The advent of drone technology has transformed warfare, enabling nations to reshape their strategies and tactics on the battlefield. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as formidable tools in conflict zones, including the Indian subcontinent.
Drones have many military applications in India that include surveillance and reconnaissance, border security, search and rescue missions, target acquisition, battlefield monitoring, and mine detection and clearance.
Over the years, drones have become increasingly prevalent in conflict zones worldwide. Their ability to navigate challenging terrains, gather real-time intelligence, and perform targeted strikes has made them invaluable assets.
Neighbouring Threats and Defensive Innovation
India, with its diverse landscapes and security concerns, has harnessed the power of drones for multiple purposes. From the rugged mountains of Kashmir to the coastal regions of Gujarat, drones have found their place in the country’s defence apparatus.
Drones have played a significant role in the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. In June 2021, drones were used to carry out a targeted attack on the Indian Air Force station in Jammu, marking a new escalation in the use of unmanned aerial systems in cross-border hostilities.
Drones have been utilized by India in border surveillance and monitoring activities in regions like Ladakh, where tensions between India and China have escalated in recent years. Drones have helped in enhancing situational awareness and monitoring enemy activities along the disputed border areas.
In 2020, the Indian Army used drones to deliver essential medical supplies to remote areas of Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic. The drones provided a faster and more efficient means of transportation, overcoming the challenges of difficult terrain and limited accessibility.
The Indian Navy has used drones for maritime surveillance and security operations in the waters surrounding Sri Lanka. Drones assist in monitoring maritime activities, ensuring the safety of shipping lanes, and preventing illegal activities such as smuggling and piracy.
Surveillance and Reconnaissance
One of the primary applications of drones in conflict zones is surveillance and reconnaissance. The ability of drones to survey vast areas, collect visual data, and relay critical information in real-time has proven invaluable for military operations. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging technology aid in detecting enemy movements and identifying potential threats.
Drones provide Indian Armed Forces with unmatched capabilities to excel in the most challenging conditions. They are capable of helping Defence forces become more flexible and agile to counter the vulnerabilities of traditional systems.
Asteria’s A410-XT Drone
“Our military drones are equipped with highly advanced sensors that can collect accurate data and provide decision-makers with a real-time picture of a situation,” says Neel Mehta, Co-Founder & Director, Asteria Aerospace Limited, to Geospatial World.
“They are designed as such that they can fly in some of the most challenging environments – from mountainous terrain, high-altitude areas (4500m-6000m), and extreme temperatures (-20°C to 55°C) to snow-covered areas, forested regions, and everything in between,” he said.
Drones maximize information sharing amongst Defence teams and thus help in creating a coordinated response. Drones can help in creating solutions that can facilitate higher adaptability and agility to make Defence personnel cope in a better way with rapidly changing operational environments which helps in the interoperability aspect between the different arms of the Defence.
Border Security
India’s volatile border regions pose significant challenges in terms of security. Drones have emerged as crucial tools in bolstering border security. In areas such as Jammu and Kashmir, drones provide constant vigilance, allowing authorities to monitor and respond swiftly to any intrusions or suspicious activities. The utilization of drones in border surveillance not only enhances situational awareness but also helps in preventing infiltrations and minimizing casualties.
Search and Rescue Operations
Natural disasters, such as floods and cyclones, wreak havoc on communities, necessitating rapid response and rescue operations. Drones have proven to be indispensable in such scenarios. Equipped with thermal sensors and high-resolution cameras, they aid in locating survivors in disaster-stricken areas.
Drone companies help disaster management organizations as well as state police departments in supporting disaster relief and management efforts with real-time aerial intelligence. These drones come with high endurance, swappable payloads, omnidirectional obstacle detection and avoidance, geofencing, dual GPS sensors for redundancy, and multiple failsafe modes for safe and efficient operations in the most difficult of conditions.
They help disaster management teams expand their capabilities by providing wider coverage, access to high-quality and real-time data, 360° view of affected areas and provide maximum situational awareness in challenging environments to best direct the resources at hand. In addition, these drones can be used to survey damages, locate missing people, and reach remote & inaccessible areas faster and more efficiently.
Police forces have used Asteria drones extensively during COVID lockdowns to monitor crowd gatherings and movements and helped direct ground resources to the most needed areas as soon as possible.
Drones from Garuda Aerospace had also been utilized by the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) in disaster relief and response in the state of Uttarakhand.
“Our long-range assessment drone Identified swell areas, high-risk areas that need an immediate fix. Constant aerial surveillance and assessment is most necessary to issue warnings to people working on the ground. Often, search and rescue ops get delayed owing to false alarms, in the absence of predictive analysis,” stated Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder, Garuda Aerospace.
Target Acquisition
Drones play a crucial role in target acquisition during military operations. Their ability to gather intelligence and track enemy movements aids in identifying high-value targets. By relaying real-time data to command centres, drones provide valuable insights, enabling military strategists to make informed decisions and execute precision strikes.
Battlefield Monitoring
Monitoring the battlefield is vital for assessing the effectiveness of military operations and making timely adjustments. Drones equipped with advanced sensors and cameras provide an aerial perspective, enabling commanders to monitor troop movements, identify enemy positions, and evaluate the progress of missions. This enhanced situational awareness contributes significantly to the success of military campaigns.
Mine Detection and Clearance
In conflict zones plagued by the remnants of war, such as landmines, drones are utilized for mine detection and clearance. The deployment of drones equipped with specialized sensors helps identify and map hazardous areas, reducing the risk to personnel. These UAVs aid in the safe removal and disposal of explosive devices, ensuring the safety of both military personnel and civilians.
