It is already available in the U.S., Europe and Japan and has built an active and fast growing developer community.

Boston, MA, January 14, 2014 - Rethink Robotics today announced the rollout of the Baxter Research Robot to academic and corporate researchers in Australia and New Zealand. The Company has entered into an exclusive partnership with Training Systems Australia, the leading supplier of technology-related products and training systems to universities and technical colleges in the region, to distribute the revolutionary humanoid research robot.

The Baxter Research Robot is an open source platform which allows researchers to customize a range of applications for robots and drive robotics innovation. It is already available in the U.S., Europe and Japan and has built an active and fast growing developer community.

Peter Birnbaum, Managing Director of Training Systems Australia, says, "Empowering corporate research and development teams and educating students in the field of robotics are no longer futuristic goals, but absolutely essential. Baxter is the perfect robot for researchers looking to find ways robots can be used in all areas of endeavor. Whether it is in manufacturing, assisting the incapacitated, transportation or healthcare, robots have an increasingly vital role to play in innovation and growth across many sectors."

The Baxter Research Robot runs on the global Robot Operating System (ROS) standard, allowing researchers to share and collaborate to drive innovation. Launched in April 2013, the Baxter Research Robot has been adopted by leading engineering schools across the U.S., including Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Baxter Research Robot is also now in use at corporate R&D and innovation centers of major U.S. companies.

It was rolled out to academic and corporate researchers in the European Union in September 2013 through Rethink Robotics' official distribution partners Active Robots and Generation Robots, making the robot available in the United Kingdom, France and other countries in continental Europe. In November 2013, the Baxter Research Robot debuted in the Asian market through an exclusive partnership with Nihon Binary of Japan.

Baxter is now available for purchase in Australia and New Zealand from Training Systems Australia, who will also provide technical support in the region. Click here for more information.