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Day: April 16, 2021

Robotics and Automation Update: 2021 Is the Year of Convenience

Posted on by Staff Writer

Robotics and automation are the way of the future for commercial enterprises. Based on recent data, more than half of all companies are already investing heavily in these areas. These investments range from robotic-assisted health procedures to automated warehouse management. Businesses are pursuing these types of activities not only because their “cool.” Instead, they seem things like robotics and autonomous transportation as being essential for future success. Those who lag behind will struggle to catch up, especially as consumers begin to expect the conveniences these advances offer. (Read more about how the drive for convenience pushes innovation in this Bold story.)

Understanding this, it’s worth checking in to see which companies are pursuing these innovative technologies today. Several new startups are introducing new robotics and automated solutions in a variety of industries. Many are forming major partnerships that will pave the way for ongoing adoption in the years to come. This is particularly true for autonomous transportation solutions, which are expected to grow substantially in the next 5 years. The following highlight some of these more intriguing developments currently that will likely usher in a new era of automation.

“There is still so much for our brand to learn about the autonomous delivery space. This program will allow us to better understand how customers respond to the deliveries, how they interact with the robot and how it affects store operations.” – Dennis Maloney, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, Domino’s Pizza

ATM Pizza Delivery?

With the pandemic, delivery services have skyrocketed as consumers enjoyed the safety and convenience of at-home service. This notably pertained to food delivery services, and Domino’s Pizza has been one company that benefitted from consumer preferences. However, Domino’s was already investing in autonomous transportation and driverless delivery systems before the pandemic. In fact, it partnered with autonomic driving vehicle startup Nuro in 2019 for this purpose specifically. Now, Nuro and Domino’s have announced the launch of their electric, self-driving, occupant-less delivery vehicles in select Houston areas.

Nuro’s robotics project, called the R2 robot, uses radar, 360-degree cameras and thermal sensors to navigate autonomously. As a result, Nuro has become the first autonomous transportation company approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Nuro is also partnering with other companies as well. This includes Kroger in Houston and Phoenix as well as Walmart and CVS in California. And it recently received an additional $500 million in Series C funding with Chipotle being a notable contributor. The current Domino’s robotics car will provide pizza-lovers GPS tracking of its location. Likewise, customers will receive a PIN after payment to access their pie from the vehicle’s touchscreen…just like an ATM.

“The Hominis system represents a significant advancement in the growing multi-billion-dollar robotic surgery market. This financing positions us to accelerate our commercialization efforts and bring Hominis to both surgeons and patients in the months ahead.” – Dvir Cohen, Co-founder and CEO of Memic

Robotics in Surgery

Another hot area of robotics has been healthcare as of late. In particular, several startups have introduced automated products that assist surgeons with specific procedures. For example, Asensus Surgical offers robotic automation for general laparoscopic procedures. For Sight, another company, does the same for some eye-related surgical interventions. Unlike autonomous transportation, however, these devices are still controlled by surgeons through a central console. However, these types of robotics offer greater precision in many cases and reduced surgery time in many instances. All of this results not only in better patient results but also a reduced number of potential complications.

A robot putting a computer chip somewhere
Robotics innovations continue into 2021, with more automated hands performing tasks than ever before.

Most recently, another startup company received FDA approval as the first transvaginal robotics device. Memic, who introduced its Hominis platform, was granted approval for benign transvaginal procedures like hysterectomies. In essence, this allows Memic to marketing these devices to surgeons and patients alike with interests in these areas. It also resulted in the company receiving an additional $96 million in Series D funding. While these types of surgical robotics may never be fully independent like autonomous transportation, they have noted advantages. Thus, patients can expect these types of offerings will only increase over the next many years.

