Robot Planning & Action Archives - AiThority

High Information Navigation: The Next Frontier for Autonomous Delivery

Ritukar Vijay — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 16:57:04 +0000

The autonomous delivery market continues to make significant market gains, driven by dynamic, game-changing technologies. Make no mistake, companies and consumers are increasingly along for the ride. In fact, the global autonomous last mile delivery market value stands at $18.2 billion, with a growth runway that will take the industry to $61.8 billion in value by 2027. That’s a compounded annual growth rate growth rate of 27.7%, and a strong sign of last mile, autonomous delivery growth.

A New Era – and a New Tool – With High Information Autonomous Delivery Mapping

That growth is coming from all directions – all invested in the technology’s growth.

Take the navigational mapping side of the autonomous mobile robot industry, where autonomous robots have already come a long way since the days of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). But most of the delivery robot companies use continuous manual monitoring to help robots navigate on sidewalks and to find the customer’s front door with deliveries. The challenge being the nuances in environments where overall number of edge cases are high and only camera and GPS is not the solution.

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Now, a new generation of autonomous robots delivering navigation tools is rolling through the pipeline, by leveraging high information mapping technology. Such mapping is already in use in global airports, sidewalks and curbsides; where autonomous robots act as consumer “concierges” to deliver food, beverage and lifestyle products to travelers in an airport environment or deliver groceries to cars in a parking lot or doorstep deliveries for the customers.

Contextual navigation engine plays a significant role in autonomous delivery. With behavior-based contextual navigation, using localization via high information maps adds the missing piece “Context” , to enable robots to navigate in crowded and unstructured environments.

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Safety and security is at the forefront of high information mapping. With contextual navigation and active perception, robots are made situationally aware by fusing multi sensor data to understand the environment and take appropriate action while navigating to the destination.

While most of the delivery robotics companies are heavily reliant on teleoperation, our technology bets on full autonomy from day one. We use extremely efficient High Information maps which are a bliss for running autonomous navigation on edge hardware.

Here’s how the robot works by leveraging high information navigational mapping technology.

The robot fleet collectively collects critical fused information from multiple sensor sources and creates a map while filtering only information which gives context for localization. For eg: 3D LiDARs provide geometrical information and multiple camera sensors provide additional semantic information; but the High Information maps only stores a fusion of relevant information in the map – making it a thin layer but with huge landmark information.
This gives the robot to localize independent of the type of environment, like Indoor and Outdoor; and also needs very minimal information compared to HD Maps for autonomous localization.
Whenever there is an order to be delivered by the robot, the customers receive status updates on their phone and a unique QR code, with which they can retrieve items when the robot arrives at the drop location.
Through the pickup and delivery lifecycle the robot localizes using High Information Maps and the navigation is contextually aware.. All live locations serviced by the robots are updated in real time, even as they’re navigating the landscape to deliver orders to consumers.
The robot, using its contextual mobility navigation software, navigates the often crowded and unpredictable area to complete its concierge delivery task. Navigation sensors are embedded in the robot for situational awareness, allowing the robot to recognize and process its surroundings and assess any threats as it navigates through the crowd. The entire delivery experience is contactless and fully autonomous – a scenario no other U.S airport has ever experienced before.

High Information Mapping Leading the Way

A key ingredient in contextual navigation are the high information maps that drive autonomous robotic delivery technology, with the maps acting as inputs to the robot’s contextual navigation engine, it gives robots an effective guide to navigate around potential roadblocks and understand the raw landscape of the area.

By leveraging efficient camera and LiDAR fusion as a way to get high–information navigation maps, these bots can operate safely and efficiently in complicated, high density consumer environments like restaurants, retailers, college campuses, and airports. This adds the ability to identify, address and navigate around moving objects in a safe and efficient manner.

These high information maps achieve several autonomous delivery navigation objectives:

A thin layer of condensed information maps are highly useful for intelligent navigation.
The navigation process is optimized for edge hardware running the mapping and localization pipelines.
The robot is guided by real-time fusion of multi-modal sensors, specifically 3D LiDARs and RGB cameras.
The autonomous delivery navigation maps combine both metric and semantic distance.

