Colin Angle, the co-founder of iRobot and its CEO for three decades, has announced his return to the robotics industry with a new venture titled Familiar Machines & Magic. According to The Boston Globe, this startup is poised to develop an innovative home robot aimed at enhancing health and wellness, potentially manifesting in forms reminiscent of pets or “familiars.”
Currently operating in stealth mode, Familiar Machines & Magic has also attracted notable talent, including former iRobot Chief Technology Officer Chris Jones and Ira Renfrew, who departed iRobot for a role in robotics at Amazon, specifically working on the now-defunct Scout delivery robot. Angle has expressed a commitment to advancing the capabilities of robotics, particularly in the context of smart home technologies. Following his exit from iRobot, which came after the failed sale of the company to Amazon in January 2023, iRobot reduced its research and development budget and trimmed nearly half of its workforce, subsequently shifting its focus back to core home cleaning products.
Familiar Machines & Magic has reportedly secured $15 million in funding from eight investors and is actively seeking an additional $15 million, as noted by TechCrunch. A job posting on LinkedIn characterises the company as a “well-funded, new embodied AI and robotics startup based outside of Boston,” which suggests a promising future for the initiative.
Angle's pivot from practical robotic solutions to more personal applications marks a significant shift in focus. Traditional household robots like vacuum cleaners, litter boxes, and lawnmowers have enjoyed greater commercial success compared to companion robots, many of which, such as Jibo, Moxie, and Anki, have ultimately ceased operations. However, advancements in generative AI are projected to transform companion robotics, providing them with enhanced capabilities that could make them more relatable and practical.
For instance, Israeli startup Intuition Robotics has been developing ElliQ, an AI-driven social robot designed to offer companionship to the elderly and those confined to their homes. Since its inception in 2017, ElliQ has undergone several iterations, with its latest model leveraging generative AI to achieve a more lifelike and engaging interaction experience.
As the field of robotics continues to evolve and adapt through technological advancements, the efforts of Angle and his team at Familiar Machines & Magic stand to contribute significantly to the ongoing dialogue regarding the role of robots in daily life and their ability to provide meaningful companionship and support.
Source: Noah Wire Services