SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RISE™Robotics, the Zero Emission heavy machinery company, announced today that it has been awarded $25,000 as an xTech Search 6 winner. The U.S. Army xTech Program, in partnership with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, announced the 10 winners for the competition’s sixth Expeditionary Technology Search cohort, xTechSearch 6. The open-topic competition solicited small businesses to pitch their transformative technology solutions to the Army and broader Department of Defense ecosystems, within critical technology focus areas from the research and development portfolio.
After competing in the finals event in May 2022, where RISE™Robotics conduct a proof-of-concept demonstration to a panel of Army and DoD experts, RISE™ has been awarded a prize of $25,000, in addition to the opportunity to submit a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research proposal worth up to $250,000.
The competition aims to foster innovation and opportunity by providing a platform for small businesses to collaborate directly with Army leadership to bolster its modernization initiatives. These dual-use solutions can be utilized for military or civilian applications and can lead to a contract with the Department of Defense (DoD). Funding has totaled $800,000 over the course of the search, with $25,000 being awarded to each finalist in the latest round of the competition.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology provides the American Soldier with a decisive advantage in any mission by developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the world's finest equipment and services, and by leveraging technologies and capabilities to meet current and future Army needs.
Chief Product Officer, Ken Gray said, “We are delighted to have been provided an opportunity to understand how RISE™Technology can help US Army warfighters operate more effectively, efficiently and safely. The XTechSearch 6 program has been tremendously helpful for building our understanding while exposing RISE™Robotics’ capabilities to US Army decision-makers and end-users, and we look forward to the opportunity to work closely together again in the future.”
RISE™Robotics zero emission machines incorporate the patented RISE™Cylinder (US Patent 11255416, Patent Pending: WO2019/014259), a fluid-free, electromechanical alternative to hydraulic cylinders for heavy equipment and machinery that addresses the battery-electrification problems inherent in hydraulic systems by delivering hydraulic-like forces at unprecedented efficiency, precision, speed, and weight. RISE™Cylinder uses up to 90% less energy than hydraulic cylinders.
About RISE™Robotics
Founded in 2011 by graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), RISE™Robotics is a high-growth technology company backed by The Engine, a Tough Tech venture capital fund built by MIT, Greentown Labs, and Techstars.
RISE™Robotics is leading the way to Zero Emission heavy machinery by providing the world’s most efficient and productive alternative to hydraulics. Designed for medium and heavy-duty applications, RISE™Technology provides fuel, emissions, and sound reductions, improves productivity, and extends machine life. Find RISE™Robotics online: https://www.riserobotics.com/.
About xTechSearch
The xTechSearch competition strives to integrate small businesses into the Army’s S&T ecosystem by providing research opportunities with Army labs, including authorized access to the Army’s organic intellectual and technical capital. Participants received detailed feedback from Army and Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders. Participants had access to training, mentorship and other support infrastructure as they progressed through the contest to determine how best to align their technology solutions with real users and buyers within the Army. Finalists entered into the xTech Accelerator to receive intensive mentorship and access to networking events to help grow their companies for Army and commercial users. xTechSearch is an opportunity for eligible participants to pitch novel technology solutions – a new application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology concept – to the Army.