InDro Controller, Cortex and VR Humanoid push the envelope

InDro Controller, Cortex and VR Humanoid push the envelope

Mar 26, 2026 | Humanoids, InDro Solutions, Scott Simmie, VR Humanoid

By Scott Simmie

 

We’ve all seen the videos on LinkedIn or elsewhere by now: A humanoid robot, doing incredible gymnastic feats. Or perhaps it’s toiling away in a factory, moving boxes from one location to another – maybe even tightening a bolt. They’re not AI videos – they (or at least most of them) are indeed real.

They leave an indelible impression – that a humanoid can simply be dropped into a complex environment and immediately get to work on its own. That day will undoubtedly come, but it’s at least several years down the road. And so while those videos are real, they’re not actually realistic. The actions these robots are carrying out represent countless hours of coding and simulation work for each and every specific task. Humanoids are definitely not “Plug And Play” – and won’t be for quite some time.

For InDro, that gap between existing capabilities and the demand for humanoids that can do more represented both a challenge, and an opportunity. What if, we thought, we could create a system where a human being could remotely control a humanoid with a highly intuitive interface? What’s more, what if we could use that system to easily train a humanoid to carry out those same tasks in the future completely on its own?

That’s precisely what we did. Using a combination of our InDro Cortex brain-box, our InDro Controller software interface, and a Virtual Reality headset and hand controllers (plus a lot of our own coding), we’ve developed a system that allows a humanoid to be fully operated by a human being who can see what the robot sees in 3D. This not only allows these modified humanoids to be put to use in an environment where you wouldn’t want to send people – but can be used to train the humanoid to carry out repeatable tasks autonomously in future.

We recently demonstrated these capabilities at the big Mobile World Congress in Spain. Ericsson invited us to display as a way to highlight the power that its private 5G networks enable. Below, Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth explains the basics.

INDRO’S VR HUMANOID

 

Trying to control a stock humanoid with a factory remote is usually a challenging and non-intuitive task. It can be cumbersome, frustrating work.

Now picture instead donning a 4K Virtual Reality headset and holding hand controllers. You can see what the robot is seeing. The arms follow where your arms move. The hands clasp when you want them to; the wrist articulates. And if you want even finer control over the hands, there’s another option we’ve programmed.

“We support hand tracking as well, so you could ditch the controllers and have the headset track your hand movements and finger positions themselves,” explains InDro’s Front End Developer, RJ Bundy. In other words, the headset’s camera translates your precise hand and finger movements directly into action on the humanoid. What’s more, you can monitor multiple data streams through the headset using Augmented Reality.

Already, we have clients putting these humanoids into hazardous environments.

“We’re seeing strong interest from places like nuclear sites, where you don’t necessarily want to send in a person. It’s a powerful tool for remote telepresence, allowing experts to step into wherever they need to be without actually having to physically be there.”

What’s more, the actions carried out by the human can be used to train the robot to carry out such tasks autonomously down the road.

“Every teleoperative movement can be recorded as motion data,” says Bundy. “We then use that data to train the robot so it learns context, balance – the nuances of real human motion. And then, over time, those recordings help accelerate our autonomy. It allows the robot to repeat tasks more independently without a human having to control it every time.”

The VR humanoid is an impressive step on the road to full autonomy. And it’s made possible by two other InDro innovations.

 

INDRO CORTEX, INDRO CONTROLLER

 

InDro is known for our custom robotic builds for industry, research, defence and more. Nearly every single robot (or drone) that leaves our manufacturing facility is outfitted with both InDro Cortex and InDro Controller. (The rare occasions when they’re not are when researchers want to test or build their own solutions.)

InDro Cortex is a very small, very powerful AI compute unit we integrate with the robot and its various sensors. It comes pre-loaded with InDro Controller software, which is our interface with the robot, allowing you to carry out everything from manually controlled missions through to fully autonomous missions, including Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) in unfamiliar environments. We have four tiers of Controller available, depending on use-cases. InDro Controller also enables ultra low-latency operations over 5G, meaning you can operate a robot or drone remotely anywhere there’s a cellular signal (or local WiFi network).