“[A partnership with Cruise] is a major step towards realizing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy aimed at converting 25% of total trips in Dubai into self-driving transport trips across different modes of transport by 2030.” – Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed

Scaling the Robo-Taxi

Many cities throughout the world have been experimenting with autonomous transportation in the form of robot-taxies. These are a form of robotics that could completely revamp transit services as we know them. Not only are most electric in nature, but they also could reduce human error and traffic congestion. Understanding this, Dubai has been aggressive in its efforts to embrace autonomous transportation. As part of its 2030 initiatives, the city hopes that a quarter of all passenger trips will be served by automated travel. This has led them to partner with Cruise, made by General Motors to achieve these bold plans.

The electric robotics shuttles that GM will provide for Dubai will be called Cruise Origin. These autonomous transportation vehicles have no steering wheel or pedals yet are able to travel at highway speeds. While a limited number will be available in 2023, GM and Dubai plan to have over 4,000 in operation by 2030. This will aid Dubai in achieving its transit goals for the city. Plus, GM gets a pretty sweet deal as well. They have been awarded the exclusive autonomous transportation provide for robo-taxi services in the city through 2029.

Consumer Adoption of Robotics and Automation

If one thing is certain, the pandemic served as a catalyst for many industries. E-commerce, delivery services, telehealth, and others were better received out of a state of necessity. But in the process, users became more comfortable with a variety of technologies. And these changes will enable robotics, autonomous transportation, and other automated processes to be endorsed. In the decade to come, these types of innovations will become increasingly the norm. And for many businesses, it will be important to explore opportunities where automation may enhance their services. Such shifts are already present in 2021, and many more will likely come in the very near future.

 

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The Future of the Space Economy – A 2021 Update

Posted on by Staff Writer

Despite the pandemic, the past year has been a busy one for NASA and the space program. The Perseverance Rover landed on Mars and will be conducted a variety of tests. SpaceX successfully completed a crewed mission to the International Space Station. And coming later this summer, NASA will launch its Double Asteroid Redirection Test, designed to redirect incoming asteroids. These achievements demonstrate that COVID did little overall to slow down the momentum of new space developments. If anything, they seem to be ramping up.

These new space developments also align well with NASA’s ongoing investments into innovations. Its small business innovation research program, or SBIR, awards over $3 billion annually to small businesses with grand ideas. These grants help fuel advances that might not otherwise occur. In addition, the recipients provide good insights about where the future of the “Space Economy” might be heading. Based on this year’s awards, it certainly appears that NASA’s agenda is a rather broad one. (Dig deeper into the concept of the Space Economy in this Bold story.)

“NASA SBIR/STTR interfaces with entrepreneurs pushing the boundaries of innovation. We’re proud to partner with a diverse group of innovators and expand the reach of NASA across the country.” – Jason L. Kessler, Program Executive of NASA’s SBIR Program

Space Services, Assembly, and Manufacturing (SAM)

A notable area where advances will be made with the future of the space economy involves space SAM. Several companies are engaged in these areas of innovation and account for a number of new space developments. For example, Elementum 3D hopes to leverage new additive manufacturing techniques to scale in-space manufacturing of propulsion systems. Others are exploring the use of ultrasonic additive manufacturing involving 3D printing and welding. And Martian Sky Technologies plans to introduce a system designed to remove space clutter from low Earth orbits. This latter service will be particularly important as more satellites are introduced to support the Internet-of-Things. These new space developments highlight how NASA wants to move on-Earth services and manufacturing into space to reduce cargo loads. In doing so, they open the door for transport of other materials and potentially passengers.

Propulsion and Energy Systems

Naturally, NASA would be interested in new space developments related to propulsion and energy systems. The more efficient and effective such systems are, the greater the opportunities for the future of the space economy. In this regard, some SBIR grants are supporting advances in electric propulsion systems. While these are difficult to make to scale on-Earth and transport, in-space production may be feasible. Specifically, Hall Effect thrusters created in space could offer much greater efficiency and power with larger size. Other new space developments in this area have to do with stored energy and battery innovations. For example, Talos Tech and the University of Delaware are exploring atmospheric carbon dioxide as a battery reactant. If successful, these batteries could better tolerate extreme heats and allow broader space exploration.

