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Delivery robot startup Serve Robotics raises $13 million in seed funding round

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Serve Robotics, an autonomous sidewalk delivery robot company, has closed a $13 million expanded seed funding round.

The companies participating were strategic investors Uber Technologies; Delivery Hero backed DX Ventures; 7-Eleven’s corporate venture arm, 7-Ventures; and Wavemaker Partners’ food automation focused venture studio Wavemaker Labs.

The new round extends Serve’s previous seed funding and includes participation by existing seed investors Neo, Western Technology Investment, and Scott Banister among others. [Read more…] about Delivery robot startup Serve Robotics raises $13 million in seed funding round

Serve Robotics provides delivery robots to Uber Eats

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Serve Robotics, a developer of sidewalk delivery robots, is partnering with Uber Technologies, which is said to be the world’s largest food delivery and ridesharing platform.

The on-demand robotic delivery service will be available to Uber Eats customers starting in Los Angeles early next year.

Serve Robotics says it is “shaping the future of sustainable, self-driving delivery”. Founded in 2017 as the robotics division of Postmates, Serve is now an independent company on a mission to make delivery more affordable, sustainable and accessible for everyone. [Read more…] about Serve Robotics provides delivery robots to Uber Eats

Uber completes acquisition of delivery robot startup Postmates

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Uber Technologies has completed the acquisition of delivery robot startup Postmates in an all-stock transaction.

The two companies have begun the process of integrating US operations.

The transaction brings together Uber’s global Mobility and Delivery platform with Postmates’ business in the US to strengthen the delivery of food, groceries, essentials, and other goods. [Read more…] about Uber completes acquisition of delivery robot startup Postmates

Pittsburgh looks to ‘infinity and beyond’ with $200 million NASA contract win

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Pittsburgh local authorities say they are looking to “infinity and beyond” after NASA awarded a local company, Astrobotic Technology, a $200 million contract to build and send the first-ever US rover to the Moon by 2023.

Specialising in the development of space robotics technology for lunar and planetary missions, Astrobotic was founded in 2007 by Carnegie Mellon University professor Red Whittaker and his associates.

Whittaker is considered the “father of field robotics” for his pioneering work and the company was designed with the specific goal of putting a rover on the Moon. [Read more…] about Pittsburgh looks to ‘infinity and beyond’ with $200 million NASA contract win

Blue Yonder and Uber Freight partner to develop ‘dynamic pricing discovery solution’

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Blue Yonder and Uber Freight have agreed a partnership designed to help businesses build efficient and transparent global supply chains at a crucial time.

Digital transformation initiatives have accelerated over the last few months, as enterprises that ship goods embrace flexible operations to keep up with shifting demand.

Quickly recovering from supply shortages and creating a resilient business for the long term requires a well-managed, digitized supply chain, including freight transportation. [Read more…] about Blue Yonder and Uber Freight partner to develop ‘dynamic pricing discovery solution’

Hanwha Systems gearing up to enter air taxi market

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Hanwha Systems is making a $25 million investment in US air taxi startup Overair, and has received approval from the relevant authorities for the move.

Hanwha Systems and Overair research and development are planning to co-develop and bring the “Butterfly” to the US air-taxi market by the year 2025.

In early December of 2019, Youn-Chul Kim, CEO of Hanwha Systems, said that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved Hanwha Systems’ $25 million investment in Overair (previously K4 Aeronautics), a leading US air-taxi startup. [Read more…] about Hanwha Systems gearing up to enter air taxi market

4 AI Functions Already Up and Running in 2019 That’ll Leave You Speechless

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Despite the fact that AI is already being utilised in a huge variety of ways by a myriad of industry, it’s still perceived as being an emergent technology, something of great promise yet to materialise. This couldn’t be further from reality.

These four examples of AI and machine learning have already been saving you time and effort for years at this point, but it’s only really in the last few years that they’ve become completely viable and effective. I mean, remember Siri when it first came out? Spectacularly hit and miss.

AI, along with machine learning, has made a massive number of things possible across industries, proving critical to many different tech platforms. 37% of organisations have been found to utilise AI in some form. [Read more…] about 4 AI Functions Already Up and Running in 2019 That’ll Leave You Speechless

Toyota, Denso, and SoftBank pledge another $1 billion investment for Uber

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Taxi-sharing app maker Uber has been promised $1 billion in investment from companies including Toyota, Denso, and SoftBank Vision Fund.

The new funds will help accelerate the development and commercialization of its ridesharing services, says Uber in a statement.

Under the terms, Toyota and Denso will together invest $667 million and SVF will invest $333 million, valuing the new “Uber Advanced Technologies Group” entity at $7.25 billion on a post-money basis. [Read more…] about Toyota, Denso, and SoftBank pledge another $1 billion investment for Uber

Toyota to invest $500 million in Uber

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Toyota Motor Corporation and Uber Technologies, Inc. have agreed to expand their collaboration with the aim of advancing and bringing to market autonomous ride-sharing as a mobility service at scale.

To accomplish this, technology from each company will be integrated into purpose-built Toyota vehicles to be deployed on Uber’s ride-sharing network. Separately, Toyota is investing $500 million in Uber.

“Combining efforts with Uber, one of the predominant global ride-sharing and automated driving R&D companies, could further advance future mobility,” said Shigeki Tomoyama, executive vice president, TMC, and president, Toyota Connected Company.

[Read more…] about Toyota to invest $500 million in Uber

SoftBank to invest $10 billion in Uber

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SoftBank is highly likely to go ahead with its plan to invest $10 billion in Uber, the ride-hailing app company, according to a report on CNet.com. 

An Uber representative quoted by CNet says: “We’ve entered into an agreement with a consortium led by SoftBank and Dragoneer on a potential investment.

“We believe this agreement is a strong vote of confidence in Uber’s long-term potential. Upon closing, it will help fuel our investments in technology and our continued expansion at home and abroad, while strengthening our corporate governance.”  [Read more…] about SoftBank to invest $10 billion in Uber