As drone technology continues to evolve, its impact on conflict zones becomes increasingly profound. In India, the utilization of drones has expanded across various domains as explained above. Drones offer an unparalleled advantage, providing real-time intelligence, enhancing situational awareness, and mitigating risks to human life. As we navigate the future, drones are poised to play an even more significant role in shaping military operations and safeguarding the lives of those involved in conflicts around the world.
On the third day of India Space Congress 2023, a session was held to discuss the impending cyber threats that loom over space operations worldwide. The theme of the session; Cyber-Security for Space Operations witnessed insightful discussions on the importance of strong cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure, networks, and satellite systems.
The session was chaired by Rajiv Chetwani, Chief Information Security Officer, DOS/ISRO, Director, DISM, ISRO. While introducing the theme to the panel and the audience memebers, he emphasized “New threats to space connect is caused due to interconnect between space and cyberspace.”
Col KV Kuber, E&Y was the moderator of the session. He said that India is ranked 10th on the global cybersecurity index which indicates that we are very poor in terms of legal measures that we have taken.
Narendra Nath, Joint Secretary National Security Council Secretariat, GOI said, “Cybersecurity and space both are connected. Guidelines and policies are needed for organizations which are designing the products; satellites or launch vehicles.”
“We have multiple earth stations, and not all of them are in our country. What is the sort of control we have on earth stations which are not in our country, and continuously tracking and monitoring the health of satellites? That is why standards should be there, space sectors should decide what kind of standards they would like to apply. Auditors are also required to have domain knowledge in the space sector,” he added.
“Security is also a functional requirement. We are in the process of consultation on cybersecurity aspects. The government of India is planning to take consultation with space sector,” he further said.
“Space and satellites are playing very crucial role in communication on Earth and as an integral part of the communication network as a systems. As we have reliance on space, and satellites are increasing and growing, the essence of security and intelligence and commerce are also exponentially growing,” stated Lt. Col Amandeep Singh, Spatial Domain Expert and Author.
On asking how the military thinks about the cyberspace sector, he replied “Compare to anti-satellite capability, an interference with a satellite through a cyber operation or cyberattacks is far way cheaper, faster and very difficult to trace back. The connectivity of cyber operation with the space operation will make more relevance.”
“Focusing on cyberattack rather than physical attacks on satellites should be given more prominence,” he added.
Suhas Gopinath CEO, Globals said, “In India, cybersecurity is not so advanced. Everything that is connected is vulnerable. The ground stations which are connected to satellites are more vulnerable. There is an element of increased security risk with the advent of quantum computing and penetration of 5G.”
He stated that it is extremely important to make stringent policies to prevent these kinds of actions.
Rajiv concluded, “Standards and information sharing are all important aspects that are need to be considered. The growing companies are working on affordable solutions. Affordability and security don’t come together. Growing companies need reference implementation guide. Forcing standards will not work with them. Industry and government have to work on a collaborative approach.”
Flytxt announced that Mobicom Corporation has started using NEON-dX, their full-stack Customer Value Management (CVM) SaaS.
The Mongolia-based company is a part of the Japanese telecommunications group KDDI and has a subscriber base of 1.7 million.
Mobicom uses the solution to derive actionable customer intelligence and automate omnichannel customer engagement programs aimed at delivering value-added digital experiences to its whole customer base.
“It gives us immense satisfaction to support market leaders like Mobicom in creating lasting customer relationships that drive positive long-term business outcomes,” said Dr. Vinod Vasudevan, CEO of Flytxt. “Our well-trained AI helps subscription businesses gain deeper insights on customer behaviour and adapt their CX decisions and actions on the fly.”
The built-in CLTV AI, analytics, and omni-channel campaign orchestration capabilities of NEON-dX will enable Mobicom to scale up their CVM practice and launch upsell, cross-sell, and retention campaigns faster.
Flytxt’s solution also makes it possible for Mobicom to engage with customers on new age digital channels like wallet and content apps. With this, Mobicom aims to increase the adoption of new digital services among their existing voice and data customers.
“We are committed to our vision of using the best-in-class technology solutions to deliver unique game-changing customer experiences,” said Mr.Dulguun Gansukh, Director of Mobicom Product Marketing Department.
“Flytxt’s market-proven solution with an advanced AI will help us increase our outreach and promote right value propositions befitting customers’ usage behavioral trends and engagement contexts.”
Flytxt is a trusted technology partner to 70+ digital enterprises across more than 50 countries and top CX platform vendors for CLTV maximisation.
Clients and partners use Flytxt’s solutions to drive better business outcomes from different workflows across CX functions like sales, marketing, customer care, and digital services.
PropVR, the 3D visualization arm of Square Yards has been named as an authorized partner for Unreal Engine to develop Digital Twin and Interactive 3D solutions for the real estate industry.
This partnership unveils a new era of immersive digital experiences for global real estate brands to help shape the future of home building and real estate sales.
As an authorized service partner, PropVR is working with Unreal Engine experts to deepen its understanding on interactive 3D technologies and further its digital twin roadmap to build solutions for the largest global developers.
