RoadNarrows Robotics
Loveland, Colorado open-source robotics company (2002-2020) that developed the Hekateros research manipulator arm and Kuon wheeled mobile robot platform.
RoadNarrows LLC, operating as RoadNarrows Robotics, was a small robotics and intelligent systems company founded in 2002 by Robin D. Knight and Kim M. Wheeler, headquartered in Loveland, Colorado. The company focused on developing open-interface hardware and software robotic solutions for the research and education markets, applying AI techniques to practical robotics challenges.
RoadNarrows' flagship hardware product was the Hekateros robotic manipulator, a 1-meter-long research-grade robotic arm designed to fill the gap between expensive industrial manipulators and rudimentary academic platforms. Hekateros featured full ROS (Robot Operating System) compatibility, announced in July 2013. The arm evolved from the SkewlZone project and shared processing hardware with the Laelaps and Kuon platforms. The Kuon was a rugged outdoor wheeled robot platform integrating an embedded computer, sensors, and motor controllers for field robotics research. The Laelaps was a miniature variant of the Kuon sharing the same hardware and software infrastructure. RoboSight was an intelligent camera product using the CogniMem chip for real-time pattern recognition.
On the software side, RoadNarrows developed distributed robotic platform frameworks, embedded device software, mobile sensor architectures, and open-source platform software utilizing vision, 3D sensing, sensor networks, neural networks, genetic algorithms, multi-agent cooperation, and parallel distributed systems.
RoadNarrows received NSF funding including a Phase II SBIR/STTR grant for the Hekateros project, and collaborated with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2007 on an NSF grant for a general robot controller for legged mobile robots.
In autumn 2014, the company downsized and refocused solely on the Hekateros and Laelaps product lines. Headquarters relocated to Boulder, Colorado from November 2014 through 2016 before returning to Loveland. RoadNarrows officially dissolved at the end of 2020. Open-source repositories remain accessible on GitHub under the roadnarrows-robotics organization.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Hekateros Robotic Manipulator
1-meter open-source research robotic arm with full ROS support, designed for affordable manipulation research; developed 2013, company dissolved 2020.
Kuon Mobile Robot Platform
Rugged outdoor wheeled mobile robot with integrated embedded computer, sensors, and motor controllers for field robotics research.
Contact RoadNarrows Robotics
WEBSITE
https://roadnarrows-robotics.github.ioPHONE
2002 - 2020HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2002
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
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Hello Robot Secures $3 Million Grant for Stretch Robot Development in Elder Care
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Arms / Manipulators Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) Grippers Logistics Manufacturing Markets / Industries
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