Northeastern soft robotic arm wins MassRobotics Form & Function Challenge at Robotics Summit

The Northeastern team developed a new type of compliant robot arm that can apply over 1 Nm of torque. | Source: MassRobotics

MassRobotics announced the winners of its 3rd Form & Function University Robotics Challenge at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston last week. Fifteen teams from around the globe showcased their projects at the show. The Transformative Robotics Lab team from Northeastern University won.

The winning robot, a Soft Robotic Arm Screwdriver that spun and safely scrubbed plates, was picked by a panel of judges from the robotics industry. The idea of this challenge is to create a robot that looks good (form) and works (function).

As a first in Form & Function history, second prize and audience choice were both awarded to the same team, the University of Waterloo’s Gripper for First Responders. This team had a unique gripper and arm that could assess victims in an emergency situation.

Third prize was awarded to the returning Heat Robotics University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus Wildfire Containment team. It won for its continued development and enhancements to its approach to fighting and preventing wildfires.

The competition was intense this year, and the judges said they felt compelled to give an honorable mention to the Kurtz Robotics Boston University Automated Grow Bed team for its robot, which can pick tomatoes in a scalable, cost-effective way.

All of the teams showcased innovative systems that impressed attendees. Students reported that companies were already offering jobs or even to work with them on their robots. The experience of interacting and networking with industry professionals was priceless to researchers who often don’t get their work seen outside of their campus or labs.

MassRobotics sponsors, including Altium, AMD, Analog Devices, Autodesk, Copley Controls, Danfoss, FESTO, Harmonic Drive, igus, Lattice Semiconductor, maxon, Mitsubishi Electric, and Novanta, donated components and software to the teams. This allowed the student teams to use the latest offerings in the industry.

MassRobotics strategic partnership continues

The MassRobotics Form & Function Challenge on the Robotics Summit show floor. | Source: MassRobotics

At the Robotics Summit & Expo last week, MassRobotics also hosted a Startup Alley that showcased 21 of its resident startups, and the MassRobotics Accelerator. Powered by Mass Tech Collaborative, each of the companies in the Accelerator cohort presented its technologies and business models.

Startups that participated included Haystack Ag, LiftLabs, Mito Robotics, Nexterity, p!ng, Redefine Surgery, ReviMo, Revolute Robotics, Tatum Robotics, and Variable Machines..

The Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program highlighted its latest cohort of startups who made their final presentations, sharing their milestones and achievements made during this year’s program. Startups included OTSAW, ReviMo, Sixdof Space, Subtlebotic, TechNovator, Tenomix.

Attendees were able to see innovations firsthand on the showroom floor – from a patient-transfer system to surgical tool handling.

As a strategic partner with WTWH Media for the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo, MassRobotics played a key role in providing guidance and leveraging its extensive global network to support the event. Over 5,000 attendees participated in sessions led by industry leaders such as PSYONIC, Symbotic, Amazon Robotics, MIT CSAIL, and Boston Dynamics, gaining insights into the future of robotics development. The exhibit hall nearly doubled in its footprint from last year, with close to 200 exhibitors.

“We set records for attendance and exhibitors at the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo, attracting participants from more than 45 countries,” said Steve Crowe, chair of the event and executive editor of The Robot Report.

“This level of growth wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our strategic partner, MassRobotics. Its strong network of startups and deep industry connections bring invaluable energy, innovation, and expertise to the event,” he added. “We look forward to growing this event in Boston and working with MassRobotics for years to come.”

Now accepting session submissions!

Keep track of your essentials with the Apple AirTag 4 Pack, the ultimate tracking solution for your belongings. With over 5,972 ratings and a stellar 4.7-star average, this product has quickly become a customer favorite. Over 10,000 units were purchased in the past month, solidifying its status as a highly rated Amazon Choice product.

For just $79.98, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your items are always within reach. Order now for only $79.98 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!