American network operator Verizon has announced the formation of Robotics Business Technology to expand enterprise solutions for drones and ground robotics.
Robotics Business Technology includes Skyward, Verizon’s drone management company, incubed IT, developer of software for autonomous mobile robots recently acquired by Verizon, and a team focused on automating command and control of robots on Verizon’s 5G ultra-wideband network.
As a part of its new business incubation, this new business unit will focus on creating integrated solutions that incorporate Verizon’s 5G and mobile edge compute capabilities to help enterprise customers efficiently deploy, manage and scale mixed fleets of aerial and ground robotics.
“Enterprises in many industries are adopting drones and ground robots to gather data, survey and monitor infrastructure, and automate logistics operations,” said Mariah Scott, head of Robotics Business Technology.
“By integrating these fleets with one operational platform, and leveraging Verizon’s advanced connectivity solutions, businesses can speed up time to insight, increase automation of their operations and deliver greater value.”
Robotics Business Technology aims to provide connected robotics solutions to existing and future customers for indoor and outdoor use cases in manufacturing and logistics, commercial construction, oil and gas, energy and utilities, public sector and media.
“Robots are a critical aspect of the 5G future. The formation of this new business unit will accelerate the symbiotic relationship between humans and machines, paving the way for Verizon to transform the way businesses approach innovation and the future of work,” said Elise Neel, VP of new business incubation at Verizon.
“Our talented team of roboticists will leverage the power of Verizon’s network, paired with the sophistication of next-generation software, to orchestrate and unify robotic experiences. This work will help deliver on the promise of making the fourth industrial revolution a reality.”