Can't get passed prototype as like you said you need to make a certain quantity to make it cost effective "unless the result promised a sales volume in the 1,000's".  So you need up front commitment to buy 1,000 robots or you need to pay for the 1,000 robots yourself and hope you can sell them.  You can build one offs at $20,000 each or you can build 1,000 at $5,000 each but you then need to invest $5M so you really need to believe in your product (or get VC / Angel backing). There are a lot of smart people  with a lot of money trying to make money in this industry and failed (Softbank / Honda etc ) but really the only robots that seem to be profitable are Toys (UBTECH) and Industry Robotics that replace human tasks.  James Bruton Makes a living just making robots that will never move past prototypes  http://www.xrobots.co.uk/

as for costs - take a look on Alibaba and you'll find several models selling for much less than 5K each at volumes of 1000 my concept includes a fundamentally different approach than everyone elses which is why I think it will be successful - still, have to test with prototype

@Nink, Good discussion and good insights. I agree 100%.

Another example of failure: https://www.therobotreport.com/rethink-robotics-closes-its-doors/

Having ideas is not difficult but implementing them is. Creating a prototype without funds is another issue basically is the chicken or the egg dilemma.

Quote:

 5) some arm movement - to be discussed

An electric wheelchair is only a chair with motor wheels and remote control. Why are they expensive when you can create a prototype by a fraction of the price?

Jibo https://mashable.com/2017/11/08/jibo-review/#NyPo9DHiAaq5 price range was $1000, then $800 then $400 and then close the doors. Would you spend $400 when you have Alexa or Google Home for $40 or Siri on Apple device ?

@Sholomo Do you have an idea of the customer price range  for your concept ?

Shlomo - It's awesome to see you have a great idea for a commercial product! Synthiam’s software platform connects robot builders with technology creators to program robot products, so you came to the right place. Robot builders get access to technologies without having to build them from ground up, and technology creators get usage of their technologies at scale. By bringing robot builders and technology creators together, the number of robot products will rapidly increase.

My role on the partners team at Synthiam is two fold. To work with technology creators (companies and individuals) so the technologies they create are added to ARC ; and to connect with robot builders who are looking to commercialize their ideas. There are many hurdles to bring a robot product to market as others have mentioned above. Synthiam aims to make that easier.

You can reach me at [email protected] to discuss the licencing concern raised above as well as where you're at and see if there are any introductions I can make that could help along your journey to a commercial product.

Hey @Alan, WOW did not know Synthiam was doing something like this. OK that is cool!

If I could give one piece of advice @Shlomo search to see if your idea already exists. If it does not exist request who ever you talk to, sign a patent or invention non-disclosure agreement before you discuss anything. You need freedom of movement to file a patent in future. Also a search maybe very eye opening as you would be amazed at what is already out there.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3mPMQbJs6Q

@PTP - Want to know the common theme for those failures? They didn't use ARC hahaha

In reality there are a two (main) reasons robotics companies fail:

1. Over promise and under deliver.
2. Too much money sunk into trying to "do it all".

The examples you provided promised the world, built massive dev teams with expertise in every aspect of the product so they could own all the IP and got lost in development, forgetting what was truly important - meeting buyer expectations. Jibo sold a ton of units in their pre-sale. That showed the demand was there and the reason they were able to raise 70+million. Once people got their hands on Jibo, they were all disappointing at the result. I would wager the majority of their funds were spent on software development. Maybe the outcome would have been very different if they integrated 3rd party tech rather than building it themselves? Maybe they wouldn't have burned through 70+million. Maybe they would have met user expectations and would still be alive today.

The industry is evolving quickly, learning from the faults of the past is a great way to progress. These historic failures shouldn't be seen as a dead end to people and companies with great ideas today, but rather an opportunity to learn from and change the way they bring their products to market tomorrow.

...a big part of a products success is also based on timing and when it comes to market.

Shlomo, don't let the naysayers kill your dream. Just because someone else failed doesn't mean you can't make it work for you. Find the right help and learn from other's mistakes. Sounds like Alan from the partners team at Synthiam has a way to help guide you and the team shares your vision.

Don't ever let them tell you it can't be done. Just find a way to make it happen. The Altair project that our good friend Nink mentions as being troubled is not dead or even that troubled. I just chatted with Tony a couple days ago. His little robot has found a now possible life as an assist robot to people that needs a hand or companionship. Will's (fxrtst) Male and Female Alan heads are alive and kicking (well maybe not kicking. They have no legs. LOL). Both these guys have the same thing in common that are making them successes, They keep trying, didn't listen to the ones that said "can't do", found help and adapted to the market. Also like Will said; "timing is everything". My two above examples above by not be "mainstream" right now but I know if the inventor builders keep with their vision their work will soon be.

Good luck and keep going.