Leveraging Unreal Engine’s capabilities, PropVR is building high-fidelity 3D environments to transform how consumers interact and transact for their real estate needs and disrupt the way the real estate ecosystem operates.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Unreal Engine team to create the next generation of 3D solutions and digital twins for the real estate industry. Unreal Engine’s graphical prowess is unmatched and will help us augment the future of real estate search and discovery experience through high-end 3D digital twins of entire cities. With Unreal Engine, we can accelerate our vision to build real estate in the metaverse and at the same time understand the appetite for virtual real estate experience amongst customers and make them more accessible and inclusive,” said Vivek Agarwal, Co-founder and CTO, Square Yards.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be recognized as an authorized partner for Unreal Engine. The combination of Unreal Engine’s creative power, flexibility and rendering quality, and PropVR’s patent-backed real estate visualization and 3D applications creates the perfect harmony for achieving deeper, richer VR and 3D innovations, and lay the foundations for the future of real estate on the Metaverse. PropVR has always focused on innovation and quality, and to join the ranks of Unreal Engine is a natural step in that direction,” said Sunder Jagannathan, Co-founder, PropVR.
PropVR is working with Unreal Engine to co-create city digital twins, immersive real estate architectural visualization and other tech products for interior décor.
It recently launched a 3D Metaverse platform in Dubai that showcases the future of real estate search and discovery through a high-end digital twin of the desert city.
Users can search from over 2000+ real estate projects through its interactive 3D interface, get complete details of the project, and enter into the project metaverse as an Avatar.
Besides Dubai, the company’s current portfolio includes Grade A developers from Canada, Saudi Arabia and India.
As part of this partnership, PropVR and the Unreal Engine team will orchestrate roadshows and events, shining a spotlight on the cutting-edge trends in 3D visualization and digital twins.
The much-anticipated event is set to take place in Bangalore on the 9th of August, which will host leading real estate developers, technology corporations, and budding proptech startups.
MeetKai and BYD Auto unveiled the launch of BYD World, an interactive virtual dealership experience dedicated to providing new opportunities for customers to interact with the BYD brand and its products in the Americas.
“MeetKai is thrilled to partner with BYD to introduce a new blueprint for the future of automotive retailing and user experiences on the web,” said MeetKai Co-Founder and CEO, James Kaplan.
“As a company, we remain steadfast in our goal to proactively eliminate barriers for entry into the metaverse in order to create new opportunities for greater connectivity and engagement.”
Powered by MeetKai’s advanced AI and spatial computing technology, the BYD metaverse platform seamlessly blends the digital and physical worlds, offering first-of-its-kind immersive brand experiences.
Upon entering the virtual dealership – which is available from any device that has access to a web browser – visitors have the freedom to explore a digital showroom, complete with 360 lifelike representations of BYD’s exceptional range of electrical vehicles.
The metaverse platform is first launched in Ecuador, on July 11th, then Chile in the next day. In a few weeks, it will be available in all LATAM countries. Users also can configure, customize, and interact with BYD products in impressive detail as well as access comprehensive information about each model.
“At BYD, we are always looking for unique and innovative ways to reach our end consumer, and we believe the Metaverse is the next frontier for selling cars and engaging with the consumer,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited and CEO of BYD Americas.
“Technological innovation is part of our brand identity and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with MeetKai to deliver new and more personalized opportunities for our fans and customers to interact with our products in an easily accessible, convenient setting,” she added.
In addition, through the integration of MeetKai’s advanced XR technology, BYD customers can partake in virtual test drives, which mirror the physical driving experience of these high-performance models. Also on hand are AI-powered virtual consultants, ensuring personalized guidance and support throughout the customer journey.
“We’re leading the pack with the next generation of immersive conversational web experiences that truly resemble the real world in a virtual space. We are so excited to do so with BYD, a fellow industry disruptor, and this is just the very beginning, as we’re ready to leverage our generative AI across all industries,” said MeetKai Co-Founder and Executive Chairwoman, Weili Dai.
“MeetKai is proud to continue delivering on the promise of the metaverse by building bespoke experiences that bring true utility into the digital realm, this was always our vision.”
Hexagon AB announced the acquisition of HARD-LINE, a fast-growing, global leader in mine automation, remote-control technology and mine production optimisation.
HARD-LINE specialises in remote control solutions and related network infrastructure, enabling the tele-remote operation of heavy machinery from a secure control station on the surface or underground, regardless of distance.
HARD-LINE’s scalable technologies improve remote-controlled mining operations via electronic and hydraulic by-wire technologies and provide the innovation necessary for achieving full autonomy in the mine.
The acquisition will enhance Hexagon’s life-of-mine technology stack and complement its latest product offerings, including HxGN Underground Mining, HxGN Autonomous Mining, and the award-winning HxGN MineProtect platform.
These product portfolios realise a life-of-mine vision, managing vehicle traffic autonomously, enhancing fleet situational awareness, implementing drill automation, and safeguarding operators, pedestrians, and equipment in the most challenging environments.
Like Hexagon, HARD-LINE believes in an interoperable, OEM-independent system for mining automation that improves safety and productivity while advancing autonomous technology across the mining industry.
“As mines venture deeper underground in search of vital minerals and metals, the importance of removing humans from hazardous operating conditions becomes increasingly clear. Remote control is a key enabler of this and serves as a stepping-stone towards full autonomy,” said Paolo Guglielmini, President and CEO, Hexagon. “We’re excited to welcome HARD-LINE, a company that shares our vision of a future that’s safer, sustainable, and increasingly autonomous, into the Hexagon family.”
Tech integration, fast connectivity, and immersive hyper-real applications are transforming the way people shop.
The breathtaking technologies and astounding innovations that are dominating the discourse today would have been exclusively reserved for the glitzy home of Iron Man, had it been 2008. Such is the exponential pace of innovation.
