Pololu Corporation

Pololu Robotics and Electronics was founded in 2000 by three students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our first product was the unique IR beacon system developed for the 6.270 Autonomous Robot Design Competition. The beacons allowed pairs of robots to detect each other, allowing MIT students to give their robots more sophisticated strategies.

In 2001, Pololu was incorporated while still operating out of an MIT dorm. Upon graduation of the last founder in 2002, the company was moved from Massachusetts to Las Vegas, NV for its better climate and lower taxes. Our office has since become the meeting place for the Las Vegas robotics club, which was formed in 2004.

Pololu is named after Pololu Valley on the north coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Many people seem to have trouble with the pronunciation, but it’s really quite easy. All three syllables have equal weight, and the first two are pronounced “polo”, like the sport or shirt. PO–LO–LU.