New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced this week that the Israeli autonomous systems company Blue White Robotics will open a command and control center at the Tech Garden in Syracuse, New York.
Founded in 2017 and based in Tel Aviv, Blue White Robotics has developed a robot-as-a-service platform for the operation of multi-autonomous systems for agriculture, public transportation, energy and mining, and first responders. The company’s platform enables command and control of complex data-driven operations using multiple air and ground unmanned vehicles from one central location.
The innovative company’s customers include leading private companies, government organizations, and research institutions around the world.
Blue White Robotics is also assisting Easy Aerial from Brooklyn, a company that designs and manufactures autonomous drones and ground control systems, as well as Dropcopter from Syracuse, which develops aerial pollination capabilities as part of the solution to the global bee crisis in partnership with Cornell University.
The company plans to station an operations, marketing, and sales team at its Harrison Street facility in downtown Syracuse, with assistance from private investments and the state of New York, according to a statement from the government press office.
Last year, the company announced their interest in expanding their presence in New York state by partnering with local companies to service the state’s agriculture, transportation, and first responder markets.
Empire State Development is assisting Blue White Robotics with up to USD 300,000 through the Excelsior Job Creation program, and CenterState CEO is providing USD 1 million in UAS Central Jobs Funds assistance.
“New York’s focused investment in upstate’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry is truly paying off,” Governor Cuomo said in the statement. “Blue White Robotics’ decision to locate its US headquarters in Central New York is proof positive that these efforts putting New York on the map, resulting in the creation of top-quality jobs and opportunities that will fuel further growth in the region.”
“We are continuing to invest in Central New York to grow the high-tech industry and attract businesses to the area,” Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Blue White Robotics’ new operations center in downtown Syracuse will further advance tech innovation and create new jobs and opportunities in the region. This partnership will spur collaboration among local companies and strengthen the local economy as we continue to build back better as part of CNY Rising and reimagine the future of New York State.”
The total project cost has been placed at a little over USD 4 million. Blue White Robotics has also recently secured a USD 10 million Series A investment, which will be used to further support the growth of its US operations.
In an effort to further grow its US operation, Blue White Robotics will conduct testing and licensing processes for its advanced command and control systems at the test site, which is operated by Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research, or NUAIR.
New York State is focused on establishing itself as a worldwide leader in the development and implementation of the autonomous system industries, including the world’s first 50-mile unmanned traffic management corridor between Syracuse and Rome for testing UAS platforms and innovations.
This article first appeared in NoCamels, which covers innovations from Israel for a global audience.