that we could provide greater manipulation capability in terms of
strength, dexterity and controllability for bomb squad robots that
deal with improvised explosive devices, “ he explains. “Not only were
we creating innovative solutions, but our technology would go on
to help save lives and keep bomb techs out of harm’s way by sending
in a robot instead.”
The initial grant provided $730,000, but Pedersen says his team
soon realized that additional funding would be needed to transition
the prototype to a final product. In August of 2014, RE2 closed on a
$2.25 million funding round to “harden” its technology.
“Winning our first SBIR was an inflection point because we decided
to focus on mobile robotic arms. Once we gained a focus for the
company we only went after opportunities related to robotic arms and
became a leader in the area of mobile manipulation,” he says.
In addition to his work with RE2, Pedersen has served on the boards
of multiple industrial groups and trade organizations over the past
15 years. Currently, he serves as the chairman of the Robotics Division
at the National Defense Industrial Association.
“This position gives me tremendous exposure to the market in
general as well as specific needs related to mobile manipulation for
defense applications,” he notes.
Pedersen is particularly proud of the company’s Highly
Dexterous Manipulation System (HDMS), which mimics the
strength and dexterity of a human being, and allows a robotic
system to perform tasks that, in the past, only a human would have
been able to perform.
“I’m proud of the innovative technology our engineers developed
to allow such an advanced capability to come to life,” he says.
In addition to its defense work, the company is