Tesseract’s robot reveal: Wearable proximity trackers to keep workers at a safe distance
May 27, 2020 | Austin Barnes
Kansas City-wired clip-on robots could make social distancing a second thought, as Tesseract Ventures shares its first mainstream product with the world.
“This product exemplifies our mantra that there is nothing more human than technology and is a great example of what you can expect to see from Tesseract Ventures in the future,” said John Boucard, Tesseract Ventures founder and CEO.
Tesseract PRISM
The high-tech robotics startup — one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2020 — announced the Tesseract PRISM (TM) Wednesday, marking the first major unveiling of a product for the company, which has raised significant venture capital from local funders — despite heavily guarding its plans and technology.
“We recognize how hard essential employees are working right now, and we are proud to be able to provide a technology that can help create safer work environments during this difficult time,” Boucard added.
Click here to read more about Boucard and his vision for the future of robotics.
Unveiled as Stay at Home orders continue their roll back, PRISM acts as part of a larger cyber-physical worksite-management system, in tandem with Tesseract PRISM Anchors — wearable badges which track and document the proximity of workers and students in real time and alerts staff and management if social distance is broken, ultimately creating safer work and school environments, the company explained in a release.
“The capabilities of this product are endless, now and in the future,” said Dave Starr, vice president of research and development for Tesseract. “Not only is PRISM a vital piece of technology for ensuring workers keep their distance from one another during this pandemic, it was originally designed to benefit industry operators by providing data to help them identify problem zones within a site.”
Full product capabilities include credentialed worker identification; emergency SOS beaconing; control site access, defined entry and exclusion zones within the job site; the ability to assign workgroups, privileges and certifications for individuals; the ability to assign personal space requirements and receive alerts when cross-contamination occurs; rugged, site-ready construction; and RFID compatibility with existing access points.
John Boucard, Tesseract Ventures
PRISM was developed in Tesseract Ventures’, Crossroads-based Future Lab — an advanced, multi-disciplinary R&D studio — and was built in the company’s Martin City-based Cyber-Physical studio, which develops products that will define the future of work.
The company has two additional development studios — Experiential Entertainment and Human Things — which round out its mission to empower businesses and people to be able to defy the boundaries of space and time, Boucard told a crowd gathered for the Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2020 Celebration in January.
The startup’s mission was most recently backed by a $2 million investment from UMB Capital Corporation in March.
Featured Business
2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Hip hop entrepreneur: Rap stardom isn’t the only way to a paycheck
Music is everything, Kartez Marcel said. It’s an avenue to express anger and hurt in a positive way. It’s a way to heal. And for aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s an opportunity to earn a paycheck even if they aren’t destined for on-stage superstardom, said Marcel, a Kansas City rapper and hip hop industry mentor. “Everybody wants…
FAQ: Is it all hype? Tunneling into Missouri’s chances for Hyperloop
Virgin Hyperloop One might seem like a pipe dream. But the prospect of Kansas Citians reaching St. Louis in only 23 minutes is more realistic than many think. In fact, according to recent reports, Missouri has at least a 20 percent chance at landing Hyperloop, a yet-to-be-realized transportation system that moves people and freight at…
CEO: Infusion Express $13.5M round proves realistic investment can come to KC
When Kansas City-based Infusion Express closed a $13.5 million Series B round earlier this month with McKesson Ventures as its lead investor, the move wasn’t a fluke, Don Peterson said. “If you build something really great, the money will find you,” said Peterson, CEO of Infusion Express. “I didn’t call McKesson, they called me. When…
What KC’s startup community can learn from Leonardo da Vinci
Why is the sky blue? Modern-day scientists know it’s because of the way the sun interacts with air molecules when sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere. In Leonardo da Vinci’s time, however, the answer wasn’t so clear. He questioned assumptions of the day, even those that seemed simple. “It’s that type of always asking ‘Why?’ that…