Buffalo Automation is a technology company that provides autonomous navigation products for commercial ships, recreational boats,

ferries A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus. ...

, and

water taxis A water taxi or a water bus is a boat used to provide public or private transport, usually, but not always, in an urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a bus, or on dema ...

to enable

automation Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, mainly by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machine ...

and improve

maritime safety Maritime safety as part of and overlapping with water safety is concerned with the protection of life ( search and rescue) and property Property is a system of rights that gives people legal control of valuable things, and also refers to th ...

. It is a

private company A privately held company (or simply a private company) is a company whose Stock, shares and related rights or obligations are not offered for public subscription or publicly negotiated in their respective listed markets. Instead, the Private equi ...

based in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

Thiru Vikram Thiru Vikram (Thiru Vikram Suresh; born July 25, 1995) is an inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, who is the CEO of Buffalo Automation, a private company headquartered in Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New Y ...

serves as the CEO of the company.

History

Buffalo Automation was founded by

, Shane Nolan, Alexander Zhitelzeyf and Emilie Reynolds, who were engineering students at the

University at Buffalo The State University of New York at Buffalo (commonly referred to as UB, University at Buffalo, and sometimes SUNY Buffalo) is a public university, public research university in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo and Amherst, New York, United States. ...

. Originating as a university

research Research is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to ...

project, the group was incorporated as a Delaware

C corporation A C corporation, under Income tax in the United States, United States federal income tax law, is any corporation that is taxed separately from its owners. A C corporation is distinguished from an S corporation, which generally is not taxed separ ...

in 2015.

AutoMate technology

The company developed AutoMate, a predictive system that uses

artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...

neural networks A neural network is a group of interconnected units called neurons that send signals to one another. Neurons can be either Cell (biology), biological cells or signal pathways. While individual neurons are simple, many of them together in a netwo ...

to coordinate and fuse data, decisions, and actions based on

nautical maps A nautical chart or hydrographic chart is a graphic representation of a sea region or water body and adjacent coasts or river bank, banks. Depending on the scale (map), scale of the chart, it may show depths of water (bathymetry) and heights of ...

cameras A camera is an instrument used to capture and store images and videos, either digitally via an electronic image sensor, or chemically via a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. As a pivotal technology in the fields of photograp ...

SONAR Sonar (sound navigation and ranging or sonic navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation (usually underwater, as in submarine navigation) to navigate, measure distances ( ranging), communicate with or detect objects o ...

, weather sensors,

thermal imaging Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal video or thermal imaging, is a process where a thermal camera captures and creates an image of an object by using infrared radiation emitted from the object in a process, which are examples of infrared im ...

, broadband radars,

GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based hyperbolic navigation system owned by the United States Space Force and operated by Mission Delta 31. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provide geol ...

LiDAR Lidar (, also LIDAR, an acronym of "light detection and ranging" or "laser imaging, detection, and ranging") is a method for determining ranging, ranges by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected li ...

and

Automatic Identification System The automatic identification system (AIS) is an automatic tracking system that uses transceivers on ships and is used by vessel traffic services (VTS). When satellites are used to receive AIS signatures, the term ''Satellite-AIS'' (S-AIS) is ...

(AIS). The system performs autonomous identification and navigation around obstacles, swimmers, and other vessels within the surrounding . In addition to

navigation hazard Shipwrecking is any event causing a ship to wreck, such as a collision causing the ship to sink; the stranding of a ship on rocks, land or shoal; poor maintenance, resulting in a lack of seaworthiness; or the destruction of a ship either intent ...

identification Identification or identify may refer to: *Identity document, any document used to verify a person's identity Arts, entertainment and media * ''Identify'' (album) by Got7, 2014 * "Identify" (song), by Natalie Imbruglia, 1999 * ''Identification ...

and

collision avoidance In transportation, collision avoidance is the maintenance of systems and practices designed to prevent vehicles (such as aircraft, motor vehicles, ships, cranes and trains) from colliding with each other. They perceive the environment with sensors ...

, the AutoMate system employs

to recognize navigation signs and rules of way to maneuver in compliance with International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), and to also interpret weather conditions for passage planning.

Autonomous ships

The technology was claimed to improve ship

fuel efficiency Fuel efficiency (or fuel economy) is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical energy, chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or Mechanical work, w ...

, which was tested in 2018 on vessels in the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...

. Fully autonomous navigation of locks was under development as of 2020.

Autonomous boats

Initially developed as a fleet management and

autopilot An autopilot is a system used to control the path of a vehicle without requiring constant manual control by a human operator. Autopilots do not replace human operators. Instead, the autopilot assists the operator's control of the vehicle, allow ...

solution for the commercial shipping industry, the technology has since been adapted for use on recreational boats, including

yachts A yacht () is a sail- or marine propulsion, motor-propelled watercraft made for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, though the term generally applies to vessels with a cabin intended for overnight use. To be termed a ...

and

motorboats A motorboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine; faster examples may be called "speedboats". Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the intern ...

