Cypher Robotics, GreyOrange discuss the future of warehouse automation

Cypher Robotics, GreyOrange discuss the future of warehouse automation

Sep 23, 2024 | Captis, Cypher Robotics, Inventory Management, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

What will the future of warehouse automation look like?

You might picture autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) moving heavy loads from point A to point B. There could be pick and place robots grabbing specific items from inventory shelves and relocating them, or putting them in boxes. AMRs equipped with manipulator arms might be loading or unloading trucks. Other devices could be scanning existing inventory to ensure companies have accurate and realtime information on precisely what is on hand.

All of these technologies are here now – and, to varying degrees – are being implemented as companies transition toward a more efficient and cost-effective way of doing things.

But such systems involve a lot of moving parts that need to be coordinated. And when you throw actual people into the mix, along with building infrastructure, things get a lot more complicated.

So what will this future look like? And, just as important, how can we ensure worker safety while coordinating all of these complex machines and interactions?

That was the topic of a fascinating webinar put on recently by Robotics 24/7. Entitled Rise of the Robots: Driving Safety & Adoption with Multiagent Orchestration, the webinar was hosted by Robotics 24/7 Editorial Director Tim Culverhouse. It featured Akash Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of GreyOrange – an AI-driven supply chain software leader that specialises in warehouse fulfilment. The other guest was Peter King, CEO and Co-Founder of Cypher Robotics.

 

CYPHER ROBOTICS

 

This company, which was incubated by InDro Robotics, builds robots for precision inventory counts using both optical and RFID scanning technologies. Its signature product, Captis, was launched earlier this year to significant buzz at the massive Automate 2024 conference. Cypher Robotics and GreyOrange also announced a partnership at that conference.

We’ll dive into the webinar conversation in a moment. But first, a look at Captis. It’s an autonomous mobile platform that does three things, and does them all very well. With a five-hour runtime, Captis can:

  • Autonomously scan inventory optically using a tethered drone attached to the AMR Captis base
  • Autonomously scan inventory using RFID
  • Create ultra-precise digital twins of a warehouse space

Captis has been deployed for more than a year with a large Canadian retailer that has hundreds of huge warehouses across the country. Captis has proven itself on the warehouse floor, providing the retailer with realtime inventory updates and saving employees from the risky (and often unsatisfying) work of repeatedly manually scanning stock – some of which is 10 metres above the ground.

Below: Captis, at work in a Canadian warehouse. You can see the drone on top of the Captis base

Cypher Robotics Captis

THREE PILLARS

 

Watching the webinar, it became clear there were three overarching themes involved with any sound implementation of robotics into the workplace/warehouse space. They are:

  • Worker safety
  • Orchestration of multiple robotic devices into a seamless single system, even with highly complex inventories
  • Return on Investment

Both GreyOrange and Cypher Robotics were aligned on these pillars, with the former focussing on comprehensive software solutions and the latter on an efficient and safe device that can keep workers from repetitive and potentially dangerous tasks while offering a clear value proposition to the client.

From the GreyOrange side, a large part of the solution is its GreyMatter realtime fulfillment platform, an AI-powered software designed for multi-agent orchestration. In other words, ensuring that the right robot or agent is doing the right thing at the right time.

“GreyMatter is pretty much an automation-first warehouse execution system capable of automating…the end-to-end of the warehouse,” explained GreyOrange CEO Gupta. “We support 10 to 15 different robotic technologies on our platform that in GreyMatter is agnostic to any of these robotic technologies that you can deploy in any of the processes of the warehouse.”

Another key part of GreyMatter is what Gupta calls its Certified Ranger Network.

“It’s basically a group of robotic technologies that are…seamlessly integrated with GreyMatter. We also certify them for reliability, safety and security.” (The Cypher Robotics Captis is part of that Certified Ranger Network.)

Working in concert with all of this is a piece of mobile software created by GreyOrange called gStore.

“It’s end-to-end integration orchestration within the four walls of the stores…inventory management, store operations, Omni channel execution, customer experience, (gStore is) basically kind of bringing all of that together.”

Collectively, said Gupta, you can think of these working synergically to ensure that the “agent up-time or robotic up-time gets converted into fullfillment outcomes.”

Below: A graphic from the presentation outlining how the GreyOrange system works

GreyOrange GreyMatter

FROM THE CYPHER SIDE

 

CEO and Co-Founder Peter King comes with the perfect background for the job. He spent 10 years in the supply chain and logistics industry, followed by 15 years in the robotics and drone sectors. Cypher Robotics, he says, “is kind of a marriage between those realms.”

Several years ago, King was approached by a massive Canadian retailer that wanted to look at an automated solution for its warehouses. The product needed to be able to count inventory autonomously (including boxes high up on racks), had to be highly accurate, and – ideally – would work with the company’s existing infrastructure. In other words, no physical changes to warehouse layout would be required.

That’s no small task. And work on what would become Captis began in 2021.

“It’s an AMR/drone combination product,” said King. “It’s both a vision-based and RFID capture system. And that product works harmoniously together to autonomously go up and down aisles counting inventory. What makes us unique is our ability to trundle up and down aisles for up to five hours collecting data, unlike some traditional methods today.”

While some companies offer drone-based solutions, they come with limitations. Batteries have to be frequently changed and run times are limited. Because the drone is tethered to the Captis base, it draws power from that base enabling vastly extended flight times. As the drone hovers above, Captis navigates autonmously down the aisles. Captis can also capture precise digital twins of any environment it’s deployed in. All of the data acquired optically by the drone – or by Captis itself in RFID or digital twin mode – is meshed real-time into the client’s Warehouse Management System (WMS).

The product formally launched in March – and has since gained considerable interest in the industry.

“We’re gaining a lot of traction and realising just how big this marketplace is,” he added.

Cypher’s main clients are retail operators with large warehouses, but the company is also moving into Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and healthcare. And, as you’ll see in a moment, has truly proven its worth with its flagship client.

Below: An overview of the Captis system

Meet Captis

CASE STUDY

 

Due to the extensive work Captis has been doing with a major Canadian retailer, Cypher Robotics has been able to pull together a case study that reflects the product’s ROI.

In one large facility alone, said King, “we’re anticipating that we are going to eliminate 250,000 man hours per year.”

Those are hours that largely would have been spent by people manually scanning products, an intrinsically unsatisfying task with poor job satisfaction and high attrition rates. But King emphasised those savings don’t mean jobs are being lost; rather, that employees can be transferred to more satisfying work.

“There’s a very long conversation around robots replacing workers and, in this case, we’re actually looking to shift those hours into more productive areas of the business and help this current client actually keep employees in the facilities as well.”

The Cypher solution has had other significant bottom-line benefits for this client.

Online orders that have to be cancelled because an item is out-of-stock are a huge pain point for large companies. If the inventory cycle count isn’t highly accurate, items that are unavailable can show on the web as being in stock. Those orders, which wind up being cancelled, can add up to huge potential losses. That’s because, in addition to resources spent refunding to customers, the company has lost large numbers of potential sales.

With Captis onboard, King said those unfulfilled online orders have been reduced by 50 per cent. Ensuring customers were ordering items in stock led to $7.5 million in additional annual revenue for just this one client.

What’s more, because Captis can easily track how many discontinued items are in stock, it alerts the retailer to put an emphasis on selling those items in order to clear the way for new stock.

“We’re reducing the discontinued inventory by 12 per cent, so another 1.2 million dollars in overall sales for this client,” said King. “We think that’s a big deal by allowing them to push discontinued product and make sure that they understand what areas of their business they need to focus on to eliminate that inventory.”

In addition, King said the system has enabled the client to reduce their cancelled orders – leading to roughly one million dollars in additional annual revenue. With this particular client, the system has proven its worth many times over.

But there could be more benefits down the road. Cypher Robotics is exploring with the client how to identify spare room in those massive warehouses that could be put to profitable use by leasing that space to third parties.

“One of the things you’ll see on our road map is the ability to provide fulfillment services for unused space,” said King. “So understanding how much space is in your warehouse (that could be available) to allow other organizations to access – understanding what your utilization rates are allows you to understand what inventory looks like at each of your facilities to make sure that you’re managing (space) appropriately. For this one client specifically, we can see that there’s a huge need in this industry.”

