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To pique your curiosity about robotics, we bring you the product review you were waiting for, a comparison between real sense cameras, one of the main hardware pieces used in all types of robots. Cameras are as necessary for the development of autonomy as eyes are for humans. These assets help autonomous robots look like they can go from one point to another on their own. Many engineers find themselves looking for different camera comparisons as they are essential for autonomous technology to run. In this blog, Rafael Rincón, Computer Vision and Integration Engineer at Kiwibot, wanted to show the comparison of the stereo cameras that estimate the depth of the robot's immediate environment: D435i, D435f, and D455 and some considerations about the tests made with the Luxonis' OAK-D Pro camera. Stereo cameras use two or more lenses with separate image sensors for each lens to simulate human binocular vision. The distance between the lenses often mimics the distance between our eyes. The cameras can capture three-dimensional images, for 3D pictures for movies, or to avoid drone collisions, among many other uses. For most applications, stereo cameras with a three-meter range for depth data are more than sufficient, particularly if they will be used indoors. However, when exposed to sunlight and outdoor environments, the data from these cameras can be highly affected, and the precision of depth maps and point clouds is considerably reduced. With a background in the sidewalk navigation of robots, Rafael wanted to test three top-of-the-range cameras in outdoor environments to find the most suitable camera for outdoor usage, like field robotics. The Cameras' Backstory First up, we have the Intel Realsense D435i (with an IMU) and D435f (with a polarizing filter). Both variations of the D435 camera should have the same depth range and limitations: an ideal range of up to three meters and an expected error of <2% at two meters. The D435i camera is very reliable in indoor situations, but in outdoor environments, its data can be significantly affected after two meters – and the Realsense team is aware of this. Next up is the Intel Realsense D455, with a depth range of six meters. in both indoor and outdoor environments. The expected error is <2% at four meters. The product can be used Despite stating these depth ranges, all the Intel models can be used up to 10 meters by modifying the threshold filter of the stereo module using the . We used this mode in all the tests. Realsense Viewer tool Last but not least, we tested the Luxonis OAK-D Pro camera. It is a depth perception of up to 35 meters. However, data located at such a distance range could be overkill for most applications. Applications include making measurements, calculating where a point is, getting its coordinates, and estimating the depth of nearby obstacles. capable of having The Moment of Truth The setup and test were simple: Rafael used Kiwibot's test track, with an already defined measurement template and significant sunlight. He placed all cameras six meters from a reference object: a chair, in this case. Any error that occurred would be considered over the camera's Z-axis (in most stereo cameras, the Z-axis is perpendicular to the camera's lenses), the most straightforward and stable measurement over the chair. As expected, the D435i camera experienced an error of around 38%. The measurements were near 8.3 meters at the back of the chair (the real distance was 6 meters). The measurement range was way over the expected camera range. The D435f camera showed outstanding performance, with an error of around 8% and measurements near 6.5 meters at the back of the chair. What makes these results an astonishing find is the fact that this is the same D435i camera – just with a polarizing filter placed on the camera's main lens, with the objective to eliminate all the interference of brightness from solar noise on reflective surfaces, like glass and tiles. A 6-meter range is nearly twice its intended measurement reach. The D455 camera had remarkable results, with an error near 2.2%, with measurements around 6.1 meters at the back of the chair, making the D455 camera first place for performance. The OAK-D Pro camera experienced an error of 25%, and the measurements were close to 7.5 meters at the chair. Point Cloud Outcomes: Indoors vs. Outdoors A point cloud is a set of data points representing a 3D shape produced from stereo images. The visualizations were plotted in RViz2 using the ROS2 wrapper. While the D455 camera outperformed when measuring depth values at longer distances – showing that it is much more robust in measurements due to a more modern depth module – its point cloud deteriorated and was not drastically different from the D435i camera. But the D435f had remarkable point cloud quality compared to the D435i. The point clouds of the different cameras indoors were as expected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=gSfVPv7_D5I&feature=emb_title However, the outdoor operation with a higher presence of sunlight showed the degradation of the point clouds. The OAK-D Pro camera generated a point cloud with good depth perception, but it was very noisy in some sections, regardless of distance. However, the point cloud quickly spotted approaching obstacles, which is observed in the last seconds of the clip. It is important to note that, during the test, the point cloud stopped publishing several times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MOFBGC5r4 The D435i had a small point cloud with noticeable effects from the sunlight, but the filter present in the D435f camera is an absolute game-changer. The visualization of the D435f point cloud was smoother than the OAK-D Pro model, and it was easier to track the displacement of people up to 4 meters of distance. The quality and integrity of its point cloud are way better than the D435i camera, and only just below the results for the D455 camera, which had a wide point cloud outcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSWwd4q2wM&feature=emb_title Can't Forget Detail Quality The following clip was recorded with the OAK-D Pro and the D435i camera to compare the quality of the texture. The OAK-D Pro point cloud was very detailed. However, with a closer look, you can see that Rafael's face and the front of his body look totally flat. Contrastingly, the Realsense camera displays a very detailed 3D model of his face, chest, and even his headphones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br0jH3rqqVA&feature=emb_title Overall, the Luxonis OAK-D Pro camera is a solid product, but there's always room for improvement. Its main advantage is that it has a small computer in the camera which allows for running AI models in the camera instead of a computer, relieving the load on the main system. However, that was not tested during Rafael's experiment with the stereo cameras, as he was testing the precision of the data, the reading of the point cloud, and which camera could block out the noise in outdoor environments. Although this is just a first look, Luxonis could be a strong competitor of Intel in the near future and is a brand to keep your eye on for the next few years. Disclaimer: We are sharing this article because having all four cameras in your possession is highly unique. Kiwibot wanted to share Rafael's experience as Computer Vision and Integration Engineer at Kiwibot and doesn't intend to generate any profit or benefit any brand. Rafael is not recommending which camera to buy; that is dependent on the reader's application and needs.