How last-minute autonomous robot delivery works:

— The customer places an order

— The order is prepared and loaded in the robot

— An autonomous robot navigates to the customer, using high information mapping technology

— Notification is sent to the customer when the robot arrives to a designated location

— The customer scans a secure and personalized QR code

— The client system updated with the delivery status and returns robot back to its home station

The Takeaway on High Information Mapping and Contextualized Navigation Technology

There’s no doubt about, autonomous robot last mile delivery is an idea – even a revolution whose time has come.

With a global pandemic rolling in just as software technologies emerge that enable robotic-based consumer deliveries, contactless commerce is increasingly in demand among digitally savvy consumers.

That digital shift has also revolutionized the companies – especially retailers, hotels, airports, and restaurants – delivering products to customers. Increasingly, those businesses are intrigued with automated robots for last-mile deliveries that give a demanding public the no-contact delivery experience they want.

Now, with high information navigation mapping for autonomous robots, delivery technology companies have translated principles of vehicle autonomy to near-term practical use cases for consumer environments.

Contextual navigation engines and high information maps are a big part of that equation, giving consumers and their vendors access to a robust navigation suite that operates in live conditions for both indoor and outdoor navigation.

That, in turn, leads to safe, secure and efficient autonomous robotic deliveries – now and for the long haul.

[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]

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Cogniteam Raises $4.2 Million to Bring AI Drag-and-Drop Programming to Advanced Robotics

AIT News Desk — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:28:19 +0000

Cogniteam raised $4.2 million to bring its revolutionary AI-driven drag-n-drop software to the robot community. “This software allows for the development of advanced robotics at scale and in a fraction of the time”, said lead investor Andrew Owens, Founder & CEO of Seabarn Management

Cogniteam, an advanced robotics AI software development company, recently raised $4.2 million of private investment equity, led by Seabarn Management’s Founder & CEO, Andrew Owens. They were joined by an investment group from the UK-based Panthera private office.

Cogniteam has developed an AI, cloud-based robot programming and automation system, for the development, maintenance, control, and deployment of robots and fleets. This will enable the acceleration of the coming robotic revolution.

As robotic development companies program increasingly complex robotic applications, they typically begin with the open-source Robotic Operating System (ROS), before becoming bottlenecked by its limitations. The generic nature of open-source resources lacks the complex layers needed to tackle real-world robotic challenges.

Cogniteam is significantly cutting the development time and cost of new robotic applications, which currently stands at approximately six years, by delivering a single program that will take into account the full lifecycle of a robot’s development and operation. The Cogniteam cloud-based robotics operating system is based on technology proven in field-tested robots that Cogniteam has developed over the past 11 years.

The Cogniteam software will save businesses thousands of hours of programming and testing time. This comprehensive platform is open to companies and individuals who want to develop robots based on pre-built customizable software packages. Users benefit from launching projects based on ready-made software bundles, allowing even the largest enterprises to leapfrog common foundational programming challenges.

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As a robotics disruptor, Cogniteam’s software incorporates the use of spatial awareness tools, obstacle avoidance, and other advanced navigational features into modern robots. “Cogniteam’s leadership has over a decade of experience working on cutting edge robotics technologies,” said Andrew Owens, Founder & CEO of Seabarn Management. “Their operating system will allow software developers and mechanical engineers to work in tandem, reducing development time and changing the efficiency at which industries develop robots today.”

Cogniteam’s work has helped their partners such as Mitsubishi, Intel, ADLINK, AAEON, and others, reduce time-to-market for critical projects. Poised for growth, the team approached Owens for his global perspective in managing companies at all stages. “Mr. Owens and the Panthera private office have demonstrated a deep appreciation and recognition of the potential for the global robotics industry, viewing Cogniteam as the software enabler for today’s robotics revolution,” said Dr. Yehuda Elmaliah, CEO and Co-Founder of Cogniteam. “These funds will go towards finalizing the last parts of our technology and bringing our product to market.”

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[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com ]

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Softbank Robotics and Keenon Robotics Announce Strategic Global Partnership, Driving Productivity and Efficiency for the Service Industry

AIT News Desk — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 09:02:02 +0000

(1)Globally, the Delivery Robot Market Is Forecast to Grow at an Annual Growth Rate of 17.7% By 2027

SoftBank Robotics Group Corp (SBRG), a worldwide leader in robotics solutions, announced a global partnership with Keenon Robotics, the global leading AI company focusing on indoor intelligent service robots. This global launch is a follow-up from SoftBank World event announcement on 15^th Sept 2021 that SoftBank Robotics is collaborating with Keenon Robotics on a global strategic partnership.