Below: Details from the Cypher Robotics case study

 

Captis Case Study

INDRO’S TAKE

 

The picture is becoming pretty clear, at least for large-scale warehouses and fulfillment/3PL companies: Automation is the future.

But the key here is that this future must be carefully orchestrated. You can’t simply throw a bunch of AMRs and other automation into a facility – particularly with human beings walking around – without concerns for worker safety, including equipping those machines with the best available sensors and AI for detecting and avoiding people and other objects. Wherever possible, you also want to avoid costly infrastructure changes to accommodate these technologies.

But the bigger picture – as described in the webinar – is the importance of certifying these machines and the overarching orchestration of how all of these moving parts work together. And not only work together, but do so in the most efficient and logical way possible. Software like GreyMatter and gStore are half of this equation; robotic solutions like Captis and other complementary systems are the other half.

“As the incubator of Cypher Robotics, InDro is exceedingly proud to see the great strides this company has made in a relatively short time period,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “Cypher Robotics and Captis do more than count inventory and create digital twins in a highly accurate and timely fashion; they provide critical and actionable data that has proven to significantly improve the client’s bottom line. Technologies like this also play an important role in keeping employees out of potential harm’s way – and allow them to carry out more satisfying tasks.”

Interested in learning more about Cypher Robotics and Captis? You can download a deck here. And if you’d like a conversation, you can contact Cypher Robotics here.

Tight budget? InDro Offers multiple R&D options

Tight budget? InDro Offers multiple R&D options

Sep 19, 2024 | InDro News, LIMO, Scott Simmie, Success Stories

By Scott Simmie

 

Working on high-level R&D doesn’t necessarily mean a high-level budget.

It can, of course (and we can help you out there, as well).

But InDro is committed to putting powerful tools into the hands of researchers and developers without breaking the bank. We know many clients, particularly those in academia, often have ambitious plans but limited budgets. And we’re dedicated to providing those customers with multiple affordable options – along with the high-level support and documentation you’d expect might come only with more expensive options.

“That’s what makes it kind of fun, right? Trying to get clients the most value with the dollars available,” says Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth.

Often, academic researchers receive funding for specific projects from government or arms-length agencies. In Canada, many projects are partially funded by the forward-thinking Canada Foundation for Innovation. Founded in 1997 by the federal government, the CFI marked funding its 10,000th project in 2017 – and deserves a shout-out.

In the United States, academic clients are often funded by a similar agency, the National Science Foundation – which supports “grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships — that support research and education across science and engineering.”

More and more of these recipients come to InDro, looking for the biggest bang for their buck. Why InDro? Because we have options to suit any budget.

Below: The LIMO Pro, which we’ll hear about in a moment.

LIMO Pro Robot

LIMO AND LIMO PRO

 

The small but powerful robot pictured above is currently at work in many labs across North America. Perfect for research on autonomy and machine vision/machine learning, these multi-modal and ROS-based machines feature four steering modes and punch well above their weight. Equipped with sensors and AI to understand their environment, the LIMO is capable of working on its own or in swarms. For institutions creating algorithms to help Smart Mobility become even smarter, the LIMO has proven to be a robust solution.

Easy to operate? Yes. But that ease in some ways belies the capabilities of LIMO. Boston University has purchased dozens of LIMOs through InDro, and is using them for multiple applications, including high-level, Multi-Agent Systems research.

“So typically what we expect within the next, let’s say five to 10 years, is a mixture of the smart connected autonomous vehicles and the regular vehicles that we typically refer to as Human Driven Vehicles or HDVs. So the idea is: How can we get these teams of autonomous agents to work together?” says says Christos Cassandras, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Head of the Division of Systems Engineering, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boston University.

“Since I can’t use dozens of real vehicles, I would like to use dozens of small robots that can be thought of as these autonomous vehicles, (which can) talk to each other, cooperate,” he says. “But also sometimes they don’t really cooperate if some of them are the HDVs. So what we are doing in our Boston University Robotics Lab…is we deploy these LIMOs that we have acquired as teams of autonomous vehicles.”

In the video below, you’ll see LIMOs driving cooperatively, calculating in real-time the most efficient way to merge. That’s followed by an overview video from LIMO manufacturer AgileX.

VERSATILE

 

Though your project might not involve the complexities undertaken at Boston University, these robots are up to whatever task you can throw at them.

“Oftentimes researchers want to purchase multiple of the same hardware to do multi-robot systems research, or the platform is going to be used for teaching and training,” says Corbeth.

For those requiring more advanced sensors and AI, there’s the LIMO Pro. We outline its capabilities here on our own website:

“Powered by NVIDIA Orin Nano, EAI T-mini Pro LiDAR, and Orbbec Dabai depth camera, the LIMO Pro robot delivers unparalleled environmental awareness for autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and visual recognition. With ROS 1 Noetic and ROS 2 Foxy compatibility, seamless software integration is at your fingertips. Enjoy an extended 2.5-hour battery life for uninterrupted research and experimentation. The ultimate platform for students, researchers, and enthusiasts, LIMO Pro offers a transformative learning experience with state-of-the-art sensors and software.”

There are actually two versions of the LIMO Pro: The ROS and ROS2 models. The first operates on ROS1 Noetic and ROS2 Foxy and features the Jetson Orin Nano 8G for onboard compute. The ROS2 model incorporates an Intel NUC i7 8G for processing, and runs ROS2 Humble. Because all versions of LIMO are multi-modal (ie Omni Wheel, Four-Wheel Differential steering, Ackermann steering and Tracked steering), they allow researchers to test algorithms and responses in all of these modes – providing learnings that could be applied to larger platforms.

“So you can basically simulate any larger robot’s locomotion with just a small compact package,” says Corbeth.

LIMO Pro and the original LIMO are also affordable, priced at $3200 USD and $2500 USD respectively.

We should also add here that there’s a cobot version of LIMO Pro available, which has a manipulator arm on top.

“This allows teams to learn how to do the basics of mobile manipulation and then, should you want to expand on that with greater capabilities, scale up. But all the basics are there,” he adds. The manipulator arm version sells for about $4500 US.

 

DOCUMENTATION

 

It’s one thing to purchase even a small robot like LIMO. It’s quite another to get up and running in the way your R&D requires. While LIMO and LIMO Pro can be operated straight out of the box, InDro is aware users might need some help along the way with specific tasks or coding. For example, how do you put a model of the LIMO into Gazebo for simulated missions? No problem – InDro offers comprehensive documentation for all the products we sell.

Plus, our documentation is constantly updated as researchers hit us up with questions and our engineering team finds the answers.

“Basically this is a compilation of knowledge-based pages that we’ve accumulated over the years at this point, answering pretty much any question clients have ever approached us with,” says Corbeth.

“This extends from software to our physical products as well. The LIMO documentation is really fleshed out – we cover everything from how to use it in a gazebo simulation to networking, how to do teleoperation, SLAM, obstacle detection, obstacle avoidance. We even have a series of quizzes that people can use to test their knowledge and improve their understanding of how to effectively use this technology.”

All LIMO clients have on-demand and free access to this documentation. Here’s a screen grab that provides an overview of some of the topics covered:

LIMO documentation

QUADRUPEDS AND MORE

 

Of course, different research requires different platforms. Increasingly, we’re seeing demand for quadrupeds – which are capable of handling more demanding terrain (including stairs). And here, too, we have solutions.

“When it comes to quadrupeds, they’ve historically had two downsides: They were closed-source – so unavailable for development – and they were horrifically expensive,” explains Corbeth.

That has changed. Unitree Robotics has set a new bar for affordable and reliable open-source quadrupeds ideal for research and development and, if your budget’s a little higher, real-world deployment for monitoring, surveillance, search and rescue, etc.

The company began with a very smart engineering student, Wang Xinxing. His vision was to build a quadruped using powerful but relatively inexpensive brushless motors. His university project in 2014-2015 focussed on building what he termed XDog (where “X” means mystery). He was successful and just kept on going – founding Unitree. To look at how incredibly quickly this company has progressed, it’s worth comparing two videos. The first is back from Wang’s university days (from a YouTube channel he still maintains). The second is the GO2, featuring the new wheeled option.

