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By Nikki Cabus

Autonomous vehicle company Guident receives funding through Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership

Read Time 3 Minutes

Boca Raton-based, Guident, a leading autonomous vehicle teleoperation company, has announced that it has been awarded funding for a groundbreaking project under the Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership program, together with its valued Israeli partner, NOVELSAT.

Guident commercializes patented technology to enable safer autonomous vehicles and devices by providing industry-leading AV remote monitor, control, assistance, and passenger support services. Guident and NOVELSAT, a global leader in content connectivity, partnered earlier this year to develop an innovative always-on, ubiquitous remote monitor and control solution for autonomous vehicles and devices.

NOVELSAT is a leading provider of next-generation content connectivity solutions. Powered by innovative technologies, our broadcast and broadband solutions are transforming networks’ capabilities to expand growth potential and to drive new experiences on any device, anytime, anywhere. Our high-performance products for satellite and terrestrial content connectivity include integrated video solutions and highly efficient broadband connectivity solutions, and best-in-industry content security solutions. Transforming data and video delivery with new levels of performance, efficiency, agility, and security, NOVELSAT empowers mission-critical and demanding applications for the mobile, media, entertainment, government, and mobility markets.

The solution combines space communications and augmented intelligence technologies to ensure optimal safety and security for autonomous vehicles and devices, enabling remote monitoring and operation at any time and place. This integration of NOVELSAT’s satellite-based space connectivity technologies and Guident’s human-in-the-loop AI technologies will provide reliable and high-speed bi-directional connectivity. This connectivity enables continuous, high-quality video streaming to monitor autonomous vehicles remotely and, when necessary, to allow remote control of the vehicles to resolve various edge cases. Additionally, the connectivity will provide real-time audio and video communication with passengers, pedestrians, or first responders, ensuring the highest level of safety for autonomous systems, which is a crucial factor in the deployment and management of such systems.

The cooperation between the companies opens the door for new markets and revenue opportunities by offering a new level of autonomous systems safety for a wide range of applications: transportation, delivery, agriculture, hospitality, mining, logistics, and more.

The grant being awarded is for the purpose of developing a safer Remote Monitor and Control Center (RMCC) for the monitoring, management, and backup control of terrestrial autonomous vehicles, with the assistance of satellite communications. This innovative approach is aimed at providing redundant, continuous monitoring of autonomous vehicles. Additionally, space communications provide a mobile network connectivity alternative in areas with low signal or no terrestrial mobile wireless network coverage.

“Through this extraordinary collaborative partnership, Space Florida is at the forefront of welding cutting-edge innovation with the boundless knowledge derived from scientific exploration. It thereby forges a path that shapes the very essence of the future of autonomous mobility,” stated Tony Gannon, Vice President of Research & Innovation for Space Florida.

Space Florida is an aerospace and spaceport development authority in Florida that aims to promote and support the growth of the aerospace industry in the state. Space Florida offers various advantages to leading aerospace companies and has extensive experience and expertise in the aerospace industry, providing valuable knowledge and resources to companies. The organization offers financial tools such as grants, loans, and tax incentives to help aerospace companies with their new initiatives, encouraging economic growth and development.

Scheduled to commence in early July 2023, the joint project brings together the collective expertise, resources, and vision of Space Florida, Guident Corp, and NOVELSAT. Each organization’s unique strengths will synergistically contribute to developing pioneering safety solutions for ground-based autonomous vehicles using satellite communications.

“Guident is privileged to have the invaluable support and guidance of Space Florida with their unrivaled experience and strategic location for this new initiative,” stated Dr. Gabriel Castaneda, Guident’s Vice President for AI and Research.

“This generous funding will propel us forward as we embark on the development and scale of an effective Remote Monitor and Control Solution with enhanced vehicle safety, together with our Israeli Partner NOVELSAT.”

By Nikki Cabus

2 tech companies join Boca Raton Innovation Campus including autonomous vehicles

Read Time 2 Minutes

The Boca Raton Innovation Campus, or “BRIC.” is welcoming two tech companies to it’s list of technology and life science tenants” autonomous vehicle startup, Guidant Corp., and cybersecurity firm, Arete.

Guident Corp developed patented software solutions utilizing artificial intelligence technologies for making autonomous vehicles safer and in turn increasing overall adoption. Harald Braun, Chairman and CEO of Guidant, brings decades of experience with him including formerly the President and CEO at Nokia Siemens North America and being recognized as one of America’s “Top 100 Voices of the IP Communications Industry” by Internet Telephony magazine. Additionally, Guidant’s board of directors includes a team of experts from companies such as Aviat Networks, Audi, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen and ZipCar.

The startup will relocate from Florida Atlantic University’s Tech Runway where they won the annual Launch Competition in 2020. FAU Tech Runway® is a public-private partnership formed to incubate and accelerate early-stage technology-based companies, under the purview of FAU’s Division of Research.  The incubator/accelerator provides the most promising startups and talented entrepreneurs in South Florida with an opportunity to join a year-long program that offers competition winners “best-in-class” instruction, mentoring, networking, marketing, capital-raising assistance, co-working space, events, intern support and other vital programs.

A panel of judges, including successful entrepreneurs, technology investors, entrepreneurship professors, economic development professionals, philanthropists, and commercial bankers selected Guident Ltd. as the winner of the competition. The judges were convinced that the company creating a Remote Monitoring and Control Center in Florida for autonomous vehicles (AVs) applying artificial intelligence, and their first use-case for ‘zero-touch’ ground-based delivery of groceries and medicines, would be the right choice to create significant value in South Florida and nationwide.

The Boca Raton Innovation Campus is the home of the first IBM personal computer and research hub. It’s the largest single facility office building in the state at 1.7 million square feet, 123 acres and includes the country’s longest hallway at a length of 907 feet long. ‘CP Group, formerly Crocker Partners, acquired BRiC in 2018 with the vision of building off its innovative past and evolve the campus, through a multimillion dollar renovation project, into the premier technology and life sciences hub in the Southeast’ competing with Silicon Valley and bring more technology companies to South Florida. The campus is currently home to some big name tech and life science companies such as ModMed, Canon, Bluegreen Vacations and Baptist Health South Florida.

Autonomous vehicle company Guident receives funding through Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership
2 tech companies join Boca Raton Innovation Campus including autonomous vehicles