In the realm of retail, newer technologies and innovations are shaping people’s shopping experience, making it more interactive and immersive. Meanwhile, Indoor Mapping, Geofencing, Artificial Intelligence, and Extended Reality are taking the centre-stage in reorienting retail for the future.
Experience-as-a-Service (EaaS) models have been popping up with luxury brands taking the lead by crafting curated experiences for their customers. Generative AI and Extended Reality seem to be on the cusp of becoming the next versions of smartphones, integral to everyone’s daily lives. Between all this frenzy, there are various facets of shopping experiences, and most of them are ridden with technology that works behind the scenes.
Growth Ahead
Talking numbers, in 2021, the global retail market generated sales of over $26 trillion with a forecast to reach over $30 trillion by 2024. For this year, it is projected to reach $28.64 trillion. Region-wise, Asia Pacific is projected to amount to 61% of the world’s e-commerce business, according to Statista.
The technologies supporting these growths are expansive in nature; intertwined with other technologies, and show endless innovation capabilities.
Moreover, the landscape for retail technology has widened than ever before. Newer technologies are now being implemented in various branches of the retail sector be it ecommerce or physical stores.
Here are the technologies that are shaping the way consumers shop:
Extended Reality
Virtual screens, hand gestures, and an immersive experience combined, presents an opportunity that seems straight from a science fiction movie or throwback to some graphic dystopian novel. But with major breakthrough in technology, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality applications are being embedded across domains.
For brands/companies, this will result into a much more efficient inventory management, less returns, more personalised shopping, and better data analytics and collection. Moreover, this will also minimize the need for physical store expansions.
Until now, majority of the online shopping experience have been in 2D. XR will present consumers a new 3D platform that will enhance the overall shopping experience. The XR devices will enable customers to virtually try on products such as clothing, accessories, or cosmetics.
It will also allow retailers to showcase their products in an interactive and engaging manner. Through AR or VR experiences, customers can explore and interact with 3D models of products, rotating them, zooming in for closer inspection, and even customizing certain aspects.
Extended Reality has the potential to transform the retail industry by providing immersive and interactive experiences that enhance customer engagement, improve product visualization, and streamline the shopping process.
Artificial Intelligence
It’s no surprise now as to what and how AI can affect the lives of humans. The modules of AI are endless, and so is its applications.
For retail, AI has been contributing in number of ways. From analysing consumer behaviour through extensive data to streamlining workflows and manging inventory, it has been providing unparalleled value all around.
AI is being extensively used in majority of retail practices. Be it logistical demands or analysing stacks of data, it helps in every nook and corner. The foreshadowing of AI in retail had been witnessed all the way back in 2018 when Amazon had announced 1-hour delivery on its platform by region-wise forecasting of various products and moving them into small warehouses for efficient and quick delivery.
The applications of AI span Inventory Management, Interactive Chat, Customer Insights and Engagement, Demand Forecasting, and Operational Optimization. This translates into capitalizing the purchase power that a customer comes by.
Various major and unconventional players like Hitachi, Accenture, and Intel have jumped the gun to set-up their own AI enabled data platforms that provide these solutions to a number of retail stakeholders around the world.
The latest breakthrough in AI – Generative AI – has become a point of contention as well, mired in speculative fear and fraught with issues of ethics and compliance. Big retailers are gauging their way to incorporate this latest trend for making their entire workflow automated and efficient. The moral implications, mounting job losses, and other disruptions are all under consideration, as employers and employees seek ways to minimize its adverse impact on humanity.
Metaverse
Metaverse is a mega virtual world with seemingly no end. The opportunity that it presents for retail and commerce is second to none. Retail in Metaverse could be understood as an extension of e-commerce, where instead of 2D viewpoint, customers can interact in 3D with materials, clothes, and other items.
According to a GE Capital Retail Bank research, 81% of consumers conduct online research before making a purchase. The Metaverse has the capability of eradicating this research and provide a more immersive experience. Almost a game-like configuration where consumers can step in the virtual stores and get the feeling of being in a highly personalized shopping space.
In 2021, luxury apparel brand Louis Vuitton stepped in the metaverse by realising a mascot that users can play with. Another luxury brand Balenciaga entered the virtual world by launching skins and apparels for characters in Fortnite. Other big retail brands such as Adidas, Walmart, and Nike also followed suit and kept their one-foot in the Metaverse.
Luxury brand Louis Vuitton’s game in the Metaverse
One could either review products in a more effective manner by making their avatars – a digital version of the customer – wear it to gauge how it would look on themselves or buy it as a digital product that their avatar would wear.
Internet of Things (IoT)
A widely-used technology, Internet of Things (IoT) devices are present in everyday scenarios. In simple terms, everyday objects such as refrigerators, cars, air conditioners, lighting, fitness trackers, and similar items are connected to the internet for smart connectivity and data collection. This is achieved through small hardware pieces such as actuators, sensors, and programs that are embedded in IoT-enabled or smart devices.
IoT also presents a tremendous capability of interoperability. Current trends already show IoT devices using the likes of AI, Analytics, AR/VR, 5G etc.
“There’s no doubt that Industrial IoT is the future. With democratization of electronics and rapid advancements in 4G/5G rollouts, we are at the cusp of Industrial IoT revolution,” said Naman Jain, CEO, Falcon Autotech.
Rom Eizenberg, Chief Revenue Officer, Konkakt.io identifies pervasiveness and multi-use approach as two defining IoT trends.
“IoT has increasingly been adopted by major network providers like Cisco into their access points and has become a part of their network upgrade/refresh cycle. More recently, IoT is also being integrated into smart lighting, which means significant cost-savings and ease of use for large and small retailers alike”, says Rom.