It’s quite the contrast, and Unitree products are constantly being upgraded.

AFFORDABLE

 

Unitree does produce some very high-end models for industrial purposes (and we’re happy to help you with those), but the emphasis in this piece is on affordable models suitable for R&D. And here, there are some options.

The GO2 EDU has been designed for R&D work.

“The whole point of the GO2 EDU is to reduce barriers to entry, both in terms of price and development potential. Obviously they’ve gone through multiple iterations of the system now and have refined it – like, really refined it,” says Corbeth.

“The core locomotion is really good, the onboard compute is extremely powerful, it has a number of pre-integrated sensors and there’s super elaborate documentation. Basically, it’s the penultimate entry point for quadruped development and there’s more than one model.”

Is it cheap? Well, if you look at the Unitree website you’ll see one model touted at $1900 USD. But that is not the dog we’re talking about; that model is built pretty much solely for entertainment and not suitable for R&D. But you don’t have to take a great leap from there to get into the quadrupeds researchers are interested in. There are three models that have been finding their way from InDro to research institutes; all come with LiDAR and excellent compute.

  • GO2 EDU
  • GO2 EDU Plus (improved compute)
  • GO2 EDU Plus Hesai XT16 (additional LiDAR)
  • GO2 W Plus (wheeled version)

“The educational versions are the ones our clients are most interested in because those are the ones that have improved hardware and the ability to be programmed,” explains Corbeth. “They also come with a really intuitive remote that allows you to see what the robot is seeing through its various sensors.”

Prices for the GO2 EDU line start at $13,900 USD and come with the full support of InDro and its extensive online documentation. All of these quadrupeds can be customised with accessories, including wireless charging, a robotic manipulator arm and even a small Point-Tilt-Zoom camera.

Researchers have done a lot of work with their own autonomy stacks and machine learning on the GO2 EDU line. Some have even adapted the quadruped as a service dog, capable assisting those with vision impairments or other disabilities. With the right software, these quadrupeds are even capable of identifying and pushing accessibility buttons on doors, so that’s both cool and useful.

NOT JUST R&D

 

Though this story focusses on budget solutions, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that Unitree has an entire line  of quadrupeds (and now, two humanoid models), suitable for higher budgets and real-world deployment. The GO2 comes in an ENT, or Enterprise version, which can be outfitted with gas sensors, emergency services lighting and other features suitable for Search and Rescue, surveillance and monitoring, etc. And if you have a factory or industrial setting requiring repeatable autonomous monitoring, you can get into products like the B2, a large and powerful robot so robust it’s can carry huge loads and is even capable of walking underwater.

These are a significant leap in cost and abilities from the GO2 EDU line, but are still highly competitive when compared with other products on the market. The difference is that products like the B2 have been purpose-built for the industrial sector and deployment in highly demanding conditions.

Here’s a look at the B2 (it looks a lot bigger in real life). 

B2 Robot

AND FINALLY, OUR ROS-BASED DRONE

 

Before expanding into the ground robotics space, InDro built itself on its advanced R&D work and specialized service provision with drones. That works still continues, and we offer a wide variety of products for Enterprise use, including search and rescue, medical deliveries and more. But we’re particularly excited about a new drone we’ve developed for R&D clients seeking an affordable, open-source drone for development.

“The concept behind the R&D drone is we went to the market and we tried to find the best available open source ROS-based drone. And we couldn’t find one.” says Corbeth. “So essentially what we’ve done is find a way to build one ourselves.”

For R&D researchers, access to an affordable and programmable flying platform is a big deal – especially since the programming protocol is the same as working with a ROS-based ground robot.

“A drone is essentially a flying robot in terms of the way developers interact with it,” he says. “The primary difference is that instead of wheels, tracks or legs, you’re using motors and propellers.”

And, of course, sensors depending on client needs. Our R&D drone comes with a depth perception camera for obstacle avoidance and unfamiliar environments, but can be outfitted with anything a client needs. One of our clients is using this drone for research and mapping in caves, so we outfitted that model with a mapping LiDAR.

“If you start to consider more complicated applications like landing on a moving vehicle or landing on a sea vehicle, where the the home point is constantly changing, that’s not something you can do with a DJI drone – but is certainly something you could do with this,” says Corbeth. “Introducing any amount of machine vision or AI on the drone is something you can do when it’s open source, but not possible when it’s closed source.”

In another example, we have one academic client using this drone for research in combination with a swarm of LIMOs.

“One Canadian university is actually teaming together the drones with LIMOs. They’ve purchased a number of LIMOs, they’ve purchased a number of drones, and they’re going to basically work on a large, coordinated ground-air swarm – where the drones and ground robots will be communicating with each other.”

Research like this, obviously has great implications for Search and Rescue, mapping – and even the future of delivery – where packages might be transferred between autonomous ground and air vehicles.

The ROS-based R&D drone sells for $11,900 USD and comes standard with depth perception, high-power onboard compute, and extensive documentation and support.

InDro ROS drone

INDRO’S TAKE

 

While we often deal with large clients with large budgets, InDro will always retain its commitment to academia and others carrying out R&D with limited financial resources. And, as we’ve just outlined, we have multiple options that have proven a perfect fit for that category. From the LIMO through the GO2 line and our ROS-based drone, there are choices to suit pretty much any budget and research requirements.

“Clients in the academic and research world are incredibly important to InDro,” says Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “Cutting-edge research frequently leads to new innovations that accelerate the industry-at-large. We also believe it’s important for these innovative tools to be available to students – who will become the next generation of R&D researchers and entrepreneurs. This is truly important to us, and supporting these people is firmly part of the InDro ethos.”

The other bonus here? Well, that would be Luke Corbeth. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about products, with as deep an understanding of research requirements and use-cases. Luke enjoys explaining our offerings, and – more than that – taking a deep dive into the client’s needs to ensure we can provide the perfect fit. And, trust us on this, he’s not the kind of person to push anything that isn’t the best solution.

You can contact Luke here.

GCXpo to showcase Smart Mobility at Ottawa’s Area X.O September 26

GCXpo to showcase Smart Mobility at Ottawa’s Area X.O September 26

Sep 12, 2024 | Area X.O, GCXpo, Scott Simmie, Smart Mobility, TCXpo

By Scott Simmie

 

It’s that time of the year again.

We’re not referring here to the end of summer, but to Canada’s premiere Smart Mobility event. On September 26, GCXpo comes to Area X.O in Ottawa. This is the third annual showcase of Canadian technology companies in the Smart Mobility and IoT realms. The first two were known as TCXpo, with the “TC” standing for Transport Canada. This year’s show promises to be even bigger, and the “GC” – Government of Canada – reflects that.

If you’ve attended in the past, you’ll know it’s an exciting day. There are demonstrations of all sorts of smart technologies – everything from drones dropping payloads with intelligent parachutes that guide the payload to a precision target through to autonomous ground vehicles.

“In partnership with the Government of Canada and event sponsors, GCXpo will bring together more than 70 Canadian companies to host live technology demonstrations at Area X.O,” says the Area X.O website.

“GCXpo will create an exclusive opportunity for invited guests to experience the power and impact of cutting-edge Canadian technologies, including many preparing for global markets.”

And it’s not just a select group of invited guests. If you’re interested in this sphere, we’ll tell you later how you can register.

First, though, let’s take a look at what you can expect. Check out this video from last year’s event:

MORE THAN 70 COMPANIES

 

With outdoor (and some indoor) displays on the sprawling Area X.O site, guided tours take attendees through the latest in cutting-edge innovations from Canadian and international companies. In 2023, 77 companies exhibited at the show, and a similar number is on tap for 2024. These include industry leaders like Rheinmetall Provectus, Lockheed Martin and more, alongside prominent startups like RealLife Robotics which specialises in zero-emission last-mile and cargo delivery. Of course, InDro Robotics (which is also a sponsor of the event) will be there, too.

