CES 2021: From Robotics to Wellness Tech, Here’s What Caught Our Eye on Day Two – Morning Brew

Read on to see what innovations captured our attention on day two of CES.

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Daesung

The pandemic has kicked off a career boom for robots in sectors like warehouse ops, contactless services, sanitization, agriculture, and last-mile delivery.

Contactless delivery: Delivery is the largest un-automated industry in the world, said Ahti Heinla, co-founder of robo-delivery startup Starship Technologies, in a Wednesday panel. He added that Starships business volume has tripled since the onset of Covid-19.

Agriculture: Its another fast-growing area for robots, especially as the worlds population grows and climate change leads to unpredictable weather. Thats why ag-focused bots typically score a couple of spots in CESs Innovation Award lineup.

- Hayden Field

Cove

In a surprise to absolutely no one, health, wellness, and wearables are dominating at CES this year.

Biometrics on biometrics: HealthyU, a remote health monitoring device from HD Medical, is already making headlines. Its billed as an all-in-one intelligent home monitorthe first one to be able to analyze seven different biometricsand is currently awaiting FDA clearance.

Blood pressure sensors: Imagine if your smartwatch could tell you your blood pressure as well as your heart rate. That kind of wearable tech may not be far off, pending FDA clearance: Valencell, one of the leading makers of heart rate and oxygen sensors, is expanding into blood pressure. Its tech is currently used in various wearables, including Bose headphones.

Stress-canceling tech: Cove is another buzzy wearable making waves this week (literally). The vibrating headband-of-sorts aims to dissipate stress by activating the brains limbic systeme.g., the part that regulates emotion, stress, and anxiety. Feelmore Labs, the Brooklyn-based startup behind Cove, suggests using it for 20 minutes a day.

- Hayden Field

Sony

So, the lions share of flying robot announcements were front loaded on Monday and Tuesday this week. Were just getting them now to give them the detail they deserve. Forgive uswell spend the weekend reviewing the calendar week in penance.

Sony is officially entering the consumer drone business with Airpeak. The Tokyo-based electronics giant has created a quadcopter with the visually inclined in mind. Airpeak can carry a full-fledged mirrorless camera (such as the Sony Alpha series). Its retractable landing gear elegentally folds away when the drones in flight.

The company didnt reveal pricing or production timetables. When it launches, Airpeak seems destined to compete for market share with DJI, which boasts a monopoly in the premium aerial photography/video production market.

On the commercial side, Verizon said Skyward (its drone subsidiary) would test aerial delivery services with UPS at The Villages, a Florida retirement community. UPS announced this delivery pilot last May. Well be watching this partnership to see how Verizons 5G network could enhance drone communications, UAV traffic management, and overall system reliability.

+ While were here: Skydios autonomous drone won the CES 2021 Best of Innovation Award. And Autel Robotics released two new drones.

- Ryan Duffy

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CES 2021: From Robotics to Wellness Tech, Here's What Caught Our Eye on Day Two - Morning Brew