Category: Irish Tech News

Lero researchers team up with Abbey Machinery to develop autonomous farm machinery to improve on-farm efficiency

The technological advancement of Irish-made autonomous farm machinery is being enhanced by researchers at Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software and Abbey Machinery, under a new research partnership agreement.

Lero researcher, professor Joseph Walsh, based at the Munster Technological University’s Kerry campus, is leading the partnership with Toomevara, County Tipperary headquartered Abbey Machinery.

Prof. Walsh points out that with global food production required to increase by close to 70% to feed a growing population, the agricultural industry has to become more innovative by using technology to add value to our food supply chains.

“The farmers leading the way in adopting the new technologies will ultimately accelerate the movement that transforms the global agri-food system into one which will efficiently feed nine billion people by 2050,” he added.

Prof. Walsh said the partnership with Abbey would leverage MUT’s industry-leading innovative AgriTech research in IoT, AI and Manufacturing to develop the next generation of intelligent, connected tankers and feeders.

“These machines will be designed to allow remote operation and monitoring by employing state-of-the-art technologies and techniques in sensor networks, communications, and data analytics,” he added.

Abbey Machinery MD Clodagh Kavanagh said that as an export-orientated company with 60% of sales coming from overseas, the goal of Abbey Machinery is to research and develop the next generation of smart, connected, and automated generation of tankers and feeders.

“These machines will be designed to allow remote operation and monitoring by employing state-of-the-art technologies and techniques in the fields of telematics, sensor networks and communications, and data analytics to meet the needs of our customers in Ireland, Britain, France, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand and Iceland,” she added.

Ms Kavanagh said the research has two strands: Next-generation smart electronic architecture for agriculture machinery and software systems for telematics monitoring and remote operation.

Prof. Walsh said the necessary deliverables for Abbey Machinery will be a prototype of the full-stack software platform that monitors the telematics, automates service reminders, and remote operations that have the potential to lead to the development of new products and services for Abbey Machinery.

MTU ​President Professor Maggie Cusack said: “MTU and Abbey Machinery have an established educational and research partnership spanning a number of years. This project marks the extension of this partnership, and we look forward to the positive impact this R&D project will have both nationally and internationally.”

FANUC opens first dedicated Irish robotics facility in Maynooth Co.Kildare

Leading robotics and automation company FANUC is officially opening its first ever dedicated facility in Ireland. Located in Maynooth, Co Kildare, the unveiling of the training centre and showroom and will be overseen by FANUC’s European President & CEO Shinichi Tanzawa in the presence of a select group of government officials, local dignitaries, academics, press, system integrator partners and valued customers.

The launch coincides with the implementation of the Irish Government’s wider industrial strategy, ‘Ireland’s Industry 4.0 Strategy 2020-2025’. Ireland currently lags behind the European average in robot penetration, with the second-lowest robot density in the EU15 in 2019. The Government’s strategy is that, by 2025, Ireland will be a competitive, innovation-driven manufacturing hub and at the forefront of Industry 4.0 development and adoption. 

The new facility at Maynooth means FANUC is ideally placed to help Irish manufacturers upscale their operations and compete on the international stage to make Ireland a European manufacturing powerhouse. In addition, the new facility will host five full-time employees, with this number expected to reach double figures within two years.

LIVE robotics demonstrations on the day will include:

  • The recently released LR-10iA

This lightweight, strong and compact robot series is perfect for use in confined workspaces, proving that today’s robots are suitable for SMEs, as well as large-scale manufacturers. 

  • The CRX cobot range

Boasting eight years zero maintenance, this series of lightweight collaborative robots shows how humans and robots can effectively co-work side by side.

  • The ROBODRILL vertical machining centre

A compact CNC machining centre delivering precision and repeatability – perfect for fully automated production runs.

