John Deere Sponsors RoboBusiness Conference & Expo.

NORTHBORO, Mass. & FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- World's Leading Manufacturer of Agricultural and Forestry Equipment Supports 2nd Annual Mobile Robotics Business Development Event with Keynote Presentation and Networking Reception

Robotics Trends and IDG World Expo today announced that John Deere is sponsoring RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition, the business development event for mobile robotics and intelligent systems. Greg Doherty, Director of Product and Market Development for the John Deere Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment division, will deliver a keynote presentation during the conference and the company will host an evening network reception with Founding Sponsor iRobot. The RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition will be held at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge in Cambridge, MA on May 10-11, 2005. The conference website is http://www.roboevent.com.

According to Dan Kara, conference chairman and President of Robotics Trends, "We are delighted to have a company as widely respected and innovative as John Deere join the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition as a sponsor. As the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment, as well as a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care, John Deere's support of the RoboBusiness not only benefits the event itself, but further legitimizes the nascent personal, service and mobile robotics market as a whole. This is one more signal that the new technology market has arrived and is poised for dramatic growth."

Keynote speaker Greg Doherty notes, "John Deere is very pleased to be a sponsor of the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition. Robotics and robotic technology are an area of keen interest for Deere, and we view the RoboBusiness event as a great opportunity to introduce John Deere to this new market, as well as to meet with the world's leading roboticists and robot entrepreneurs."

RoboBusiness Corporate Sponsors include Founding Sponsor iRobot, Premier Sponsors Frontline Robotics and White Box Robotics, along with CoroWare, CTG, Evolution Robotics, Focus Robotics, Machine Bus, Openware Robotics, Perceptek, Robotic Sciences, Robotic Workspace Technologies, Rogue Robotics, ShopBot, SICK, Smart Robot, Systronix , Valde Systems, Vision Components and Weber Robotics.

RoboBusiness Association Sponsors include Boston Entrepreneurs' Network, the Global Emerging Technology Institute, Mass Software Council, New England Business and Technology Association, The Object Management Group and The Technology Collaborative.

RoboBusiness Media Sponsors include Premier Media Sponsor Popular Science, as well as ABI Research, Circuit Cellar, Computer Power User, Digital World, eDrive, Entertainment Engineering, Industrial Robot, Industrial Utility Vehicle, ITToolbox, Network World, Nuts & Volts, PC World, RoboFolio, Robotbooks.com, Robotics World, Robotics Trends, Sensors Magazine, Servo Magazine, Technology Review and Vision Systems Design. A complete list of all corporate, media and association sponsors can be found at http://www.roboevent.com/sponsors.htm.

About John Deere

John Deere (Deere & Company-NYSE:DE) is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment; a major manufacturer of construction equipment; and a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care. Additionally, John Deere manufactures engines used in heavy equipment and provides financial services and other related activities that support the core businesses. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has established a heritage of quality products and services providing performance that endures to customers worldwide.

About Robotics Trends

Robotics Trends is the world's first integrated media firm serving the burgeoning personal, service and mobile robotics marketplace. Robotics Trends serves their clientele through three major business divisions:

- Publishing, which produces www.roboticstrends.com, an online magazine generating over 450,000 page views monthly;

- Events, which produces RoboBusiness and the RoboNexus Conference and Exposition; and

- Analyst Services, which serves the strategic consulting needs of leading emerging robotics manufacturers.

About IDG World Expo

IDG World Expo (www.idgworldexpo.com) produces technology-focused tradeshows, conferences and events for professionals seeking world-class education, peer-to-peer networking and one-stop comparison shopping. As the leading technology event management company, IDG World Expo leverages its experience and knowledge of technology-focused events and conferences, enabling technology companies to capture the attention and loyalty of influential buyers. IDG World Expo's portfolio of conferences and events includes Macworld Conference & Expo(R), LinuxWorld Conference & Expo(R), Bio--IT World Conference + Expo(TM), Wireless Sensing Solutions(TM), Syndicate(TM), RoboBusiness and RoboNexus. IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company.

About IDG

International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media, research, and event company. A privately-held company, IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers including Bio-IT World, CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Network World, and PC World. The company features the largest network of technology-specific Web sites with more than 400 around the world. IDG is also a leading producer of more than 170 computer-related events worldwide including LinuxWorld Conference & Expo(R), Macworld Conference & Expo(R), DEMO(R), and IDC Directions. IDC provides global market research and advice through offices in 50 countries. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.

For RoboBusiness sponsorship information, please contact Howard Weinman at [e-mail] or 508-351-6606 x103. Subscribe to Robotics Trends Insights, the free bi-weekly newsletter from the producers of Robotics Trends! Log on at www.roboticstrends.com/pnTresMailer+main.html to sign up for your free subscription.