With powerful AI and Machine Vision capabilities, Cortex is the brain behind our devices, including the VR humanoid. With Controller onboard, you simply log in via an encrypted browser. Data from every sensor onboard is at your fingertips in the intuitive console. Want to program a robot for a regular surveillance or asset monitoring mission? It’s simple, including having the robot stop at particular points of interest to inspect gauges, measure temperatures, etc. Need to add an additional sensor? Cortex provides power distribution, sensor fusion, and can instantly detect and integrate any ROS 2-enabled sensor, saving countless hours of integration hassle for clients.

It’s the incredible power – and synergy – of Cortex and Controller that enable all of our powerful robots. And those two provided the foundation which enabled (with a lot of dedicated engineering) our new VR humanoid. It can be put to use immediately with intuitive manual control, learning the tasks it can one day carry out autonomously.

Below: InDro Cortex and InDro Controller also power our new surveillance and inspection quadruped, Prowler. It’s available as shown for $50k CAD and autonomously returns after missions to wirelessly recharge

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We received incredible feedback at the Mobile World Congress in Spain for our VR humanoid. Attendees instantly understood the ease of operation – and the gap this product fills as we advance toward completely independent, fully autonomous humanoids that will one day be working alongside humans in multiple settings.

“I’m extremely pleased with our Area X.O engineering team and the work it has accomplished in making this VR humanoid a reality,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We have already shipped to a client for hazardous environment operations, with other VR humanoids being integrated as we speak. It’s a great example not only of the power of Cortex and Controller – but also our ability to build upon these innovations in new and highly useful ways.”

A Security Robot With Superpowers for $50k: Meet Prowler

A Security Robot With Superpowers for $50k: Meet Prowler

Feb 11, 2026 | InDro Cortex, InDro Prowler, InDro Solutions, Industry 4.0, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

It wasn’t long ago that purchasing a reliable, robust robot for routine inspection and security patrols could easily cost you $200,000. That was obviously a fair chunk of change – and a pretty substantial barrier to entry for many companies.

InDro’s new Prowler changes the game. Capable of either remote teleoperation or fully autonomous, repeatable missions, Prowler’s wheeled quadruped platform can go just about anywhere: Up and down stairs, over obstacles – it can even clamber over low fences. With 360° high-def video and an ultra-wide LiDAR (360° x 90°), Prowler spots everything in (and even behind) its path.

“Prowler has extremely dynamic terrain traversal capabilities and it’s outfitted to be both tele-operated and also run autonomous missions,” explains Luke Corbeth, InDro’s Head of R&D Sales. “It captures photos, video, can conduct two-way audio – and perform many other functions. So it’s suited to a wide variety of verticals.”

Think construction sites or factory floors. Museums or shopping malls. Truly, Prowler is suitable for pretty much any situation where you might want a 24/7 security guard keeping a close watch on things,

Below: The InDro Prowler, a highly modified wheeled quadruped purpose-built for security and monitoring purposes. 

Prowler

POWERED BY CORTEX

 

The platform and sensors are one thing. But what really gives Prowler the edge is our Cortex brain-box. The InDro device contains very powerful compute and AI capabilities, and allows for the seamless integration of additional sensors, including power distribution. Contained within our InDro Backpack, Cortex comes with our InDro Controller interface pre-loaded, 5G and 4G connectivity, as well as WiFi 6.

That means Prowler can be remotely tele-operated from pretty much anywhere. A human in the loop can monitor and control Prowler’s missions, seeing all data (including realtime video and LiDAR data) with imperceptible lag. InDro Autonomy, our powerful software stack that enables everything from pre-programmed to SLAM missions, can be added on as an option. Prowler comes ready for wireless charging, and can snug up at its home base to be ready for the next mission. And if a client wants to add additional sensors, it’s a snap.

