Robotshop

Infobox Company
company_name = RobotShop Distribution Inc.
company_
company_type = Private
genre =
foundation = 2003 [ [http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/cgi-bin/sc_mrksv/corpdir/dataOnline/corpns_re?company_select=6142567 Industry Canada - Corporation] ]
founder = Mario Tremblay and Sandra Fradet
headquarters = Boisbriand, Quebec
location_country =
location = Boisbriand, Quebec [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Robotshop: La robotique à votre portée |url=http://www.robotshop.ca/Images/Articles/Quebec-Micro-April-2007.jpg|work=Québec Micro |publisher= |language=French|date=April 2007 |accessdate=2008-07-17 ]
origins =
key_people =
area_served = Canada, America, International
industry = Robots
products = Domestic robots
Professional Robots Robot Toys Robot Development Platforms Robot Kits Robot Parts
services = Technical Support Robotic Repair
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent =
divisions =
subsid =
owner =
company_slogan = Robotics at your service
homepage = [http://www.robotshop.ca RobotShop Canada/International] [http://www.robotshop.us RobotShop USA]
dissolved =
footnotes =

RobotShop Distributon Inc. specializes in distributing domestic robots (such robotic lawn mowers and vacuums) and other robotic products and services. RobotShop also offers robotic repairs on many domestic robots. [cite news |first=Isabelle |last=Lapierre |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=L'aide du futur | language=French |url=http://www.robotshop.ca/Images/Articles/le-village-Isabelle-lapierre.jpg|work=Magazine Le Village |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2008-07-17] [cite news |first=Jean-Sébastien |last=Massicotte |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Tondeuses-robots. Des appareils sans fil... et sans pilote ! Newspaper article about RobotShop and its products |url=http://www.robotshop.ca/content/PDF/lesoleil-2005.pdf |work=Le Soleil |publisher= |date=June 18, 2005 |language=French |accessdate=2008-07-17 ] Although the head office is located in Canada, RobotShop sells worldwide.

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History

Founding

On 3 May 2002 Mario Tremblay, president and founder of RobotShop, spearheaded a project with two of his university colleagues to build a robotic lawn mower named “RoboR” and created RobotShop as a general/unlimited partnership. [ [http://ssl.req.gouv.qc.ca/igif-bin/isl08tr1/cidreq/**URL**?matricule=3360780194&banque=C&action=ETAT_CIDREQ&section1=O&section2=O&section3=O&section4=O Quebec Government Company Registry] ] With the financial backing of the Centre de Développement Technique de l'École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) de Montréal (Centech) they began building a prototype of the robotic lawn mower. [ [http://www.etsmtl.ca/zone3/diplomes_partenaires/centech/centre_information/bulletin/2002-Septembre.pdf ETS Centech: September 2002 Bulletin] ] In order to further finance research and development, RobotShop took on consultation and development work in general robotics for industrial and university clients.

Sandra Fradet joined Mario Tremblay to create RobotShop Distribution Inc, and the previous unlimited partnership was dissolved. [ [http://ssl.req.gouv.qc.ca/igif-bin/isl08tr1/cidreq/**URL**?matricule=3360780194&banque=C&action=ETAT_CIDREQ&section1=O&section2=O&section3=O&section4=O Quebec Government Company Registry] ] Shortly after the deployment of the website, the first sales started to come in. [cite news |first=Cindy |last=Synnett |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Robotshop |url=http://www.robotshop.ca/Images/Articles/metro-montreal-cindy-synnett-mercredi-22-sept-2004.jpg|work=Metro Montreal |publisher= |date=September 22, 2004 |language=French |accessdate=2008-07-17 ] In order to expand RobotShop they obtain encouragement from the Fond de Jeunesse Québec (FJQ), the Soutien aux Jeunes Entrepreneurs (SAJE) and also from the Fondation du Maire pour la Jeunesse de Montréal (FMMJ). [ [http://www.sodet.com/PDF/rapport_annuel/RapportAnnuel2005.pdf 2005 SAJE/CLD 2005 Annual Report] ]

Expansion

After months of working out of their homes, RobotShop relocated in October 2005 to an 1800 square foot space in Boisbriand, Quebec and soon they hired their first employees. The company continues to grow rapidly following the strong growth of the domestic robotics market. The facilities were enlarged up to 6000 square feet in 2008 to respond to the increasing demand and the need for additional employee space.

Personal and Professional Robots

RobotShop is specialized in the distribution of domestic and professional robots as well as parts required for custom robotic development. RobotShop sells specialized robotic parts including microcontrollers, sensors, motors and other robotic parts and development platforms. [ [http://www.abry.biz/interview-robotshop-mario-tremblay-363 Abry.biz by Vincent Abry] Interview with RobotShop's Mario Tremblay] RobotShop has also contributed to the success of robotic competitions and sponsored projects. [ [http://www.robo-crc.ca/index.php?page=partners&sub=en1 CRC Robotics Competition] Sponsored by RobotShop] [ [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=robotshop&hl=en&lr= Google Scholar: RobotShop] [http://www.robotgames.net/sponsors/sponsors.htm RoboGames Sponsorship] ]

Products and Services

As of 2008, RobotShop’s products include domestic and professional robots, robot parts, and toys. [cite news |first=Jeff |last=Turrentine |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Relax, grass-cutting gizmo at work |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/832709251.html?dids=832709251:832709251&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+5%2C+2005&author=Jeff+Turrentine&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=L.04&desc=Relax%2C+grass-cutting+gizmo+at+work%3B+Robotic+mowers+programmable+Wires+set+property+boundaries |work=Toronto Star |publisher= |date=May 5, 2005 |accessdate=2008-07-17] [cite news |first=Jeff |last=Turrentine |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Relax, grass-cutting gizmo at work |url=http://www.robotshop.ca/content/PDF/toronto-star-2005.pdf |work=Toronto Star |publisher= |date=May 5, 2005 |format=pdf |accessdate=2008-07-17] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Robotshop: La robotique à votre portée. |url=http://www.robotshop.ca/Images/Articles/Quebec-Micro-April-2007.jpg|work=Québec Micro |publisher= |language=French|date=April 2007 |accessdate=2008-07-17 ] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_bk7gP1lX0 Television report on RobotShop Distribution Inc.] , NerdZ TV show, Thursday, November 30, 2006, by Jean Fournier] RobotShop also provides domestic robot repair, support and troubleshooting, as well as a Learning Center providing both new and seasoned robot builders educational tools needed to build different types of robots. [cite book |title=The 505 Weirdest Online Stores: 505 Things You Never Thought You Could Buy ... |last=Crowley |first=Dan |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |publisher=Sourcebooks, Inc. |location= |isbn=1402203772 |page=64 | |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=BrZU29RvLx0C&pg=PA64&dq=robotshop&ei=oBd-SODEPISgiwHvkKHtDw&sig=ACfU3U00Qy_slmdKv42ogkxtXSrEPIciOQ#PPA64,M1 ] [ [http://www.robotshop.ca/learning-center.html RobotShop Learning Center] ]

ee also

*Robot
*iRobot
*Robotics

References

External links

* [http://www.robotshop.ca/ Official Canadian/International website]
* [http://www.robotshop.us/ Official American website]