SBRG and Keenon Robotics will work together to expand the use of robotics systems in the service industry that will allow better efficiency and productivity. The increased operational efficiency gained from service robots will allow businesses to allocate more time and resources for service crews to refocus on customer service.

Keenon Robotics has long been the market leader in China for providing intelligent autonomous delivery solutions with cutting edge technology in the commercial service robot industry. SBRG currently has offices globally.

As Asia Pacific Delivery Robot Market¹ is projected to have the largest hold, with a share of around 27.1% in the global delivery robot industry, SBRG has its eyes on the APAC market, starting with Singapore as its launchpad.

In line with Singapore’s vision and initiatives to become a Smart Nation, SBRG aims to launch a series of robots that will support the government’s initiative and accelerate the adoption of robotics technology in industries such as F&B, cleaning, hospitality, security, healthcare, logistics and more. Advances in robotics and technology will lead to job transformation over the next few years.

Global partnership with Keenon Robotics

As part of the global expansion, SBRG will be working with various stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to encourage the adoption of robotics in their respective fields. The growth in digitalisation, automation and robotics in the services sector with the use of AI will foster growth of the delivery robotics market.

Embracing robotics solutions in key markets

Keenbot by Keenon Robotics will be launched in key SBRG’s markets starting with Singapore and Japan followed by Europe, Middle East and the United States. The Keenbot solution is equipped with multi-point delivery modes and is able to deliver four dishes at o******* which is particularly suited for the service industry.

The robot has an intelligent scheduling system, obstacle avoidance, flexible structure and speed limit in smart zones as part of its workflow processes making it the right technology to use in tandem with human capabilities.

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With the current disruption from the pandemic-induced lockdowns, technological adoption in the form of robotics by businesses will transform tasks, jobs and skills. In addition, Singapore’s focus on being a Smart Nation and its mission to become a knowledge-based and innovative country encouraged SBRG to choose the nation as its international launchpad to announce the global partnership with Keenon Robotics. Local Food and Beverage operators are also seeing the rise of integrating robotics solutions in their operations.

“The service industry, particularly the F&B sector, has been facing a constant challenge of manpower shortage for a very long time now. Whereas we have been using robotic technology in our kitchens to increase our productivity, this will be the first time that we will deploy robotic solutions in our front-of-house operations. Most of our restaurants are full-service restaurants and at Tung Lok, we take service very seriously. We do not expect these robots to replace the human element in our service, but rather, we hope for these robots to further complement and enhance our service efficiency,” said Andrew Tjioe, President & CEO, Tung Lok Group.

“As a platform that serves the everyday needs of consumers, merchants and delivery-partners, we are continually seeking new ways to enhance their overall user experience, and experiment innovative solutions to address real life challenges. We are thrilled to partner with Keenon Robotics to introduce its AI-enabled service robots to GrabKitchen at Hillview, our cloud kitchen that houses more than 20 F&B brands. We look forward to improving the agility of our operations and reduce repetitive and manual processes with the help of the robots. The robots will also enable us to better protect our Grabbers’ wellbeing with the reduction of physical contact touch points,” said Yee Wee Tang, Managing Director, Grab Singapore.

Generating profitable opportunities through global partnerships

“At SoftBank Robotics, it is all about leveraging the technologies of tomorrow to create better solutions,” said SoftBank Robotics Corp., Kenichi Yoshida, Chief Business Officer. “The partnership with Keenon Robotics, the global leading AI company focusing on indoor intelligent service robots will allow us to deliver cutting edge solutions as an integrated system to increase capability and efficiency in the service industry as well as achieve greater savings.”

“We are proud to partner with SoftBank Robotics, the leader in the robotics solutions industry,” said Keenon Robotics, Tony Li, Chief Executive Officer. “As the cost of labour increases, technology becomes an affordable solution creating an increased appetite for automation alongside human tasks. The Keenbot is one such example of a solution that is meant for convenience and performs well when completing repetitive operational tasks that require precision.”

