Learn about the mission of Visual Robotics from our founder and CEO, Bryan Olmstead.
Our story
Visual Robotics was formed in 2017 by Bryan Olmstead to bring improved vision capability to robotics. Our first product, VIM-201, demonstrated our patent-pending Vision-in-Motion technology.
We believe that vision is the key to making robotics cost effective for low volume manufacturing.
The Market
Robots were invented in the mid 1950s. They are used all over the world in high-volume manufacturing environments. Certain industries, such as car manufacturing, are highly automated with robots. If you visited an automotive plant, you would see Robots everywhere.
In contrast, if you look in low-volume manufacturing environments, you see almost no robots at all, while the need is great for tasks that could and should be automated - tasks that are dull, dirty, or dangerous. Tasks like order fulfillment, package routing, assembly, machine tending, palletization, and inspection. Practically speaking, in these environments, there are Robots nowhere!
This is not a small problem. In the United States alone, there are over 200,000 small to medium businesses (SMB) that do manufacturing with an average of 20 employees, probably half of which are doing tasks that could be at least partially automated by a robot. A Return on Investment (ROI) of 2 years or less is desired to affordably deploy automation. With average employee costs of $52,000 per year, robot workcells would need to cost $100,000 or less. But in most cases, existing solutions can’t deliver. This results in an unmet need for improved productivity of over $200 billion dollars. This is the problem that Visual Robotics aims to solve.
A $200B Problem
Our Technology
To make robotic workcells cost-effective for low-volume manufacturing, we developed our patent-pending VISION IN MOTION technology. This allows an arm-mounted camera to pick still and moving objects, reducing the need for fixturing.
Our robots are programmed in Blockly, described with words similar to how a human worker would be instructed.
Our VIM-303 Vision Guidance Camera contains a 3D camera, 2D camera, powerful vision processing and robot guidance, integrated into one convenient package.
Our Products
To provide cost-effective automation solutions for low-volume manufacturing, we designed our VIM-303 Vision Guidance Camera. Manufactured at our headquarters in Eugene, Oregon, this forms the core of our vision guided robotic workcells and enables Distributors, Integrators, RaaS Manufacturers, and End Users to make their own workcells.
Meet the Executive Team
Bryan Olmstead has a vast body of engineering experience, having held roles in systems engineering, optics, hardware, manufacturing, software and more. Inventive across disciplines, he has averaged nearly two granted patents per year in his career, and this continues at Visual Robotics with patents pending. Among his commercial impacts, some of the most ubiquitous retail scanners in the world are based on Bryan’s work. Bryan holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University and holds a PE license. At Visual Robotics Bryan leads the effort in pushing the state of the art of machine vision forward.
Bryan Olmstead
Founder, CEO, CTO
Will Pong has a diverse background, with more than 20 years of design engineering experience in varied industries, and five years in the non-profit world in international leadership development. Named on several patents, Will has worked in high-tech, medical devices, and aerospace. He has served in domestic and international settings, and in startups and Fortune 500 companies. Will holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. At Visual Robotics, Will’s skillset is a vital complement to Bryan’s in rounding out the leadership team.
Will Pong
Director of Operations, Senior Mechanical Engineer