Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering

Evolution Robotics

The presence of robots in our everyday life is no longer the stuff of futuristic science fiction entertainment like Star Wars. For example, life-like robotic pet dogs that respond to voice commands have become best-selling toys. The implications are enormous for the elderly and handicapped, home security systems and education. Robots can recognize a FedEx package, pick out a childrens book and tell the difference between a $100 and $20 bill.

"Robots are absolutely going to have a big impact on our lives over the next 20 years," predicts Bill Gross, the founder of prominent technology incubator IdeaLabs. "It's like the PC industry in 1981." A Caltech alumnus and trustee, Gross recognized in February 2002 that neuromorphic technologies were ready for the public. He consulted with Professors Rodney Goodman, Pietro Perona and Joel Burdick of Caltech's Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering (CNSE) and the group founded the Evolution Robotics company to develop personal robots for consumers.

The Pasadena, California-based startup markets the ER1 personal robot, its first product, through such mainstream distributors as Amazon, FAO Schwarz, J&R Computer World, and TigerDirect as well as through its own website. The company's founders hope their leadership will spur the growth of the personal robot industry and a variety of functional products that become indispensable in our daily lives.

From the beginning, these visionaries have looked to the CNSE as a key source of their technical team, hiring several of its graduates full-time and employing an undergraduate and a professor associated with the Center for part-time work. This is an excellent example of how ERCs can successfully transfer technology to industry by contributing employees to start-up firms in related fields.

To learn more about this topic:
Visit the Industrial Interactions: Startups page at the Center for Neuromophic Systems Engineering at: http://www.erc.caltech.edu/Industry/startups.html

Return to the previous page.

Learn More

Help with Searching

Contact the ERC Achievements Showcase Webmaster.

Last modified: March 8, 2004