FORT Robotics Expands Its Trust Layer for Physical AI with Connectivity Aggregation to Keep Autonomous Machines Reliably Connected Anywhere
Quick Answer
FORT Robotics has launched Connectivity Aggregation, a software solution that combines cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, and radio networks into a single resilient link for autonomous machines, ensuring reliable connectivity in challenging environments.
Quick Take
This technology is crucial for defense applications where network disruptions can jeopardize mission success.
Key Points
- Connectivity Aggregation supports seamless operation across multiple network types.
- Designed for critical applications where losing connectivity can mean mission failure.
- FORT's technology is already in use by over 600 customers with 19,500 units deployed.
- The solution is network-agnostic and can work with both public and private networks.
- FORT Robotics plans to go public through a merger with Newbury Street II Acquisition Corp.
DeepSignal Analysis
What happened
FORT Robotics has introduced a new software solution called Connectivity Aggregation, which integrates various communication networks into a single link for autonomous machines. This technology aims to ensure reliable connectivity in challenging environments, particularly for defense applications. The solution is currently being rolled out to several defense customers.
Key evidence
- Connectivity Aggregation combines cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, and tactical radio networks into one resilient link, adapting automatically to changing network conditions.
- FORT Robotics is actively rolling out this solution with several defense customers who have critical connectivity requirements, as announced at the AUSA Annual Meeting.
- The company has deployed over 19,500 units across various industries, including defense, warehousing, and agriculture, and has secured 25 patents since its founding in 2018.
Why it matters
Reliable connectivity is essential for the safe operation of autonomous machines, especially in defense scenarios where network disruptions can lead to mission failure. FORT Robotics' Connectivity Aggregation aims to mitigate these risks by providing a seamless communication link that adapts to various network conditions. This advancement could enhance operational effectiveness in contested environments, where maintaining control over autonomous systems is critical.
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~4 min readFORT Robotics Expands Its Trust Layer for Physical AI with Connectivity Aggregation to Keep Autonomous Machines Reliably Connected Anywhere
New software solution bridges any combination of cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, and radio networks into a single link for dependable communications in challenging environments
With the rise in autonomous ground vehicles and remote-controlled and uncrewed systems, maintaining a reliable connection is critical for safe operation. To address that challenge, FORT Robotics, the Trust Layer for Physical AI, today announced Connectivity Aggregation, a new software solution that keeps autonomous and remotely-controlled machines connected in places where a single network falls short.
FORT introduced the solution today at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition, sharing that it is in active rollout with several defense customers with critical connectivity requirements. Attendees can visit FORT Robotics at the Innovation Pavilion hosted by J.A. Green & Company.
A robot should never become unreachable just because one network fails. Connectivity Aggregation combines cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, and tactical radio into one resilient link that automatically adapts as network conditions change. The technology is designed for critical applications where losing connectivity can mean losing visibility into or control over a machine. For machines to be trustworthy, they have to stay connected when it matters most.
"We've all been on a phone call when the signal starts breaking up and suddenly the person on the other end is gone," said Samuel Reeves, CEO of FORT Robotics. "A dropped connection is annoying when you're talking with a friend. It's a very different problem when someone is remotely operating a 20-ton machine."
Seamless Operation Across Contested Environments
Operating robots and vehicles from a distance often means relying on multiple networks, especially in contested environments and places with physical obstacles, dead zones, or compromised infrastructure. When a network underperforms or drops, switching to another one manually can cause downtime. For critical operations, a network disruption of even a fraction of a second can cause mission failure.
"Imagine a soldier remotely operating an autonomous vehicle in contested territory. If the network degrades or gets jammed, that soldier could suddenly lose control of the machine," said Carlos Villegas, FORT's Strategic Account Executive for Defense. "When troops are working alongside heavy autonomous equipment, a disruption in communications puts lives at risk and compromises the mission."
Connectivity Aggregation is designed to close that gap by seamlessly aggregating multiple networks into a single, optimized connection that offers a level of reliability no single network can provide.
Any Network, Anywhere
Like other FORT solutions, Connectivity Aggregation is designed to be network-agnostic for use in any location. It works with standard commercial networks, with no proprietary devices or custom cellular links required, and can be used with both public and private networks. Customers can run the software on their own hardware, use it as a standalone solution, or combine it with FORT's broader hardware and software platform. FORT works directly with each customer to support integration.
A Trusted Platform
The solution is the latest product in FORT's platform, designed to make robots — including humanoid robots — safe, secure, and reliable enough to deploy at scale. FORT's technology is already used by more than 600 customers with more than 19,500 units in the field in a variety of verticals across defense and beyond, including warehousing, transportation, and agriculture, and defense. The company recently announced its intention to go public through a business combination (the "Business Combination") with Newbury Street II Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: NTWO). Upon closing, the combined company is expected to be named FORT Robotics Holdings, Inc. and to be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "FROB," subject to regulatory approvals.
About FORT Robotics
FORT is The Trust Layer for Physical AI, with the charter of making autonomous machines safe, secure, and reliable enough to deploy at scale alongside humans. Partnering with FORT gives robot manufacturers and end users the ability to certify safety, maximize efficiency, and accelerate time to market speed.
Since its founding in 2018, FORT has become a leading provider of safety solutions across the robotics industry and used across warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, mining, energy, defense, and other industries. FORT has secured 25 patents and deployed more than 19,500 units to a global base of over 600 customers including Fortune 500 category leaders. More information at www.fortrobotics.com.
— Originally published at roboticstomorrow.com
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