“IoT is also crossing the border of storefront customer experiences and expanding into the supply chain, logistics, and in-store distribution”, he adds.
Location-as-a-Service (LaaS)
Utilizing geographical location from a user to deliver content, information, or functionality relevant to their whereabouts is at the core of the Location-as-a-Service model. The services usually rely on technologies such as GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular networks, or Bluetooth to determine the precise location of a user or device.
Location technology can be used for navigation, mapping, advertising, proximity marketing, emergency services, and asset tracking among other applications. The market for location data is huge, and so is its use. Geofencing is another example where location technology plays a pivotal role in understanding consumer behavior and targeting them for curated advertisements.
New York-based Social Network Service providing firm Foursquare allows users to discover and share information about local businesses and attractions. Users can check in at specific locations, leave reviews and tips, and receive personalized recommendations based on their location history and preferences.
“Location Intelligence enriches property information by providing valuable geospatial context. It integrates sociodemographic data, real estate market trends, environmental risk assessments, surrounding infrastructure, and points of interest information. This enables professionals to target specific buyer segments, forecast property values, assess environmental risks, and evaluate the desirability of a location,” said Yanqing Zeng, Lead Data Scientist at JLL.
“Location Intelligence empowers data-driven decision- making and enhances market analysis in the real estate industry,” she added.
The location technology market trend shows the growth spur of the location industry. The expansion of technologies such as AR/ VR, Metaverse, and eCommerce is set to increase the role of Location services even more as the need for better-curated content and even more personalized ads.
Indoor Mapping
For retailers with huge stores and vast number of products, Indoor mapping comes off as a magic wand. Mapping out the entire store area, aisles, and products makes the entire shopping experience smooth and efficient for the customers.
Indoor Mapping involves capturing, modeling, and visualizing the layout, features, and points of interest within a building to provide accurate and interactive maps for navigation and location- based services.
Most of the times, Indoor Mapping relies on technologies such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), 3D imaging, Wi-Fi fingerprinting, Bluetooth beacons, and other sensor-based systems. These technologies scan the area around them and chalk out the details of the physical structures, layout, dimensions, and objects within a building.
This also helps in mapping the points of interests like restrooms, information desks, shops, restaurants, and other amenities in a huge area. By providing accurate and interactive maps, indoor mapping enables users to find the shortest routes, locate desired destinations, and navigate efficiently within buildings.
The maps can be integrated into mobile applications, kiosks, or digital signage systems, allowing users to access the plan and navigation assistance on their smartphones or interactive displays. This not only help customers and visitors with better efficiency but also increases the customer experience.
Macy’s, a New York based retail giant in has implemented Indoor Mapping in majority of their stores across the USA. Company developed an app for the customers from where they can use the application. The app provides a detailed indoor map of the store, including different departments, sections, and brand-specific areas.
The map highlights points of interest, such as customer service desks, fitting rooms, restrooms, and elevators, making it easier for customers to locate these amenities within the store.
Macy has also integrated their mapped area with the store’s inventory. Customers to check product availability and get real-time information about stock levels. This helps them make informed decisions about their purchases.
Live in-store navigation with the help of Indoor Mapping
“The global Indoor Mapping market is predicted to thrive substantially during the assessment timeframe from 2022 to 2030 at a healthy CAGR of approximately 32.56% to attain a valuation of around USD 92.36 Billion by the end of 2030,” according to Market Research Future.
Autonomous Delivery
Autonomous technology is being hailed as one for the future. Surprisingly, that future is not far off. Already hundreds of retailers and service providers have started using autonomous drones and vehicles to move their product around and deliver it to the customer’s home.
Autonomous delivery vehicles are equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and navigation systems that allow them to perceive their surroundings and navigate without human assistance/ on their own. These vehicles can operate on roads, sidewalks, or dedicated delivery lanes, depending on the regulations and infrastructure in place.
It is especially relevant in lastmile delivery, which refers to the final leg of the delivery process from a distribution hub to the customer’s doorstep. Last-mile delivery is often considered a challenging and costly aspect of the logistics chain, and autonomous delivery can help address these challenges by offering efficient and cost-effective solutions.
These autonomous bots have better reliability and efficiency and also eradicate the possibility of human error. As technology rises and sees more innovation, we could feasibly see drones and pods roaming all around us delivering groceries to houses in a matter of minutes.
Starship technologies, a Robotics Company, is using their robots to navigate sidewalks and deliver packages within a certain radius. Several retail companies, including grocery stores and food delivery services, have partnered with Starship Technologies to test autonomous robot deliveries in various cities.
Starship Autonomous Robot’s delivering goods
“The benefits of autonomous delivery for the logistics industry are clear from both an efficiency and environmental perspective. Robotic delivery is affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly, enabling services to be deployed at a fraction of the cost and with no-hassle for the customer”, said Alastair Westgarth, CEO, Starship Technologies.
While talking about last-mile autonomous delivery, Daniel Laury, co-founder and CEO, Udelv in an interview said, “End-to-end last mile battery-electric autonomous delivery solutions answer the two greatest challenges of modern commercial fleets: a massive shortage of drivers and the electrification of fleets. But they also require the end consumer to meet the delivery vehicle at a time and location of their choosing to retrieve their goods.”
Live Warehouse
Until recent years, warehouse management has been a tedious work that many types of technologies or humans have tries to make efficient. However, not much had come to fruit until recent years when moving storage aisles were developed.