[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com ]

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HAI ROBOTICS Teams Up With Savoye To Boost Smart Warehousing

AIT News Desk — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 12:31:06 +0000

HAI ROBOTICS, a global leader in Autonomous Case-handling Robotics (ACR) system for warehousing logistics, is pairing up with France-based global logistics solutions engineering company Savoye to make its cutting-edge warehousing technology to reach a broader community in the supply chain in Europe and beyond. The partnership will open a new chapter in HAI ROBOTICS’s overseas foray by harnessing the unique advantages of both parties.

HAI ROBOTICS launched the earliest ACR system HAIPICK in 2015 and has made it a commercial success with a slew of customer recognition. The HAIPICK robot has stood out from similar mobile robots with the ability to carry cartons as well as individual totes and to bring multiple cases to pickers or conveyors in one movement.

HAIPICK ACR system uses autonomous order-picking robots that pick and place totes or cartons on storage shelves up to 5 to 7 meters high and are able to carry up to 8 loads to continuously feed goods-to-person picking stations. The solution works in cold environments down to -10 °C.

“We believe that leveraging HAIPICK solution with Savoye’s expertise in supply chain and warehouse automation, this partnership will provide a set of unique opportunities for both of us. We are excited to partner with Savoye, and we are eager to explore this partnership to its full potential,” said Kane Luo, Vice President of Sales from HAI ROBOTICS.

Savoye has extensive networks of global customers and been widely recognized for the shuttle-based X-PTS storage solution.

Laurent Bollereau, Strategy and Solutions Engineering Director from Savoye, said of the HAIPICK solution based on HAI ROBOTICS robots, as “perfectly suited to smaller flow contexts.”

“The partnership with HAI ROBOTICS allows us to ideally complement our own range of solutions for goods-to-person order preparation. Indeed, our X-PTS technology is more particularly relevant to meet high-performance needs and large volumes of orders to be processed,” he said.

The HAIPICK system is seeing a fast-expanding global presence in the warehousing logistics sector. In the latest episode, the HAIPICK solution was deployed to handle picking and dispatch orders at Australia’s biggest online book retailer Booktopia’s 14,000sqm distribution center at Lidcombe, New South Wales, boosting its efficiency by 800%.

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XACT Robotics Appoints New Vice President, Sales and Marketing

AIT News Desk — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:45:02 +0000

Christopher Horton Brings Nearly 30 Years of Experience in the Medical Device and Technology Industry

XACT Robotics, the developer of the world’s first and only hands-free robotic system for CT-guided percutaneous procedures, the XACT ACE™ Robotic System, announced that Christopher Horton has joined the company as Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In this role, Mr. Horton will drive sales and marketing initiatives to support adoption of the XACT ACE™ Robotic System in healthcare settings across the globe.

“We are excited to have Chris join our team as XACT Robotics continues to grow and expand our presence in healthcare systems across the U.S., Europe and Israel,” said Chen Levin, CEO of XACT Robotics. “Chris’ unique experience working in different healthcare sectors in the medtech industry, and his many years of sales and business development experience, will be invaluable as we accelerate our commercial launch. He will lead engagement with prominent hospitals and radiology programs around the world regarding the physician and patient benefits of our XACT ACE™ Robotic System and the value of an interventional radiology robotics program.

Mr. Horton has nearly 30 years of experience in the medical device industry, including a broad range of commercial responsibilities with both start-up and global organizations. Prior to joining XACT Robotics, Chris served as Regional Vice President of Sales with Merit Medical where he managed a direct sales team, clinical associates, and distributor partners across 23 states. Prior to that, Chris worked in leadership roles with other leading medical technology and healthcare companies including Monteris Medical, Invuity, Applied Medical, Endocare, Kyphon, Cyberonics and U.S. Surgical. Chris also has clinical experience working in a variety of areas including interventional radiology, urology, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology and oncology. This experience brings a unique combination of direct sales management, clinical engagement, cross-functional leadership, business development, healthcare economics and product and market development.

“Leveraging my experience in interventional radiology, I look forward to working with the entire team at XACT Robotics to bring the XACT ACE™ Robotic System to healthcare settings as the only solution to potentially support earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients, lower the risk of complications from surgery and lead to shorter recovery times,” said Mr. Horton. “I am excited to work with such a disruptive technology that can help change patients’ lives as well as support a more efficient use of radiology services and resources.”

