Innovobot Acquires Voler Systems
Canadian innovation group Innovobot has acquired Voler Systems, a California-based engineering firm specializing in embedded systems, sensors, and IoT. The move establishes a direct U.S. presence for Innovobot and signals ongoing consolidation within the robotics and embedded systems ecosystem.
- Voler Systems, founded in 1979 by Walt Maclay, has a history of developing electronic devices for a range of sectors, including medical devices up to class III, consumer products, and industrial applications. Their client list includes Fortune 100 companies and notable names like Raytheon Technologies and Siemens. In May 2024, Miguel Adao, who joined the company in 2022, took over as President and CEO, with Maclay transitioning to Chairman of the Board. - Innovobot is a Canadian investment and innovation platform founded in 2018 by a group of tech entrepreneurs and executives. The firm operates a venture capital arm, Innovobot Resonance Ventures, which focuses on early-stage, deep-tech startups in sectors like AI, robotics, and IoT. Their investment strategy targets companies with strong intellectual property that are developing technologies with a positive social or environmental impact. - The acquisition provides Voler Systems with resources for growth while giving Innovobot a strategic entry into Silicon Valley and the U.S. market. The deal aligns with Innovobot's model of combining venture capital with in-house technical and commercialization support to scale its portfolio companies. - Voler Systems has specialized in wearable technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), with a particular focus on ultra-low-power designs and sensor integration for medical and consumer health devices. They developed a "Universal Health-Sensor Platform" to accelerate the prototyping and development of wearable devices for capturing physiological data. - Innovobot's leadership team includes individuals with extensive experience in scaling technology companies. For instance, CTO and co-founder Danny Grant holds over 250 patents and was the lead inventor of the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller. In 2023, the company appointed Pedro Gregorio, a robotics specialist from space technology firm MDA, to head its robotics laboratory. - The embedded systems market, a core area for both companies, is projected to grow significantly, with one forecast predicting an increase to over $159 billion by 2031. This growth is driven by the increasing integration of AI and machine learning at the edge, the expansion of IoT devices, and the move toward more autonomous and collaborative robotic systems.