“Absolutely. This has incredible functionality out-of-the-box, but we don’t want the road to stop there,” says Corbeth. “So we still provide the development tools that our clients are accustomed to receiving from us. But the amount of functionality that comes with Prowler is really what makes this an intriguing solution.”

 

OPTIONS FOR ANY USE-CASE

 

Prowler comes with ultra-wide hemispherical LiDAR, a top-mounted 360° camera (with seamless stitching), a forward-facing HD camera, and two-way audio for communicating with anyone it encounters. Prefer a Point-Tilt-Zoom camera or thermal option? No problem. Prowler can be configured in multiple ways, depending on your use-case. We can even pop on a powerful spotlight.

And while Prowler is already highly capable, we plan to add additional features in future that leverage its powerful AI and Machine Vision capabilities.

“Think person detection, animal detection, various other features that turn what the robot is seeing into actionable intelligence – and even actions as well,” says Corbeth. “So down the road, Prowler could send text messages to security teams, perhaps notifying local authorities, things of that nature.”

Weighing just 20 kilograms, Prowler can take on additional eight kilos in payload. And when it’s on a flat surface, this robot zips along at 2.5 metres/second (nine kilometres/hour) on missions that can last as long as 2.5 hours before returning to self-charge. Whether it’s monitoring a critical asset, doing routine security and perimeter runs, Prowler is a robust, powerful and affordable solution. You can find full specs on our package and options here.

Below: This video gives you an idea of the kind of terrain Prowler can tackle.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

This robot contains multiple InDro innovations, including our new and powerful Cortex, as well as InDro Controller, which makes tele-operation (and autonomous missions, with the optional InDro Autonomy software) a breeze. A lot of engineering has gone into these products, and they’ve been designed to work together. Deployments of Prowler are now underway, and we’re taking additional orders. 

“Prowler fills a void in the marketplace,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “I’m not aware of any inspection robot with these capabilities at this price point – other than Prowler. Once again, the InDro R&D engineering team has created a groundbreaking solution suited to multiple use-cases, with the option to further customise for client needs. Prowler means business – and in more than one way.”

Want to continue the conversation or arrange for a demo? Contact Luke Corbeth here.

Adopting inspection robots: Perceived barriers and solutions

Adopting inspection robots: Perceived barriers and solutions

Dec 2, 2025 | InDro Solutions, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Some companies – and we’ve built for them – have plunged head-first into the adoption of industrial inspection robots. They’re perfect for routinely inspecting assets like electrical substations, refineries, construction sites – the list goes on (and on). InDro robots are currently hard at work on multiple sites – and in more than one country.

Yet still, some potential clients hesitate.

So we thought we’d take the pulse with a survey. Here’s the question we asked, via LinkedIn: “Which of the following challenges do you think is the biggest barrier preventing companies from adopting industrial inspection robots?” Here were the choices:

  • Initial investment
  • Integrating existing systems
  • Terrain/environment challenges
  • Power and endurance

And here…are the results:

Inspection Robot survey

PERCEPTIONS…AND SOLUTIONS

 

So let’s tackle those concerns.

Initial investment is holding back 20 per cent of respondents from taking the plunge. Fair enough. Robots aren’t cheap. A fully customised solution with multiple sensors capable of regular, autonomous inspections in a demanding environment has traditionally cost $100k+ (and still can). Clients wonder if the investment will result in a positive ROI.

“With any new technology tackling any new use-case, it can be challenging to build an ROI calculation right out of the gate because you can’t truly know until you get it out in the field and and are able to use it in the actual desired use-case,” says Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth.

But he points out that many clients, once they have purchased a robot, discover that it not only offers ROI for the intended task, but that it can handle ancillary use-cases they hadn’t even considered at the outset. That, he says, has resulted in greater return on investment than some clients initially calculated. The other factor Luke points out is that the last couple of years have seen more powerful solutions appear at lower price points.

