Serendipity Maybe

Has anything ever happened to you where for a split second you thought your life was over, but then you realized it was really probably something wonderful for you after all?

That is exactly what I experienced today when I read a press release from Trossen Robotics about a new line of robotic products they are releasing.

"OMGWTF!!! I am like 2 months away from launching this revolutionary product line that will change the world as we know it, and those sons-of-mother-#*@&3Rs beat me to it!"

You did not want to be around me from about 2:00 - 2:30 this afternoon. I was ruined. What could I do? Should I still bother to launch the products I have poured years and nearly one hundred thousand dollars into? Maybe I should just write it all off and join the Peace Corps. Clearly, they got to it before me. And naturally, I can't compete because they did it first and they must know what they're doing better than me.

Then I actually decided to look at their product. It really looks pretty cool. I kinda want one. So I decided to look at it a little more closely, and all of a sudden my life was no longer over. Their RobotBuilder kits are awesome in their own right, an excellent complement to my products, but are not in any way a direct substitute for any of mine.

In fact, not only am I not ruined by the news, I am thrilled to see a product so directly targeted to the same market as mine. Leading up to my own product launch, I have little doubt the products are excellent. My concern was whether a sufficient market existed for a robust robotic prototyping platform to make it financially worthwhile. While Trossen's press release may steal a smidge of my thunder, it gives me great confidence that I am not diving headfirst into completely uncharted territory.

When I calmed down and looked closely at the RobotBuilder brochure and product information, I noticed a few things. First, their brand messages "less time building, more time enjoying" and "we make robots easy and fun" are the same themes that resound in my own marketing materials. Second, their product featureset is defined similarly to mine, but their actual product is very different. Third, their prices are on the same scale as what I expect to charge.

These factors combined tell me that I am doing something right. My products are still revolutionary and without direct substitute on the current market, but the target market is now a little better defined. What's more, the market is reachable and likely to have its appetite whetted by the RobotBuilder product. Although we may wind up competing for holiday dollars later this year, the buzz Trossen has created can only help give my product launch more momentum.

Besides, I love trossen. I am a customer and a fan. Perhaps they will carry my robots in the future, and I can certainly envision more opportunities to partner with them than to compete with them regardless.

The Robots Are Coming!

Ready or not, the robots are coming. It is not probable but inevitable that robots will work their way into more and more facets of our lives in the years ahead, and I am excited to be a part of that evolution.

As the baby boomer generation ages and the elder care industry struggles with labor shortages and skyrocketing expenses, this will probably be the first area where robots become visible over the next five years. I expect the technology that is developed to meet the needs of caring for elderly in their homes and in assisted living facilities will lead to robotic maids that cook and clean for the younger population too. By 2020, I anticipate that at least 1 in 10 American households will have at least one domestic robot.

Historically, robots have been restricted to use on automotive and similar assembly lines, or somewhat more glamorous appearances in science fiction. But today the technology is available for much more sophisticated real-life human-interfacing robots. It is the industry that has fallen behind in packaging the technology into really useful robotic solutions. I view this as a tremendous business opportunity and am excited to announce my commitment to serving this need.

As an engineer with a naturally curious mind, I set out to build a robot of my own. I was surprised at first to find this challenge as difficult as it was because off-the-shelf parts don't quite fit easily together for a robust robotic prototyping platform yet. Therefore, I have decided to start my efforts there.

Now I have assembled a superstar team of designers and engineers to create a line of robotic modules that all fit together super easily for an extremely versatile robotic prototyping platform. I have just seen the first prototypes for products that we will be launching for all robotic enthusiasts in the months ahead, and I am very excited about what I see.

Sorry I cannot say much more about the products just yet. However, I can say that I am designing the products for people and businesses who are interested in developing their own sophisticated robots. In particular, I hope the products will appeal to people familiar with JAVA programming.

Participate in My Market Research Panel

If you are a robotics enthusiast or a java engineer, I would love to hear from you. I am now forming a market research panel to provide input on the products and help make sure they best meet your needs. Participants in the panel may receive free merchandise, sneak peeks of products before they are released, discounts on purchases, and have a direct impact on determining which features are included in our new products.

If you are interested in participating in our market research panel, please email info at arovotech d0t com with "Market Research Panel" in the subject line for more information.