 

Irish Girl Guides Develop their Cyber Powers During Cyber Security Awareness Month

The Irish Girl Guides (IGG) have partnered with Bank of America to promote cyber safety, with the launch of a new Cybersecurity Badge for their Ladybird, Brownie, and Guide branches. At a time when cybercrime is costing the Irish economy c.€9.6bn per annum and over half of children have confirmed that they have been cyberbullied, the new partnership between the Irish Girl Guides and Bank of America that this year alone will benefit over 2,300 girls, age 5-17 yrs and support them in developing cybersecurity skills.

The launch of the new Cybersecurity Badge programme, created by Dublin based cyber security and technology experts is designed to promote the responsible use of technology and teach the Girl Guides how to stay safe online while also showing the girls and young women the exciting uses and opportunities within the technology industry.

Partnering with Bank of America and its highly skilled team of technology experts enabled IGG to develop a bespoke age-appropriate curriculum that encourages girls and young women to explore different aspects of technology in a responsible, fun and educational way. The women within the technology sector of Bank of America represent great models for the Girl Guides to follow as they show the girls what hard work and determination achieves. Ultimately, this partnership is an amazing opportunity that further supports IGG mission in enabling girls to discover their full potential and become responsible, savvy users of technology.

Roisin Mills, the Brownie Branch Chairperson of Irish Girl Guides, is especially enthusiastic about this partnership saying, “Working in the IT industry as I do, I feel it is really important for all to know how to stay safe online. This badge programme developed by IGG with support from Bank of America will help our girls develop knowledge about how to practice safety and precaution online in a fun and memorable way. This is only the first step in building a foundation and interest in STEM; inspiring girls to uncover their potential and introduce them to the possibility of a career in the STEM field. I cannot wait for my Brownies and Guides to complete the badge!”

It is no coincidence that the Irish Girl Guides chose the month of October in which to launch this badge. October is globally known as International Cybersecurity Awareness Month (ICSAM); a month-long public awareness campaign between governments and industry, which aims to raise public awareness about cyber security best practices, and how to stay safe online wherever you are in the world. To celebrate the launch of the badge programme coinciding with ICSAM, the Irish Girl Guides have released a very special cyber edition of their seasonal magazine, Trefoil News.

Michelle Garrigan, Cyber Threat Intelligence Lead for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Bank of America said: “Bank of America is delighted to support the development of IGG’s new Cybersecurity Badge. Educating young women and girls on cybersecurity and staying safe online has become increasingly important in today’s technology driven world, and our team of technology experts are proud to have supported the development of this new and modern badge to the Irish Girl Guides curriculum which will benefit over 2,300 members.”

The Cybersecurity Badge programme offers a unique opportunity to learn about personal security from an early age and develop good practices that will serve them well for years to come. Each badge is comprised of activities and games that teach girls and young women taking part the foundations to prevent cyber risks and the appropriate protocol when encountering them. This badge programme which supports each of the Girl Guide branches, covers important topics such as the basics of technology and the internet, password security, risks associated with information sharing, and teaches the girls how to spot online scams.

Claire Barkey, CEO of Irish Girl Guides, believes the awareness of cybersecurity is crucial for young girls and women; “Thanks to the support of Bank of America, IGG have been able to revitalise badges that support an awareness of cyber safety at a time when it is  important for young girls and parents to be familiar with the opportunities and challenges online.  IGG take great pride in ensuring our programme is relevant and contemporary for our members and supporting young girls to understand different aspects of the IT industry will promote opportunities in STEM moving forward.  We are excited to partner with BOA and look forward to more opportunities for collaboration!”

Phishing emails revealed as biggest cybersecurity threat to SMEs but 50% don’t have security solution in place

A brand-new Cyber Security Pack has been created by Magnet+, Ireland’s largest connectivity network, to help Irish businesses protect themselves against the significant rise in phishing emails as well as other types of vulnerabilities, threats or breaches.

This new product was especially devised by Magnet+ and its security partner Exponential-e, following research conducted by the company which revealed that almost one in four businesses say that email attachments pose the greatest cyber security threat to their business. However, the survey also revealed that 50% of businesses have not implemented an email security solution to prevent this.