We’ll be demonstrating many of our robots and drones, utilising the Drone and Advanced Robotics Testing and Training facility, also known as DARTT. This is a state-of-the-art proving ground for robots, where they can be driven over demanding terrain built to the exacting standards of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This includes a large-scale, netted enclosure for testing drones. Because it’s enclosed, it’s ideal for testing new drone technologies without having to apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate. It’s also an ideal location for training robot and drone operators – and InDro manages the site. (You can take a deeper dive into DARTT with this story.)

GCXpo is an opportunity not only to see our latest innovations up close, but also a chance to operate them. Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth is a master at explaining technology, and likes nothing more than putting a remote control in the hands of attendees to give them a chance to pilot a ground robot or even drone.

Here’s a brief clip of Luke at the DARTT zone from last year’s event; Luke will perform a similar role at GCXpo.

TWO EVENTS IN ONE

 

Trust us, there’s plenty to see at GCXpo – along with the opportunity to speak with those displaying their products and services. But the outdoor exhibits are just one part of the show. Running concurrently is the CAV (Connected and Autonomous Vehicles) Canada Stage. With programming throughout the day, this is a chance to hear more than 20 distinguished thought leaders (including InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece) on a wide range of topics related to Smart Mobility, Advanced Air Mobility, the IoT, security, et cetera. The list of topics, as you’ll see, truly goes on.

As the CAV Canada website explains, speakers will be addressing these topics – and more:

  • “Authentic discussion and global foresight on key opportunities and challenges in CAV and smart mobility R&D, markets, investments, and policy during current recovery and post-pandemic periods.
  • “Actionable insight to enable and accelerate the safe implementation of CAV and smart mobility solutions in diverse sectors, from transportation to communications, smart farming and public safety
  • “Innovative approaches, real-world examples and lessons learned in smart mobility test, validation and demonstrations
  • “Access to CAV and smart mobility talent and strategies to develop, attract, and retain a competitive, diverse and inclusive workforce.
  • “Networking opportunities to engage, connect and collaborate in the smart mobility ecosystem.”

Previously, the CAV Canada event took place the day after TCXpo. This year, GCXpo and the CAVCanada learning sessions will be integrated into a single event. (And don’t worry, the large CAV Canada stage and audience area is tented in the event of rain).

Below: Some of the InDro team – and many of our robots – at last year’s TCXpo

TCXpo

CANADA, OTTAWA AT THE FOREFRONT

 

It’s no coincidence that GCXpo takes place in Ottawa. In addition to the Area X.O facility – a dedicated and private space utilised by numerous companies in the Smart Mobility sector – the city itself is a leading technology hub. According to Invest Ottawa, the nation’s capital is home to more than 1800 technology companies, 88,000+ tech workers, and represents the highest concentration of technology talent per capita in North America.

“Ottawa is renowned for our cutting-edge R&D and innovation in SaaS, cybersecurity, AI, machine learning, robotics, advanced networks and 5G, health tech and life sciences, smart mobility, IOT, and many other disruptive technologies,” says its web site. “Innovators are fueling the ICT Information and Communications Technology), life sciences, defence, security, aerospace, smart mobility, cleantech, and software to name a few.”

Invest Ottawa has played a huge role in attracting and supporting technology firms. The agency says “From 2013 to 2022 (inclusive), Invest Ottawa has supported almost 14,000 firms from start-ups to global enterprises.” And that’s not all. Invest Ottawa has also helped raise some $1.86B in capital for domestic companies, provided more than 75,000+ hours in advisory services, and helped facilitate nearly 15,000 jobs. That’s a lot.

In a larger sense, GCXpo also showcases the commitment of the Federal and Ontario provincial governments (including agencies like Invest Ottawa) toward technology and a Smart future. Many, if not all, of the companies displaying their innovations and services have benefited from government programs and research grants to help grow their businesses. These agencies include:

  • Transport Canada
  • The Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Innovative Solution Canada (ISC) Challenge Program
  • DND’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program
  • NGen Canada, the advanced manufacturing supercluster
  • Area X.O

In a news release for last year’s event, Area X.O and Invest Ottawa also pointed out another purpose of the show.

“TCXpo will enable all participating companies to engage prospective talent, clients, partners, suppliers, investors and regulators throughout the day. These connections can stimulate new R&D, business and investment opportunities that propel the growth and success,” it stated.

For companies like InDro, the two previous TCXpo events enabled a public demonstration of technologies, an opportunity to network with other companies in complementary fields – and a chance to sit down with both prospective clients and regulators such as Transport Canada and NAV Canada.

“This truly is the premiere event for showcasing emerging technologies in the Smart Mobility and IoT sectors,” says InDro Robotics CEO and Founder Philip Reece. “Our entire team is looking forward to GCXpo and the opportunity to engage with the public, clients, and the Federal and Provincial agencies that have helped support our ambitious growth trajectory.”

Below: An autonomous tractor hits the field inside Area X.O at the 2023 TCXpo event. We can’t resist reviving a joke we made at the time: “And on this farm there was a robot, Ee-eye, ee-I/O…”

INDRO’S TAKE

 

InDro Robotics was one of the very first anchor tenants at Area X.O, alongside heavyweights like Ericsson, Nokia and Blackberry QNX. We could see the advantages of a private facility with its own 5G network, allowing us to test our drones, ground robots and more by simply walking out the door with them.

We started with a relatively small team, and our operations there have grown along with the facility. It’s now our R&D headquarters, where the bulk of InDro’s many innovations are conceived and executed. The number of employees there has grown exponentially, and InDro has developed solid relationships with many of the federal and provincial agencies who will be present at the show. InDro is also about to mark the first anniversary of its expansion into rapid prototyping and limited run manufacturing with its InDro Forge facility (formerly the Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab). There’s no question Ottawa is the place to be in our line of work.

“GCXpo promises to be a great event, and we look forward to showcasing not only our products and team, but also the Area X.O facility itself,” says Philip Reece. “Invest Ottawa and Area X.O have been great partners from the moment we started renting space at the facility – and we could not envision a better location for our research and development.”

If you’re going to be (or could be) in Ottawa September 26, you’re invited. Attending GCXpo is free, and there will be guided tours to ensure you don’t miss any of the action. You can register for a ticket right here.

From India to Area X.O: The ‘Long Journey’ of two InDro technologists

From India to Area X.O: The ‘Long Journey’ of two InDro technologists

Sep 6, 2024 | InDro News, InDro Profile, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

The average annual temperature in India’s Gujarat state is 29° C – and that’s during the winter. In summer, it’s not uncommon to hit highs of 49°.

So you can imagine the shock when two teenagers from that state stepped off separate jets in Ottawa six years ago, just as a Canadian winter was setting in, to pursue careers in engineering.

Neither Ujas Patel nor Tirth Gajera, now valued members of InDro’s core team at Area X.O, had ever been abroad before, let alone out of their own state. And neither were highly proficient in English yet – though they had both studied in preparation to attend Algonquin College. Their native tongue was Gujarati.

For Ujas, his father – a mechanical engineer – had been the inspiration. Ujas was fascinated with what his father did, and spent several months working with him on projects to learn more about the field. His father, meanwhile, encouraged his son to study abroad, and specifically in Canada. The year was 2018 and Ujas started preparations – applications, studying English, student visas and other documentation – and figuring out which city to choose.

“I could have gone to Toronto or any other part of Canada, but I realized that in Ottawa there are not so many  international students, and I wanted to live with Canadian people,” he recalls. “I wanted to learn what they do, how they live life.”

Tirth Gajera, meanwhile (who we’ll refer to as T going forward), was going through all the same preparations. T knew he was interested in aerospace or a related field, and had been encouraged by others to start with a mechanical engineering course abroad. Going to either the US or Canada were the best options. Things in the US were a little dicey at the time, so the choice became Canada – and specifically, the same institution that Ujas had chosen: Algonquin College in Ottawa. The two had never met.

And so, in November and December of 2018, each landed in the nation’s capital. And a challenging, at times gruelling, life-changing journey began for both of them.