Thinking of Buying Stereo Cameras? Read This Product Comparison.

Dreamforce 2024 pushed the boundaries of what a tech conference can be. The annual event from Salesforce, which had more than 45,000 in attendance this year, showcased cutting-edge AI technology, with the debut of Agentforce as its centerpiece. While tech innovations took center stage, the event also featured some familiar faces. Attendees might have spotted Simone Biles, Kate Hudson, and Matthew McConaughey among the crowd, adding a touch of star power to the venue. On top of that, autonomous robots roamed the conference floors, providing a glimpse into a more automated future. From AI breakthroughs to futuristic demonstrations, these highlights reveal how the conference from Salesforce is shaping the future of business and technology. 1. The introduction of Agentforce: AI Agents are here Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff set the tone for the conference by introducing Agentforce, a platform that enables companies to deploy autonomous AI agents capable of analyzing data, making decisions, and taking action without human intervention. These agents can respond to customer service inquiries, qualify sales opportunities, and optimize marketing campaigns autonomously. Along with the platform, Salesforce also introduced Agent Builder, a low-code tool that allows customers to quickly create and customize their own agents. A successful example is the Sophie agent, created by Saks Fifth Avenue department store, which could be deployed in just one week and is able to perform actions such as arranging product changes without human intervention. “Autonomous AI agents are about to make an impact in the retail world, especially as we head into the holiday season. These smart-systems can tackle tough jobs like automating customer service and streamlining supply chains. This could completely change the way we shop, making it faster, more tailored to our needs, and safer,” said Blake Ellis, Founding Partner at CommerceV3. In Benioff’s words, AI is not just a trending technology, but a crucial solution for the future. “This is our most important Dreamforce yet, you’re going to see technology like you’ve never seen before,” he assured attendees during the inaugural Dreamforce 2024 keynote. In addition, Salesforce launched the Agentforce Partner Network, an ecosystem that provides third-party extensions for use in complex action chains. Launch partners include Amazon Web Services, IBM and Google Cloud, among others. 2. A new era of Slack and AI The tech goliath also announced it has infused AI into Slack, with the integration enabling direct access to Salesforce information without the need for another application. The new Slack interface not only communicates with Agentforce agents, it also interacts with third parties such as Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, and Perplexity. “We’ve moved beyond collaboration; every day, millions of teams are leveraging purpose-built AI, with customer data, automation, and now agents seamlessly integrated into the flow of work. In today’s increasingly complex work environment, true productivity requires a work operating system built for the future of work, and that is Slack,” said Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack. Other new features include meeting notes, simplified automation, enhanced search, and collections of templates for channels, canvases, lists, and automated workflows. These updates aim to turn Slack into a comprehensive work operating system with accessible data and seamless integrations with other systems. The goal is to improve collaboration and productivity, as studies show that poor collaboration results in the loss of 25 billion hours each year, and AI can save around 12% of that time. 3. Data cloud as the “heartbeat” Salesforce has highlighted the importance of its Data Cloud, calling it the “heartbeat” of its platform and the foundation of its Agentforce. The Data Cloud is capable of processing a staggering 767 billion records per month, and all Salesforce Customer 360 applications, as well as Tableau, have been rewritten to run on it. At the conference, Salesforce announced several new features, including support for unstructured data like audio and video content, a standardized semantic data model for consistent interpretation and use of data, enhanced search capabilities, real-time data triggers to respond to changing customer needs, and improved security and data governance features. “When we encouraged you to use Data Cloud, what we didn’t realize is we were preparing you very well for AI,” Benioff added. 4. The blend of technology, entertainment, and science The conference utilized iconic San Francisco locations like the Salesforce Tower and Oracle Park as venues. It featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including actress Kerry Washington, actor Matthew McConaughey, and primatologist Jane Goodall. In addition to the speaker sessions, the conference included entertainment and celebrity appearances. Musical acts such as Pink, Imagine Dragons, and Japanese pop star Yoshiki performed. Comedian John Mulaney replaced Seth Meyers, who had roasted the conference the previous year. Salesforce also highlighted its technological capabilities by hosting talks from tech industry leaders. This included conversations between Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as well as presentations by AMD CEO Lisa Su, Anthropic president Daniela Amodei, and former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg. 5. Salesforce’s Ventures $500M AI fund Salesforce Ventures has announced the creation of a new AI Fund, which will add another $500 million to its existing AI investment fund. This brings the company’s total commitment to AI innovators to $1 billion in the past 18 months. Salesforce Ventures has already invested in over two dozen AI companies, including Anthropic, Cohere, Runway, TogetherAI, Mistral AI, and Hugging Face. The company aims to support dynamic and expansive innovators in winning the market by accelerating their growth through its customer network. “Our expanded investment deepens our commitment to helping the most dynamic and expansive innovators win the market by accelerating their growth through our customer network and delivering trusted AI that earns the confidence of the biggest companies in the world,” added Paul Drews, managing partner of Salesforce Ventures. 