Autonomous driving platform developer Phantom AI has raised $22 million in Series A financing, bringing its total capital raised to date to $27 million.
With a goal of democratizing the use of driver assistance and safety technologies to reduce crashes, save lives and make driving more enjoyable, Phantom AI, which was founded in 2016 by lead engineers from Tesla’s and Hyundai’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) teams, will use this latest round of funding to accelerate product development while scaling operations in Europe and Asia.
The company is working with several automakers, a truck OEM and multiple European and Asian tier 1 suppliers.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
Skyfire Consulting acquires majority stake in Maine-based drone company
Public safety UAS consulting group Skyfire Consulting has acquired a majority stake in a Maine-based drone design and manufacturing house called Viking UAS.
Viking UAS focuses on high-end unmanned systems for US Military research, but the company has begun working on developing several purpose-built systems for clients in sectors such as public safety and infrastructure.
African Drone and Data Academy graduates first students
The African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) has graduated its first students in March at a ceremony in Malawi, enabling them to build and operate drones and analyze the data from them.
The students are now licensed drone pilots by the government of Malawi, are certified AUVSI Trusted Operator Program Level 2 pilots, and have the skills needed to enter the drone and data analytics workforce, according to ADDA.
"This is just the commencement of great things from us," graduate Anne Nderitu, a student from Kenya, said at the graduation. "We have received world-class knowledge in the drone technology, and it is upon to use it to use this knowledge to lead an create a better Africa."
Seegrid closes $25 million growth equity investment
A company that develops self-driving industrial vehicles for material handling called Seegrid has closed a $25 million growth equity investment from venture capital firm G2VP.
According to Seegrid, the investment, which reflects a multi-hundred million dollar valuation, will help the company further capitalize on its position as a market leader in the automated guided vehicle (AGV) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) industry.
Milrem Robotics to deliver two UGVs to UK's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory
Milrem Robotics has announced that it will deliver two UGVs to the United Kingdom’s Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
With a goal of maximizing the impact of science and technology for the defense and security of the UK, DSTL is acquiring the UGVs to explore the capabilities and limitations of this technology in a variety of areas such as mobility, vulnerabilities and safety.
“The United Kingdom has a clear view on the importance of robotics on the battlefield and its impact on defense capabilities,” says Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
Huntington Ingalls Industries closes acquisition of Hydroid Inc.
On Thursday, March 26, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that it had closed its acquisition of Hydroid Inc. HII says that the acquisition expands its capabilities in the “strategically important and rapidly growing” autonomous and unmanned maritime systems market.
Hydroid will become part of HII’s Technical Solutions Unmanned Systems business unit, which now includes UUVs such as the Orca extra-large UUV. The addition of Hydroid expands HII’s capabilities in the medium and small UUV space, with the inclusion of vehicles such as the REMUS and Seaglider AUVs, as well as marine robots.
From Unmanned Systems magazine: From hobby to business: Creating a business map for new drone companies
The drone market of today is well over 40-years old, and yet it still feels a little like the wild, wild west in 2020. Why? What is collectively missing? What will get the drone market to the next level?
The answer: Stop acting like a bunch of technicians in love with products and start acting like business owners in love with customers. How do we correct this misguidance? By creating a business map; one for our business; and one for our overarching drone market with the help of AUVSI.
Mapping the business
Diligent Robotics announces $10 million series A investment
Artificial intelligence company Diligent Robotics has announced that it has raised a $10 million series A investment.
Known for its hospital robot assistant called Moxi, Diligent Robotics launched in 2017 and since its launch, it has worked alongside hundreds of nurses to understand their work, and ultimately help them redesign workflows to incorporate Moxi.
“Seeing the passion and humanity that nurses bring to their job has become the most inspiring part of our work. Every member of our team feels proud that we get to build something that makes a difference for nurses, because they are just amazing people,” Diligent Robotics says.
Draganfly to distribute AeroVironment's Quantix Mapper UAS to commercial markets globally
Draganfly will distribute AeroVironment’s Quantix Mapper drones to commercial markets across the world after the two companies announced a teaming agreement on Tuesday, March 17.
Described as a “simple to use” drone that empowers users through its fully-automated operation and instant insight, Quantix Mapper features a hybrid design that allows the aircraft to launch vertically and transition to horizontal flight, which maximizes aerodynamic efficiency and range.
High resolution imagery can be viewed immediately by users on the included Operating Tablet without the need for other devices, internet or additional software. Users can quickly and safely generate up-to-date maps for infield assessment with just the touch of a button.
AFIMSC innovation project utilizing UAS and machine learning receives SBIR award from Air Force
On Thursday, March 12, an Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) innovation project received a $3 million Small Business Innovation Research program award from the Air Force.
Through the project, drones and machine learning are used to revolutionize how the Air Force Civil Engineer Center collects data for its environmental mission. The drone project was one of the first innovation initiatives that the innovation office pursued after it was established in Nov. 2018.