“The future of space is beyond an exclusive focus on technology and science, and the sector will play in important role in boosting economic growth and accelerating sustainable development.” – Yves Pitsch, Principal Program Manager, Azure Networking

Someone flaunting their NASA phone case
When it comes to the future of the Space Economy, you just know that NASA and rocket propulsion are like peanut butter and jelly.

Space Construction and Robotics

While new space developments in services and manufacturing will be important, so will space construction. The future of the space economy will require many items to be created in place rather than being shuttled from Earth. One such item involves a space launch pad, which NASA hopes to have on the moon. Several companies, such as Exploration Architecture, are pursuing construction systems designed to create bricks for this purpose. Using lunar dust as a resource, this company hopes to make moon bricks, known as regolith bricks. The process requires melting the lunar dust and then baking it into form. The future of the space economy will also demand robotics in a variety of areas. On-Earth advances in robotics are moving at a rapid pace already, but so are those in space as well. (Read more about the advances in robotics 2020 brought in this Bold story.) These range from companies like Astrobotic advance lidar for space vehicles to TRAC Labs actual space robots themselves. These are probably the least surprising new space developments that NASA has planned.

Other New Space Developments

One thing is for certain…the future of the space economy is diverse in its scope. In addition to construction, SAM, and energy systems, many other areas must be developed in space. One notable area of interest involves agriculture in space. Being able to produce foodstuffs in space eliminates cargo while also inviting new production opportunities. Once company interested in this is Bloomfield Robotics, which plans to advance its Controlled Environment Agriculture. Experimenting with microgravity environments, the company is combining deep learning systems with multispectral plant imaging. Ultimately, they hope to scale agricultural production as part of the new space developments. The future of the space economy is also constantly exploring new ways to make things smaller and lighter. Believe it or not, this even applies to radio devices and signals. Intellisense is one company looking to use neuromorphic computing to simplify and shrink radio stacks in this regard.

“Most industry experts and commentators feel that with new services introduced by satellites and innovative applications, a huge market will open up in both the government and business sectors.” – Devleena Bhattacharji, CEO of Numer8, an Indian startup specializing in satellite- based maritime services

The Race for Space

Given the amount of grant dollars awarded to these up-and-coming businesses, it’s clear NASA is investing in innovation. The future of the space economy looks to be alive and well as a result. New space developments are occurring at a rapid pace involving numerous areas. Likewise, NASA’s investments demonstrate its renewed interests in private-public partnerships to create strategic advantages. With these investments, the U.S. can play a major role in ushering in the future of the space economy. And through business innovations, this future has the potential to look quite bright.

 

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Trends in Plant-Based Meat – The State of Meat Alternatives in 2021

Posted on by Staff Writer

Last year saw several industries excel as a result of the pandemic. Food delivery services, online retail and e-commerce, as well as gaming and videoconferencing all saw huge increases. But you might not have expected the plant-based meat industry to boom as well. Believe it or not, meat alternatives are on the rise, and consumers are increasingly opting to give them a try. Health advantages as well as environmental ones have convinced many that plant-based meat might be a good idea. This has not only led to more available options in the supermarket but more startups in the industry as well.

For these new companies producing various meat alternatives, they anticipate continued growth for the industry. Plant-based milk products have seen a dramatic rise in the past decade that plant-based meat producers want to mirror. Roughly 40 percent of all households have some type of plant-based milk product in their refrigerator. Of course, plant-based meat products are no where near this degree of popularity. But with a 42 percent year-on-year increase in sales for 2020, they’re hopeful. And this hope has been enough to encourage more companies to enter into the market.

“Twenty-twenty was a breakout year for plant-based foods across the (retail) store. The incredible growth we saw in plant-based foods overall, particularly plant-based meat, surpassed our expectations and is a clear sign of where consumer appetites are heading.” – Kyle Gaan, Research Analyst, Good Food Institute

Good for You, and Good for the Planet

The initial appeal of meat alternatives is naturally the benefits to one’s health that these options offer. (Go in-depth on the world of meat alternatives with this Bold Business story.) Though plant-based meat products may use a variety of ingredients, all use non-meat proteins. As a result, they have low or no cholesterol and provide plant-related vitamins and minerals. Wheat, soy, peas, and beans are common sources of replacement protein, which is naturally attractive to vegans and vegetarians alike. But with real meat-like taste, many others are trying these new foods as well for health reasons. This is one major reason why sales in 2020 for meat alternatives was over $1.4 billion.

