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Qualifying ‘Essential’ News
Each week the editors of Robotics Business Review (RBR) select those announcements judged to be the most important and impactful to the readers of RBR. Below are the selections for the interval ranging from December 25, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Flexiv Closes US $100 Million Series B Round
Dec 31, 2020
Flexiv Limited, a producer of collaborative robots which integrate force control, computer vision and AI, has closed a Series B round for US $100 million+. Investors included Meituan, Meta Capital, New Hope Group, Longwood, YF Capital, Gaorong Capital, GSR Ventures and Plug and Play. Flexiv secured a Series A+ investment of USD $22 million in 2019.
Distalmotion Receives European CE Mark for Dexter Surgical Robot
Dec 29, 2020
Distalmotion, a Swiss-based developer of surgical robotics technologies, announced that it received European CE Mark for its surgical robot Dexter. The system is now certified for clinical use in Europe.
China Issues First Standard for Deliveries by Unmanned Aircraft
Dec 29, 2020
The State Post Bureau of the People’s Republic of China has released the specification for delivery services by unmanned aerial vehicles (Drones). The standard becomes effective January 1, 2021. The Standard was jointly formulated by industry-leading players including EHang, online retailer JD.com, and ZTO Express.
U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Final Rules for Drone Flights
December 28, 2020
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the final two rules for Unmanned Aircraft (drones) flights. The 1) Remote ID rule mandates identification of drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations , and 2) the Operations Over People and at Night describes how operators of small drones fly over people and at night under certain conditions. Both rules will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The Remote ID rule includes two compliance dates. Drone manufacturers will have 18 months to begin producing drones with Remote ID, with operators having an additional year to start using drones with Remote ID.
Alpine 4 Technologies Acquires Vayu US
Dec 28, 2020
Alpine 4 Technologies announced today that it has entered into a binding LOI with Vayu (U.S.), a developer of high-performance vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) hybrid propulsion-based, autonomous aircraft. Vayu will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Alpine 4. Vayu and Alpine 4 expect to have the closing conditions met by January 10th, 2021.
United Capital Closed a Strategic Investment in HiRobot
December 26,2020
Chinese strategic investment firm United Capital announced that it had closed an investment round with HiRobot Technology Company, a mobile robot system integrator and developer of mobile security robots. aiming to go public in three years and become the first stock of domestic intelligent security robot. The funding will be used for strategic planning, business development and capital operation, with an eye to going public within three years.
International Industry Society in Advanced Rehabilitation Technology Elects Fourier Intelligence CEO Zen Koh as Industry Ambassador
December 26,2020
The International Industry Society in Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART), an advocacy society that promotes healthcare technology for rehabilitation consisting of 25 industry-leading company members and five associate members, named Zen Koh and Dr Gery Colombo to become the industry group’s inaugural ambassadors. Koh is Co-Founder and Group Deputy Group CEO of Fourier Intelligence, while Colombo is the Founder and former CEO of Hocoma AG. The ambassadors are chartered with expanding IISART’s global network of associate members and corporate partners.
