DHL Drone Delivery: The Future of Logistics

Recent Developments in Robotics and Automation

Locus, a name increasingly prominent in recent news coverage, has experienced significant growth over the past year. The Massachusetts-based company recently secured a substantial funding round of $150 million, achieving a unicorn valuation.

Strategic Partnerships Drive Success

A key factor in Locus’s achievements is its collaborative partnerships, a common characteristic of robotics fulfillment companies. Since 2017, DHL has been a major partner, and during pandemic-related disruptions, they ordered 1,000 robots.

Yesterday, DHL announced a doubling of that order, demonstrating a strong commitment to robotics. Currently, DHL has deployed approximately 200,000 robots throughout the U.S., a figure comparable to Amazon’s deployment numbers.

However, a notable distinction exists: Amazon primarily utilizes internally developed systems. This raises the question of whether Locus could become a potential acquisition target.

Locus Remains Independent

The CEO of the robotics firm dismissed acquisition speculation earlier this year, asserting a preference for independent operation. He believes that maintaining independence will maximize value and attract investment from companies seeking alternatives to Amazon.

Despite this statement, the possibility of future acquisitions remains open.

Realtime Robotics Secures Series A Funding

Realtime Robotics, a Boston-based company focused on streamlining industrial robotics installation and deployment, has received $31.4 million in Series A funding. The investment round included participation from HAHN Automation, SAIC Capital Management, Soundproof Ventures, Heroic Ventures, SPARX Asset Management, Omron Ventures, Toyota AI Ventures, Scrum Ventures, and Duke Angels.

E-Nano Develops Modular Robotics for Turf Monitoring

A London-based startup, E-Nano, has secured £100,000 ($141,000) in pre-seed funding. The company is developing a modular robotic system designed for monitoring sports turf.

According to a press release, these robots will eventually assess agricultural land, promoting sustainable growing practices. The team intends to integrate 5G connectivity to deliver real-time data with high throughput.

DJI Receives Favorable Pentagon Audit

DJI has received positive news from The Hill, reporting that the Pentagon has cleared the drone manufacturer in a recent audit. This follows scrutiny of Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, during the previous administration.

While DJI was never outright banned in the U.S., this audit result provides significant relief for its operations in a major market. The audit found “no malicious code or intent” and even recommended its use by government entities.

DJI stated that the report validates previous security assessments, confirming the safety and security of its drones for government and enterprise use.

Starship Technologies Appoints New CEO

Starship Technologies has appointed Alastair Westgarth, formerly CEO of Alphabet Loon, as its new CEO.

Starship Technologies, along with Nuro and Gatik, will be featured in a delivery robotics panel at the upcoming TC Sessions: Mobility event.

Automotive Robotics Panel Announced

A second panel discussion will explore robotics applications in the automotive industry beyond manufacturing and autonomous driving. Participants include Max Bajracharya of TRI (Toyota), Mario Santillo of Ford, and Ernestine Fu of Hyundai Motor Group.

Hyundai is preparing to finalize its acquisition of Boston Dynamics. Registration for TC Sessions: Mobility is now open.