Pennsylvania is a Robotics Powerhouse
The Keystone State is pushing the boundaries of robotics and artificial intelligence.
From space exploration to gas pipeline repair, Pennsylvania’s higher education institutions and businesses are pushing the boundaries of what robots can do, making the Keystone State a robotics powerhouse. Further shaping this innovative ecosystem is Pennsylvania’s strong economy, access to venture capital, private equity opportunities and affordable cost of living.
Pennsylvania’s Pioneer in the Robotics Industry
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is the global pioneer in robotics research and education, founding the first U.S. university department devoted to the field – the Robotics Institute – in 1979. In 1996, the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) opened as part of the Robotics Institute. The NREC worked on projects in a range of commercial enterprises – agriculture, mining, construction, on-road and off-road autonomy and other markets.
Today, it is home to the world’s leading robotics experts, conducting applied research and development to solve the industry’s most challenging problems.
Located in the heart of Robotics Row in Pittsburgh, the NREC has been a driving force in this city’s revitalization. In the historic Strip District, just a few miles from the NREC’s base in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, there are more than 80 companies focused on robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies, with a significant number founded or created by NREC alumni. These NREC-affiliated companies are valued at more than $18 billion.
Recently, CMU has taken strides to further advance this industry. In December 2023, the university broke ground on a new Robotics Innovation Center (RIC), a cutting-edge facility that will significantly expand physical space for research, development and testing for robotics as well as related fields like AI and automation.
Located just east of CMU’s existing facility within Mill 19 in the Hazelwood Green development, the RIC will add 150,000 square feet of research space for robots that will operate on land, in water, in the air and perhaps even beyond Earth. It will include a 50,000-square-foot indoor robot testing facility, an open-layout wet lab, reconfigurable high bays and a 1.5-acre, large-footprint outdoor lab with a 6,000-square-foot drone cage.
The Keystone State is a Hub for Growth
Also fostering innovation in this industry is the Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN), which plays a pivotal role in cementing the state as an internationally recognized hub for the commercial growth of robotics, automation and AI businesses.
PRN supports this growth with programmatic initiatives, public-private cooperative partnerships and advocacy. The network draws attention to world-class products built in Pittsburgh that are poised to reshape economies by helping attract investment and talent to the region.
“Pennsylvania stands unrivaled as the premier destination for robotics innovation, with Pittsburgh at the epicenter,” says Jennifer Apicella, PRN executive director. “Here, in the robotics capital of the world, we’ve created an ecosystem that thrives on cutting-edge research and development, bolstered by robust investment opportunities and a supportive entrepreneurial community.”
In 2023, the Robotics Factory, a consortium of startups, moved into the neighborhood and brought with it six startup companies as part of its Accelerate Program, which provides funding and mentorship. The companies’ focuses range from developing robotic hands and working on adaptive light technology to extending crops’ growing seasons.
Apicella says the addition of the Robotics Factory is further proof that Pittsburgh’s robotics industry is a growing powerhouse.
“This move further solidifies our robotics ecosystem’s impact on a global scale while driving economic growth and job creation right here, anchored in the Pittsburgh region,” she says.
The Future of Robotics
Robotics creates opportunities everywhere, like increasing efficiency, reducing costs and improving service levels in transportation and last-mile delivery as well as addressing labor shortage, efficiency and sustainability challenges in the agricultural industry, says Matthew Johnson-Roberson, a roboticist, a researcher, an entrepreneur and an educator who serves as director of CMU’s Robotics Institute.
Projects under development at CMU include a modular robot for inspecting and repairing natural gas pipelines. Since pipes’ confined spaces are often inaccessible to people, they are a natural place to deploy robots. In the United States, natural gas is delivered to an estimated 75 million homes through a network of nearly 2 million miles of distribution and service lines, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The robot can inspect 9 miles and repair 1.8 miles of pipe in 8 hours, with further advancements planned. Funded by the DOE, this project aims to reduce the cost and environmental impact of pipeline repairs.
Other robotics projects underway include Chefbot, a gastronomy project developing methods for robots to model and learn manipulation skills for preparing food, and a space project called MoonRanger that will explore the surface of the moon for the possibility of water processing.
This article was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