So, what does “Phishing” actually mean?

“Phishing” occurs when a cybercriminal impersonates a reputable business or person in an email or other form of communication such as SMS or direct message on social media. Phishing emails often contain malicious links or harmful attachments that can be used to steal confidential user data such as login credentials or credit card numbers. Opening an unknown and potentially unsafe email attachment can have a detrimental impact on any business – not only in terms of financial loss and loss of business, but also reputational damage.

How will the Magnet+ Cyber Security Pack help businesses?

One element of the new product involves engaging a simulated Email Phishing Campaign that will test employee’s security awareness and see if they open a phishing attachment or not. Results will be reported, highlighting any areas for improvement while follow-up training videos will also be offered to staff.

Other elements of the new Cyber Security Pack from Magnet+, which brings a unique mix of services together for the first time making it a beneficial tool if you are planning to invest in cyber security insurance include:

  • A monthly vulnerability scan which will identify weaknesses within your existing security systems by mimicking the actions of the most effective cybercriminals and offer advice on where your business should implement any extra required precautions.
  • A one-off three-day penetration test where intensive attempts are made to break through your cyber defences over a three-day period employing the same tactics used by attackers. This is crucial to identifying weak spots and gaps in your cyber security system already in place.
  • A one-off Cyber Essentials self-assessment which will act as a baseline certification for IT architects and consultants. Magnet+ help secure and protect what you value most 24/7, allowing you to focus on your core business services.

The new product currently being rolled out by Magnet+ is in partnership with international IT, communications and technology innovator Exponential-e.  Magnet+ customers can now be secure in the knowledge that as well as benefiting from world class technical expertise, their business will have the highest level of cyber security controls possible.

Irish startup launches development of a propulsion system that can change mankind’s space travel abilities

The Irish space company Aerospace Propulsion Systems has started the R&D stage of the development of the Ultra High-Frequency Drive Propulsion System. It has a unique concept, which doesn’t use either liquid or solid fuel. The UHF Drive Propulsion System is based on the peculiarities of the interaction of ultra-high frequency and ultra-high frequency magnetic fields. 

“Our UHF Drive Propulsion System is a totally unique technology. Nothing like this has been built or tested before. We have searched carefully, and no one has this idea or anything similar. It’s radically and fundamentally different from all currently known propulsion systems. UHF Drive Propulsion System can work in any environment and does not interact with the environment in any negative way: It is capable of working in or out of the atmosphere and even under water,” said Charles Seadon, CEO of Aerospace Propulsion Systems.

The engines of a propulsion system are ultra-high frequency linear drives, which don’t use any form of conventional rocket propulsion solids or fluids. Thus, they produce no sound or exhaust gasses. Also, the concept helps to reduce total weight, as any propellant doesn’t add mass to the construction. Despite the small size and light weight, these motors can develop enormous power. As the research shows, they can reach up to 10 times faster speeds.

It is also possible to cluster a number of engines to create even more power and lift as well as provide redundancy to increase the safety of space flight significantly. UHF Drive Propulsion System engines are fully reusable, making them environmentally safe. These propulsion systems can also replace the jet engines of airplanes that use conventional fuels, highly polluting the atmosphere.

“These units, if successful, will change mankind’s space travel abilities, make space ships able to take off and landon any surface, and also can change aircraft flight. This will mean a new era in revolutionizing travel and enabling speeds never seen before,” Charles Seadon said. 

The company is based in Ireland at The National Space Centre. The development is produced in tight cooperation with Munster Technical University (MTU). MTU will provide engineers, physicists, graduates, and postgraduates to assist in the development and testing of the UHF drive under the supervision of Dr. Niall Smith, head of research at MTU. Dr Smith is a doctor of philosophy, astronomy and astrophysics, and experimental physicist. The lead engineer and inventor of Aerospace Propulsion Systems is Ukrainian.

