robotics Archives

Agtech robotics management platform SwarmFarm plants $12 million Series A

Simon Thomsen - February 15, 2023 3 MIN READ

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 »

AI/Machine Learning

A T-1000 reality: what ChatGPT and AI could hold for us

Jonathan Roberts - February 4, 2023 3 MIN READ

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 »

Politics

CSIRO chief scientist Bronwyn Fox chairs government advice group on robotics strategy

Simon Thomsen - December 13, 2022 2 MIN READ

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 »

Funding

Farmbot startup LYRO Robotics raises $1.5m pre-Series A to solve labour shortages

Simon Thomsen - August 1, 2022 2 MIN READ

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 »

Advice

CSIRO Data61 team wins silver – and $1.3 million – in the ‘robot Olympics’

Simon Thomsen - September 27, 2021 2 MIN READ

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 »

Space

HEO Robotics lands seed round as it turns its focus to satellite inspection

Simon Thomsen - September 4, 2021 2 MIN READ

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 »

Business

Coles and Woolworths have turned to big tech, bringing in warehouse robots as online ordering jumps in lockdowns

Lauren Kate Kelly - August 29, 2021 4 MIN READ

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 »

Advice

T-999: this shape-shifting robot is starting to match humans when it comes to running across different landscapes

The Conversation - March 23, 2021 4 MIN READ

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 »

Topics

The federal government is backing WA to build an AI mission control base so robots can explore space

Simon Thomsen - July 10, 2019 < 1 MIN READ

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 »

Topics

Data61, IAG, and University of Sydney launch Gradient Institute to research ethics of AI

Gina Baldassarre - December 17, 2018 2 MIN READ

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.

Advice

Brisbane’s Conpago is using robotics to help reduce isolation in aged care

Gina Baldassarre - December 10, 2018 3 MIN READ

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.

Topics

Founders of robotics and AI companies urge UN to take action on autonomous weapons

Gina Baldassarre - August 21, 2017 2 MIN READ

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’.

Topics

Techstars launches Adelaide-based accelerator program aimed at innovating defence and security

James Ward - January 10, 2017 2 MIN READ

The Techstars Adelaide Accelerator Program will help startups develop and commercialise technologies applicable to the defence and security industries.

Topics

UNSW partners with India’s Tata Consultancy Services to collaborate across VR, robotics, and machine learning

Gina Baldassarre - November 2, 2016 2 MIN READ

UNSW has partnered with Indian IT services company Tata Consultancy Services to explore collaboration across areas including virtual reality, robotics, data analytics, and machine learning.

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