takeaways:
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- 2024 saw significant advancements in humanoid robotics, with increased commercialization efforts and partnerships with major companies like BMW and Mercedes.
- Robotics foundation models made progress, with companies like Covariant and OpenAI showcasing new capabilities, although deployment in production environments remains limited.
- Specialized robotic systems, such as autonomous vehicles and surgical robots, experienced a resurgence, with increased funding and expansion into new markets.
- Startup funding in robotics concentrated on fewer companies, with large funding rounds, setting the stage for further development and competition in 2025.