6. Lots of autonomous robots This year’s event marked the human-AI collaboration as the core of an exciting era in our daily lives. The integration of autonomous robots throughout the event, demonstrated the potential of AI to work alongside humans, not just as tools, but as partners. When coffee ran out at the park’s main refreshment stand, attendees were directed to another where beverages were served by a robot. Another great example that captured a lot of attention was the presence of autonomous delivery robots. The small and adorable machines navigated the event grounds, disturbing special editions of TIME Magazine’s*“Most Influential People in AI”* to attendees, offering a tangible demonstration of advertising and robotics in action. The robots’ presence highlighted the growing importance of autonomous systems in our daily lives, offering a glimpse into a future where delivery robotics seamlessly integrate into urban environments, potentially revolutionizing everything from local deliveries to advertising. Last Thursday, while participating at the conference, Kiwibot, the company behind the delivery robots, announced its acquisition of Nickelytics in a $25 million deal. This move is effectively turning their fleet of delivery robots into mobile, interactive billboards that hint at innovative new ways brands might engage with consumers in the future. Dreamforce 2024 pushed the boundaries of what a tech conference can be. The annual event from Salesforce, which had more than 45,000 in attendance this year, showcased cutting-edge AI technology, with the debut of Agentforce as its centerpiece. While tech innovations took center stage, the event also featured some familiar faces. Attendees might have spotted Simone Biles, Kate Hudson, and Matthew McConaughey among the crowd, adding a touch of star power to the venue. On top of that, autonomous robots roamed the conference floors, providing a glimpse into a more automated future. From AI breakthroughs to futuristic demonstrations, these highlights reveal how the conference from Salesforce is shaping the future of business and technology. 1. The introduction of Agentforce: AI Agents are here The introduction of Agentforce: AI Agents are here Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff set the tone for the conference by introducing Agentforce , a platform that enables companies to deploy autonomous AI agents capable of analyzing data, making decisions, and taking action without human intervention. These agents can respond to customer service inquiries, qualify sales opportunities, and optimize marketing campaigns autonomously. Agentforce Along with the platform, Salesforce also introduced Agent Builder , a low-code tool that allows customers to quickly create and customize their own agents. introduced Agent Builder A successful example is the Sophie agent, created by Saks Fifth Avenue department store, which could be deployed in just one week and is able to perform actions such as arranging product changes without human intervention. “Autonomous AI agents are about to make an impact in the retail world, especially as we head into the holiday season. These smart-systems can tackle tough jobs like automating customer service and streamlining supply chains. This could completely change the way we shop, making it faster, more tailored to our needs, and safer,” said Blake Ellis, Founding Partner at CommerceV3. In Benioff’s words, AI is not just a trending technology, but a crucial solution for the future. “This is our most important Dreamforce yet, you’re going to see technology like you’ve never seen before,” he assured attendees during the inaugural Dreamforce 2024 keynote. In addition, Salesforce launched the Agentforce Partner Network, an ecosystem that provides third-party extensions for use in complex action chains. Launch partners include Amazon Web Services, IBM and Google Cloud, among others. 2. A new era of Slack and AI A new era of Slack and AI The tech goliath also announced it has infused AI into Slack, with the integration enabling direct access to Salesforce information without the need for another application. The new Slack interface not only communicates with Agentforce agents, it also interacts with third parties such as Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, and Perplexity. “We’ve moved beyond collaboration; every day, millions of teams are leveraging purpose-built AI, with customer data, automation, and now agents seamlessly integrated into the flow of work. In today’s increasingly complex work environment, true productivity requires a work operating system built for the future of work, and that is Slack,” said Denise Dresser, CEO of Slack. Other new features include meeting notes, simplified automation, enhanced search, and collections of templates for channels, canvases, lists, and automated workflows. These updates aim to turn Slack into a comprehensive work operating system with accessible data and seamless integrations with other systems. The goal is to improve collaboration and