. In early 2018, Buffalo Automation began testing a long

autonomous In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be defi ...

pleasure boat made by

Sea Ray Sea Ray Boats is an American manufacturer that produces recreational motorboats. It currently operates as part of the Brunswick Boat Group, a division of Brunswick Corporation. History Sea Ray was founded in 1959 by Cornelius Ray as an indepen ...

, a boat manufacturer owned by the

Brunswick Boat Group The Brunswick Boat Group is an American pleasure boat manufacturer. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, it is the largest maker of such craft in the world. Net sales were US$1.7 billion in 2008, and US$1.0 billion in 2012. The ...

Mobile application

In 2020, Buffalo Automation launched a free

mobile app A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a smartphone, phone, tablet computer, tablet, or smartwatch, watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop appli ...

. Designed to encourage people to experiment with and experience

technology that was otherwise not readily accessible to the average person at the time, it operated as a self-contained offline

neural network A neural network is a group of interconnected units called neurons that send signals to one another. Neurons can be either biological cells or signal pathways. While individual neurons are simple, many of them together in a network can perfor ...

capable of detecting boats, ships, and other vessels visible to a cell phone camera. The company said that the app was slated to also be used to hail Buffalo Automation's self-driving water taxis in development.

Autonomous ferries

In 2021, Buffalo Automation unveiled a self-driving

water taxi A water taxi or a water bus is a boat used to provide public transport, public or private transport, usually, but not always, in an Urban area, urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a simil ...

. Fully autonomous, the vessel uses cameras, laser scanners, radar, satellite, GPS, compass information, and

(AI) to evaluate its surroundings and pilot itself. Buffalo Automation supplies the software and provides training to third party companies or organizations who build and operate these ferries.

Unveiling in North America

This autonomous

solar Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. "solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indicate t ...

and electric-powered water taxi was first demonstrated to

Knoxville Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...

Mayor

Indya Kincannon Indya Kincannon (born March 30, 1971) is an American politician serving since 2019 as the 69th mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee. She won the 2019 mayoral election with more than 52% of the runoff vote over Eddie Mannis. She is Knoxville's second fe ...

on January 7, 2021. As part of the region's

green urbanism Green urbanism has been defined as the practice of creating communities beneficial to humans and the environment. According to Timothy Beatley, it is an attempt to shape more sustainable places, communities and lifestyles, and consume less of th ...

efforts, as of 2021, the project was pending government approval to allow public use as a water taxi or passenger

ferry A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...

East Tennessee East Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. Geographically and socioculturally distinct, it comprises approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee. East Tennessee consists of 33 coun ...

. Upon approval, patrons would access the water taxi service using Buffalo Automation's ride-hailing app.

Environmental, social, and governance features

The on-board

solar panels A solar panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) cells. PV cells are made of materials that produce excited electrons when exposed to light. These electrons flow through a circuit and produce direct ...

and

battery Battery or batterie most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source * Battery indicator, a device whic ...

used to power the ferry’s engine and AI (

) navigation system have a capacity of six hours and enable speeds up to . The quiet propulsion and solar-charging system provide a

sustainable transport Sustainable transport is transportation sustainability, sustainable in terms of their social and Environmental issue, environmental impacts. Components for evaluating sustainability include the particular vehicles used; the source of energy; and ...

alternative, minimize marine acoustic disruption, and avoid environmental impacts associated with fuel and oil residue leaked in aquatic environments, contributing to ESG outcomes.

European sustainable urban mobility projects

In 2018, Buffalo Automation had expanded its operations to Europe. Trials of the United Kingdom's first ''robot

'', equipped with Buffalo Automation's AutoMate autonomous navigation system, were scheduled for summer 2020 in Plymouth, UK, but were postponed due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. In July 2021, an autonomous ferry began service in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

Kagerplassen {{coord, 52, 12, 19, N, 4, 32, 18, E, type:waterbody_region:NL_scale:60000, display=title The ''Kagerplassen'' (a Dutch term meaning "the Kaag Lakes") is a small lake system in South Holland located to the northeast of Leiden.Some of the informat ...

Lake District, dubbed as "Europe's first commercial

robotaxi A robotaxi, also known as robot taxi, robo-taxi, self-driving taxi or driverless taxi, is an autonomous car ( SAE automation level 4 or 5) operated for a ridesharing company. Some studies have hypothesized that robotaxis operated in an autono ...

service". Subsidized by funding from the

South Holland South Holland ( ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.8 million as of January 2023 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely populated areas. ...

provincial government, the self-propelled Vaar met Ferry service connects pedestrians and bicyclists from

Warmond Warmond () is a village and former municipality in the Western Netherlands, north of Leiden in the province of South Holland. The municipality covered an area of , of which is water; had a population of 4,977 in 2004. Together with Sassenheim an ...

