Robotics Factory’s Create Program Launches Partnership with Pittsburgh International Airport And Future Travel Experience To Focus On Robotic Solutions For The Aviation Industry
02.22.23
Industry Members Take Part in Workshops, Tours, Networking April 18 – 20, 2023
Pittsburgh, PA – February 22, 2023 – Startup support organization Innovation Works (IW) and robotics industry partner, the Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN), launch the Robotics Factory’s first industry-specific series under the Create program that will bring together aviation and robotics professionals to find robotic solutions for some of the air transport industry’s business and operational challenges. The Aviation & Robotics Summit will be held in Pittsburgh April 18 through 20 and will partner with two other critical resources – Pittsburgh International Airport and the air transport innovation trade group Future Travel Experience – to include a series of interdisciplinary workshops, industry site tours and networking opportunities for invited participants.
The Robotics Factory Create program is part of a larger platform that has three areas of programmatic focus:
– Create robotics startups to meet industry-identified needs,
– Accelerate robotics and related technology companies’ growth through investment, tailored expertise, and access to networks
– Scale companies by helping design and manufacture their products for regional and domestic manufacture
By teaming with Pittsburgh International Airport’s xBridge innovation center and Future Travel Experience, an innovation leader in the aviation industry, IW and the PRN will reach aviation leaders who want to adopt, deploy, and commercialize robotics technologies to solve real-world challenges in aviation. The three days in Pittsburgh will feature collaborative sessions that include networking, interactive workshops, tours and facility visits, and the opportunity to co-create and help shape how autonomous operations, automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other applications of robotics technology can redefine the air transport industry.
Mike Formica, Managing Director of IW’s hardware initiatives, says, “The Aviation & Robotics Summit will synthesize both sides of the dynamic – but often misaligned – equation. By bringing together aviation industry experts with robotics technologists, they can identify concrete problems that can be solved through robotics applications and/or adjacent technologies.” Mike explains, “We’ll help the robotics participants understand the needs and problems of the aviation industry while helping the aviation industry understand the capabilities of the technologies that can transform their operations to be more efficient and effective.”
The Aviation & Robotics Summit is by invitation only to maximize the collaboration between aviation industry executives and robotics technologists. However, media will be invited to cover a kick-off introduction and professional networking session on Tuesday, April 18, the evening before the workshops begin and hosted by the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. The workshops that will take place over the subsequent two days are designed to create a mutual understanding of industry needs and innovation possibilities, helping participants to understand strategic challenges and propose solutions for the most pressing industry-related issues.
To learn more about the Robotics Factory, visit www.roboticsfactory.org. Technology and innovation focused professionals and executives within the aviation industry are encouraged to learn more about and register for the Aviation & Robotics Summit at www.roboticsfactory.org/aviation-and-robotics-summit.
CONTACT: Terri Glueck, VP Communications Innovation Works
412-818-8191 (mobile)
About Innovation Works
Innovation Works (IW) is the Pittsburgh region’s most active investor in and supporter of early-stage companies developing hardware, software and life sciences technologies. Though focused exclusively on helping startups in the southwest PA region, IW’s level of investment activity makes it one of the most active investors in the U.S. Innovation Works is part of the statewide Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a network of four centers developed to help diversify PA’s economy and retain the state’s high caliber innovations that are invented and incubated here. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners are partially funded by the Commonwealth of PA and overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development. To date, IW has financially supported over 700 companies that have brought in an additional $3.3 billion in outside funding, making it one of the most productive uses of state dollars.
About the Pittsburgh Robotics Network
The Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN) represents the companies and leaders who make up the
Pittsburgh robotics ecosystem, which is anchored by Carnegie Mellon University and driven by 130+ robotics organizations developing applications for over 12 commercial industry sectors. It is the PRN’s mission to accelerate the adoption of robotic solutions by bridging this large and dynamic community, to the world. The PRN executes this by making connections, expanding collective knowledge and positively influencing the advancement of robotic and artificial intelligence technologies.
xBridge
Launched in 2020, xBridge is Pittsburgh International Airport’s proving ground for technologies and startups that solve for needs in today’s airport and industry as well as tests and incubates strategic technologies that could be deployed in the future. The proof-of-concept and pilot site showcases new technologies in a real-world operating environment. The xBridge is designed to capitalize on and grow the region’s powerful tech economy right at the airport for the aviation industry and beyond. xBridge has partnered with firms ranging from global Fortune 500 companies to local startups for projects that have tackled air purification, deployed robotic floor scrubbers and applied artificial intelligence to security wait times.
Future Travel Experience
Future Travel Experience (FTE) is renowned in the aviation industry for its in-person and digital events, online media, innovation accelerator, working groups and industry change initiatives. FTE brings together the most progressive airlines, airports, vendors, government agencies, destination partners and various other travel industry stakeholders to share their latest passenger experience and business performance plans and visions, and collectively define the future of the sector. Having started with a standalone event in North America in 2006, FTE is now part of the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and hosts four annual events around the world – FTE Global, FTE APEX Asia Expo, FTE
EMEA and FTE Ancillary & Retailing, plus in-person and online meet-ups for FTE Digital, Innovation and Startup Hub and FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group members, as well as additional specialist events. FTE engages with 50,000+ global industry executives on a weekly basis and its events attract thousands of senior attendees, as well as the leading suppliers and service providers in the field as exhibitors. To learn more, visit: https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/