productivity, as studies show that poor collaboration results in the loss of 25 billion hours each year , and AI can save around 12% of that time. 25 billion hours each year 3. Data cloud as the “heartbeat” Data cloud as the “heartbeat” Salesforce has highlighted the importance of its Data Cloud, calling it the “heartbeat” of its platform and the foundation of its Agentforce. The Data Cloud is capable of processing a staggering 767 billion records per month, and all Salesforce Customer 360 applications, as well as Tableau, have been rewritten to run on it. At the conference, Salesforce announced several new features , including support for unstructured data like audio and video content, a standardized semantic data model for consistent interpretation and use of data, enhanced search capabilities, real-time data triggers to respond to changing customer needs, and improved security and data governance features. Salesforce announced several new features “When we encouraged you to use Data Cloud, what we didn’t realize is we were preparing you very well for AI,” Benioff added. 4. The blend of technology, entertainment, and science The blend of technology, entertainment, and science The conference utilized iconic San Francisco locations like the Salesforce Tower and Oracle Park as venues. It featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including actress Kerry Washington, actor Matthew McConaughey, and primatologist Jane Goodall. In addition to the speaker sessions, the conference included entertainment and celebrity appearances. Musical acts such as Pink, Imagine Dragons, and Japanese pop star Yoshiki performed. Comedian John Mulaney replaced Seth Meyers, who had roasted the conference the previous year. Salesforce also highlighted its technological capabilities by hosting talks from tech industry leaders. This included conversations between Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as well as presentations by AMD CEO Lisa Su, Anthropic president Daniela Amodei, and former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg. 5. Salesforce’s Ventures $500M AI fund Salesforce’s Ventures $500M AI fund Salesforce Ventures has announced the creation of a new AI Fund, which will add another $500 million to its existing AI investment fund. This brings the company’s total commitment to AI innovators to $1 billion in the past 18 months. Salesforce Ventures has already invested in over two dozen AI companies, including Anthropic, Cohere, Runway, TogetherAI, Mistral AI, and Hugging Face. The company aims to support dynamic and expansive innovators in winning the market by accelerating their growth through its customer network. “Our expanded investment deepens our commitment to helping the most dynamic and expansive innovators win the market by accelerating their growth through our customer network and delivering trusted AI that earns the confidence of the biggest companies in the world,” added Paul Drews, managing partner of Salesforce Ventures. 6. Lots of autonomous robots Lots of autonomous robots This year’s event marked the human-AI collaboration as the core of an exciting era in our daily lives. The integration of autonomous robots throughout the event, demonstrated the potential of AI to work alongside humans, not just as tools, but as partners. When coffee ran out at the park’s main refreshment stand, attendees were directed to another where beverages were served by a robot. Another great example that captured a lot of attention was the presence of autonomous delivery robots. The small and adorable machines navigated the event grounds, disturbing special editions of TIME Magazine’s* “Most Influential People in AI” * to attendees, offering a tangible demonstration of advertising and robotics in action. “Most Influential People in AI” The robots’ presence highlighted the growing importance of autonomous systems in our daily lives, offering a glimpse into a future where delivery robotics seamlessly integrate into urban environments, potentially revolutionizing everything from local deliveries to advertising. Last Thursday, while participating at the conference, Kiwibot , the company behind the delivery robots, announced its acquisition of Nickelytics in a $25 million deal . This move is effectively turning their fleet of delivery robots into mobile, interactive billboards that hint at innovative new ways brands might engage with consumers in the future. Kiwibot announced its acquisition of Nickelytics in a $25 million deal

6 Highlights That Stole the Show at Dreamforce 2024

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Hardware is seeing a resurgence and exponential innovation similar to the software boom a decade ago. And as a robotic delivery company founded in 2017, we have been navigating the manufacturing world and hardware revolution, picking up product design and smart tips along the way. Applying new technologies to improve the manufacturing process guarantees quality, profitability, and lower cost. However, many Internet of Things (IoT) devices and systems still lack automation when it comes to the manufacturing process, with human intervention still being key. And IoT startups often don’t realize how fast they will grow and scale – this is when close relationships with a network of specialist manufacturers become a necessity. Here’s an overview of our learnings. Human Touch and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) Co-Existing By far the most obvious candidate for automation is the manufacturing sector due to the repetitive, predictable tasks, from packaging products to loading, and the sheer demand that came from the e-commerce boom. However, manufacturing isn’t the top contender; rather unsurprisingly, it is the food delivery