Independent Robotics recognized for Canadian leadership in defence tech

Montreal, April 1, 2025 - Independent Robotics, a Montreal-based artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics startup, has been named a winner in the inaugural NATO Innovation Hackathon, sponsored by NATO and the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA).

The competition - which took place virtually from March 11 to 18 - drew the participation of more than 60 companies globally, with the aim of accelerating the development and adoption of innovative defence technologies. Challenges presented during the event were drawn from those faced daily in war zones such as Ukraine.

The hackathon rewarded 10 companies for their proposed technological solutions in areas including AI, acoustic sensors, robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) detection.

Independent Robotics - which took home a 20,000 EUR-prize and access to further collaboration with NATO's DIANA network - impressed the panel with its AI-based data processing technology called AISRA. AISRA features advanced AI that understands video, sonar, and thermal imaging, and can automatically scan and analyze vast amounts of footage to identify objects of interest based on just a few samples. Given just a single image of a new type of armored vehicle, for example, it can rapidly detect the whereabouts of that vehicle in videos recorded by reconnaissance aircraft.

The AISRA system is based on Independent Robotics' breakthrough "Insight Engine" technology, a software technology originally developed for civilian inspection applications in land, air and underwater environments. For example, one of the Insight Engine's uses is analyzing footage collected by flying over a city's roadways and automatically detecting and prioritizing potholes for repair, drastically reducing what would normally take months of manual analysis.

The Insight Engine uses the latest innovations in AI and robotics to process and understand vast amounts of data, much in the same way that ChatGPT can help people summarize large amounts of text. Today, robots are improving the processes for inspections of critical infrastructure such as runways or solar power arrays, allowing surveys to be conducted more economically, safely, and frequently. Taking advantage of this information, however, leads to a dramatic increase in the amount of data that humans need to process. Tools such as the Insight Engine address this issue by allowing human analysts to review summaries of data collected from any robot - from flying drones to autonomous underwater vehicles - rather than spend countless hours watching raw data.

"The world today is data-driven, but the burden on human analysts is unsustainable," said Julian Ware, CEO of Independent Robotics. "Our goal isn't to develop AI for its own sake - it's to translate cutting-edge research into solutions that people actually need."

Nick Dudek, the company's Head of Software, emphasized that Independent Robotics' solution "is built to help users regain control and understanding in situations flooded with data. Engaging with NATO defence experts reinforced the need for tools like AISRA."

The NATO award isn't the company's first success. In 2022-23, Independent Robotics partnered with the Royal Canadian Navy's dive team through a federal innovation accelerator to test AI-powered underwater robots (uncrewed underwater vehicles). The startup's technology is also gaining traction in civil sectors - monitoring ship hulls, ports, bridge foundations, and even fish farms for maintenance or invasive species.

More recently, the company joined forces with Lone Drone Solutions, a Canadian company that is applying the technology to inspect civilian airports. "With the Insight Engine's ability to generate fast, high-confidence reports, demand for our solution is growing fast," Dudek said.

Ware emphasized that this win isn't just about Independent Robotics - rather, it's about ensuring ethical, impactful AI reaches the people and organizations needing it most.

"The world is moving fast, and the challenges we're addressing need solutions just as quickly," Ware said. "As Canada strengthens its position as a global AI leader, our company's success highlights the country's expanding influence in defence innovation."

More information about Independent Robotics can be found at https://www.independentrobotics.com/.