Automated warehouse management involves the integration of realtime data, connectivity, automation, and intelligent systems to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity in warehouse management.
Smart robots or Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) moving around some set perimeter, the aisles fitted with IoT sensors, AI, and ML, have become a thing of trend. From Amazon to Walmart, moving aisles have been reforming workflows of major retailers. So rather having to go on a search and find trek in a stadium-area- warehouse, the aisle containing the item which has been ordered comes to you. These specially help in timely and efficient deliveries.
Automated Guided Vehicles are equipped with sensors and navigation systems to move efficiently and safely without human intervention. AGVs can transport pallets, bins, or other containers, optimizing the movement of goods within the warehouse.
Last year, Amazon Robotics debuted two fully autonomous warehouse robot, Proteus and Cardinal. The company said in its blogpost, the robot “can operate in a manner that augments simple, safe interaction between technology and people — opening up a broader range of possible uses to help our employees — such as the lifting and movement of GoCarts, the non-automated, wheeled transports used to move packages through our facilities.”
Amazon’s Cardinal Robot in action at a warehouse
The world of retail is huge, and with the addition of internet into it, the end seems to be endless.
As Tim Berners Lee said, The Web as I envisaged it, we have not seen it yet. The future is still so much bigger than the past.
XTEND – the developer of XOS, a human-guided autonomous operating system that is revolutionizing the way humans interact with drones, robots, and smart devices, has today announced a multi-layered partnership with ModalAI, Inc., the Blue UAS Framework manufacturer of autonomous drones and robotics technology.
The partnership will see XTEND make available their award-winning XOS operating system on ModalAI’s technology, and XTEND’s range of revolutionary human-guided autonomous drones become tightly fused with ModalAI’s VOXL 2 Autonomous AI Autopilot, supercharging both sets of users’ ability to complete advanced robotics missions successfully.
Scalable and infinitely flexible, XTEND’s Operating System (XOS) provides users with an easily deployable operating system for their drones or robots. Giving any device the ability to connect to and benefit from the extraordinary capabilities of XOS’s growing application ecosystem to enable true human and machine collaboration, on the ground, in any scenario.
XTEND’s XOS app store is open to third-party app developers and enables users to run 3rd party applications on their devices, including applications for multiple mission types, including apps that can control a drone’s position and extract data, control payloads – such as robotic claws or advanced gas or cyber detectors, or inspect faulty oil and gas industrial infrastructure.
Rubi Liani, XTEND’s co-founder and CTO, explains: “XOS is operational across the World and enables anyone to easily connect and interact with drones and robotics devices remotely, without the need for prior knowledge or training. Allowing operators to move, see, and interact with devices precisely, intuitively, and immersively. We believe that XOS will become the operating system of choice for anyone who is looking to maximize the potential of their drones and robotic systems, while decreasing the risks posed to their teams’ lives, or concerns around lack of human oversight.
“Not only does our partnership with ModalAI supercharge the capabilities of their drone and robotics hardware; but our own range of revolutionary human-guided autonomous drones will now benefit from the extraordinary capabilities of ModalAI’s Next Generation VOXL 2 Autonomous AI Autopilot. We envision a very fruitful collaboration with ModalAI and see them as a perfect partner, as we extend operations into public safety, security, inspection, and other civilian markets.”
VOXL 2 is ModalAI’s next-generation Blue UAS Framework autopilot, powered by the Qualcomm QRB5165 processor. At only 16g, VOXL 2 condenses autonomous capabilities from an onboard companion computer, PX4 flight controller and advanced AI up to 15+ TOPS. VOXL 2 was crafted to cut autonomous UAV development time by more than half.
As a single-board AI autopilot with pre-integrated flight hardware and software, VOXL 2 enables developers to accelerate the R&D phase of the product development journey and begin developing their own bespoke UAVs.
VOXL 2 will boost the capabilities of XTEND’s range of fully NDAA-compliant, human-guided autonomous drones, including its XTENDER, Wolverine and Griffon drones.
Both companies are part of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Blue UAS Framework, which accelerates commercial technology with the aim of providing trusted, advanced capabilities to UAV drone users.
Satellite Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems have revolutionized various applications across industries. It enables accurate mapping, and surveying, and enhances navigation systems for road vehicles, vessels, and spacecraft.
In terms of civil aviation, a great deal of air-route management relies on space-based PNT systems. It also enables precision agriculture, aids rescue operations, and ensures synchronization of critical networks.
The plenary session ‘Applications enabled by Satellite PNT capability’ at India Space Congress 2023 chaired and monitored by AVM Rajiva Ranjan, VM, ACAS OPS (Space) discussed the new age of PNT and its future.
He stated that satellites have revolutionized every aspect of our life. The timing on which we rely is based on GPS time which is directly connected to a satellite. India has launched NaVIC, a regional satellite system, to look at the growing requirements of the Civil Aviation sector in the country for better positioning, navigation, and timing.
Manish A Saxena, Director SATNAV-PO, ISRO Headquarters highlighted the dependencies on outside sources for manufacturing and gathering technologies. He also talked about multiple applications and key drivers of PNT such as 5G and other emerging technologies.
He said that any PNT system based on a satellite consists of three segments:
Space segment
Ground segment
User segment
Strategies in Indian Navigation System
Earlier this year, the Indian space sector opened up for private enterprises and FDIs. While the government is ensuring the availability of navigation for civilian use, this leaves the space department with continuing support and sustaining country-wide navigation assets.
Meanwhile, a lot of private enterprises are also working towards providing better PNT services. Various ministries and government departments are supporting them with a lot of funds and incubation support.
