🤖 This week on BitBuilders - tl;dr:

• David Inggs, Head of Robotics at DroneDeploy, shares insights on the robotics industry and his journey from ROCOS to DroneDeploy
• The challenges of operating robots in non-standardized environments like construction sites
• The importance of software infrastructure for robotics companies and the potential of humanoid robots

"What makes DroneDeploy unique is their three-pillar strategy: Unify aerial and ground capture, Automate reality capture processes, and leverage AI for intelligent analysis. This strategy is exceptional in how the company's differentiating itself, becoming that really intelligent tool for digital reconstruction of these environments."

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From Software Architecture to Robotics: David Inggs' Journey

David Inggs' journey into the world of robotics is a fascinating tale of identifying market opportunities and building solutions for emerging technologies. With a background in software architecture and cloud technology, David's passion for creation and startups led him to co-found ROCOS, a company focused on providing cloud infrastructure for robotics.

The genesis of ROCOS came from David's observation of a gap in the robotics industry. While universities and research institutions were producing capable robots, there was a lack of understanding about how to operationalize these machines. David explains, "What the robotics industry did not have is an understanding of operationalization. How do you sell those robots and how do humans interface and tell those robots what to do? How do they monitor those robots? How do they securely connect to those robots?"

This insight led to the creation of ROCOS, which aimed to provide the cloud infrastructure necessary for robotics companies to scale and operate effectively. David and his team recognized that the existing IoT (Internet of Things) infrastructure was not suitable for robotics applications. As he puts it, "IoT technology was actually built for millions of devices doing very little data transfer. It's a fridge, I have a temperature and I'm sending you little bits of temperature data every minute. And there's millions of fridges. Whereas robots is actually relatively less robots, but the amount of data that comes off these robots is humongous."

The ROCOS Approach: Bridging the Gap Between Robotics and Cloud Technology

ROCOS set out to solve several key challenges in the robotics industry:

1. Data Management: Robots generate massive amounts of data that need to be processed and analyzed in real-time.

2. Connectivity: Robots require low-latency, secure internet connectivity to function effectively in various environments.

3. User-Friendly Interfaces: The system needed to be accessible to roboticists who may not have expertise in cloud infrastructure.

David's team worked on creating a platform that could handle these unique requirements of robotics applications. They even collaborated with Microsoft's hardware team to develop a robust security architecture, drawing inspiration from the Xbox's security measures.

The Business Model and Market Challenges

When it came to monetizing their solution, ROCOS opted for a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model based on the number of robots connected to their platform. This approach aligned well with the expectations of venture capitalists looking for recurring revenue streams.

However, David notes that the growth of robot deployment in enterprises was slower than anticipated. "You go like, yeah, we just sold the company one robot. Next year, it's going to be 10. And then you get to year two and they're like, but we've just finished testing in the lab. Now we're going to put that one robot in the field. And like, so it's still one robot," he explains.

This slower-than-expected adoption rate presented challenges for ROCOS's growth projections and highlighted the need for patience and adaptability in the robotics industry.

The DroneDeploy Acquisition: A Strategic Move

The acquisition of ROCOS by DroneDeploy marked a significant milestone in David's entrepreneurial journey. The connection was initially facilitated by venture capitalists, highlighting the importance of networking in the startup ecosystem.

David emphasizes the alignment of values and culture between ROCOS and DroneDeploy as a crucial factor in the success of the acquisition. "We were, I think, lucky that two sets of values of the company had built up in the culture of the humans, the type of humans we attract, and what we encourage was very much aligned," he reflects.

The decision to join DroneDeploy was influenced by several factors:

1. Access to a larger customer base

2. The opportunity to specialize in automation for reality capture

3. Reduced downside risk compared to continuing as an independent startup

4. The potential to create more value by combining technologies

DroneDeploy's Three-Pillar Strategy

David shares insights into DroneDeploy's strategic approach, which he found compelling:

1. Unify: Bringing together aerial and ground-based reality capture.

2. Automation: Enabling continuous, automated digitization of physical environments.

3. AI: Leveraging machine learning for intelligent analysis of captured data.

This strategy positions DroneDeploy as a leader in the reality capture space, offering a comprehensive solution for industries like construction, energy, and mining.

The Current State of Mobile Robotics

David provides a candid assessment of the current state of mobile robotics, particularly in non-standardized environments like construction sites. He identifies several key challenges:

1. Navigation: Robots struggle to navigate constantly changing environments effectively.

2. Mapping: Updating and maintaining accurate maps in dynamic settings is a significant hurdle.

3. Software Reliability: The software stack for basic robot operations (navigation, task completion, self-charging) is still immature.

"There's maximum five companies in the world that can actually do a basic job of it, and it's still not a good job," David states, highlighting the nascent state of the industry.

The Future of Robotics: Specialization vs. Generalization

The conversation touches on an interesting trend in construction robotics: the emergence of highly specialized robots for 2D tasks (like roof work or rebar tying) alongside efforts to develop more generalized robots like humanoids.

David speculates on the potential of humanoid robots to eventually overtake quadruped designs, despite their current complexity and cost. "Maybe the humanoid form factor eventually means that quadrupeds were just this weird anomaly in the industry," he muses.

The Role of Early Adopters in Construction Robotics

David and the interviewer discuss the importance of early adopters in driving the adoption of robotics in construction. They identify data center construction projects, led by tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon, as potential catalysts for the broader adoption of construction robotics.

These companies, with their focus on rapid deployment and willingness to invest in cutting-edge technology, provide an ideal testing ground for new robotic solutions. As David notes, "They're believers in digitization. Totally. They're like, we want accuracy. We want digitization. We want a full history of the project. We get that with this new technology. We're in. Let's go."

Looking Ahead: The Ongoing Mission

Despite the acquisition by DroneDeploy, David remains committed to his original mission of getting more robots into production. He sees the current state of the industry as just the beginning, with significant opportunities for growth and innovation ahead.

The conversation concludes with reflections on the potential of humanoid robotics and the ongoing challenges in the field. David's enthusiasm for the future of robotics is evident as he considers the possibilities: "Being involved in that next wave of robotics, I think will be super cool."

Key Learnings:

1. The importance of understanding and addressing the unique infrastructure needs of emerging technologies
2. The value of aligning company cultures and values in successful acquisitions
3. The critical role of software reliability and adaptability in mobile robotics
4. The potential of early adopters, particularly in the tech industry, to drive innovation in construction robotics

#ConstructionTech #Robotics #DroneDeploy #StartupAcquisition #RealityCapture #AIinConstruction #MobileRobotics #FutureofWork