Boston Dynamics' New Commercial Robot: Daily Crunch

Daily Tech Roundup: March 29, 2021

Key developments include details on Boston Dynamics’ Stretch warehouse robot, security updates from Apple, and Cazoo’s upcoming public listing. This summarizes the day’s essential tech news.

Boston Dynamics Unveils Stretch

Boston Dynamics is transitioning further into the commercial robotics sector. Stretch represents the evolved form of their Handle robot.

The original Handle was a wheeled robot designed for navigating obstacles and lifting heavy loads, specifically up to 100 pounds. Stretch features a redesigned chassis and incorporates a “perception mast” for enhanced situational awareness within warehouse settings.

Currently, Stretch is in the prototype phase. Production of initial units is scheduled for this summer, with general availability anticipated next year.

Updates from Tech Giants

Apple has released critical security patches for its iPhone, iPad, and Watch devices. These address a zero-day vulnerability that was reportedly under active exploitation.

The vulnerability was identified by Google’s Project Zero security research team. Apple confirmed the potential for active exploitation by malicious actors.

IBM has launched its inaugural quantum developer certification program. This certification focuses specifically on IBM’s suite of quantum software tools.

Startup Funding and Expansion

DiDi Chuxing is expanding its ride-hailing services into South Africa. This move positions the company to compete directly with existing players like Bolt and Uber.

Founded in 2012, DiDi Chuxing currently serves over 550 million users across 16 countries spanning Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Australia.

A new Paris-based venture capital firm, Singular, has secured $265 million in funding. Raffi Kamber and Jérémy Uzan aim to establish Singular as a leading European VC firm.

UK-based used car retailer Cazoo will become publicly listed on the NYSE through a SPAC merger. This transaction values the company at $7 billion and will raise $1.6 billion.

Extra Crunch Insights

The surge in NFT popularity is expected to significantly benefit legal professionals. The complex legal implications surrounding NFTs are a key driver of this trend.

The pandemic may catalyze a revitalization of urban centers. This potential rebirth hinges on the successful implementation of smart city technologies.

Poshmark’s successful Series A pitch deck emphasized a clear understanding of Total Addressable Market (TAM) and a detailed plan for achieving key performance indicators.

Other Notable News

Visa is now supporting transaction settlement using USDC, a stablecoin built on the Ethereum blockchain.

The U.S. has suspended trade ties with Myanmar, raising concerns about the future of internet access within the country. The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until a democratically elected government is restored.

TC Early Stage will host in-depth sessions on startup fundraising. These sessions will take place on April 1 and 2.

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s daily digest of top stories. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox around 3pm Pacific time.