As car manufacturers have demonstrated for years, there is no functional reason why robots require a head, face, or personality – but with Generative AI (GenAI) now offering irresistible possibilities for designers, humanoid robots were out in force at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Chinese firm Kepler Exploration Robot Co, for one, used the… Read more »
The federal government has issued a discussion paper on the development of a new National Robotics Strategy to better understand the opportunities and challenges for Australian industries adopting robotics and automation. Industry and science minister Ed Husic said the discussion paper will help guide a conversation on growing the production and responsible use of robotics… Read more »
Farming automation management startup SwarmFarm Robotics has raised $12 million in a Series A to address agriculture’s worker shortage. The round was led by Canadian agtech fund Emmertech, from Conexus Venture Capital, supported by Brisbane VC Tribe Global Ventures and South Australia’s Access Capital. Existing investors Tenacious Ventures and GrainInnovate, the Grains Research and Development Corporation… Read more »
With generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as ChatGPT and StableDiffusion being the talk of the town right now, it might feel like we’ve taken a giant leap closer to a sci-fi reality where AIs are physical entities all around us. Indeed, computer-based AI appears to be advancing at an unprecedented rate. But the rate… Read more »
CSIRO Chief Scientist Professor Bronwyn Fox has been appointed chair of a new National Robotics Strategy Advisory Committee to help guide Australia’s strategy for emerging automation technologies. Industry and Science Ed Husic announced Prof Fox’s new role, along with the rest of the committee, which includes Mike Zimmerman from VC Main Sequence, ahead of its… Read more »
Queensland startup LYRO Robotics has raised $1.5 million in a pre-Series A to help local farmers get their produce to market. The round was backed by several international and domestic investors, including Artesian/Boab AI and AgFunder joining original investor, Japan’s Toyo Kanetsu. LYRO has built the world’s first autonomous robot, which can pick up delicate fresh… Read more »
Robotics experts from the CSIRO have second finished in a global competition dubbed the ‘Robot Olympics’, beating a team from NASA and MIT to take the silver. The team, from the CSIRO’s Data61, spin-out robotics company Emesent, and the US-based Georgia Institute of Technology spent three years preparing for the competition, preparing six autonomous robots,… Read more »
Sydney space startup HEO Robotics, has raised a seed round to launch its HEO Inspect product. The raise was led by David Harding, founder and CEO of Winton Group. The size of the investment was not disclosed. Angel investors Tim Parsons, Matt Ryall, Christian Thaler-Wolski and Phil Hayes-St Clair also backed the round, while existing… Read more »
As lockdowns continue across Australia, many households are doing something they may not have considered just 18 months ago: ordering groceries online. Australia’s supermarket duopoly, Coles and Woolworths, have raced to implement new technology and transform labour arrangements to keep up with the e-grocery boom. Both are investing in “smart” warehousing and distribution systems with… Read more »
Imagine running on a cement footpath, and then suddenly through dry sand. Just to keep upright, you would have to slow down and change the way you run. In the same way, a walking robot would have to change its gait to handle different surfaces. Generally, we humans and most robots can only change how… Read more »
The Australian government has signed a deal with the Western Australian government to spend $6 million developing the state’s space sector. The Morrison government wants to triple the size of the Australian space sector to $12 billion and create another 20,000 jobs by 2030. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Federal Science Minister Karen… Read more »
Data61 has partnered with IAG and the University of Sydney to launch the Gradient Institute, which has been tasked with researching the ethics of AI.
Cofounded by Mackenzie Jackson and Marley Brown, Brisbane startup Conpago aims to reduce loneliness and enable connection among the elderly living in aged care facilities.
Over 100 founders of global robotics and AI companies have urged the UN to ban the development and use of autonomous weapons, or so-called ‘killer robots’.
The Techstars Adelaide Accelerator Program will help startups develop and commercialise technologies applicable to the defence and security industries.
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Why the $2.43 billion Canva share sale is an epic moment for Australian tech 
Smart hotels get even smarter: 72 Byte to launch in Australia with AI expert backing 
Eucalyptus head of growth Matt Rossi departs to launch his own marketing startup, Oodle 
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