Uber Eats Drone Deliveries, Indian Navy's Underwater Vehicles, and Terra Drone's U.S. Expansion

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In this edition of the Robotics Brief, we delve into a series of significant developments in the AI and robotics sectors. Terra Drone Corporation has expanded its U.S. operations by acquiring Aloft Technologies, Inc., aiming to enhance its unmanned aircraft system traffic management solutions. Meanwhile, Uber is set to revolutionize food delivery by partnering with Flytrex to launch drone deliveries for Uber Eats in select U.S. markets by the end of 2025, a move that promises to improve delivery speed and reduce road congestion.

Additionally, the Indian Navy has signed a ₹66 crore deal with Coratia Technologies to procure indigenous Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles, supporting the 'Make in India' initiative. In the realm of autonomous vehicles, Pony.ai is making strides in Singapore by partnering with ComfortDelGro to deploy autonomous vehicles for daily commuting, pending regulatory approval. These stories highlight the dynamic advancements and strategic partnerships shaping the future of AI and robotics across various industries.

Uber and Flytrex to Launch Drone Deliveries for Uber Eats

Uber has partnered with Israeli startup Flytrex to introduce drone deliveries for Uber Eats in select U.S. markets by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to improve delivery speed and reduce road congestion. Read more

Indian Navy Contracts Coratia Technologies for Underwater Vehicles

The Indian Navy has entered a ₹66 crore agreement with Odisha-based startup Coratia Technologies to procure indigenous Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles, enhancing underwater capabilities and supporting 'Make in India'. Read more

PlusAI Forms Safety Advisory Council for Autonomous Trucks

PlusAI has created a Safety and Policy Advisory Council with former regulators and industry experts to guide on safety and regulatory issues for its autonomous trucks, aiming for a 2027 launch. Read more

Icarus Robotics Secures $6.1M for AI Drones in Space

Icarus Robotics, a startup from New York, has raised $6.1 million in seed funding to develop AI-controlled drones for commercial space stations, aiming to assist astronauts with routine tasks. Read more

Mythos AI Logs 11,000 Miles in Autonomous Shipping

Mythos AI has achieved a significant milestone by logging over 11,000 miles in full autonomy with its vessel 'Archie,' marking a world-first in shipping navigation. Read more

ABB Robotics and LandingAI Collaborate on AI Vision Software

ABB Robotics is partnering with LandingAI to integrate AI-driven vision software into its RobotStudio suite, aiming to significantly reduce application deployment time. Read more

Alibaba Invests in Hello for Robotaxi Market

Alibaba Group Holding has invested in Hello, a ride-hailing company backed by Ant Group, to enter the robotaxi market. This investment focuses on enhancing algorithm platforms and smart driving technologies. Read more

Dyna Robotics Raises $120 Million for Robotic Models

Dyna Robotics has secured $120 million in Series A funding to enhance their robotic foundation models aimed at achieving physical artificial general intelligence. Read more

ADASTEC and Beep, Inc. Partner for Autonomous Transport in U.S.

ADASTEC Corp. and Beep, Inc. have announced a strategic alliance to enhance autonomous transportation solutions, starting with deployments in Georgia and Florida. The partnership combines ADASTEC's Level-4 automated driving software with Beep's operational expertise to create scalable public transportation services. Read more

BladeRanger and Eco Wave Power Launch Drone Maintenance for Wave Energy

BladeRanger has partnered with Eco Wave Power to introduce a drone-powered maintenance solution for wave energy systems, demonstrated at Jaffa Port in Israel. Read more

Venture Catalysts Leads Funding for Paar Autonomy's AI Development

The Indian investment firm Venture Catalysts has led a Rs 3.5 crore pre-seed funding round for Paar Autonomy, a startup developing AI for unmanned vehicles. Read more

Nvidia Considers $500 Million Investment in Wayve

Nvidia is contemplating a $500 million investment in the UK-based self-driving startup Wayve. This move aligns with Nvidia's larger strategy to invest significantly in the UK's AI startup sector. Read more