The system is being developed and tested in a secret location in Ireland, protected by the military. During the first 24 months, the company will perform a test & development program and complete The Proof of Concept in the first 6 months. In total, Aerospace Propulsion Systems estimates 2 – 3 years to release the product. 

Buymie to expand outside grocery vertical with Woodie’s partnership

Woodie’s, the market leader in DIY, home and garden, today announces that it is partnering with same-day delivery platform buymie.

From October 10th, customers in South East Dublin can avail of buymie’s personal shopping services to order 20,000 DIY and home improvement products from their nearest Woodie’s store and receive their shopping to their doorstep in as little as two hours.

The new service named “Woodie’s powered by buymie” emulates the successful and extended UK trial “Asda Express powered by buymie” in Leeds and Bristol where buymie has integrated into the leading retailer’s broad offering of delivery options.

The customised Woodie’s app was designed by buymie in partnership with the Woodie’s team,  which will see the retailer leverage the innovative routing and delivery capabilities of buymie, as well as its dedicated network of independent personal shoppers. It makes them the first retailer in Ireland to access buymie’s newest platform enterprise technology.

The new Woodie’s powered by buymie app will be available in both app stores from mid October. In addition, existing buymie app shoppers will have the ability to shop Woodie’s extensive product catalogue via the buymie app.

The pilot will initially see shopping services being provided exclusively in South East Dublin, with a view to expanding nationally soon after.

Items will be picked and packed from the shelves by a dedicated team in Woodie’s and buymie personal shoppers will deliver the order at the selected time or in as little as two hours.  buymie’s delivery services will cater for small to medium-sized products such as paint, tools, accessories and seasonal lines.

Woodie’s is 100% Irish owned and the market leader for DIY, home and garden. They offer an extensive range of paint, DIY tools, gardening, homewares and seasonal products.

The partnership is the ‘first of its kind’ for buymie as it expands its personal, same-day service into a new vertical while maintaining its commitment to facilitating efficient and sustainable personal shopping services to time-poor individuals and families.

Suzanne Quinn, Woodie’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:

Our online business has seen rapid growth in recent years and this partnership allows us to further build and grow our omnichannel proposition, keeping ease and expertise at our core. This partnership with buymie is an important step for us as we continue to find new ways to help our customers shop the way that suits them.

Speaking about the partnership, Devan Hughes, CEO & Co-Founder of buymie said: “We have all run out of paint during a project and done the run to Woodie’s in our overalls! We are thrilled to launch this trial with a household brand like Woodie’s who is keen to expand the same-day delivery offering to Woodie’s and buymie customers. This trial demonstrates buymie’s wider ambition to bring the same-day, delivery model outside of the traditional grocery shopping space and to other areas in the wider retail sphere while continuing our commitment in delighting time-poor individuals”.

Founded in 2016, buymie is a leading player in the rapidly evolving same day grocery delivery market. The business has expanded to a team of 70+ with a network of over 400 personal shoppers to meet the increasing demand for grocery home delivery, a trend which has accelerated dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic.

By using local personal shoppers picking from local stores, the buymie delivery service has been delighting time-poor customers in Ireland and the UK. Customers are able to note specific preferences on their orders and can opt-in for a call from their shopper in-store if items are out of stock. Unlike traditional eCommerce solutions, buymie can deliver on the same day and can fulfil orders in as little as 1-hour.

buymie works closely with official Irish retail partners Dunnes Stores and Lidl. The new partnership with Woodies will see buymie branch outside the traditional grocery space and into alternative areas of retail for the first time.

Consumers who are interested in getting their shopping delivered through buymie can download the buymie app for either iOS or Android devices.

Two-thirds of Irish adults attempt to offset cost-of-living crisis using online tools

Pure Telecom, the Irish-owned high-speed broadband company, today announces the results of a survey, which found that adults in Ireland are turning to online resources en masse as they battle the impact of soaring prices on their personal finances. The research found that 66% of adults in Ireland are resorting to tools such as internet banking, budgeting apps and cashback apps to combat the rising cost of living.

