Discover new generations of tech: 4D, an IoT flat rate and a Chinese robot.

3 innovation and digital news in 1 minute. Every Monday. Episode 296

News 1: 4D imaging and a leader Vayyar Imaging.

Vayyar Imaging produces a technology and a chip + sensors that produces 4D-imaging. 4D? 3D is distance, direction + relative velocity. 4th dimension is verticality, it measures what was lacking the height of thing. Israel 4D-imaging radar company is one of the leader and just received a $108 million in series E. Opinion: 4D imaging is key in medicine radiography (this where Vayyar started) and in higher level of autonomous driving (level 4 and 5). It identifies height of bridges for example and can identify objects from a further distance. Vayyar also has a B2C radar called Valabot that can detects objects, water, leaks through walls.

Remember that name Vayyar, it is the future of “sensoring”: 4D, chip, sensors and cloud.

News 2: A flat rate for connected objects — 1NCE

When SoftBank Vision Fund (largest investor of the last 4 years, today with reasonable “bets”) invests in Europe, we have a close look at it. Here comes 1NCE, a provider of “SIM card” for connection of objects (largely known as Internet of Things — IoT). SoftBank invested an unclosed amount and will distribute the system in Asia. SoftBank being first and foremost a telecom provider and major actor in Japan. Opinion: Based in Cologne, Germany, 1NCE is a pure discovery on our radar. Their singularity is at 2 levels: a flat rate and a connectivity-only solution (with a developer kit).

SoftBank feels “at home” in investing in a related telecommunication company.

News 3: Of course from Shenzhen, the new “robot kid on the block”.

There are called Hai Robotics, and are based in the electonics “mecca” Shenzhen (not in lockdown). A manufacturer of robots for warehouses with a comprehensive system (see pic) of shelves, robots and a central operations called Hai HQ. Hai Robotics has a proprietary system of cases and robots servicing them — hence called Autonomous Case-handling Robot (ACR). Opinion: In “communist” China, Hai Robotics is financed at $215m with a large invest of private equity firm from Shanghai behind — Capital Today. The ACR is the system of choice for commerce middle-sized warehouses that have popped up everywhere following the growth of online shopping and delivery.

A good bet from a Shanghai firm into a Shenzhen one.