Foodtech Is Big in Japan
Airwayz scores BVLOS win, Oxipital AI update, X-ble Shoulder
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Foodtech’s Big in Japan
While foodtech funding may still be wobbly worldwide, Japan is emerging as a hot spot for the sector. Since the beginning of the year, fundraising has jumped 58% YoY to $280 million, across 93 deals. Another 53 investments have occurred with an unknown funding amount, meaning true investment in the sector is even larger. Notable startups with recent funding rounds includes restaurant robotics player TechMagic and office-food-vending machine purveyor Kompeito.
Propeller Drones & Airwayz Push BVLOS Drone Operations in Israel
Consumer drone operations took a big step forward in Israel, as Airwayz, which specializes in large-scale low-altitude unmanned air traffic management (UTM) for drones, has been chosen by Propeller Drones to execute its $7 million Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) contract to conduct autonomous operations, including inspection of electrical infrastructure. This milestone allows drones to operate on routes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), marking a significant step forward in large-scale autonomous drone operations.
Oxipital Releases VX2 Vision System
Oxipital AI, fka Soft Robotics, has released the VX2 Vision System, aimed at improving inspection and high-speed picking across the food manufacturing, agriculture and assembly sectors. The new system is faster and more affordable than Oxipital’s previous generation; the company works with industry giants like Tyson Foods and Johnsonville.
Hyundai & Kia Unveil X-ble Shoulder
Here’s one for the futurists… Korean automotive giants Hyundai and Kia have unveiled the “X-ble Shoulder,” a wearable robot designed to boost industrial manufacturing efficiency while reducing worker injuries. The X-ble Shoulder enhances upper arm strength to assist with overhead work, while reducing shoulder load by 60% and muscle activity by 30%. The companies’ robotics lab says commercial deliveries are expected in H2 2025.
In Other News
European robotics startups to watch. At AWS re:invent, NVIDA announces AWS integration for robotics simulation. TuSimple co-founder Xiaodi Hou wants company liquidated.