Pony.ai Partners with ComfortDelGro for Autonomous Vehicles in Singapore

Pony.ai is entering the Singapore market by partnering with ComfortDelGro to deploy autonomous vehicles for daily commuting, starting in the Punggol area, subject to regulatory approval. Read more

HD Maps Market for Autonomous Driving to Reach $2.19 Billion by 2032

A report by MarketsandMarkets forecasts the HD maps for autonomous driving market to grow significantly, reaching $2.19 billion by 2032. This growth is attributed to advancements in AI and real-time data updates, enhancing safety and efficiency in commercial vehicles. Read more

Humanoid Robots to Comprise 0.2% of Robotics Market by 2025

A report by DIGITIMES ASIA reveals that humanoid robots, despite AI advancements, will represent only a small fraction of the global robotics market by 2025 due to high costs and technical challenges. Read more

Nauticus Robotics Tests Subnero Modems for Deepwater Communication

Nauticus Robotics has announced successful deepwater communication tests using Subnero modems with its Aquanaut vehicle. The tests demonstrated effective communication at depths of up to 2300 meters, enhancing subsea operations. Read more

Alloy Develops Data Solutions for Robotics

Sydney-based startup Alloy is creating infrastructure to manage the vast amounts of data generated by robotics companies, enhancing data processing and organization capabilities. Read more

BD and Henry Ford Health Collaborate on Pharmacy Automation

BD and Henry Ford Health have partnered to develop advanced pharmacy automation solutions using the BD Rowa™ Vmax robotic system. The collaboration aims to improve prescription retrieval and patient access to medications in Michigan. Read more

FANUC America Showcases Food-Grade Robotics at PACK EXPO

FANUC America presented its advanced food-grade robotic solutions at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, featuring robots that comply with USDA and FDA standards for improved food manufacturing processes. Read more

Nvidia and Abu Dhabi Institute Open AI Center in Middle East

Nvidia and Abu Dhabi Technology Innovation Institute have launched a joint research lab in the UAE, marking the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the region. The lab aims to advance AI models and robotics using Nvidia's Thor chip. Read more

Desay SV and NTT DATA Partner for AI-Driven Vehicle Platform

On September 10, 2025, Desay SV and NTT DATA announced a partnership to develop a platform for software-defined vehicles, integrating AI to enhance automotive digital services. Read more

Intent Exchange, NEC, and NTT DATA to Pilot UTM System at Expo 2025 Osaka

Intent Exchange, NEC Corporation, and NTT DATA Japan Corporation are set to pilot a Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management system at Expo 2025 Osaka. The initiative will focus on enhancing safety in low-altitude airspace and developing regulatory frameworks. Read more

North Korea Prioritizes AI for Military Drones

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made the development of AI for military drones a top priority, emphasizing the need to enhance production capabilities during a visit to the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex. Read more

Baidu's Apollo Go Gets Dubai's First Autonomous Test Licenses

Apollo Go, a service by Baidu, has received Dubai's first batch of 50 autonomous driving test licenses, enabling open-road testing of its vehicles in designated areas. Read more

Desay SV Expands Global Reach with NVIDIA Partnership

Desay SV has announced the global expansion of its intelligent driving solutions, utilizing the IPU14 domain controller built on NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor, at the International Motor Show Germany. Read more

Promise Robotics Partners with Mattamy Homes for AI-Driven Homebuilding

Promise Robotics has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Mattamy Homes' Alberta Division to enhance prefabricated homebuilding using AI and robotics technology. This collaboration aims to improve efficiency and scalability in constructing homes in Alberta, Canada. Read more

Terra Drone Acquires Aloft Technologies for U.S. Expansion

On September 16, 2025, Terra Drone Corporation announced the acquisition of Aloft Technologies, Inc. to strengthen its U.S. drone market presence and enhance its UTM solutions. Read more

Sonair Secures $6M for ADAR 3D Sensors

Oslo-based Sonair has raised $6 million to launch its ADAR sensor, aimed at improving safety in human-robot interactions by offering a cost-effective alternative to LiDAR. Read more

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Uber Eats Drone Deliveries, Indian Navy's Underwater Vehicles, and Terra Drone's U.S. Expansion - Robotics Brief #36

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