The online research, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom, surveyed 1,002 people as part of a nationally representative study and found that 94% of adults in Ireland are being negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, 50% of respondents report that they have cancelled streaming or TV subscriptions in the last 12 months to reduce their outgoings.

The survey found that a quarter of adults in Ireland are now using cashback apps – which enable consumers to get discount codes and vouchers, or cash back, on select purchases – in an effort to offset the rising cost of living.

A similar proportion (24%) are using apps and websites that help them to find the best local deals for items on their shopping list, while 16% are using personal finance apps that can monitor their spending. Four-in-10, meanwhile, credit internet banking for helping them to keep track of their spending during the cost-of-living crisis.

Pure Telecom’s research found that the internet is also helping adults in Ireland to make more informed buying decisions. Some 61% of respondents said that they are spending more time researching prices online before making a final purchase.

The survey also found that remote working is helping workers to combat rising prices. Of those who are working remotely or on a hybrid basis, 44% say working from home helps them to reduce their cost of living. From this cohort, 69% say it is reducing their spend on fuel, 53% report that they are saving money on food and 42% are saving on public transport. A quarter of those working remotely or on a hybrid basis believe that remote working is increasing their cost of living.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “With inflation and the ever-rising cost of living, we found that almost everyone is feeling the financial pinch and most are looking for ways to tighten the purse strings. Our survey found that adults in Ireland are getting creative and many are using multiple online resources to ensure they don’t pay a cent more than they need to.

 “It is natural that in this current climate, people are looking at their monthly outgoings and cutting back where they can, so it is interesting to see that half of all adults have cancelled at least one streaming or TV subscription in the past year. At Pure Telecom, we are always conscious of customer needs for great quality at an affordable price, which is why we are so proud of our extremely competitively priced Pure TV offering and broadband packages. We want to help people to reduce their cost of living without cutting back on the things they enjoy most.”

Irish tech SMEs urged to join The Innovation Exchange to collaborate with leading multinational corporations

The Innovation Exchange, a programme that accelerates digital transformation for large multinational businesses (MNCs) by connecting them with indigenous Irish SMEs, is calling on innovative technology scale-ups to join the programme and collaborate with MNCs to help address their challenges.

Created by Furthr (formerly Dublin BIC) in partnership with Skillnet Ireland, the programme has announced additional funding to meet higher-than-expected demand. The new funding comes following a successful initial phase which enabled collaboration between 200 SMEs with some of Ireland’s leading corporations including Musgrave, Heineken, Ryanair, Glanbia, ESB and AXA.

At ‘Innovating for the Future’, an event held today to report its first six-month performance, The Innovation Exchange announced that it is to open its doors to an additional 100 digital transformation solutions providers to meet increasing demand from industry.

Discussing the programmes expansion at today’s event, Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins T.D. said: “I’m delighted to see The Innovation Exchange open its doors to a further 100 SMEs in 2022. With over 25 innovation challenges being published by some of Ireland’s leading multinationals this year alone, it offers ambitious tech SMEs great opportunities for growth.”

Conor Carmody, Programme Director, The Innovation Exchange, said: “The Innovation Exchange has had a strong start and the calibre of both corporates and SMEs participating has been very high. We are delighted to open applications for new technology SMEs to join the programme. We’re not only looking for tried and tested digital transformation solutions, but also for the ability to collaborate with large businesses who want to put their stamp on the end solution. If you’re a growing, solutions-focused SME then we would urge you to join The Innovation Exchange at a time when there are so many corporate challenges on the table.”

Mark Jordan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland, said: “The Innovation Exchange has made great strides in its first six months, supporting the success of both large multinationals and indigenous SMEs. We are pleased to announce today’s expansion of the programme. The potential benefits to scaling companies extend way beyond signing a contract. By building the right capabilities, these firms are accessing a qualified sales pipeline and getting face time with prospective customers. I strongly encourage indigenous SMEs to consider the programme for a great opportunity to collaborate with leading multinational corporations.”