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Piaggio Fast Forward Granted New US Patent

AIT News Desk — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 13:14:08 +0000

Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF), the Boston-based robotics company and a leader in smart following technology, announced that the company has been awarded patent number 11,112,807 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, titled “METHOD FOR DETERMINING SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE BEHAVIOR MODELS…” adds to PFF’s robust intellectual property portfolio, and is focused on the proprietary design of robot behavior specifications. PFF develops self-driving machine software and hardware for use in dynamic and unmapped built environments. The company combines in-depth knowledge of the outdoor and indoor built environment with a unique library of behaviors designed through millimeter accurate observation of how people move with one another through the world, from sidewalk etiquette to entering and exiting buildings with one another and beyond. PFF holds 44 patents ranging from wheel designs, to robot designs, to behavior models.

The patent was developed and co-authored by the members of the PFF technology and design teams. The company is at the forefront of the future of pedestrian mobility with the development of two-wheeled, non-autonomous products at the start. Some of what PFF is developing will create autonomous behaviors that compliment the non-autonomous robot/device/vehicle. To accomplish this, PFF observes people, analyzes data and designs behaviors for following robots interacting with leaders and bystanders in pedestrian environments ultimately making a seamless experience between humans and robots.

PFF ‘s best in class following technology that pairs with a person by reliably detecting people, follows them indoors and outdoors using a fused sensor array using RGB and stereo depth mapping cameras and 4D radar. In 2019 the company debuted gita®, a two-wheeled cargo carrying following robot designed with pedestrian etiquette in mind. The gita robot uses machine vision to follow its leader and is designed to match human behaviors like walking speed, maneuverability, and travel distances with all interactions such as pairing, following, unpairing and parking being done with the touch of a button. Because most of the built environment is constantly changing and is unmapped, PFF focuses on these spaces and presently has robots following human leaders across the United States without the need for telepresence joystick operation.

“The knowledge of understanding how people move is the foundation of our mission. Piaggio Fast Forward’s approach is to understand pedestrian etiquette and design machines that share this understanding. We continuously work to better innovate in order to provide the leadership for the complex interactions between humans and machines moving together in pedestrian environments,” commented Mitchell Weiss, PFF Chief Technology Officer.

PFF is a design-led company with extensive knowledge of pedestrian mobility and uses this knowledge to create innovative mobile tech solutions that move the way people move—to help people walk more, walk farther, and to allow them to do more of their everyday living on foot. Additionally, PFF recently announced an innovative sensor technology package developed for consumer and business robots as well as motorcycles and scooters.

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RoboSense Became the First Solid-state LiDAR Provider Completed the SOP, and Delivered to the Designated Vehicle Manufacturer

AIT News Desk — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:35:35 +0000

RoboSense LiDAR, the leading Smart LiDAR Sensor provider announced the second-generation intelligent solid-state LiDAR RS-LiDAR-M1 (referred to as “M1”) completed mass production and delivery to the designated project for the first time. Since the start of production (SOP) to vehicle manufacturer in June 2021, more than ten batches of deliveries have been completed. This is the first mass production of solid-state LiDAR in the world, and also marks the advent of “an era of mass production for LiDAR”.

“an era of mass production for LiDAR”

Since July 2020, M1 has successively obtained designated cooperation orders for a number of mass-produced models around the world, including GAC Aion designated projects which official announced on last month. This mass production delivery for the designated automotive enterprises.

As the world’s leading Smart LiDAR Sensor provider, RoboSense has completed iterations of five major and dozens of smaller versions on the smart solid-state LiDAR project in the past five years. Not only was it the first to implement the SOP version globally, but after the SOP was launched in Q2 2021, it leads the industry and achieved the first mass production delivery of the second-generation smart solid-state LiDAR.

M1 has smart software and hardware features under its small size appearance. In terms of smart hardware, M1 is based on the revolutionary two-dimensional MEMS smart chip scanning architecture, and has a unique “GAZE” function, which can adjust the scanning method according to the driving scene, improve the LiDAR perception ability, help enhance the automatic driving performance. In terms of smart software, M1 can be equipped with mature and embeddable point cloud AI perception algorithms.

