For the second year in a row, Kitchener-based Clearpath Robotics has received a Robotics Business Review Game Changer Award, this year for its Kingfisher unmanned surface vessel.

In 2013, the company was recognized for technological innovation for its Grizzly robotic utility vehicle.

The annual awards, presented at RoboBusiness last week, recognize technical accomplishments and robotics makers within the global industry.

The Kingfisher was honoured as a data collection platform. Other winners included Kairos Autonomi’s Uomo for autonomous navigation; the iRobot Scooba 450 Floor Scrubbing Robot for domestic automation; and Harvard University’s Mobility Enhancing Soft Robotic Exosuit as the nextgen game changer.

“We’re thrilled that Kingfisher USV has been recognized with a Game Changer Award,” said Julian Ware, general manager for research products at Clearpath Robotics. “It is an honor to be distinguished in the same company as the other winning, leading robotics institutions.”

Kingfisher Unmanned Surface Vessel is an agile, battery operated robot boat designed for research and rapid prototyping. Fully equipped with a sensor station, an onboard Atom PC, electric thrusters, GPS, wifi radio, and semi-planing hulls, Kingfisher serves as a marine research platform as well as a remote survey system for bathymetric and hydrometric data collection. Kingfisher includes advanced payload capabilities, easy stow and portability, and can be easily customized to meet research requirements.