Launched in February 2022, The Innovation Exchange has had a number of successful outcomes to date, including 20 SMEs that have moved to a deeper engagement with a corporate partner, with one company announcing that it has signed a paid pilot.  Several other SMEs are in proof-of-concept discussions with a view to establishing a longer-term collaboration. More than 30 innovation challenges are expected to be published by large corporates for participating SMEs in 2022.

The paid pilot involves Exertis, an IT services company of DCC, and The Éclair Group (now Digital Workforce), a technology scale-up that is developing innovative solutions in robotics process automation. Exertis published an innovation challenge via The Innovation Exchange in May and The Eclair Group responded proposing a solution. Following a pitch and a proof-of-concept phase, a deal was agreed to enter a paid pilot.

The Innovation Exchange offers participants a range of benefits including:

  • A qualified sales pipeline and getting face time with prospective customers.
  • Opportunity to pitch your solution to prospective customers.
  • Gaining insights into markets and companies which helps SMEs pitch their solution more successfully.
  • Tailor-made training designed to improve performance of SME members when selling to large corporates.

VistaMilk uses Satellites to Help Irish Dairy Farmers Manage the Land

Using measurements from space to help Irish farmers manage their farms may sound like science fiction but it’s actually science fact. Real-time information about soil moisture is an essential tool for farmers when planning and managing the efficient use of their land and a VistaMilk study is using satellites in earth’s orbit to collect that information.

The research project is utilising imagery from the Europe Space Agency’s Sentinel satellites to map soil moisture in Ireland, with the capability of focusing in on areas as small as 10 square metres. The data gathered could be used to help farmers make decisions about which fields to allow their livestock feed while maintaining optimal grazing and grass growth, which fields require drainage or even wetting, and potentially when to add or reduce use of fertilisers and slurry.

Rumia Basu, a VistaMilk PhD student from Teagasc, at the University of Galway, who is running the project said:

“The importance of understanding the soil moisture levels both historically and on a given day is an essential part of daily farming particularly as decisions made can impact not only production outputs but also the environment. The models we are developing that will provide real time information to assist farmers in their decision making is leading-edge and – due to Ireland’s climate – quite unique.

“Using high resolution satellite radar data which is available in all weather, day or night, combined with optical observation data allows us to provide daily information that one day we hope will be available on an app that farmers can use on what we know to be one of their most valuable pieces of equipment – their phones. As we are able to home in on an area as small as 10 metres square, we will be able to provide farmers with data on a field-by-field basis. “

According to VistaMilk, the satellite soil moisture data has the potential to become part of the farm management toolkit which will help Irish farmers manage their farms more efficiently and in an increasingly environmentally friendly way.

Pat Tuohy, Funded investigator, VistaMilk, said “As well as daily moisture reports we can also look back at historical data to identify areas of a farm that are adversely affected by prolonged periods of wet or dry weather. This will inform farmers where land management strategies may be required.

“Complemented by weather forecasting data the information could potentially influence decisions on where, when and how to apply fertilisers and slurry and what interventions may be required to prevent runoff from the land into watercourses.

“The satellite data could also influence other research projects.  For example, there is ongoing research  into carbon sequestration levels on Irish farms. The possibility of combining results from such projects – as well as others looking at grass growth, for example – could give us a picture of how best to manage soils to increase carbon absorption without affecting productivity.

“Four years on, since the VistaMilk Research Centre was created, it is encouraging to see that our research is making a real contribution to ensuring a sustainable future for dairy farming in Ireland, preserving a traditional way of life, providing significant employment, and making a considerable contribution to the Irish economy. “

A podcast about Rumia Basu’s ongoing research can be found at  https://www.vistamilk.ie/podcasts/