While dietary health is one selling point, the other major one involves the positive environmental effects of plant-based meat. Animal-based meat production accounts for large quantities of carbon emissions. These products also place additional strains on ever-decreasing animal food resources. In essence, these practices are far from sustainable long-term and have detrimental effects on climate change. For consumers and plant-based meat companies alike, reducing carbon footprints through dietary choices is attractive. This too explains why these items are increasing in popularity.

“The plant-based category has evolved to the point that retailers can’t limit who they consider the plant-based shopper. They should now assume everyone is a potential plant-based buyer and educate them enough to see the possibilities.” – Dawn Vanlandingham, Head of Retail for SPINS

A Beyond Meat burger, which is likely gross
Plant-based meat and meat alternatives continue to carve out a larger market share.

Rising Stars of the Plant-Based Meat Industry

Given that plant-based meat products have been around a few years now, there are some veteran businesses in the industry. These include companies like Beyond Meat, Eat Just, and Impossible Foods. Likewise, Green Monday, which now provides plant-based foods for McDonalds in China, is nine years old. But amidst these veterans, several new startups are emerging that also have promise. And in an industry that is just getting its footing, there’s plenty of room for new ideas.

  • Redefine Meat – This is a unique company in the plant-based meat sector. It has introduced a new platform that uses 3D printing and meat digital modeling to create meat alternatives. The result are foods that mimic muscle meats in look, texture, and taste despite being free of animal proteins.
  • Aleph Farms – This startup was cofounded by Professor Shulamit Levenberg of the Technion Institute of Technology, Israel. Beginning with cells of cows themselves, Aleph Farms has introduced a process of growing real beef steaks without slaughtering animals or harming the climate. The offerings might not be truly meatless, but they will appeal to those who favor animal rights and environmental protections. (Read more about the animal rights movement and business in this Bold story.)
  • Novameat – This interesting company is essentially the first one to create plant-based meat through bioprinting techniques. Their process is able to use a wide range of ingredients to make various meat alternatives. As a result, they are able to imitate the same texture and flavor of many meats and seafoods.
  • Hey Maet – Based on China, Hey Maet uses peas, soy and rice to create plant-based meat products. This startup has recently received notable investments that will allow it to ramp up its R&D and production in the coming year. It plans to have its array of meat alternatives in hundreds of restaurants throughout China within the next 12 months.
  • Haofood – This China-based startup has made a name for itself by being the first to use peanut protein in their meat alternatives. Peanut protein has strong, elastic properties that produce a truly realistic plant-based chicken product. Given the popularity of chicken products in general, Haofood is enjoying a notable increase in their revenues.
  • Vesta Food Lab – Vesta Food Labs, also based in China, was founded in 2019 and backed by significant venture capital from the start. In addition to several experienced entrepreneurs, leadership at Vesta also includes chemists, engineering food scientists, and a 3-star chef. In essence, Vesta is taking a scientific laboratory approach to meat alternatives and plant-based meat products.

“I believe, in five years, China will see a raft of domestic plant-based protein companies that could be on par with industry leaders from Europe and North America.” – Xie Zihan, Founder of Vesta Food Labs

Plenty of Room to Grow

While the percentage of consumers embracing meat alternatives is growing, it’s still less than 3% of all retail packaged meats. But analysts expect this to change in the coming decade with revenues anticipated to grow 100-fold by 2030 for plant-based meats. This growth will occur in many areas, but China is likely to see the largest growth changes. Already, nearly 40 percent of China’s population is trying to reduce meat consumption. Also, two-thirds are willing to try meat alternatives. Given the number of businesses creating high-quality plant-based products, it’s safe to assume foods will continue to advance. Without question, that’s what many of these new startups are banking on.

 

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