industry, the sector where our semi-autonomous robots are deployed. The robots have their own software and are made with carbon fiber cases, silicon boards for electrics, LED screens, high-tech light sensors, and cameras to improve autonomous decision-making, path planning, and obstacle avoidance. However, our manufacturing process – which could employ a network of sensors to collect production data and use cloud software for valuable insights about manufacturing efficiency – still lacks some automation, which is common across the IoT industry. With robotics, everything is made with highly sensitive silicon, high-tech, and hardware that needs close human intervention to review prototypes. This learning curve is so that our process will never be converted to lights-out manufacturing – and other IoT companies should not feel the pressure to do so either. unpredictable The most critical assembly stage for the robot is debugging, which still has to be done manually, and this is why it takes four hours to build. At Kiwibot, the mid-term vision is to work to half the manufacturing time by automating the debugging stage and focusing on pre-assembly. Here, computer-integrated manufacturing and AI technology would be key – we are planning to connect our manufacturing partners to our AI systems to improve quality assurance processes and reduce human error. It is essential to be ahead of the curve since the IIoT was from $12.67 billion in 2017 to $45.30 billion by 2022. projected to grow Efficient Robotic Manufacturing: Modular Design and a Network of Partners Last year, we designed, prototyped, and manufactured our next-generation robot in less than seven months during the pandemic, with team members across Taipei, Medellin, and Shenzhen, China, with thirteen hours of time difference. Internal communication was only possible through asynchronous tools, such as project management software and process documentation – and, most importantly, a shift to . This allows iterations and updates to robotic designs and manufacturing plans without affecting the production flow. Modular design also enabled us to move forward with the more complex parts of the robot, even when the simpler features weren’t yet figured out. modular design The pandemic also meant we could not visit China for manufacturing tours to perform quality assurance processes or review different product iterations. This led to various challenges with external manufacturers, vendors, and partners. Once, Nvidia AGX, the brain for the robot, was out of stock while we still had 400 robots to build. The key trick was to leverage a network of manufacturers and not just rely on one. Kiwibot doesn’t need a lot of parts, so we can’t work with big manufacturers due to quantity and the particular sensors and boards we use. This is one of the common pain points for businesses as many are small-scale and can’t afford the high prices of manufacturers. Therefore, to source new parts, we turned to Alibaba as a hub for vendor information. It now offers SMEs a “digitalized end-to-end manufacturing supply chain that allows for fully-customized, .” demand-driven production As we deploy delivery robots all over the U.S., we can now have conversations with larger manufacturers, with their HQs mainly in Colombia. We aspire to be a leading designer of robots and improve the quality of our delivery services. But, we do not intend to be a leading manufacturer. Our goal is to find best-in-class manufacturing partners that can materialize design proposals. Building Smarter Cities By teaming up with manufacturers who use the IIOT system and to evolve the production process, we’ll be able to analyze the data to improve the next round of productions and create devices to assist the growth of innovative, green cities. Designing smart robots through partnering with smart manufacturers means better, low-cost products, and in turn, lower costs for our customers, whether local authorities or small businesses. compile data through AI Since it is predicted some of all manufacturing activities could be automated, people will be forced to look for jobs that are deemed higher value and needing human intelligence. Those jobs will be better paid because the manufacturers already reduced the cost of low-wage jobs using automation. Take the shipping department of a manufacturing company, for example. So many resources are now spent on delivery and transportation. But if the prices were reduced, people’s share of wallet (SOW) would be smaller, so they would order more. 59 percent When cars were introduced in the early 1900s, people protested to protect the horse and cart. The same argument was used then; that the car was going to take away thousands of jobs. But just look at the since the car invention – the prevalence of motorized vehicles, or in our case autonomous sidewalk devices, are often viewed as a visual metaphor for development. progress recorded (GDP per capita) Production is only the first step to smarter cities; getting that product to its destination safely and intact can be a make-or-break moment for a manufacturing business. As we scale our production of robots, we plan on developing packaging that is resistant and aligned with our key robot design points. These include shipping from our partner’s factory to the U.S. and shipping from the arrival warehouse to our client’s locations like campuses to roll out our latest innovations. As the world continues on the digital transformation journey, new manufacturing, supply chains, and automation innovations are popping up. As autonomous vehicles and sidewalk delivery devices are set to be the most disruptive technologies of our time, it only makes sense that the manufacturing behind them follows that lead.