“Even two years ago, if you wanted a system capable of multi-level inspection, you had to go with an industrial-sized robot, right? You needed something like the Unitree B2 or Boston Dynamics Spot. Those would run you six figures before you even outfit it with software, cameras, acoustic sensors etc.” says Corbeth.

 
By contrast, highly agile and capable machines like the Go2-W (a wheeled quadruped that InDro can modify for any use-case) is much more affordable, allowing clients to invest even as a proof-of-concept. (The Go2-W, seen below, is capable of handling even the most demanding terrain, including stairs, steep inclines, and debris. It can even climb over short fences.)
wheeled quadruped

INTEGRATING EXISTING SYSTEMS

 

This, according to our survey, was the biggest stumbling block. A full sixty per cent of respondents identified this as a barrier to adopting industrial inspection robots. In all likelihood, these are companies that have legacy systems in place that have served them well – and the perceived complexity of integrating a new robot seems daunting. As Corbeth puts it: “Change is inherently hard.”

But there are solutions – ways for newer robots to capture and integrate data into existing systems, even if they are somewhat dated. Yes, there may be friction. But it’s not the barrier some perceive. InDro’s systems are Open Source/Open Architecture, allowing in-house engineers (or our own) to easily customise the software so the data and your existing system can co-exist in harmony.

Some sectors also use what’s known as “vertical specific” software, meaning systems built for say, the Oil and Gas sector, warehouses (WMS), mining, etc. But that’s not the roadblock some may perceive, says Corbeth.

“As long as the client is willing to expose an API (Application Programming Interface) to us, it’s relatively easy to point all of the data there. So instead of that data being manually collected and uploaded, now it’s automatically captured through autonomous missions and then automatically uploaded over whatever communications infrastructure the client already has.”

Understanding existing client systems and integration concerns is a key part of our discovery process with new clients. We ensure, from the outset, that integration will be as seamless as possible.

 

TERRAIN, POWER, ENDURANCE

 

None of the respondents indicated terrain was an issue. And perhaps that’s not a surprise. The latest generation of platforms, particularly wheeled quadrupeds like the Go2-W, can glide or clamber over just about anything. Tracked platforms can handle mud and snow. There are solutions for virtually every terrain.

Power and endurance are another matter. No one wants an inspection robot that can’t finish the job. In fact, twenty per cent of those who voted in our survey identified this as a concern. And who wants the hassle of plugging something in to recharge after a mission?

The reality is that there have been gains in both power and endurance with the latest generation of platforms. What’s more, InDro can customise any robot to autonomously dock with a wireless charging station so it’s ready for the next mission with no human intervention. Says Corbeth: “It’s pretty much a non-issue at this point.”

With all that being said, there are some unrealistic expectations out there, fuelled by slick videos – particularly of humanoid robots – doing amazing things. If you think you can just buy a humanoid and it’s going to be picking tomatoes the next day while interacting with human beings, think again. Modifying humanoids to flawlessly carry out human tasks takes a lot of work. But many use-cases (particularly for non-humanoid robots) are what Corbeth describes as “low-hanging fruit” – meaning tasks that have massive value implications, are easy to integrate, and get the job done.

“That’s where the sweet spot is,” he says.

Below: Our answers to concerns about integration in a slide format.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We feel this survey was a useful exercise. It identified common barriers, and gave us an opportunity to set the record straight. The perceived obstacles aren’t really obstacles at all – but engineering challenges. And that’s where InDro excels.

“InDro has built many inspection robots for clients, some of whom had the same initial concerns,” says company Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “Those robots are currently carrying out regular inspections, wirelessly recharging, and heading out to work again the next day or week. Good engineering is all about problem-solving, and we love finding solutions.”

Interested? You can contact Luke to set up a no-obligation discovery call right here.

InDro Forge: Building custom robots – including for hazardous environments

InDro Forge: Building custom robots – including for hazardous environments

Nov 14, 2025 | Humanoids, InDro Forge, InDro News, InDro Solutions, Quadrupeds, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

You’ve likely heard of InDro Forge by now. It’s our custom fabrication, prototyping and limited production-run facility based in Ottawa.

