 | |
| Type | Privately held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Robotics |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Charles Deguire, Louis-Joseph L'Écuyer |
| Products | Service robots, Commercial robots |
| Website | kinovarobotics.com |
Kinova is a Canadian technology company that manufactures service robotics platforms and applications for personal assistance. [1] [2] [3] The company is headquartered in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. [4]
In 2006, Charles Deguire and Louis-Joseph L'Écuyer founded Kinova as an independent manufacturer of robotic devices. [5] [6] Deguire's uncle was an inventor who created a manipulator for his wheelchair, which became the basis for the company to create the robotic arms. [7] By 2009, Kinova had introduced a robotic arm that could fit onto any standard wheelchair and allow users to feed themselves. [8] [9]
From 2016 to 2018, Kinova expanded its operations, opening offices in Germany and China. [10] [11] In 2017, Kinova announced that it had raised $25 million in funding backed by investors KTB Network, BDC Venture Capital, Fonds Manufacturier Québécois and Foxconn Technology Group. [12] [13] [14] Later in the year, the company collaborated and partnered with McGill University to increase their collaborative research involving medical, surgical and assistive robotics. [15]
Kinova produces the Jaco Assistive robotic arm, a six-axis robotic manipulator arm with a two- or three-finger hand to improve the life of people with mobility issues. [16] [17] [18]
Kinova also provides accessories such as arm grippers, actuators and controllers. [19] [20]
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