Building Robots for Smarter Cities: How the Manufacturing Process is Everything

Construcción de robots para ciudades más inteligentes: cómo el proceso de fabricación lo es todo

स्मार्ट शहरों के लिए रोबोट बनाना: कैसे निर्माण प्रक्रिया सब कुछ है

为智慧城市建造机器人：制造过程如何决定一切

Building a food delivery fleet of hundreds of robots is like teaching math to third graders. Their ability to learn and interact with their surroundings emotionally is a work in progress, but the sky is the limit. If carried out well, growth and success are very likely. Since starting in 2017, we’ve been scaling robotic technology to create smart cities while demonstrating to the general public and investors the extraordinary potential of the latest technological advances. Not only was and automation important, but setting boundaries and acknowledging the difficulties of the competitive tech space are key to success. company culture Most importantly, some of the most progressive companies deliberately take on employees with track records reflecting both as failing is an essential part of growth. failure and success So if your fintech launch doesn’t go to plan or SaaS doesn’t gain traction, however painful it may be to let go and move on, you’re not alone. Almost of startups pivot by changing their business plan. 60% With plans to grow tenfold next year and expand our team, this is what I’ve learned about scaling operations. Assess Your Company’s Capability to Take on Large Projects There are key performance indicators (KPIs) and quantitative metrics to measure a company´s success and help calculate the mid to long-term predictions to achieve profitability. I call them complex or compounded metrics – they are formed by input variables and governed by cost and time. For example, at Kiwibot, we look at how much it costs to operate our robots per kilometer. Any journey in a pilot program that costs over $2 per km is not considered a progression from regular delivery fees. The project would need far more testing to be able to scale up. What robotic delivery fleets are doing is similar to what Amazon did when eCommerce was less prevalent a few years ago: Exploring uncharted territory and working their way into the spotlight. There were plenty of attempts to set up eCommerce sites and sidewalk robotic delivery services but only those that leverage existing technological capabilities, and apply them in new ways, can succeed. Amazon didn’t invent anything new, they just leveraged the infrastructure and technology that already existed to take shipping speed to the next level. is a vital aspect of your company’s capability to scale too – and is an indicator of this. Employees must show flexibility, persistence, resilience, and be prepared for challenges. Human capital culture Startups are the kings of ambiguity, and the people you want by your side when times get tough are those that have equal levels of passion and persistence, otherwise known as . grit Search for individuals who have and have irreplaceable knowledge from overcoming hardships. Most importantly, fail as fast as possible. survived failure According to Jeff Bezos, the defining attribute of Amazon is its : “Most large organizations embrace the idea of invention, but are not willing to suffer the string of failed experiments necessary to get there.” appreciation of failure And as soon as you see something that doesn't work, say goodbye. It doesn’t matter to an idea or innovation, there’s just no point going over old territory. how attached you felt Start Small to Control the Risk of Growing Too Fast Startups must be optimistic, but they often tend to overshoot with overly hopeful objections. Always make sure to underpromise and overdeliver. Take calculated risks as you assess opportunities, start with small operations, and set up shop in one major city, allowing you to sprawl. This is what would be referred to as a “cluster” – where concentrations of interconnected companies and institutions from a specific field are situated – a generic concept used by many years ago that still serves today. Michael Porter As a company scales, it must cluster around points of interest and use cases that deliver traction. It’s vital to partner with organizations in a chosen region and improve relationships with city authorities. Once you have one client signed or a city in the bag, there will be proof of your product gaining customers, and the company will grow swiftly. For example, university campuses or cities like Los Angeles and Miami are significant markets for food delivery, so that’s where Kiwibot has active operations. We have the capacity as a company to expand to Scotland and Wales, for example, but would that be good for business? Probably not. My advice would be: Always choose those “second cities,” know your limits, and set boundaries. Pushbacks: Why It’s Harder to Scale Tech Companies Scaling a tech company is notoriously difficult because of ongoing public antitrust sentiment and the sheer cost. Andy Grove, one of Intel’s founders, once warned that it can be difficult for smaller US tech companies to expand while , and this can mean missed opportunities. competing with giant rivals Delivery robots are part of the green revolution and have a set speed governed by laws in cities across the US. Indeed, technology needs regulation, but with that comes added taxes or licenses which can impact tech companies’ budgets. However, these taxes could help generate revenue for city authorities and cover the costs associated with robotic delivery