Honeybee Robotics’ story starts above a piano shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Can you imagine robots being built where pianos were once tuned? It all began in January 1983. Steve Gorevan and Chris Chapman founded Honeybee Robotics. They started as systems integrators using off-the-shelf robots.
Early on, Honeybee Robotics crafted robotic arms. They also made end-effectors. Smart task-oriented electromechanical systems were their specialty. Clients included big names like IBM, Allied Signal, and Merck. Even Con Edison sought their expertise.
Honeybee Robotics secured its first NASA contract in 1986. This marked a turning point. The company began designing and developing space systems. Their work extended beyond Earth.
In 2004, Honeybee Robotics’ technology reached Mars. The Rock Abrasion Tool was aboard the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. It allowed the rovers to collect samples from Martian rocks. Later, the Phoenix lander carried Honeybee’s Icy Soil Acquisition Device. This scoop collected samples from the planet’s polar ice cap.
Perhaps Honeybee Robotics’ biggest Mars project is the Sample Manipulation System. It is on the Curiosity rover. NASA calls it an “under-actuated three-Degree-Of-Freedom robotic system.” It’s essentially a science lab “Lazy Susan”. It organizes and delivers samples for analysis. Curiosity also carries Honeybee’s Dust Removal Tool.
But Honeybee Robotics does more than just space exploration. They develop mechanisms for various clients. Con Edison, the U.S. Navy, and Coca-Cola have all used their services. They also work with architects like Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
In 2017, Ensign-Bickford Industries acquired Honeybee Robotics. Avior Control Technologies merged with Honeybee in 2019. In January 2022, Blue Origin bought Honeybee Robotics.
Honeybee Robotics shipped the Phobos Mining System to JAXA in February 2023. They partner with NASA and JAXA to study Mars’ moons.
Honeybee Robotics is helping design instruments for NASA’s VIPER rover. In December 2022, NASA awarded Honeybee Robotics a contract for the Mars Sample Return mission. They will provide the Capture, Containment, and Retrieval System. They will also provide the Earth Entry System and Spin Eject Mechanism.
Honeybee Robotics has grown significantly since 1983. Starting above a piano shop, it now boasts multiple locations. The company has facilities in Longmont, Colorado, Altadena, California, and Greenbelt, Maryland. Honeybee Robotics employs 284 people. They generate $75,000,000 USD in revenue.
From Earth-orbiting satellites to medical devices, Honeybee Robotics continues to innovate. Their work in Brooklyn and beyond helps unlock the potential of space. Their Brooklyn office works on gas pipeline inspection robots and medical devices. These devices offer surgeons more precision. Honeybee Robotics is definitely a company to watch as they reach for the stars and improve life on Earth.