The brain-computer interface market is all-encompassing, but a major promise is connecting robotic parts to compensate for human frailties.

Automation has moved from smart manufacturing and logistics to fry cooking and salad tossing.

A SPAC offers startups quicker access to capital and greater liquidity, which can help drive innovation in advance of greater adoption.

One of the biggest industries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is construction. According to reports, almost a quarter of the world’s cranes are deployed on jobs scattered throughout Dubai. The desert metropolis is home to the world’s tallest buildings, including the 160-story Burj Khalifa. The majority of construction workers in the Middle Eastern capital…

For too long, I have flown over the middle of the United States ignoring the creativity of my fellow citizens below. COVID-19 changed everything, grounding planes and forcing me to drive on a cross-country adventure. To my surprise, the I-35 corridor that stretches from Dallas through Oklahoma City is one of the busiest centers for…

After reflecting on his travels across the U.S. and the problem of food insecurity, columnist Oliver Mitchell talks to a roboticist automating mushroom harvesting, demonstrating robotics’ potential in agriculture.

The great lyric poet Billy Idol once sung, “Eyes without a face, got no human grace, you’re eyes without a face.” This profound statement has been ringing loudly during this period of social distancing and masked encounters. As I professed on several webinars to understand the mechanics of reopening with robots, I have been challenged…

As roboticists join the fight to flatten the COVID-19 curve with contact tracing, privacy advocates caution against following these invasive examples.

Blue Ocean Robotics’ UVD unit has been providing mobile disinfection robots both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke with its CEO about the global response and post-virus aftermath.

Editor’s Note: Oliver Mitchell is a Venture Partner at ff Venture Capital. Cambrian Intelligence is a portfolio company of ff Venture Capital. Computer vision is a defining element of intelligent machines transforming mechanical movements into dynamic workflow. Realizing the importance of artificial intelligence for Industry 4.0, my investment firm, ff Venture Capital, partnered with NYU’s…

Editor’s Note: Oliver Mitchell is a Venture Partner at ff Venture Capital. Augean Robotics is a portfolio company of ff Venture Capital. It spanned over 120 feet and took up a considerable area inside the already overpacked robotics section of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It left many wondering, “What on earth is a tractor…

Last month, the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and seven others shocked the world. As families across the world paused to reflect on their own mortality, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) diligently dug through the rubble in search of clues. While the media awaits for the official NTSB report, what is…

I met Jeremy Fishel, founder of Tangible Research, at CES 2020. Tangible Research is one of three institutions involved in developing a haptic-controlled, humanoid gripping system called the Tactile Telerobot. Interviewing him in his packed booth on the floor of Eureka Park, he introduced me to his colleagues from the Shadow Robot Company, SynTouch and HaptX.…

Just like its host city of Las Vegas, there is a lot of noise at CES. Sifting through the lights, sounds and people can be an arduous task even for the most experienced attendees. Hidden past the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is a walkway to a tech oasis housed in…

PropTech, or the application of robots, drones, and related technologies to property management, is gaining traction with real estate managers and investors.

Developers of robots, drones, and intelligent systems should welcome data privacy regulations, writes entrepreneur and columnist Oliver Mitchell, because they will help confidence and adoption.

The elephant in the room loomed large at the inaugural Internet of Things Consortium (IoTC) Summit in New York City. Almost every presentation began apologetically with the refrain, “In a 5G world …” practically challenging the industry’s rollout goals. At one point Brigitte Daniel-Corbin, IoT Strategist with Wilco Electronic Systems, sensed the need to reassure…

As an early-stage investor, I am inundated daily with pitches that overstate their sales by bragging about their list of pilot engagements. Astute managers know too well that turning proofs of concept into recurring revenue is a long, arduous road that requires significant capital and time. To guide founders through this process, I coach them…

Private equity giant Blackstone Group recently acquired Colony Capital for $5.9 billion, a deal that encompasses 60 million square feet of warehouse space across 465 facilities. Blackstone reportedly now manages more than $250 billion worth of property worldwide. This latest portfolio of fulfillment centers puts Blackstone in control of more than 440 million square feet…

As I pen this article, Walmart is already ushering in the holiday season by launching online its “Early Deals” five weeks before Black Friday. Since more than half of US consumers prefer e-commerce over brick-and-mortar stores, close to 40% plan to start checking off Santa’s list by Halloween, according to Deloitte. A big driver for…

Teams participating in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge must develop systems that can navigate and explore complex environments to “make the inaccessible accessible.”

In the Democratic race for U.S. president, Bill de Blasio has proposed robot taxes, while Andrew Yang offers universal basic income. Did uncertainty around automation and jobs contribute to Donald Trump’s election?