Below: T and Ujas, on the days they left India for an uncertain future in Canada

Tirth Gajera leaves India
Ujas Patel leaves India

A WORLD APART

 

If you’re not an immigrant, try to imagine the challenges of landing in a new country where you have virtually no connections – and not even a place to stay. You speak the basics of the language, but you’re by no means proficient. Absolutely everything is different: From the weather right down to the unfamiliar products in a grocery store. Picture also that you’re 17 or 18, and that this is your first-ever trip abroad – and that you are alone. To further complicate things, tuition, rent and the overall cost of living are high and you don’t want to burden your family back home (where the annual income is much lower than in Canada).

This is the reality Ujas and T faced on arrival in Ottawa.

T recalls meeting another young man from Gujarat at the Ottawa airport. The new friend was in transit, waiting for a friend to pick him up who would drive him to Montreal. T had no idea where he’d be spending the night. When the ride for his friend arrived, T told them “I don’t know where to go.”

Luckily, the driver knew of another friend who might be able to help. He called him, and a stranger came and picked T up at the airport.

“He showed me around, and said ‘You can just stay with us for a week until you figure out something.”

Ujas, meanwhile, was also alone and trying to figure things out. Someone from Algonquin College had arranged a place for him to stay for just a few short days, but he was also on his own.

“I was the first in my whole family to come here to Canada,” he says (his sister has since moved to Kitchener and recently graduated as a Registered Nurse).

Ujas also knew, like T, that the cost of living was going to be a quantum leap from living at home in Gujarat. He’d have to find an apartment, pay utilities and public transport, buy groceries. All in a strange new world. Plus, both young men knew they’d have to find work to pay for their studies. The cost was high, and it was a burden neither wanted to shift back to relatives at home.

“I could not ask my parents to pay for my tuition fees because as international students, we were paying like $8000-$9000 for each semester,” says Ujas. So they would have to find work.

 

SECOND THOUGHTS

 

Not surprisingly, there were frequent calls home in those early days. Both felt alone, and connection with their families was a crucial thread that helped keep them going at the beginning.

“I used to talk to my parents and close relatives every day or every other day,” says T.

In addition to the stress of feeling like strangers in a strange land, there was also the weather to cope with. T had bought what was billed as a winter jacket back in India. But the winters in India were so mild that the jacket afforded barely any protection. One night, early into his stay and feeling low, T donned his jacket and prepared for a walk. While the temperature wasn’t bad by Ottawa standards, maybe -1°C, in that jacket he was freezing. He felt bleak.

“I stepped out of my house,” he recalls. “And I walked for about 500 metres and I started crying. I was like: I want to go back to India. This is too cold. I might just die here. The experience was definitely kind of hard, I can’t even explain it in words.”

Understandably so. But T and Ujas would push on, finding work and preparing separately for their first semester studying at Algonquin College.

“And then,” says T, “it all started coming together. I started going out, started meeting people, things like that.”

Below: T (l) and Ujas after meeting at Algonquin College.

Ujas and T at Algonquin College

SCHOOL-WORK BALANCE

 

Ujas and T would meet for the first time on the first day at Algonquin College during orientation. Both were enrolled in the three-year Mechanical Engineering Technology course. They hit it off immediately and would become not only fast friends, but part of each other’s mutual support system.

The courses were challenging and very much hands-on. There were about 26 hours of lectures and labs per week, plus assignments that had to be completed daily. As anyone who has taken engineering knows, the workload is punishing. But there was also that crushing cost of living, which could not be ignored. So both Ujas and T took part-time jobs on top of their classes. Both became, initially, “junior sandwich artists,” making subs at Subway and Firehouse Sub franchises.

“That was my first job,” says T. “And all of my colleagues were Canadians.”

During breaks between semesters, both would cram in as many hours as possible to earn money.

“I used to work 60-70 hours a week just to just to get my fees done so that I didn’t have to ask my parents to send me money here,” says Ujas.

 

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE

 

When classes were on, school had to be the priority. The pair hadn’t come halfway around the world just to work; that was simply a financial necessity.

“I had to manage my all assignments, had to make sure I was doing well in my studies. But at the same time I had to make the money to pay for my place, my rent, my food, everything.”

Both T and Ujas immersed themselves at Algonquin College, and were soon working on complex projects together. They built a basic semi-autonomous vehicle, which with limited sensors could explore an unfamiliar room. They created a pneumatic system that duplicated how the doors on Ottawa’s public transit buses worked. They learned hands-on work with electrical and mechanical components, coding, and more. Both excelled in their studies.

The program was supposed to include a co-op section, where students would build on their skills (and earn money) working with a real company. And then, of course, COVID hit.

“This was a tragedy,” says T. “We were doing interviews for the co-op placements and then the pandemic came along. The school said: ‘You’re not doing co-ops or anything. You’ll all just have to stay home.'”

T found a job with a call centre; a job he could carry out from home. He worked there for eight months, a position that really helped him improve his English. Ujas worked at a gas station. Then, finally, it was back to courses at Algonquin for the completion of their degrees.

Below: Ujas on graduation day, followed by a trip to Quebec City. His dog’s name is Loki. T enjoys playing guitar when he’s not at the office

Ujas with dog Loki

TEAM INDRO

 

A few months after graduating, Ujas happened to see a job posted by Invest Ottawa. It was with InDro Robotics. He came in for an interview with Engineering Manager and Robotics Engineer Arron Griffiths (MSc).

Arron saw a potential fit, and offered Ujas the position. He would also become a mentor, helping to fill in knowledge gaps and supporting him with learning many new skills. This was his first-ever job in his chosen field, and soon – with support from Arron – he was working on complex robots. He also obtained his Advanced RPAS Certificate, and was selected to be the second pilot (working with Eric Saczuk) on a highly complex mission in Montreal for the National Research Council.

The mission was to measure urban wind tunnels – and involved flying a heavy industrial drone equipped with dual anemometers between buildings, Beyond Visual Line of Sight, and over people.

“Flying a drone is easy,” says Ujas. “But when it comes to flying a drone over people and between the buildings of Montreal, that’s really hard.”

Ujas has had a hand in pretty much all the high-level projects at InDro, including custom robots for clients and many of the InDro innovations. He’s also InDro’s go-to for building when orders come in (as they frequently do) for InDro Commander. He’s also worked on several InDro projects that involved manipulator arms.

Two and half years after joining InDro, it’s been a terrific fit.

“Arron tells me I’m like a completely different person when it comes to skills from the person who started here,” says Ujas. “He has played a major role for me. The experience I have, the amount of knowledge I now have, it’s all because of him. Plus, CEO Philip Reece and Vice President Peter King have always been supportive mentors.

“I can say I’m really proud of the work I’ve done here. “

 

AND T?

 

T found work with two large companies after graduating. But the work, which involved overseeing manufacturing lines and doing technical troubleshooting, wasn’t that satisfying. He was more interested in software – and greater challenges. Ujas, meanwhile, saw an opening at InDro and T was introduced to Arron. Once again, Griffiths spotted potential synergy. So did T.

“The job was an amalgamation of electrical, mechanical and software. And I thought, yes, this is going to be a good fit.”

And it was. Soon, again with Arron’s guidance, T was taking on more and more complex projects. He also started offering ideas of his own, such as how to make a slimmed-down version of the original InDro Commander, which was a bit large on some platforms. He also came up with the idea of writing some code for networking that would enable InDro robots to operate over WiFi in addition to teleoperations. Pushing dense data through a SIM card can quickly add up costwise, and many of InDro’s academic clients are on limited budgets.

“All the robots that we had, all of them could only be connected to cellular,” says T. “But using a SIM card for data is expensive.” T thought the problem might be solved with writing code and flashing off-the-shelf routers to enable them to transfer data via WiFi.

“This eliminated the need of always having to go into a robot for development through a cable,” says T.

He also started the initial work on InDro Controller – the secure dashboard for remote operations and autonomous missions. And one robot, which had two manipulator arms, was pretty much a solo project for T.

“I did all the software, all the networking, all the hardware,” he says. “That was my first robot that I built from scratch.”

As with Ujas, T has played a significant role in multiple projects over his two years with the company and has become an integral member of the team.

“Ujas and T have come a long way since they walked in the door at InDro,” says Arron Griffiths.