Dr Rachit Bhatia, Space Safety Analytics & Research lead, LeoLABS emphasized the need of protecting satellites and resilient PNT for the betterment of various technologies such as autonomous vehicles, IoT, as well as, national security. He talked about technologies such as sensor fusion, terrestrial navigation systems, and augmentation while also focusing on the need for an authority-body to make a standard system for robust PNT.
“There is need for educating people and creating awareness for PNT domain,” said Prof Roshan Srivastava, IIT, Tirupati.
He added, “We need to create an environment where we can encourage researchers to convert their research to product, and then to market. Startups don’t have the manpower and financial support to do it. We have to promote startup ecosystem, transitional research and international collaboration.”
“India is as the forefront in the world. On PNT application we have done a lot and we are really Atmanirbhar. There is a huge potential on satellite-based PNT systems,” said Rohan Verma, CEO and ED, MapmyIndia.
Carbon Mapper has made enhancements to the Carbon Mapper Data Portal which now features new data on global sources of methane plus improved functionality to make this data more accessible and actionable.
The company’s mission is to fill gaps in the emerging global ecosystem of methane and CO2 monitoring systems by delivering data at facility scale that is precise, timely, and accessible to empower science-based decision making and action. Improving the quantity and usability of the data, is made free and open to the public, is foundational to the organisation’s mission.
According to United Nations Environment Programme, methane is 80 times more harmful than CO2 for 20 years after it is released. It has more power to warm up the climate than CO2. To meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature from rising by 1.5 degree c by 2030, methane emissions have to be cut down by 45%.
Due to lack of technology to quantify the amount of methane emissions, it was difficult to keep a check on rising temperature. With Carbon Mapper Data Portal, it will be easy for nations and companies to monitor daily emissions and work on cutting down the leakages.
New Global Data
A methane plume observed by Carbon Mapper airborne surveys in Chile from the waste sector, and one observed by NASA JPL’s EMIT in Algeria from the oil and gas sector are examples of new global data now available on the Carbon Mapper Data Portal.
For the first time, Carbon Mapper offers data from multiple sensors on high emission point sources of methane from many countries and sectors around the globe.
The portal now displays nearly 9,000 methane plumes observed by Carbon Mapper airborne surveys of key regions in Latin America, the US and Canada, as well as global observations by NASA JPL’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) instrument onboard the International Space Station.
This expansion of Carbon Mapper’s platform demonstrates how a “tiered observing system” (integrating data from multiple remote sensing technologies) can help advance global understanding of methane and improve emissions identification, quantification, and ultimately reduction.
“We’re applying lessons from over a decade of field research to routinely integrate data from multiple observing systems to detect and quantify methane emissions at the level of individual facilities. Making methane point source emissions data transparent and freely available is one of Carbon Mapper’s contributions to the expanding global ecosystem of monitoring and mitigation programs. This also helps set the stage for the pending operational scale-up of these data sets using the satellites being developed in partnership with NASA JPL and Planet Labs PBC,” said Riley Duren, Carbon Mapper CEO.
Need for this technology
An overview of methane plume image enhancements now available on the Carbon Mapper Data Portal.
Methane leaks amount to 30% of global warming that is manmade, according to scientists. Even though EO satellites, ground sensors, and planes and drones, equipped with infrared cameras are capable of monitoring for any methane leaks yet technology for precise methane measurements was still not available.
Under the Biden’s administration’s Inflation Reduction Act which was passed into law in 2022 states that companies must start producing precise measurements of their methane emissions by 2023 and are likely to be fined if they exceed permissible limits. However, due to lack of any technology that could detect the precise quantity of methane emissions, the emissions were not under check.
Climate scientists and environmentalists were hopeful about the administration’s effort but unless there are technologies to measure continuously the methane emissions, there won’t be any effort to reduce the leaks and keep the earth’s temperature from rising.
Enhanced functionality
Data Portal users may notice some immediate differences — from the base map to the plume images themselves (now with an improved look and color scheme that more clearly defines different methane concentrations). Moreover, added capabilities make Carbon Mapper emissions data more accessible for different groups applying it in various ways. For example, users can now search for plumes by sector, date, or emissions rate. Plus, we’ve added a new bulk download feature that allows select users to request full datasets.
Additional portal enhancements include:
A new look and color scheme for our methane plume visualizations that make it easier to see concentration gradients
Attribution of observed plumes to major emission sectors
Individual or bulk plume downloads
Ability to filter and sort plumes by observation date or emission rate
Flexible map search using Mapbox map view and list view toggle
Ability to view a plume’s location in Google Maps
Area coverage and plume layer toggles (which allow users to see where observations were made)
Information on the observational source of each plume (i.e., which instrument provided the data)
Faster and more interactive application performance
Limiting Methane emissions
By using satellite data and aerial surveys, scientists have studied and concluded that nations and companies are emitting double or triple the amount of methane than they are reporting.
“The past three years have been the fastest-growing years on record in terms of methane emissions, which is kind of scary,” said Daniel Jacob, a leading climate scientist at Harvard University, reports AP. “It’s absolutely critical because ultimately, from the standpoint of evading climate change, you want to stop methane from increasing and you want it to start decreasing.”
“If we can collectively get our act together over the next eight years and dramatically slash methane emissions around the planet, we still have a chance as a society to get our arms around the larger climate problem and avoid the worst impacts,” said Duren.
On the hottest days in France, over 190 professional bicycle riders strap on safety gear on their knees, elbows, shoulders, and head and embark on a journey that tests the limit of human physical capacity.
