Symposium explores advancement of robotics

Kate McAfoose is the president of Curabotics.

Photo by Sylvie McCarthy

By Sylvie McCarthy

On Feb. 26, the link hosted an Innovation Symposium that was centered around robotics.

Jacksonville is often recognized as a logistics and transportation hub, but the city is also becoming a leader in robotics. From health care to public safety, these advancements are changing how we think about the future of work in our region.

Curabotics is a Jacksonville-based company that is looking to transform the health care industry.

Kate McAfoose, president of Curabotics, talked about how her company is using robots to solve workforce challenges specifically in the health care field. Their goal is to transform hospital operations with clinically connected automation solutions designed to help health care providers deliver care more efficiently. Their robots automate the delivery of essential supplies, medications and linens, allowing nursing staff to focus on patient care. This helps to reduce physical strain on nurses and gives more time back to the patient.

Curabotics integrates their robot’s system with all of the systems in the health care facility, including fire alarms, life-safety systems and automatic doors.

McAfoose is proud of the work that Curabotics is doing and said she is excited about what is to come.

“I would love for Jacksonville to be recognized as an innovation hub, but it takes a lot of community,” she said.

Robocor, also based out of Jacksonville, is on a mission to make robotics accessible, practical and transformative for businesses of all sizes.

Solomon Northrop, chief technology officer at Robocor, presented their Robocor Guardian. This is a security robot powered by leading A.I. technology that provides perimeter protection and intelligent surveillance. These robots are meant to be surveillance units on wheels. They are also equipped with active security threat detection.

Northrop said these robots would be particularly useful on college campuses and at health care facilities. He also said they would be a huge asset on car lots, especially at night to help reduce theft.

“A connected city is a safe city,” he said.

Solomon Northrop said that security guard robots would be a useful tool.

Photo by Sylvie McCarthy