“From the start, they’ve always been team players, eager to learn more skills and think of new solutions. They both have strong and positive work ethics and have really developed broader skillsets in multiple disciplines since arriving.

“They are both valued members of our team and a delight to work with. My gut sense about both of them at the time of hiring proved to be right.”

As for the young men from Gujarat?

T says it’s been a phenomenal workplace, always filled with new challenges and the opportunity to take on projects that appeal to him.

“Arron has never been: ‘Oh, you’re just a mechanical engineer so focus only on hardware.’ He’s never stopped me from working on things that appeal to me – and that has really helped expand my skillset and satisfaction working with InDro.

And Ujas?

“It’s been a long journey,” he says. “But a great one.”

 

Below: Ujas (bottom left) and T during a lighter moment with Stephan Tozlov, now Production Manager at InDro Forge

Stephan Tzolov, Ujas Patel, Tirth Gajera

INDRO’S TAKE

 

It has, indeed, been a long and fruitful journey for Ujas and T. We could not be happier that they chose Canada – and that InDro chose them.

“Both T and Ujas are truly valued members of Team InDro,” says Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “They’ve grown with the company and made valuable contributions to many projects. The same kind of work ethic that drove them both during those early and difficult days in Canada is seen every day on the job at Area X.O. We couldn’t be prouder of them, and the journey they’ve made.”

We look forward to continuing our occasional series of profiles of InDro Robotics staff. Up next? Engineering Manager Arron Griffiths.

Stay tuned.

InDro Update: We’ve been busy, busy, busy

InDro Update: We’ve been busy, busy, busy

Aug 16, 2024 | InDro Forge, InDro News, InDro Solutions, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

It’s been a busy summer at InDro Robotics and InDro Forge.

Sure, people have had holidays. But in the R&D world, we don’t have the typical summer slowdown often enjoyed in other sectors. We’ve been busy building new robots, coding new software, carrying out demonstrations for VIPs, signing new contracts and continuing to push innovation boundaries at both our Area X.O and InDro Forge locations.

Area X.O, of course, is our engineering headquarters and the workplace for the bulk of our engineering team. But since we began operating InDro Forge last September, we have significantly expanded capabilities – including new hires. Formerly known as the Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab, InDro Forge (in collaboration with Invest Ottawa) is InDro’s prototype fabrication and integration centre. We take on both custom projects for clients, and also use the equipment and expertise to ‘forge’ much of what goes into InDro products.

And between them both? We’ve been busy, busy, busy.

There are a few projects that we unfortunately cannot reveal due to NDAs. But we can tell you we had a very successful demonstration recently of a quadruped with some amazing autonomy, AI and manipulative capabilities. Wish we could tell you more about that, but we just can’t. Yet.

So let’s get on with what we can talk about. And we’re going to start…with some incredible software we’ve built: InDro Controller.

Remote Control for Robots

INDRO CONTROLLER

 

We are very excited about this new software, completely coded in-house. It’s a complete solution to carrying out remote robotic missions, whether they’re manually teleoperated or fully autonomous.

“It’s an all-in-one data visualization, robot management and robot control software,” Front End Developer RJ Bundy explained earlier. “Whether you’re a student first learning how to use a robot or you’re a commercial giant, you’d be able to manage and maintain all of your robots.”

And yes, by that he means this product is completely robot-agnostic.

The InDro Controller software can be uploaded onto any robot. It can then be remotely and securely accessed by laptop or desktop, with all data encrypted. It automatically detects all sensors on board any UGV, and gives the operator complete control over customisation. Want to display thermal? LiDAR data? Need to zoom in on an object of interest? All of these functions – and many more – can be easily carried out remotely.

One of the features we particularly like is InDro Controller’s ability to remember things. Let’s say, for example, you wanted to plot an autonomous mission. With the display showing you a map of surroundings, you simply drive to a desired spot and perform a function. Suppose (as we’ve done), you wanted to stop, pan, tilt and zoom the camera to a specific object for inspection – something like a pressure gauge or other critical piece of infrastructure. Capture that image just once, and InDro Controller will remember exactly what you did and precisely where you did it. Then you move on to the next inspection point, where perhaps you’d like to capture thermal data.

During that first manual mission, every single action and location were saved. So when the time comes for your next run, you simply click the name of the saved mission and the robot (assuming you have GPS or SLAM autonomy onboard) will automatically carry out precisely what you did the first time. All you have to do is look over the data, or use change detection software to carry out that task on your behalf. You can save as many missions as you can come up with.

Speaking of autonomy, some of our clients carry out their own research and write their own software. For those who don’t, we have two InDro Autonomy stacks available:

“We have a GPS-based autonomy – which is better for outdoors – and then we have a SLAM- (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) based autonomy which is ideal for indoors,” says Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth.

There is also an Academic version available for those who wish to work with their own autonomy stacks. The entire interface is so easy to use, you can literally be up and running and minutes.

Remotely Control Robots

INDRO BUILDS, DELIVERS SWARM

 

There’s long been an interest in swarm robotics, but we’ve noticed an uptick of late.

The concept behind swarms is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A group of individual robots, carrying out tasks on their own while talking to each other, can accomplish far more in a given amount of time than a group of robots operating independently.

“The idea behind swarm robotics is the robots are able to communicate with each other and thus improve their decision-making and data acquisition in a given environment from a real world application standpoint,” explained Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth in this earlier post (which goes into considerable detail about the genesis and purpose of swarm robotics research).

For example, it would be vastly more efficient to scan the interior of a large building with four robots that are communicating with each other – ensuring no two robots cover any of the same space. In an aerial Search and Rescue operation, drones can more efficiently cover a large area as a coordinated team than four people piloting independently.

For research institutions, swarm research can be carried out very economically. As we posted earlier, Boston University has a large fleet of economical LIMO robots carrying out a wide variety of swarm-type research.

Below: The four swarm robots InDro recently built and shipped to a client.

Robosense LiDAR Swarm

ARMED AND READY TO GO

 

Don’t worry. When we say “armed” we’re talking about a robot with an arm. InDro is not – and never will be – involved in the weaponisation of its products.

In this case, an academic client wanted a robot that could carry out tasks requiring manipulation in a very specific setting. The client needed a platform that was easy to operate – and that would have a little extra height for the tasks it has in mind. Working closely with Luke Corbeth and the InDro engineering team, we built a custom robot to their specs. That included metal work carried out at InDro Forge in order to elevate the position of the arm.

“This was our latest mobile manipulation build – designed to do manipulation tasks inside greenhouses. The build is on Hunter SE platform with InDro Commander on board for easy sensor integration,” says Corbeth.

“The client plans on integrating its own existing sensors. We added a custom A-Frame to increase the effective height of the manipulator; the arm is the uFactory xArm6 – a highly capable and cost-effective ROS-based manipulator. They’ll be adding their own end effector suited for their research.”

Those into steering mechanisms might find this bit of interest:

“Typically we do these builds on the Ranger Mini – since omni-directional movement means fine adjustments to get into effective manipulation range – but they were keen on Ackermann for improved stability over long distances,” he adds.

It’s a one-off kind of project, something InDro often does for clients. And it’s definitely one-of-a-kind.

Here it is: Out, standing in its field.

Illinois manipulator

SENTINEL V2

 

Team InDro (along with Team Forge) also designed and built a powerful new iteration of our flagship remote inspection robot, Sentinel. This is a heavy-duty machine intended for the demands of remote infrastructure inspection and monitoring/surveillance.

This was no small task. We integrated multiple powerful sensors, including ZED depth cameras, a 30x optical pan-tilt-zoom, along with multiple LiDAR units for both SLAM and avoiding obstacles and people. And its brains? We’re not sure what the equivalent IQ is, but this UGV is very smart. We integrated the most powerful compute power available from NVIDIA, the Jetson AGX Orin – a powerful 64GB developer kit. You want speed? It can carry out 275 trillion operations per second (TOPS). InDro Autonomy is embedded in Commander, and there’s a Realtime Kinematic (RTK) sensor for centimetre-level positioning accuracy. Oh, we also threw in a ZED BOX (NVIDIA Orin NX), which operates at 100 TOPS.