At the same time, M1 guarantees the safety and reliability of point cloud data quality in various driving scenarios through a series of patented technologies, eliminates thorny problems in the industry from the product side, and built-in complete supporting functions such as OTA upgrade, stain detection, smart cleaning, smart heating, performance detection, power management, network management, etc. It has achieved SIL-2 and ASIL-B functional safety levels to help the vehicle perception system achieve ASIL-D functional safety design.

RoboSense will provide clients with continuously upgraded smart LiDAR system product solutions, jointly advance the evolution of smart driving experience, and accelerate the transformation and innovation of smart vehicle ecology. Promoting automated driving and advanced assisted driving passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, logistics vehicles, robots, public smart transportation, and vehicle-road collaboration to achieve large-scale commercial use steadily and quickly.

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Promaxo Appoints Theresa A. Matacia, CFA as Chief Financial Officer

AIT News Desk — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 10:20:19 +0000

Medical imaging, robotics, and AI technology company Promaxo, Inc. (Promaxo) announced the appointment of Theresa A. Matacia, CFA as Chief Financial Officer. With a mission to improve lives through state-of-the-art medical technology, Promaxo has made marked progress over the last year, recently receiving the 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its Innovational MRI Platform.

“Theresa’s extensive experience and proven track record leading corporate financial strategies is a significant value add to Promaxo’s development, as we strive to continue to expand our presence in the market”

“Theresa’s extensive experience and proven track record leading corporate financial strategies is a significant value add to Promaxo’s development, as we strive to continue to expand our presence in the market,” said Dr. Amit Vohra, Founder, and CEO of Promaxo. “As an accomplished financial expert, particularly in B2B, Theresa will play an integral role in developing and implementing initiatives that will drive the Company’s growth.”

Matacia’s record in business and Wall Street includes execution of transactions of around $3B in value. Formerly with ADP, Scient, Inc, and ADESA, Matacia will support the company’s vision and goals of creating a technological solution that will better patient lives and physicians’ abilities to treat cancers.

“As a Chief Financial Officer, my passion has always been to elevate the potential of companies through strategic financial planning,” said Matacia. “My early career on Wall Street provided me the chance to become well-versed in the technology software and services industries, and I’m thrilled to be expanding this knowledge to the medical technology industry. I’m looking forward to working with the Promaxo team to grow the business and raise our profile in the medtech ecosystem.”

Recently, Promaxo raised a funding round led by Zepp Health. Promaxo is poised to improve the patient experience and enhance the in-office care continuum for physicians..

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Transportation And Mobility Executive Richard Alexander Joins Perrone Robotics Advisory Board

AIT News Desk — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:46:40 +0000

Industry Veteran Will Help Guide Perrone’s Transit Go-Forward Strategy as Company Continues to Expand with Additions to Executive Team

Perrone Robotics, Inc, a leading provider of fully autonomous vehicle technology and turnkey vehicle solutions for the mobility of people and things, announced the appointment of Richard “Dick” Alexander to its advisory board. Alexander will help advise Perrone’s autonomous vehicle (AV) solutions offerings for transit applications across municipalities, commercial, and governmental sectors. In addition to Alexander’s appointment, Janet Bourland joins the company as vice president of talent, and Danny Vinson will serve as the new vice president of assurance.

“Dick’s experience and perspective will be a critical asset for us as we continue to develop autonomous vehicle solutions to extend value across the transit space,” said Paul Perrone, founder and CEO of Perrone Robotics, Inc. “With Janet, Dick and Danny on board, Perrone will advance our position in the market, onboard world-class talent and provide a robust program for product assurance to help revolutionize the mobility of people and things.”

Richard “Dick” Alexander, Advisory Board Member

Alexander, a forty-year veteran in the mobility space focused primarily on the movement of people, is a distinguished industry leader who will work closely with Perrone’s leadership team to advise and help guide the company’s transit space strategy and partnerships. As CEO of Mobility360, Alexander assists companies and transit organizations in developing new service and business models designed to meet the emerging trends in the movement of people and goods.