-Kagerzoom and

Leiderdorp Leiderdorp () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland near the city of Leiden. It had a population of in . The municipality covers an area of of which is water. Leiderdorp has now become a suburb ...

to the Koudenhoorn Recreation Area. The ferry service was implemented as a collaboration between the

Delft University of Technology The Delft University of Technology (TU Delft; ) is the oldest and largest Dutch public university, public Institute of technology, technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands. It specializes in engineering, technology, computing, design, a ...

, Future Mobility Network, Buffalo Automation, and the South Holland provincial government to provide a sustainable transport option and reduce crowding on the existing access bridge, as COVID restrictions have increased recreation area usage. Passengers use Buffalo Automation's ridesharing app to hail the robotaxi.

Thermal analytics

In 2020, Buffalo Automation repurposed its thermal imaging software to enable rapid skin temperature scanning of multiple people in a crowd to detect

fever Fever or pyrexia in humans is a symptom of an anti-infection defense mechanism that appears with Human body temperature, body temperature exceeding the normal range caused by an increase in the body's temperature Human body temperature#Fever, s ...

. This adaptation was initiated in response to an unmet need in the

health care Health care, or healthcare, is the improvement or maintenance of health via the preventive healthcare, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, treatment, wikt:amelioration, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other disability, physic ...

and

public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the de ...

sectors created by the

. Named BiFrost, the system operated as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, combining Buffalo Automation's

convolutional neural network A convolutional neural network (CNN) is a type of feedforward neural network that learns features via filter (or kernel) optimization. This type of deep learning network has been applied to process and make predictions from many different ty ...

with existing thermal imaging equipment to rapidly report the skin temperature of different facial regions of each individual in a crowd. In July 2020, the Bifrost Project was piloted at the entrance of the

Neurosurgery Center of the

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, also known as Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is a public medical school in the city of Buffalo, New York, at the University at Buffalo. Founded in 1846, it is o ...

Funding

Grants from SUNY and

New York State New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

business plan competition prizes helped bootstrap early activity. In 2016, Buffalo Automation secured its first

private placement Private placement (or non-public offering) is a funding round of securities which are sold not through a public offering, but rather through a private offering, mostly to a small number of chosen investors. Generally, these investors include frien ...

: US$25,000 in pre-

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

investments from Launch NY and Z80 Labs. In 2018, it raised a total of $900,000 in a

seed funding Seed money, also known as seed funding or seed capital, is a form of securities offering in which an investor puts capital in a startup company in exchange for an equity stake or convertible note stake in the company. The term ''seed'' suggests ...

round led by the Jacobs family office, with Z80 making a US$100,000 follow-on investment. In 2020, the company raised US$650,000 through two rounds of

convertible note In finance, a convertible bond, convertible note, or convertible debt (or a convertible debenture if it has a maturity of greater than 10 years) is a type of bond that the holder can convert into a specified number of shares of common stock in t ...

issuance. During the second round, the

's ''Innovation Seed Fund'' made its inaugural venture capital investment, investing US$250,000 in Buffalo Automation. Varia Ventures subsequently matched that US$250,000 investment.

Awards and recognition

* In 2015, Buffalo Automation won the inaugural Buffalo Student Sandbox, an accelerator program. * In 2016, it won the

's Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition. The same year, the company was nominated as a ''Finalist'' for the ''Innovation Award'' by

Lloyd's List ''Lloyd's List'' is one of the world's oldest continuously running journals, having provided weekly shipping news in London as early as 1734. It was published daily until 2013 (when the final print issue, number 60,850, was published), and i ...

and won the New York Business Plan Competition under the Information Technology/Software category. * In 2018, Buffalo Automation was a ''Semifinalist'' in 43 North's startup pitch competition. *In 2019, Buffalo Automation's flagship product, the AutoMate, won the second annual XCELLENCE Awards by the

Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is the world's largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics. AUVSI's 7,000-plus members represent government agencies, ...

(AUVSI) for Detect & Avoid Solutions.

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

's ICAROUS placed second and

Auterion Auterion is an American uncrewed vehicle software company. History In 2019 Auterion's PX4 Avoidance was awarded third place at the annual XCELLENCE Awards of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) for Detect & Avoid ...

's PX4 Avoidance was awarded third place. *In 2020, Buffalo Automation was listed as ''Five startups to watch in 2020'' by Buffalo Business First. *In 2022, Buffalo Automation was listed on DarkRound magazine as one of the ''101 Most Innovative Taxi Service Companies'' and among the ''Best Tech Startups in Buffalo'' by The Tech Tribune.

References

{{Portal, Companies Autonomous ships Companies based in Buffalo, New York American companies established in 2015 Experimental vehicles Robotics companies Unmanned surface vehicles Uncrewed vehicles Marine electronics Navigation Navigation system companies Technology companies established in 2015 2015 establishments in New York (state) Solar-powered vehicles Boating Unmanned surface vehicle manufacturers