InDro began operations there in September of 2023, taking over from what had been the Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab. Since then, we have continued to scale and expand capabilities – including the complexity of the custom robots and drones we manufacture for clients (and for InDro itself).

It has transitioned from focussing on one-off prototypes to basically becoming a growing robotics factory – and is now a very busy place. That’s why we thought it would be a good time to check in with Hardware Engineering Manager Joel Koscielski.

“We’ve hired additional staff to enhance our ability to design, integrate and test even highly complex custom builds,” he says. “In addition to our broad set of fabrication tools, we have industrial designers who make sure our robots look fantastic. We have software specialists who ensure our products are very user-friendly, and electronics engineers that are able to push our custom PCBs (printed circuit boards) into the next level of technology and capability.”

Above: A humanoid modified with the InDro Backpack, enabling remote tele-operations, autonomous missions, additional sensor integration, wireless charging – and more. Below: Our popular InDro Commander, a ROS2 brainbox that enables easy sensor integration, autonomy and SLAM, remote tele-operations – you name it.

ROS2 Module for Autonomous Robots

INDRO PRIORITIES

 

There’s obviously regular communication about projects across the entire InDro team. One of our regular all-hands meetings is called InDro Priorities, where we review progress and timelines on all builds underway. Sometimes a project is a one-off custom robot or drone for a client – but it’s frequently multiple robots being assembled for industrial or academic clients in Canada, the US – and far beyond. That project list has grown steadily since InDro Forge began, and now includes many projects. So it’s a busy place – and the scaling continues.

Plus, of course, Forge works closely with the entire InDro Robotics engineering team – offering a vast array of expertise for any desired solution.

A key ingredient to the overall process is Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth. Though not an engineer, Luke is incredibly knowledgeable – and exceedingly thorough in ensuring he has a complete understanding of client requirements in terms of use-case, sensors, compute, autonomy – the list goes on. So InDro Forge (in conjunction with InDro Robotics), spends a lot of time before even the preliminary design process to ensure that what is ultimately produced will satisfy or exceed customer expectations.

“I have to give a big shout-out to Luke Corbeth,” says Koscielski. “He does a lot of work with our clients to make sure he understands their needs…so that when the product is delivered, it’s everything they need it to be.”

 

QUADRUPEDS, HUMANOIDS AND THE THREE “D”s

 

One of the shifts that’s occurred since InDro Forge was developed is the increasing demand for quadrupeds and humanoids. Quadrupeds are extremely agile and handle stairs, inclines and obstacles with ease. That makes them ideal for challenging and unpredictable environments. We’ve even integrated arms and manipulators on quadrupeds, enabling them to flick switches or pick up and transport objects.

And humanoids? InDro Forge can enable these (and anything else) with additional hardware and software for remote tele-operations, wireless charging, autonomy and SLAM – you name it. These machines are increasingly being integrated into factory settings to work alongside people.

“Humanoids are certainly the it technology right now in the robotic space,” says Koscielski. “With humanoids, it’s that push to really find a way to build robots that are able to easily or effectively integrate themselves into a world that was already designed for humans.” In other words, with the right enhancements from Forge a humanoid can start carrying out tasks alongside people – with no infrastructure changes required.

And remember that old maxim – that robots are perfect for jobs that are dirty, dull or dangerous? We’ve modified quadrupeds for inspections in nuclear facilities and other hazardous environments, with multiple other projects (under NDA) underway. But let’s say you need to go inside an unstable structure, or a mineshaft that hasn’t had a human inside in decades.

“We can de-risk the entire situation… knowing that if for some reason something bad happens, it’s just a robot down there. It can be rebuilt and replaced. The other part is when the issue is not necessarily structural, but environmental.”