service operations. Tax implications are what transport technology companies should watch out for – it’s a repetition of the Uber and Lyft stories all over again. Now, consider this example. Buildings have not been designed for robots, but there is a high demand for delivery robots to have self-autonomy indoors. Imagine getting your food order delivered to your desk or a dress from Bloomingdales brought to your apartment before a date. In theory, it’s an incredible invention. Still, it involves APIs to facilitate communication between robots and elevators, the merging of technologies, and a lift company to actually have the appropriate software. It poses a costly venture which can be a blocker to innovation. Malls have the potential to drastically innovate with robots – like Westfield or Halfords – as they search for a leading edge. But will they take that leap? This challenge is similar to what Google struggled with twenty years ago – the development of the cloud, servers, mapping data, as well as physical infrastructure. All the foundations had to be laid before the infrastructure could be built. Over time, robotic technology will become cheaper as demand skyrockets. Think about Yelp’s algorithm, for example, which allows you to find a restaurant that has a view or allows pets – something that is now viewed as indispensable. That opportunity came from mapping technology, and billions were spent on that by Google who now own about 80 percent of the market. Learning to Manage a Lack of Resources US Cities are now busy planning to revive the economy and help local businesses grow post-pandemic. One initiative that was introduced was food ordering apps in restaurants. But when 80% of deliveries are made by cars powered by gas, cities are searching for green opportunities for local businesses. Diverging demand to delivery robots could be the answer, but there aren’t sufficient resources. Covid-19 exposed the lack of tech infrastructure at a local level. From a technology standpoint, there are several major obstacles for robotic fleets to work with local businesses: The cost, legal issues, logistical aspects, and the fact that each has a different app. The solution is to integrate with their apps and offer an alternative tool for delivery. It is vital that technology providers work together to offer free IT support and advice to those local businesses who need it, in an effort to protect jobs and the wider economy. When more and more tasks are becoming digitized or automated, but workers do not possess the skills that the technology requires, the outcome will be greater inequality. Overall, it’s vital for tech companies wanting to scale to do market research, spend time creating demand for their product, assess their qualitative and quantitative metrics, and strive for continuous growth.  The best way to move forward is by searching for innovative solutions to stop a lack of resources or high costs from being a barrier to innovation.

What Tech Companies Should Watch Out for When Scaling Operations 

From the entertainment industry to the food supply and accessories, a few notable startups caught the HackerNoon community's attention this year. We share a few of those companies that have inspired us this year in this thread. This by Mónica Freitas, Linh Smooke, Sara Pinto, Teri Eyenike, Limarc Ambalina, Daniel, Khamisi Hamisi and Favour Amadi occurred in slogging's official #startup-hustle channel. Slogging thread Mónica Freitas Nov 29, 2021, 4:33 PM What startup has caught your attention this year? Mónica Freitas Nov 29, 2021, 4:36 PM For me, it was Cameo. Cameo is a video-sharing platform where celebrities and public figures send personalized video messages to fans. Video prices range from $1 up to $2,500 (and higher for some in-demand stars), and there are over 30,000 celebrities on the platform spanning chefs, athletes, and social media influencers. I was a bit shocked to know that something like this existed, but I guess it's a more practical and easy way to get a message from a celebrity than just opening they'll see your dm on Instagram: https://www.cameo.com/ Mónica Freitas Nov 29, 2021, 4:37 PM What about you? Sara Pinto, Jack Boreham, Limarc Ambalina, Favour Amadi, EPOSI FRIDA, Linh Smooke, Aaron Rory, Khamisi Hamisi, Giovanna Marta Mormile Linh Smooke Nov 29, 2021, 4:51 PM Love cameoooo! Here’s a vid I got from Kevin from the office 2 years ago as a birthday gift from David Smooke: https://www.facebook.com/721320652/videos/10156177501675653/ 💛 1 Sara Pinto Nov 29, 2021, 10:22 PM Mónica Freitas, I recently discovered Wonther. This Portuguese company is a circular economy platform that allows customers to recycle their precious metals and use the equivalent value as a digital means of payment. By using this approach and using materials from suppliers certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council, the company aims to decrease the impact of production on the environment and respect human rights. Although it is a little pricey, I appreciate the message they try to pass on. Mónica Freitas Nov 30, 2021, 2:52 PM Linh Smooke, You smarty pants! ahaha love it! That's so sweet! I had never heard of it, but I'm hoping to get an AMA from them. Fingers crossed! 