Locus Lock has developed software-defined radio to overcome GPS spoofing for more secure autonomous navigation.
Will autotech ventures race east in 2024?
Autotech including sensors and data for training self-driving vehicles will be important in 2024 after the past year’s setbacks.
New York Drones & Robotics AI Summit heralds growing automation industry
Speakers at the Drones & Robotics AI Summit in New York discussed state and federal support of tech startups, as well as opportunities
2 Israeli robotics startup on the impact of war
Despite the challenges of the Hamas terrorist attacks, Israeli startup industry founders have shown resilience, doubling down efforts to increase sales and overseas staffing.
Brain-computer interface startups augmenting human body
The brain-computer interface market is all-encompassing, but a major promise is connecting robotic parts to compensate for human frailties.
Now Cuisine takes on ghost kitchens and drone deliveries
Automation has moved from smart manufacturing and logistics to fry cooking and salad tossing.
Inside the SPAC craze and its potential impact on robotics
A SPAC offers startups quicker access to capital and greater liquidity, which can help drive innovation in advance of greater adoption.
Inside Israel’s growing construction robotics ecosystem
One of the biggest industries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is construction. According to reports, almost a quarter of the world’s cranes are deployed on jobs scattered throughout Dubai. The desert metropolis is home to the world’s tallest buildings, including the 160-story Burj Khalifa. The majority of construction workers in the Middle Eastern capital…
Inside Oklahoma’s burgeoning drone ecosystem
For too long, I have flown over the middle of the United States ignoring the creativity of my fellow citizens below. COVID-19 changed everything, grounding planes and forcing me to drive on a cross-country adventure. To my surprise, the I-35 corridor that stretches from Dallas through Oklahoma City is one of the busiest centers for…
Mushroom harvesting robots a step toward revolutionizing the global food system
After reflecting on his travels across the U.S. and the problem of food insecurity, columnist Oliver Mitchell talks to a roboticist automating mushroom harvesting, demonstrating robotics’ potential in agriculture.
Companion robots needed during COVID-19 crisis more than ever
The great lyric poet Billy Idol once sung, “Eyes without a face, got no human grace, you’re eyes without a face.” This profound statement has been ringing loudly during this period of social distancing and masked encounters. As I professed on several webinars to understand the mechanics of reopening with robots, I have been challenged…
Using machines for COVID-19 contact tracing raises privacy concerns
As roboticists join the fight to flatten the COVID-19 curve with contact tracing, privacy advocates caution against following these invasive examples.
COVID-19 spurs innovations such as Blue Ocean’s UVD Robots
Blue Ocean Robotics’ UVD unit has been providing mobile disinfection robots both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke with its CEO about the global response and post-virus aftermath.
Startup profile: Cambrian Intelligence making cobots easier to use
Editor’s Note: Oliver Mitchell is a Venture Partner at ff Venture Capital. Cambrian Intelligence is a portfolio company of ff Venture Capital. Computer vision is a defining element of intelligent machines transforming mechanical movements into dynamic workflow. Realizing the importance of artificial intelligence for Industry 4.0, my investment firm, ff Venture Capital, partnered with NYU’s…
Augean Robotics: mechanizing food production from farm to table
Editor’s Note: Oliver Mitchell is a Venture Partner at ff Venture Capital. Augean Robotics is a portfolio company of ff Venture Capital. It spanned over 120 feet and took up a considerable area inside the already overpacked robotics section of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It left many wondering, “What on earth is a tractor…
Flying robo-taxis face steep climb to public acceptance
Last month, the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and seven others shocked the world. As families across the world paused to reflect on their own mortality, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) diligently dug through the rubble in search of clues. While the media awaits for the official NTSB report, what is…
Tactile Telerobot brings human-like dexterity to robots
I met Jeremy Fishel, founder of Tangible Research, at CES 2020. Tangible Research is one of three institutions involved in developing a haptic-controlled, humanoid gripping system called the Tactile Telerobot. Interviewing him in his packed booth on the floor of Eureka Park, he introduced me to his colleagues from the Shadow Robot Company, SynTouch and HaptX.…
Woven City: Toyota’s ‘living laboratory’ for autonomous cars & robots
Just like its host city of Las Vegas, there is a lot of noise at CES. Sifting through the lights, sounds and people can be an arduous task even for the most experienced attendees. Hidden past the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is a walkway to a tech oasis housed in…
PropTech provides an open frontier for hardware entrepreneurs
PropTech, or the application of robots, drones, and related technologies to property management, is gaining traction with real estate managers and investors.
Privacy guidelines can help mechatronics innovators
Developers of robots, drones, and intelligent systems should welcome data privacy regulations, writes entrepreneur and columnist Oliver Mitchell, because they will help confidence and adoption.
5G report card: U.S. still has work to do
The elephant in the room loomed large at the inaugural Internet of Things Consortium (IoTC) Summit in New York City. Almost every presentation began apologetically with the refrain, “In a 5G world …” practically challenging the industry’s rollout goals. At one point Brigitte Daniel-Corbin, IoT Strategist with Wilco Electronic Systems, sensed the need to reassure…
DreamVu PAL sensor captures real-time 360-degree, 3D video
As an early-stage investor, I am inundated daily with pitches that overstate their sales by bragging about their list of pilot engagements. Astute managers know too well that turning proofs of concept into recurring revenue is a long, arduous road that requires significant capital and time. To guide founders through this process, I coach them…