Think, for example, of a facility where there’s radioactivity, asbestos, or some other hazard that could jeopardise the health of a human. Increasingly, our clients are dispatching robots into these situations, complete with custom-made protective suits for quick decontamination. In fact, one of our modified quadrupeds has been scanning legacy fuel rod storage bays, complete with a protective suit. You’ll find that story here.

Below: Our Cortex Lite brainbox – a device that vastly enhances robotic capabilities and flexibility – can be integrated onto any platform by the team at InDro Forge

Cortex Lite
Cortex Lite

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We knew when we launched InDro Forge it would greatly enhance our ability to fulfil in-house, end-to-end production of custom products for our clients. Starting with a small but dedicated team, we had a vision for what it might become. And we have been executing on that vision ever since.

“InDro Forge is absolutely integral to our operations and capacity,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “What’s more, the continued expansion and capabilities will be critical to our future. The synergy between the Forge and Area X.O teams is exceptional, and we look forward to continuing to innovate, build and scale.”

Some of the projects underway are so specialised they have never been attempted before, and we look forward to releasing details when we can.

If you’ve got a concept for a highly specialised robot – or even something more basic – InDro Forge can turn that vision into reality. Luke Corbeth is always up for a no-pressure chat.

CBC Interviews InDro Founder/CEO Philip Reece on the new Federal budget

CBC Interviews InDro Founder/CEO Philip Reece on the new Federal budget

Nov 4, 2025 | In the media, InDro News, InDro Solutions, Industry News, Innovation, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Canada’s new budget was unveiled Monday, November 4.

Delivered by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, there was a lot of focus on technology and defence – both for global competitiveness and to reflect a changing geopolitical world. CBC carried extensive live coverage of the event, which included an interview on the program The House with InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece on a panel.

The headline for the tech sector? A massive investment in defence spending, which includes dual-purpose technologies, meaning they can be utilised both for defence and industrial/civilian purposes. And the money? It’s big, including $81.8B over five years to rebuild, rearm, and invest in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Here’s a breakdown:

  • $17.9 billion over five years to expand Canada’s military capabilities including investments in additional logistics utility, light utility, and armoured vehicles, counter-drone and DRONE long-range capabilities, and domestic production, among other investments.
  • $6.6 billion to support the Defence Industrial Strategy
  • $6.2 billion over five years to expand Canada’s defence partnerships, including military assistance to Ukraine.

The Defence Industrial Strategy is new – and Canada’s first-ever such strategy. Details will be released in the coming months. But during the recent GCXpo in Ottawa, Defence Minister David McGuinty explained that it will lean heavily on Canada’s technology innovators.

“This is what I do know, and for sure: I know that at the heart of the strategy is you. The innovators, the investors, the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, and the startups. You’re going to help us develop the dual-use technologies that are going to shape the future of defence and security,” he said.

Below: Dual-purpose technologies, such as our Sentinal inspection robot, could play a significant role in Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy.

Industrial Inspection Robots

CANADA STRONG

 

It was clear from Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s opening remarks that this would be a very different kind of budget.

“The world is undergoing a series of fundamental shifts at a speed, scale, and scope not seen since the fall of the Berlin Wall,” he said.

“The rules-based international order and the trading system that powered Canada’s prosperity for decades are being reshaped – threatening our sovereignty, our prosperity, and our values….Budget 2025 represents the largest defence investment in decades.”

And perhaps most revelant for this sector?

“With our new Defence Investment Agency and Defence Industrial Strategy, we will build up Canada’s defence industry – strengthening Canadian businesses and supporting Canadian workers…We will further build our security and defence capabilities, right here at home – creating new jobs for our engineers, technicians and scientists in sectors such as aerospace, shipbuilding, cybersecurity, and AI.”

In many ways, the budget signified that Canada is at a critical turning point. And while it wasn’t all focused on defence and innovation, there was a striking emphasis on these areas. And that means challenges – and opportunities – right across the entire technology sector.

“This is about more than one company; it’s about building a Canadian defence ecosystem,” says Reece. 

