REInvest Robotics is a consultancy company specialized in robotics. They also invest in robotics aiming at the UN SDG challenges. Founded by collaborative robotics pioneer Esben Hallundbæk Østergaard and Richa Hallundbæk Misri, REInvest Robotics’ mission is to accelerate the positive impact of robotics. Their successful track record includes market leaders Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR).
Interview with Richa Hallundbæk Misri, Robotics Business Consultant at REInvest Robotics.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Richa Hallundbæk Misri: Our main areas of activity include consultancy and investment in robotic companies. We offer consultancy services to companies of all sizes. On the investment front, we help robotic companies aiming towards UN SDG Goals go from proven prototype to a viable business. With unrivalled experience founding and investing in market leader companies such as Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR). We are now enthusiastically sharing our expertise with start-ups, helping not only with investment, but guiding them from a proven prototype to a successful business.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
R.H.M: We have launched an underwater robot called Sentinus ( Blue Atlas Robotics) that harnesses high-precision advanced photogrammetry techniques to inspect vessels, ports, and other marine structures to improve maintenance efficiency and protect the environment. The clear, stable visual outputs of the robot can be transformed into detailed, full-colour 3D models of large areas, providing quick and comprehensive underwater area documentation.
Blue Atlas Robotics’s Sentinus is a self-steering underwater inspection robot that uses its 6-camera system to meet the following three sustainable development goals:
Fuel Reduction – The Sentinus can inspect an area 100m2 in size in approximately 7 minutes. The result is a detailed and interactive 3D point cloud model, making it possible to track fouling growth rates and know the most cost-efficient time to clean a vessel.
Marine Pollution Reduction – With faster, cheaper, and more regular checks of vessel bottoms, build-ups of slime and calcareous growth can be limited or removed much earlier, reducing greenhouse gases from marine pollution.
Invasive Species Reduction – With documentation accuracy down to the millimetre, it is possible to know exactly what species are growing on a vessel and reduce the spread of invasive species by up to 50%.
As well as being used to reduce fouling and the spread of invasive species. The Sentinus can also be used to inspect vessels, ports, and other marine structures to identify damage, areas of corrosion, wear marks, and general surface conditions.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
R.H.M: REInvest Robotics has a wide range of products in its investment portfolio. These include automatic de-weeding and sowing robot for agriculture- FarmDroid, underwater inspection robots- Blue Atlas Robotics, throat swab robot- Lifeline Robotics, Industry 4.0 in a box- Trendlog.io among others.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
R.H.M: We currently operate in a variety of industries such agriculture, maritime, medical, manufacturing etc. The market for robots varies in different types of industries. The immense potential of robots across a range of industries is easy to see now. Advances in AI, machine learning, IoT are now providing smarter solutions that are quicker and more efficient than ever before. Businesses who want to stay ahead of competition will seek out partners that will enable them exploit the business-transforming potential of robotics irrespective of their industry.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
R.H.M: With reference to robotics and AI:
- Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are reshaping business and democratizing powerful capabilities to nontechnical users. This is resulting in a myriad of creative solutions at a pace we have not seen before. Generative AI tools will continue to keep us excited.
- Out of factory mobile robots are proving to be capable of handling a wide range of applications with great success. The trend of increasing adaption of so called real world robots will continue as the technology is rapidly accelerating in this area.
- Algorithm based technology platform companies will continue to gain rapid customer access as well increased domain-how at a high pace. In the past, this knowledge was gained by OEMs and system integrators through years of experience with customers.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
R.H.M: With reference to our track record in innovation, Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) are both quite innovative companies.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
R.H.M: Already in the first quarter of 2023, the effects of looming recession can be seen in the market. Companies are focusing on improving operational resilience to wither future storms. This is exactly where robotics can play a huge role in terms of improving productivity and efficiency in times of uncertainty.