What started as a marketing scheme for L’Auto, a French newspaper, has now become one of the most coveted and anticipated sports globally. So much so, it has become the world’s most prestigious and biggest cycling event since its inception in 1903.
The sheer somatic experience that Tour de France presents leaves little space for technological prowess in the tournament. But does it?
A Futuristic Vision
Tech and IT service giant, NTT Global, has taken the responsibility of developing a Digital Twin – Digital copies of anything and everything existing in the real world – for the Tour de France 2023 as well as, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the female competition of the sport. NTT has stated that through this Digital Twin, they are creating the ‘world’s largest connected stadium’.
The “connected stadium” sets up a digital twin of the race that will use real-time data to digitally replicate all aspects, allowing the Tour de France to be an entirely digitized event. This will help in better organizational and management decisions during the race.
The Digital Twin is a complex technology in itself and is aided by various other gadgets and software for deployment. The gathering of data will be done via geolocation and tiny sensors mounted underneath the saddle of each bike. The heaviness of bicycles will also come into play given the average weight of a Tour de France bike is 8kgs, these sensors shall be light enough not to add significant load to the bikes.
This will provide a constant stream of latitude, longitude, speed, and other real-time data which will be transmitted over radio networks. Later, a microwave signal will carry all this data to the end of the race, where, an edge-computing device will run a “containerized version” of a real-time analytics platform, according to the press release by NTT.
“Combining IoT and edge unlocks a new level of operational excellence and one that can’t be achieved in isolation. Capturing, processing, and analyzing data alongside the unity of these technologies is essential for making every bike a ‘digital twin’ which is the ultimate demonstration of edge computing in action,” said Shahid Ahmed, Group EVP, New Ventures and Innovation at NTT Ltd.
Emerging Techs
This year’s race will also see the integration of ChatGPT in NTT’s AI-driven Digital Human solution, which combines machine learning, speech recognition, natural language processing, and conversational AI.
The digital human platform has been specifically trained on relevant race information and can access detailed information to further enhance the fan experience.
NTT and Tour de France have been going hand-in-hand for 9 years and the IT Company has been polishing its offerings since then.
“Having worked with NTT for the past nine years, we’ve seen data become an increasing asset to better explain the race to a mass audience, strongly engage our fans, improve their fan experience and support our race organization’s challenges,” said Julien Goupil, Head of Partnerships & Media at A.S.O.
The legend goes that back in 1903 during the first iteration of the tournament, 4 participants used trains to reach the destination quicker. In the end, they were disqualified yet the unfair practices did not stop in the coming years. Only if they had Digital Twin back then!
Impact Observatory, an AI-powered global mapping and monitoring company, announced the general availability of IO Monitor to provide real-time, actionable land use data for insights and decisions. IO Monitor provides unprecedented insights into the current state and dynamics of the Earth’s surface. The map delivers unique value by offering 14 seasonal and annual classes, in custom, on-demand maps at 10m resolution.
IO Monitor is a valuable resource for governments, land use and environmental planners, and climate and risk organizations who need to understand the changing planet and its implications for human and natural systems. These maps can support urban planning, biodiversity conservation, disaster management, food security, water resource management, carbon accounting, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“Every day, cities grow, new crops are planted, forests are harvested, and floods, droughts, and wildfires continue to increase. This greatly impacts the infrastructure, food systems, water supplies, and natural resources that the world depends on,” said Steve Brumby, Co-founder and CEO of Impact Observatory. “With IO Monitor, we are able to support urban planning, disaster management, food security, water resource management, carbon accounting, conservation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. With these new “living” maps, Impact Observatory is able to democratize a technology that was previously only available to a few, by providing the fastest, most accurate and least expensive space-based mapping and monitoring solution on the market today.”
IO Monitor maps are updated with the latest satellite imagery available, allowing users to monitor changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in near-real-time. With 14 classes, customers can identify dense forest and open woodlands, wet and dry areas, riparian areas, and vegetation health by season. The map also shows both current water levels and persistent water channels that may be dry at certain times of the year. Users can also order historical data from 2017 to the present, enabling analysis of trends and patterns in land use over time.
Matterport announced that it is partnering with Equinox Technologies, a distributor of global technologies and Managed Security Services to offer Matterport’s digital twin platform to Government, Enterprise and SMB customers out of its offices in the United Arab Emirates, India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
With an active partner network of more than 60 leading IT organizations providing compliance and advisory services for the largest technology and cloud providers in the world, Equinox has built a reputation as a trusted Value-Added Distributor and Managed Security Services Provider to the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.
According to a report by CBRE, the value of real estate projects planned or underway in the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2023 stands at $1.36 trillion.
Equinox will support Matterport’s expansions in the rapidly growing regions, recommending Matterport’s digital twin platform for facility management, progress monitoring, and property marketing solutions in support of its client’s digital transformation efforts.
“Matterport will help strengthen our geospatial and digital twin offerings to our clients in every part of the region,” said Jeevan NV, CEO, Equinox Technologies. “We are confident that our local presence and project expertise will provide Matterport increased market reach, delivering to our clients the precision and quality of Matterport’s digital twins, with the customer service they’ve come to expect from Equinox.”
“The Middle East and Africa are experiencing rapid urbanization, with outsized demand for innovative architectural solutions that include some of the world’s most bold and iconic construction and real estate projects,” said Jay Remley, Chief Revenue Officer, Matterport. “Partnering with Equinox will provide Matterport with a greenfield opportunity to capture the largely untapped market for 3D capture and digital twins in the region.”
