Rockwell Automation Announces Acquisition of Clearpath Robotics

Kitchener, Ontario-based Clearpath Robocs (and Clearpath’s mobile logistics division, OTTO Motors) announced today that it will be acquired by Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation for an undisclosed amount.

The press release (from Rockwell, not Clearpath) focuses specifically on applied robotics — that is, OTTO Motors’ autonomous mobile robots (AMs) in the context of production logistics. As an automation company, Rockwell doesn’t typically do what most of us think of as “robotics,” because the systems they automate don’t make the kind of dynamic decisions that distinguish robots from machines. As such, the OTTO Motors AMRs (and the OTTO employees that allow them to act autonomously) provide an important, forward-looking addition to Rockwell’s offering in industrial settings.

Transporting parts and materials to assembly lines and between manufacturing cells is one of the most complex and inefficient tasks in industry, often creating production bottlenecks. Autonomous production logistics will transform workflows throughout a manufacturing plant, significantly reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency. Clearpath’s OTTO Motors division provides AMRs and fleet management and navigation software that significantly increase throughput and reduce costs by ensuring components and subassemblies are in place when needed, and finished products are transported to trucks or warehouses when completed.

Combined with Rockwell’s strong ongoing partnership in solutions such as fixed robotic arms, independent cart technology, and traditional leadership in robotic manipulators, the addition of OTTO Motors’ AMR capabilities will create a complete portfolio of advanced material handling solutions that is unmatched in the industry.

According to Intert Analysis, the AMR market in manufacturing is expected to grow at an annual rate of approximately 30% over the next five years, and the market size is expected to reach US$6.2 billion by 2027. The acquisition is expected to contribute one percentage point to Rockwell's revenue growth in fiscal 2024, which will enhance Rockwell's leading position in enabling connected enterprises.

As iRobot, Open Robotics, and now Clearpath have all been acquired in part or in full by other companies with their own priorities, it’s hard not to worry about what will happen to the software platforms (including Turtlebot and Robot Operating System) that have laid the foundation for robotics research and education. Clearpath in particular has been a pillar of the ROS community since its inception, and it’s unclear what will happen in the future.

Clearpath was founded in 2009, initially providing robotics to the global R&D market, and established its OTTO Motors division in 2015. We’ve reached out to Clearpath to get a little insight into all of this, and we’ll get an update soon.

Review editor: Liu Qing