Alexander spent over twenty years with Transdev, an international passenger mobility service operator. Alexander served as CEO of Transdev US and president of Transdev Alternative Services, where he provided autonomous vehicle operational services to Waymo and led business growth and innovation activities for Transdev, expanding the company’s annual revenues from $40 million to over $1.4 billion annually. Alexander’s understanding of transit organizations, mobility start-up companies and investors focused on innovating within the mobility space represents a valuable addition to the existing advisory board. Alexander has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Xavier University.

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Janet Bourland, Vice President of Talent

Bourland is a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience building organizations in the technology space. In her role as vice president of talent, Bourland will be responsible for leading the company’s global talent acquisition. Bourland has worked with executives across many different companies to build and shape their organizations to reflect and support their dynamic needs and ensure a global impact, with a focus on talent pipelines and employer branding.

Prior to Perrone Robotics, Bourland’s track record includes seeded startups and Fortune 500 companies in a broad set of industries and with extensive experience in autonomous vehicle talent acquisition, including Spire Global Inc, Toyota Research Institute, vArmor, Xactly Corporation, BeVocal, Metanautix, CV Therapeutics and Fibrogen.

Danny Vinson, Vice President of Assurance

Vinson is a leading expert in the areas of quality and systems assurance, testing and product delivery. He has spent more than 25 years building and leading software quality assurance teams in a variety of industries. In his role as vice president of assurance, Vinson will be responsible for monitoring and guiding the company’s safety, reliability, security and maintainability programs across all engineering disciplines — ensuring the highest level of service to customers and clients. Vinson has been a key part of projects ranging from proofs-of-concept to large production deployments supporting thousands of users in multiple countries.

Before joining Perrone Robotics, Vinson led quality assurance practices at mLINQS, S&P Global, Kronos Federal, Xperts, Inc., and Picture Network International. Vinson has worked in the federal space with both time and attendance tracking and relocation accounting and was part of the DMLSS project at EDS which established an equipment management system for military medical facilities worldwide. Vinson holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

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Robotic Process Automation Initiative At George Mason University Releases Research On The Promise Of Robotic Process Automation For The Public Sector

AIT News Desk — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:24:32 +0000

Research highlights how the adoption of RPA can improve productivity, operations and service delivery of public sector organizations

The Robotic Process Automation Initiative (RPA) at The Center for Business Civic Engagement at George Mason University,released its first research paper entitled, “The Promise of RPA for the Public Sector,” outlining RPA technology for non-IT experts and illustrating its history and how it is being utilized.

“This is the first comprehensive explanation for RPA technology and how it can be used to make the public sector more effective, efficient and better serve stakeholders,” co-author and Center Director Dr. David Rehr said. “We want to give people a better understanding of the everyday opportunities and practicalities of using RPA at all levels of government.”

New research report shows government can work more effectively and efficiency with Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Co-author Dorin Munteanu, principal researcher, added: “Innovative public sector employees are using RPA technology to reduce mundane repetitive tasks so they can focus on higher value uses of their time. We see studies finding that employees have higher work satisfaction, optimistic morale and a better quality of life when RPA is applied.”

Key recommendations from the research include:

Ensure there are budget resources available to fully implement RPA technology across the public sector to prioritize effectiveness and efficiency.
Support investments to educate more public sector employees on the positive benefits of RPA on their program activities and work duties.
Research and inform public sector organizations on “best practices” for successful RPA implementation.
Prioritize training and education for students and workers to meet and fill the demand for RPA employment positions across the public sector.
Publicize RPA implementations in the public sector, including impact on program activities, estimated labor hours saved, and return on investment so stakeholders can observe good stewardship.
Encourage continued agency cross fertilization of RPA practices through increased engagement with and use of RPA Federal Community of Practice publications across the public sector.
Eliminate any restrictions on the use or implementation of RPA based on outdated regulations and policies while protecting security procedures.
Explore how public policy impacts RPA adoption and suggest any proposals for improvement.
Support continued research and development of artificial intelligence, machine learning and RPA.
Continue to support the long-standing policy of government digitalization.

“We have shared findings from the research with public sector leaders and have urged them to share with appropriate staff to generate more ideas and practices to maximize use for good of this tremendous technology,” continued Dr. Rehr. “Acceleration of use will make our government work even better, use resources efficiently and improve constituent trust of public sector institutions.”

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