An easy-to-use robot arm that even small companies can afford

Automata hopes its inexpensive device can bring automation to companies that usually wouldn’t be able to afford high-end robotics.

Slow uptake: Industrial robots are pricey, so it’s no surprise that relatively few small companies own one, and even large companies haven’t adopted them at the rates you’d expect.

One solution: Automata, a robotics firm in London, is selling a robotic arm for just $7,500. It hopes to widen access to robots by focusing only on the basic functions that small firms need. It’s also designed to be easy for anyone to program in just 15 minutes. It will replace simple, repetitive manual tasks like product testing and placing things on conveyor belts. Read the full story here.