And the icing on top? It (of couse) works with InDro Controller, enabling users to easily plot and repeat highly detailed autonomous missions.

Sentinel Inspection Robot

A CUSTOM, GROUND-UP BUILD

 

RealLife Robotics, a startup focusing on zero-carbon cargo and last-mile delivery, came to InDro with plans from its own engineering team for a new version of its core delivery UGV, BUBS. InDro Forge is its manufacturing contractor, and – in concert with the additional expertise of our Area X.O staff and in constant communication with the engineers at RLR – got to work.

Though the plans came from RealLife Robotics, every single component from the platform up was fabricated at InDro Forge and integrated by the InDro team – including custom frame, specialised brackets and mounting hardware, sensor integration, cargo bay and sleek exterior shell. That included using the BigRep ONE, a massive 3D printer capable of creating objects up to one cubic metre.

“We’ve built a full skeleton electronic system based on RLR’s designs and a suite of sensors to be able to do the autonomy, as well as an exterior shell that allows them to do remote, last-mile delivery,” says Joel Koscielski, Lead Manufacturing Engineer.

RealLife is currently on a stellar trajectory and is gaining a lot of investor traction. It was recently rewarded with significant funding from the Canadian Food Innovation Network through its FoodTech Next program. It had previously been demonstrating BUBS V1 across the country, and just unveiled the extremely capable new version at a high-profile event at the Toronto Zoo.

“Knowing that the fabricators at Forge have the same depth of engineering experience as our own team builds the trust you need to move fast and meet budgets for a project like this….. The fact they are also a Canadian tech startup and not far away is a bonus,” says RLR Founder and CEO Cameron Waite.

Below: The new BUBS, complete with Zebra wrap for the Toronto Zoo event

RLR BUBS

PEARS, CHERRIES, DRONES AND ROBOTS

 

While the bulk or our operations take place at Area X.O and InDro Forge, we’ve also been busy elsewhere. In this case, in British Columbia. There, we’ve been carrying out precision agriculture work in peach and cherry orchards. It’s part of an ambitious and innovative two-year project – a collaboration between InDro Robotics and the City of Kelowna (enabled with funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agriculture Clean Technology Program).

But this isn’t just any precision agriculture project. Yes, we’re flying multi-spectral missions every two weeks over these farms, then drilling deep into the data to explore all parameters of crop health (chlorophyll levels, nutrients, any indicators of pests or disease etc.). That data provides valuable insights, explains Chief of Flight Operations Dr. Eric Saczuk (who holds a PhD in remote sensing and runs BCIT’s RPAS Hub).

“Is it healthy? Is it not healthy? Is it being productive? Is there chlorophyll? If so, how active is it?” he says.

“These are the kinds of questions we can answer when we do what we call ‘multispectral band combinations.’ And it gives us a really clear picture that cannot be detected by the human eye.”

What truly sets this mission apart is that it’s not just drones involved. InDro will be deploying ground robots, carrying out autonomous missions with their own multispectral sensors. We will then compare the view (and data) from the top-down and the bottom-up.

“This is a way of doing ground-based validation of what we’re seeing from the air,” says Dr. Saczuk.

Once that validation is complete, if there are any areas that require attention then precision spraying will be carried out by an Agras industrial spraying drone, and possibly by ground robots as well.

“Anything in agriculture, the more information you get, you’re not going to be worse off,” says Riley Johnson, a manager at Byrnes Farms – one of the two locations where the project is being carried out.

“Especially for new farmers coming into the industry, any new kind of information can help out ten-fold – particularly if you’re on new land. Any information outside of the Old Farmer’s Almanac is always appreciated.”

Below: Data from the Kelowna project, followed by an image of Dr. Saczuk with the Agras drone

SkyScout Ai Eric Saczuk

WAIT, THERE’S MORE

 

We’ve also built a very sophisticated system involving a jacked-up industrial quadruped (where we’ve installed the InDro Backpack (a smaller version of InDro Commander), along with a manipulator arm and some very special capabilities. Unfortunately we can’t tell you much more about that one, due to NDA. But we can say we had a very successful demonstration for VIPs in late July. We also have another project, currently under wraps, that will set a new bar for autonomous exploration, scanning and mapping. More on that to come.

We also continued to elevate the capabilities of our Street Smart Robot, designed to detect anomalies along bike paths in winter. If the SSR’s AI senses potholes, ice, unexpected obstacles or generally anything that might impede safe cycling, that data can be relayed instantly to municipal maintenance crews. We completed the project and successfully demonstrated its capabilities at Area X.O this summer as well.

In addition, InDro’s Dr. Eric Saczuk and Pilot Jon Chubb helped support SkyScoutAI, an innovative company that’s set to be a game-changer in the detection of wildfires and the protection of critical infrastructure in cities threatened by this growing danger. The company has exclusive rights to an amazing fire suppressant product which can be sprayed with a drone tanker onto the roofs of buildings that may be at risk. What SkyScout is doing is pretty amazing, and it’s worth checking out this read. Dr. Saczuk was also busy this summer carrying out methane detection on behalf of Aerometrix in Michigan.

Come to think of it, I’ve been busy too. In addition to covering all the developments above, we’ve also started to profile some of the members of Team InDro and Team Forge who help us achieve the many things we do. You can take a dive into how we work with clients with this profile of Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth (who set up and ran his own auto-detailing business while in Highschool before making the leap to robots, drones and sales). And, ICYMI, we just published a feature on Forge Project Manager Stephan Tzolov. He nearly became a doctor, but was just too creative for that field. It’s really quite the story.

Below: Luke Corbeth and Stephan Tzolov

 

Stephan Tzolov

INDRO’S TAKE

 

As we said in the headline, it’s been busy, busy, busy. InDro people work hard, regardless of the season (but we do give them time off and reward their hard work). Looking at all of these builds and milestones and projects, we cannot help but be proud.

“The teams at InDro Robotics and InDro Forge are truly world-class,” says Founder and CEO Philip Reece.

“We are fortunate to have an incredible sense of shared spirit and collaboration – along with an amazing collective skillset. I couldn’t be more pleased with their accomplishments – along with the pride they take in their work. And, by the way, I work hard too,” he says with a grin.

We hope you’ve been enjoying your summer. And that you haven’t been quite as busy as we are.

InDro’s Stephan Tzolov: Next-level creativity

InDro’s Stephan Tzolov: Next-level creativity

Aug 14, 2024 | InDro Forge, InDro News, InDro Profile, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

At InDro Robotics, our engineering team is known for being creative. That’s how we come up with innovative solutions – whether they’re inventions like InDro Commander or InDro Controller, or designing and integrating a ground-up robotic solution based on a client’s needs. That’s technical creativity – and every member of the InDro team has that skill in spades.

But there’s another type of creativity – one that involves a truly artistic sense of design; the ability to visualise a beautiful but functional form, design it, and bring it to life. When it comes to those kinds of tasks, we inevitably turn to InDro Forge Project Manager Stephan Tzolov. He’s truly gifted in this realm.

What makes his story particularly interesting is that he initially had plans to become a doctor – and studied biochemistry at Carleton University en route to that goal. He found the topic fascinating, but it was also somewhat dry. It involved (as you can imagine) a lot of memorisation of cold, hard facts – followed by more cold, hard facts. By the time he was in his third year, he was starting to wonder if this truly was his passion.

“I was pretty close to graduating, and I thought: ‘Oh my gosh, this isn’t it.’ It was fascinating, but it wasn’t fulfilling,” he recalls.

That’s when he started doing some soul-searching, and sat down with a good friend. In a nutshell, that friend told him something Tzolov intuitively knew: “‘You’re not built for medicine – you’re too creative for that.’ And then he showed me Industrial Design, and it really was a perfect fit, kind of mixing engineering with creativity.

“I thought: I’d rather be a little unhappy now than unhappy forever. So I pulled the plug.”

He switched to Industrial Design, learning everything from the basics (like how to sketch out an idea) through to a full complement of rendering skills and manufacturing techniques. He loved it, immersing himself in acquiring every possible skill to take something from an idea to a real-world product.

