Core Insights - Viam has partnered with Universal Robots to enhance its industrial robotic solutions, particularly in manufacturing and marine sectors [1][2][3] - The collaboration aims to leverage AI-powered robotic systems to address labor shortages and improve manufacturing efficiency [2][3] Company Overview - Viam is a modern software engineering platform for robotics, founded in 2020 by Eliot Horowitz, and is headquartered in New York City [6] - Universal Robots is a leader in collaborative robotics, with over 100,000 cobots sold globally, and is part of Teradyne Robotics [6][7] Product Innovations - Viam has developed an AI-powered robotic surfacing system that accelerates manufacturing processes and ensures consistency [2][3] - The partnership will enable Viam to introduce an AI-powered robotic block sanding solution for fiberglass in the marine sector, which traditionally requires significant manual labor [3][4] Market Applications - Viam's solutions extend beyond marine applications to include gelcoat and paint application, wood sanding, and polishing, which are critical in various manufacturing sectors [5] - The robotic block sanding solution will debut at Metstrade 2025 in Amsterdam, showcasing its capabilities to a broader audience [6]