WiBotic, the provider of advanced wireless charging and power optimization platforms for aerial, mobile and marine robots, has secured $5.7 million in Series A funding.
According to WiBotic CEO Ben Waters, the funding will be used to accelerate the company’s growth, expand its sales team, advance hardware and software engineering, and fulfill increased customer demand.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
Dive Technologies announces partnership to support development and testing of its AUV
Boston-based subsea robotics designer and manufacturer Dive Technologies Inc. has announced a formal partnership with the Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics at Virginia Tech.
The multi-year partnership will directly support the rapid development and testing of Dive Technologies’ large, novel AUV. Sea testing of the commercial product is scheduled for this summer.
“Leveraging the expertise of the Virginia Tech team has really pushed our AUV design forward in a uniquely innovative way and has created immense efficiency in our development schedule,” says Bill Lebo, co-founder and CTO of Dive Technologies.
ThayerMahan to use new financing to accelerate growth, expand operations and R&D
Maritime technology company ThayerMahan Inc. has closed on $10 million of new financing from AE Industrial Partners Structured Solutions I, LP (AEI Structured Solutions), which is an affiliate of private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, LP (AEI).
ThayerMahan will use the capital to accelerate growth through acquisitions and expand operations and research and development.
“AEI is the right partner for ThayerMahan at this stage in our development.” says Mike Connor, ThayerMahan's co-founder and CEO, and retired Vice Admiral of the US Navy.
FLIR Systems wins contract from U.S. Army to deliver its FLIR Black Hornet 3 PRS
FLIR Systems Inc. has won an additional $20.6 million contract from the U.S. Army to deliver its FLIR Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS).
As part of the Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program, FLIR's advanced nano-UAS will support platoon- and small unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
“Black Hornet has proven to be a game-changing technology – a small package that can deliver a big edge on the battlefield,” says VP and General Manager of the Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions business line at FLIR, Roger Wells.
EasyMile, Velodyne Lidar announce three-year agreement to enhance autonomous shuttles
EasyMile and Velodyne Lidar Inc. announced a three-year agreement on Tuesday, April 28.
EasyMile equips its EZ10 autonomous passenger shuttles with Velodyne lidar sensors, which are optimized for outstanding indoor and outdoor performance, allowing for operations in various light conditions. The sensors can accurately detect a variety of objects thanks to a combination of high-resolution 3D perception with a broad vertical field of view.
For safe and efficient navigation on roadways, EasyMile will enhance its EZ10 shuttle fleet with Velodyne’s sensors.
Workhorse Group expands patented portfolio for HorseFly UAS and key components
Through a recently filed provisional application, Workhorse Group Inc. has expanded its patent portfolio, which further protects its HorseFly UAS, as well as several of the system's key components and capabilities including the ground control station, winch deliveries and aircraft structure.
Built to operate autonomously with a high degree of precision, the HorseFly UAS includes a safe, reliable, multi-use aircraft that can deliver parcels and carry sensors and cameras.
DroneUp acquires AeroVista Innovations to provide full-service drone training to private and public sector organizations
To provide private and public sector organizations with full-service drone training, DroneUp has acquired AeroVista Innovations LLC (AVI).
DroneUp’s acquisition includes AVI’s assets, employees, and customer contracts. It will also transition merged business operations into the DroneUp brand as The DroneUp Training Academy.
“DroneUp is looking forward to the expansion through this acquisition. Bringing AVI into DroneUp allows us to extend our capabilities to create valuable solutions for our customers. We have an exceptional network of pilots and an experienced team of leaders,” says Tom Walker, founder & CEO of DroneUp.
Autonomous driving platform developer Phantom AI raises $22 million
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.
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."