 

INNOVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD

 

The world is changing in unprecedented ways. The stability of geopolitics we’ve traditionally enjoyed is now much more uncertain. Significant conflicts, using newer technologies, are in the news every day. So it was no surprise the Canada Strong budget emphasized this country needs to advance its capabilities.

Following the budget, CBC’s The House interviewed a panel that included InDro Robotics Founder/CEO Philip Reece for his reaction from the technology sector. He started by touching on the budget’s potential to help grow SMEs, which are really the backbone of bringing new technologies to the fore.

“This budget is a strong start for that,” he said. “Now…we need the Canadian government to follow through and allow innovators like InDro – and the many others that are out there – to really compete and become those global companies that we deserve to be.”

Part of that plan will be contained in the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, which will be released in the months to come. As previously hinted by Canada’s Minister of Defence, this strategy will rely heavily on technology entrepreneurs ranging from startups and SMEs through to major corporations. 

InDro Robotics invents and manufacture technologies that have already assisted the Department of Defence and have carried out work directly for the Ministry. (Most recently, InDro and partner CHAAC Technologies carried out a demonstration for the DoD of an AI land mine detection project that fuses drones, ground robots, and a neural network.)

Devices like our dual-purpose Sentinel inspection robot can be put to work in the field for reconnaissance, and our InDro Cortex greatly enhances the capabilities of a wide range of existing devices – including military vehicles and drones. We also have extensive expertise in customised drone and Counter-UAS technologies.

“It’s the same kind of technology now that can be rapidly swapped over to defence,” Reece told The House. “And we have seen that sort of build over the last couple of years, but it needs to build faster. 

“InDro Robotics is ready to deliver on Canada’s defence vision. We have the tech, the talent, and the ambition, now we need a clear path from government that allows us to grow and meet the moment,” says Reece.

Below: Philip’s interview on CBC’s The House, followed by an image of our Cortex – a dual-purpose InDro innovation that can be used for defence, industrial and civilian purposes

InDro Cortex ICRA 2025

INDRO’S TAKE

 

It is indeed a changing world. And we’re pleased (and relieved) to see the Government of Canada recognise the important role that technological innovation will play in our future sovereignty and security. InDro Robotics, and many other tech companies in this country, are ready to answer this call.

“The Canada Strong budget marks a pivotal moment for Canada’s defence and economic resilience,” says InDro Robotics Founder/CEO Philip Reece.

“InDro Robotics welcomes the increased investment and urges the government to now deliver a clear strategy to help Canadian businesses grow into true global leaders, capable of supplying the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools and equipment they need and supporting Canada’s trade diversification goals. It is indeed a challenge, and we are up for it.”

We look forward to the forthcoming details of Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, and will update you at that time.

What makes an effective research and development robot?

What makes an effective research and development robot?

Mar 18, 2025 | Engineering, InDro Solutions, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

At InDro Robotics, we sell a lot of robots and drones for the purpose of research and development.

Those devices range all the way from small and highly affordable out-of-the-box solutions like the LIMO PRO right through to highly complex builds for some of the largest technology companies in the world. And that image above? A recent build with a manipulator arm (and many other capabilities) for a client.

But what makes for an effective R&D robot? We put that question to Luke Corbeth, Head of R&D sales. Broadly speaking, he identifies four pillars of research when it comes to R&D. They are:

  • Control
  • Planning
  • Perception
  • Interaction

In fact, Corbeth recently pulled together a graphic explaining these pillars:

R&D Research Pillars Luke Corbeth

CROSSOVER AND CUSTOMIZATION

 

While the four pillars are all distinct, they’re not mutually exclusive. R&D might include both planning and perception, or any other combination of the above. And the focus of the R&D will obviously inform what sensors – even what locomotion – are ultimately required. Does the robot need autonomy, or will the client be coding their own autonomy stack? Is Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) required? Does the robot need to be able to navigate stairs? For our clients, these questions are all discussed in great detail during an initial discovery call with Corbeth.

