Collaborative Robotics recruits former Amazon AI leader, launches Seattle office following $100M funding round

Collaborative Robotics, a company founded in 2022 by Brad Porter, is making waves in the field of AI and robotics with the hiring of Michael Vogelsong to lead its Foundation Models AI research team. The company, also known as Cobot, is based in Santa Clara, Calif., with a new office in Seattle’s emerging AI corridor. Collaborative Robotics is focused on building a mobile collaborative robot that is already being used in a global shipping and logistics operation in the Seattle region. Porter, the company’s CEO, has a background in overseeing the development and deployment of robotic units at Amazon, and describes Cobot’s robot as “human-capable, but not humanoid.”

Competitors in the AI and robotics field include Covariant, Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and others. Collaborative Robotics recently received $100 million in Series B funding, which has allowed for its expansion into Seattle. The company’s new office in Seattle will serve as a research hub for its Foundation Models AI team, led by Vogelsong. With a focus on advancing robotics in areas like manipulation and human collaboration, Collaborative Robotics aims to create robots that can better understand humans and assist with tasks using advanced foundation models.

The company has plans to hire for roles such as AI Research Scientist and AI Research Engineer for its new research group. Vogelsong, who has experience in AI and robotics projects from his time at Amazon, will be leading this effort. Collaborative Robotics is also partnering with others in the field to advance AI research and development in robotics. The company sees potential in the growing multimodal capabilities of AI foundation models, including text, language, and computer vision, for robotic task learning and manipulation.

With Seattle’s rise as an AI hub, Collaborative Robotics is strategically positioned to recruit top talent in the field of AI and robotics. The company’s expansion into Seattle’s AI corridor on Northlake Avenue demonstrates its commitment to advancing the field of robotics through AI research and development. Collaborative Robotics aims to bring a new wave of robotics technology with fundamental AI advances, and the company’s total funding of over $140 million reflects investor confidence in its mission. Collaborative Robotics is poised to make significant advancements in the field of robotics with its cutting-edge technology and talented team of experts.