🙌 1 🎉 1 Mónica Freitas Nov 30, 2021, 2:55 PM Sara Pinto, Oh, that's interesting. So in exchange for a used piece of jewelry, the company gives you a discount on your next buy? Is that it? I just googled them, and they do have some adorable pieces. Have you ever bought anything from them? Teri Eyenike Nov 30, 2021, 3:32 PM For me, it is Eden Life based off in Lagos, Nigeria. They are a service primarily trying to automate your everyday chore and 10x your productivity in terms of food, laundry, and house chores (cleaning). Also, it is a subscription-based service depending on the type of service you want and it is gardener keeps in touch with you. 🔥 1 Limarc Ambalina Nov 30, 2021, 4:22 PM For everyone, this topic is close to one of our main campaigns this year: Vote for your favorite startups this year! https://startups.hackernoon.com/ 💚 1 🎉 2 🙌 1 Sara Pinto Nov 30, 2021, 6:43 PM Mónica Freitas, Yes, they offer 20% off the purchase for the exchange of a used piece. For those who wish to live a sustainable life, this is a great concept! I've never bought it, but maybe soon if I can save up 😅 :smiling_face_with_tear: 1 Daniel Nov 30, 2021, 9:06 PM I'm thrilled with this: It's an automated delivery service! Take a look and I hope you get thrilled too. https://www.kiwibot.com/ Khamisi Hamisi Dec 1, 2021, 5:42 AM Monica, Tartau, For me, Top Up Mama caught my attention this year. It is a startup based in Kenya that connects restaurants with suppliers. Restaurants can buy supplies that they need and enjoy free deliveries. The buying process is fast and easy. It helps them save money and time. https://www.topupmama.com/ 🔥 1 Teri Eyenike Dec 1, 2021, 8:56 AM Top Up Mama exists in Lagos. Wow. This is nice, Khamisi Hamisi 🔥 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 1, 2021, 12:28 PM Teri Eyenike, I just googled Eden Life. Such a simple concept and so handy! I bet that there haven't had trouble finding clients. A service like that where I live would make a lot of people's lives easier. Have you ever tried out their services? ❤ 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 1, 2021, 12:30 PM Sara Pinto, Would you say that there has been a growth in sustainable brands? Have you witnessed that in your country? Mónica Freitas Dec 1, 2021, 12:34 PM Khamisi Hamisi, Their website is so clean and easy! I explored the shopping process, and it's like any other major shopping platform, with no confusing descriptions, straight to the point. I can see why it is so handy for restaurants. Are they expanding beyond Kenya? Favour Amadi Dec 1, 2021, 2:08 PM It'll be Get Equity ( ). I've always wanted to invest in startups I believe in but couldn't because of how expensive it is. Get Equity allows investments from $10 and above. https://getequity.io/ 🔥 1 Teri Eyenike Dec 1, 2021, 3:31 PM Mónica Freitas, I don't think they have had trouble finding clients as their value proposition is simple. It is for young working-class individuals who want to be productive with their time and let the gardeners handle the work for them. I hope to try the service one day. 🔥 1 Sara Pinto Dec 1, 2021, 5:23 PM Mónica Freitas, Yes, at least I follow a couple of them, and I think the Portuguese people are becoming more aware of this issue and taking more measures. Therefore many companies have been taking that into account, even if they aren't fully committed yet. Since you are also Portuguese, do you agree? Khamisi Hamisi Dec 1, 2021, 7:01 PM Mónica Freitas, Yes. They are currently in Nigeria. They just raised more than $400,000 in seed capital. Ordinary people can now sell directly to restaurants at ease. Can this work where you come from? 🔥 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 2, 2021, 11:33 AM Favour Amadi, Investing always seemed like an excellent way to make the most out of our money, but when it comes to buying stocks, it always seemed confusing and a bit difficult to grasp the how-tos. Is GetEquity related to the stocks market? If so, have you tried investing with them? Mónica Freitas Dec 2, 2021, 11:36 AM Teri Eyenike, Definitely! It'd be a game-changer if we had these kinds of services in Portugal, even in smaller cities like my own. I see so many moms, especially running around, working, and struggling to take care of everything around the house. They could use a break. 👍 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 2, 2021, 11:40 AM Sara Pinto, I do see a change in the way we come about waste. Yet, we're still thinking small, and being sustainable it's not imbued in the general culture. The young generations are far more mindful of these topics. I'm hoping our youth, which will be the main workforce in a few years, will shape companies towards a more green future. 🔥 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 2, 2021, 11:43 AM Khamisi Hamisi, Oh, that's amazing. However, with ordinary people being able to sell directly, does that pose a quality issue? In other words, quality and food safety are essential for restaurants, so how will TopUp Mama be able to guarantee it if anyone can sell? Mónica Freitas Dec 2, 2021, 11:44 AM Khamisi Hamisi, It would work for sure. It's a huge time saver for restaurants. And I imagine that in times like the holidays, where the rhythm is chaotic, it would ease business owners' pace. Khamisi Hamisi Dec 2, 2021, 12:20 PM Mónica Freitas, They have a vetting process that ensures quality. I feel like they thought about that issue hence the vetting process. 🔥 1 Teri Eyenike Dec 2, 2021, 6:24 PM You can probably speak with the team at Eden Life, and if enough people show interest, they could set up in Portugal, Mónica Freitas, talk. 🔥 1 Mónica Freitas Dec 3, 2021, 11:53 AM Khamisi Hamisi Oh, that solves it! Thank you for the insight!

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