His eight-month capstone project in the course (completed during the peak of the pandemic) was designing and then manufacturing a fully functional propulsion system for SCUBA divers. These images are taken from his graduate presentation. (No, that’s not Stephan in the underwater shot – though people commonly make that assumption. In fact, Stephan deliberately chose someone who kind of looked like him for the image.)

 

Stephan Tzolov grad project
Stephan Tzolov grad project

DESIGN CAREER COMMENCES

 

Stephan’s work at Carleton was impressive. So impressive, that one of his professors (who had also become a mentor) told him he had a job waiting the moment he was done school. And so Stephan jumped in at Ottawa’s Studio 63, a small but award-winning design studio that, says its website, “helps businesses and entrepreneurs make some of the most futuristic and innovative products on the planet.”

If you think about it, virtually every single consumer product in the world (and, potentially, on other planets) involves Industrial Design. Whether it’s a coffee mug or a passenger jet, someone with Industrial Design chops is involved. At Studio 63, Stephan was involved in helping to design everything from high-end audio equipment and automobile features right through to – wait for it – sex toys. Most of these tasks involved not only working with clients on the form factor, where he could unleash his creativity with spectacular designs and renders, right through to electronics and integration.

Then, luckily for InDro, there was a fortuitous bit of synchronicity. InDro Engineering Lead Arron Griffiths knew the head of Studio 63. He had a design project for them which required a high-end shell for a very large ground robot. That robot was being produced for one of the world’s biggest tech companies, so it had to be *perfect.* (We’d love to tell you more, but can’t due to NDA).

Long story short, Stephan produced a shell so sleek and curvaceous and beautiful that it would look right at home in a Batman movie.

“The client loved it,” says Stephan. (In fact, this project turned into a multi-year contract with many of these robots produced, each one covered in that slippery, stealthy grey shell.)

 

HARD BODY VS SURFACE

 

In the engineering world, there are basically two styles of design: hard body and surface.

“So hard body – think of cubes and hard shapes,” explains Tzolov. “Surface modelling is more like organic, it’s more sculptural, it’s more soft. Think of the exterior of a car – it flows, it has a shape, there’s rarely a right angle. It’s all curvature.”

And that shell? Its design flows like a liquid.

Stephan’s abilities and personality impressed Griffiths. Right around that time, things had slowed a bit at Studio 63, partly due to the ongoing pandemic. Stephan’s boss gave him his blessings if he wanted to look around. Soon there was a conversation directly with Griffiths – who saw an ideal fit.

“Stephan was exactly the person we were looking for,” he says. “His shell design was outstanding, and he had exceptional knowledge of production techniques. Plus, he’s just a great person to work with.”

And so, two years ago, Stephan made the jump to InDro, hired as Production Engineer. His skillset quickly became apparent to the entire team. He was not only stellar at rendering, but knew how to take those renders to reality.

Below: A couple of Stephan’s renders – A B1 robot with the InDro Backpack, and an InDro holiday greeting card

Stephan Tzolov
Stephan Tzolov

THE FORGE CONNECTION

 

When InDro took over operations of what was known as the Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab (in collaboration with Invest Ottawa), our manufacturing capabilities took a quantum leap. InDro Forge is stocked with state-of-the-art tools for additive and subtractive manufacturing. We have a CNC machine, an OMAX water jet table, the BigRep ONE large format 3D printer – and a host of other machines and capabilities. Whether it’s producing prototypes or parts for clients, or manufacturing components for InDro Robotics projects, this facility has it all.

It was a perfect fit for Stephan. He already had expertise in multiple manufacturing techniques, and was eager to learn more. He moved over to the Forge facility with the new job title of Applications Engineer, and has since been promoted to Project Manager. He’s now overseeing the Big Picture, often working on the design and fabrication of parts and the integration of electronics and sensors, frequently hand-in-hand with the engineering team at Area X.O.

“The project management side covers things like organizing tasks, keeping keeping track of people’s capacity and who’s available for what at what time. So basically integration is what I’m covering. And when I delegate, I’m often delegating to myself.”

All, while working closely with Lead Engineer Arron Griffiths.

“There’s a lot of cross-pollination,” says Stephan.

But don’t worry, despite his promotion he still gets his hands dirty with all of the tools at Forge (though his hands stay pretty clean while carrying out renders).

 

ONE ROBOT STANDS OUT

 

Stephan has been integral to a lot of projects. That shell for the tech robot remains his highlight.

But one other project also stands out. Prior to Tzolov’s transition to InDro Forge, a client (another global tech company), wanted InDro to produce a robot capable of navigating in spaces crowded with people. It would be deployed in crowded spaces like boardwalks, malls – anywhere there were people around. It was part of a long-term project at that company about autonomous navigation and the human-robot interface. It also had to be tall, with sensors at roughly head height.

Stephan immediately got to work on the renders, as the client was under a tight deadline. But then something happened that made that deadline even more pressing: Engineering Lead Griffiths was taking a couple of weeks off to get married. And he had a tiny request before leaving: Could you please have the robot finished by the time I return?

The task would fall to Stephan, who would be lead on the project, working in conjunction with technologist Ujas Patel. The pair had worked closely together on the aforementioned large ground robot, and the synergy between the two of them was spectacular.

“We had worked shoulder-to-shoulder on that project and were very familiar with each other’s workflow,” says Stephan. “It’s almost like we communicate telepathically.”

Though he’s not a software expert, Stephan had the manufacturing and electro-mechanical chops for the task. In conjunction with Patel’s considerable skills, the two worked long (and we mean long) hours while Arron was away. The project had to be done. And, when the newlywed arrived back at the office, it was. What’s more, the client was unbelievable happy when it received the end product. Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth, who had put the deal together, received an absolutely glowing email from the client: They loved the design, the form factor, the functionality. It was, they said, perfect.

“That was just the cherry on top,” says Tzolov.

Below: Stephan working on the robot, under the gun. Image two: Stephan with Area X.O colleagues Ujas Patel (left) and technologist Tirth Gajera (also known in the shop as “T”)

Stephan Tzolov
Stephan Tzolov, Ujas Patel, Tirth Gajera

A PERFECT FIT

 

Stephan Tzolov has had quite the journey. (If we want to go way back, he was born in Canada but spent his early years in Bulgaria. When he started school in Canada he spoke only Bulgarian.)

But we’re talking here more about his recent journey – that soul-searching decision to leave medicine and enter Industrial Design. It was exactly the right choice for Tzolov. His enthusiasm for seeing his creations come to life gives him tremendous satisfaction. He literally beams when describing how much he loves what he does.

“It’s freaking awesome,” he says.

“It’s so interesting when you have an idea – it almost becomes its own weirdly living thing. Creating something robotic on a design, mechanical and electrical level that lives and breathes wasn’t something I thought of doing before coming on board with InDro. I absolutely love making things. So this job is really cool. Actually, it’s the coolest ever.”

And those long hours that some projects involve? Not a problem. InDro recognises – and rewards – hard work.

“Arron has always taken care of me when it comes to work. It’s like, you work hard – and you get to rest hard. You put in crazy overtime and it gets noted, and you’re compensated in one way or another. There’s a mutual respect and appreciation for one another at InDro. I have never complained to my partner about work politics or interpersonal stuff, because there’s never any issue. Everyone here is on the same page.”

Below: That crowd-avoiding robot, completed to an exceedingly tight timeline

Stephan Tzolov

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Like all InDro employees, Stephan Tzolov is a valued team member. And like his colleagues, he has specific skills that contribute immensely to what InDro produces. We plan on profiling other members of Team InDro in the future, but wanted to take a moment to acknowledge Stephan’s particularly creative skillset.

“Everyone at InDro has specific strengths and knows how to work well in a team environment toward our common goals,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “That’s one of the things I believe truly sets InDro apart. Stephan’s creativity, along with his manufacturing knowledge and electrical and mechanical capabilities are a valuable asset to InDro Forge and InDro Robotics as a whole. I’m sure he would have made a great doctor, but we’re definitely pleased he opted for that career change.”

Every single InDro employee brings something special to the company. This time, it was Stephan’s turn to be highlighted. We look forward to introducing you to other members of Team InDro down the road.