Sometimes, particularly in lab-based work, an out-of-the-box solution may be all that’s necessary. At Boston University, for example, they have a fleet of LIMOs deployed in the lab for research on multi-agent systems (and other areas). R&D in the field, by contrast, generally calls for a larger and more robust type of robot.

“A project in the lab often means you can get away with a smaller platform,” says Corbeth. “And when people are trying to tackle problems in the real world they’re often using larger platforms.”

While this is generally true, there’s no question some indoor R&D can require incredibly sophisticated robots. One of our more complex builds, which we affectionately named Rosie, is a dual-manipulator robot designed for the Industry 4.0 setting. In fact, the entire lab itself is built for 4IR – with a suite of interconnected devices that share data not only within that location itself, but also with other R&D labs. (It’s actually a super interesting project, which we explored in detail here.)

Regardless, the planned R&D will inform what’s needed – including platform, sensors, etc. That’s where InDro has extensive expertise, not only in integration but in having tested and proven the components themselves. And that saves clients a lot of time and energy.

“If every client or research lab had to build a robot from scratch, it would take them a lot longer to get to the point where they need to be,” explains Corbeth. “And that’s largely why we come into the picture. We help jumpstart these projects and get them to their end goal much faster.”

Because InDro has years of experience building both custom robots for clients and our own products, we’ve learned – sometimes painfully – which components and platforms offer the best value and reliability. And, in conjunction with InDro Forge, we have the expertise for seamless integration,

“We’ve tested a wide range of different hardware and configurations,” he says. “We’ve basically swallowed that pill already so that our clients don’t have to.”

Plus, of course, if a customer already has some components they want to use, such as a pricey LiDAR, we can customise a package to exclude that and save the end-user money.

Below: Rosie, a dual-manipulator mobile robot we built for pick-and-place in a lab doing Industry 4.0 research

 

Rosie

PLUS, OF COURSE, OPEN SOURCE

 

Everything we sell, when it comes to robots, is Open Source and nearly always with ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2). This is a significant upgrade from ROS 1, which relied on a Master-Slave architecture. By making that architecture more distributed (eliminating that central ROS Master), ROS 2 reduces single points of failure and is more scalable. It’s also what those in the R&D space generally want, as Open Source allows them to easily pull in pre-existing code suitable to their research.

“The main thing with Open Source is not having to start at zero. If everything was Closed Source, you’d have to do everything from scratch,” says Corbeth. “That’s the value of Open Source; you’re building off of the discoveries of your peers, and that dramatically expedites progress for everyone who is Open-Sourcing their projects.”

And a final thing worth mentioning? Support. InDro has built a solid reputation for its after-sale support. From warranties and remote troubleshooting through to site visits (on the rare occasions that becomes necessary), we back what we build. We believe in minimising downtime for our clients so they can get on with R&D.

And remember those four R&D pillars? It’s a great top-level view. But Corbeth also took the time to drill down within those themes to take a far more detailed look at research areas and use-cases. It’s amazing the number of areas where research is taking place (and there are likely even more that could be added):

R&D Research Themes Luke Corbeth

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We’re in kind of a unique position when it comes to helping clients requiring robots or drones for Research and Development – because we’re an R&D company ourselves. In addition to finding the best solution for customers (whether it’s out-of-the-box or a complex custom build), we are continuously developing our own products. Some of those products, like InDro Commander and the forthcoming InDro Cortex have been designed for those clients who want to build or modify their own robots with ease. We truly understand the R&D journey – and have something of a special affinity for clients in that space.

“From the very outset, InDro Robotics was formed as a Research and Development company, so we truly get it,” says Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “It’s in the interests of the entire robotics industry to see advances in the R&D space – so we’re always happy to assist with solutions from the simple to the complex. It really is what we do.”

Want to continue the conversation? Feel free to contact us here. He’s always happy to talk robotics with zero pressure.