DroneUp Receives BVLOS Certification
Locus Robotics cuts, farm ng raises, Giant Eagle opens automated MFC
As we kick off another exciting week for the restaurant tech industry, we’ve got some big news from DroneUp, farm ng, Locus Robotics, Giant Eagle and more.
Meet Curbivore’s 2024 Launch Partners
Our conference, Curbivore, is returning to Downtown LA on March 28 & 29! As we ramp up for the festivities, we’re pleased to share our 2024 Launch Partners. Once again we’re bringing together the best and brightest minds in the worlds of delivery, automation, robotics, mobility, policy and more. OttOmate Pro members get complimentary admission; everyone else should score an Early Bird ticket for just $175, while supplies last!
DroneUp Receives BVLOS Certification
Autonomous drone delivery and logistics company DroneUp has received landmark approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone deliveries. This approval, announced on January 18, 2024, enables DroneUp to commence BVLOS operations immediately at Riverside Health System facilities and sets the stage for a broader rollout at additional locations nationwide. This significant development allows DroneUp to operate drones beyond the direct visual line of sight of the remote pilot throughout the entire flight, without the need for participating visual observers to maintain sight of the drones.
Robo Farmer farm ng Raises $10M
California-based startup farm ng has successfully completed its Series A funding round, raising over $10 million to further develop the Amiga robot for agriculture. The Amiga robot, designed to be affordable and adaptable, aims to assist small to midsize farms in becoming more productive, profitable, and sustainable. The robot is built for various environments, tasks, and crops, with open and extensible software allowing for easy integration and customization through developers and partners. This funding will help farm-ng address significant labor challenges in the agriculture industry, where $90 billion is spent annually on manual farm tasks in the U.S. alone. The Amiga robot promises to reduce manual labor, maintenance, and fuel costs, contributing to more productive and resilient farming operations. The robot has already been deployed on farms for tasks like seeding, precision spraying, pest management, and data collection. The Series A round was led by Acre Venture Partners, with participation from Xplorer Capital, HawkTower, and other investors. The global market for agricultural robotics is expected to expand significantly in the coming years, reflecting growing interest in robotics applications across various farming activities.
Locus Robotics Cuts Staff
Locus Robotics Corp., a leading provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for warehouse efficiency, confirmed a "small, targeted" reduction in force, adjusting to market conditions and aligning with post-pandemic realities. CEO Rick Faulk acknowledged the need for adjustments in sales and marketing to match market demands. Despite this, the company continues to grow in the AMR market, with significant accomplishments like deploying 5,000 additional AMRs with DHL Supply Chain and breaking ground on new headquarters. Locus Robotics, with a strong balance sheet and investor base, maintains a positive outlook for the future, citing favorable long-term trends like labor shortages, e-commerce growth, and demand for faster deliveries, which align with their economic models and technological advancements. The company, founded in 2014, serves various industries and offers a robotics-as-a-service model, and despite recent layoffs, remains optimistic about the industry's future and its role in it.
Grocer Giant Eagle Opening Automated MFC
Pittsburgh-area grocer Giant Eagle is getting into the automation game. The chain, with about 500 stores, is opening an automated micro-fulfillment center (MFC) at 1775 South Braddock Avenue. According to company info, it will make use of a tote-based system to move inventory. The company has made previous investments into the automation space, like the installation of Grabango frictionless checkout systems at its GetGo Cafe+Market c-store concept.
In Other News
Nimbus Kitchens’ CEO Camilla Opperman shares sustainable growth plan for shared kitchen space. Wing unveils jumbo sized delivery drone. Tour Haribo’s new American gummy plant. MIT study finds humans usually cheaper to use than AI. (Usually…) Dueling standards hamper eVTOL industry’s take off. TuSimple delists from Nasdaq. Bridge Appliances releases Omm.