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KILTER’S 2nd ANNUAL “MILES FOR MEANING” WITH $60K IN DONATION PRIZES FOR CHARITIES SET TO LAUNCH IN MARCH

Kilter

Miles for Meaning, the activity-driven charity challenge created by Kilter in 2021 will return with more donation prize money available to charities this March 1-31, it was announced by Seth Braddock, Kilter Founder & CEO. “Our inaugural Miles for Meaning was a big hit with charities and their supporters as thousands of people put in over 300,000 miles,” said Braddock.” The campaign raised $125,000. This year, our goal is to double those numbers.” Kilter is the most inclusive activity-based engagement platform for good. The platform is used by charities and brands to unite supporters and employees through everyday health, wellness and lifestyle activities. Miles for Meaning, open to both charities and companies for their supporters and employees, will provide tens of thousands of dollars in donation prizes to charities, including a $30,000 grand prize donation. Participants in the event will accumulate miles (steps, run, bike, walk, roll) from March 1-31 and can also fundraise themselves for their favorite charity if they so choose. The participating charity and company teams will compete to win cash donation prizes sponsored by Kilter, Comcast SportsTech, TVP, Bonfire, Nonprofit Hub, Charity Teams, & more. “Kilter is a game changer and that’s why I joined their advisory board,” said Meb Keflkezighi, the only person to ever win an Olympic medal and the New York City and Boston Marathons. “They support charities such as the MEB Foundation while providing runners with the world’s most inclusive supporter engagement platform. I’m looking forward to donating my hustle and racking up my Miles for Meaning this March.” During the first year of the campaign in March 2021, more than 5,500 total participants racked up 324,000 miles and $125,000 in donations for their favorite causes. The grand prize winner in 2021 was Dylan's Wings of Change, who have since used Kilter for 14 additional events and have reached 200% more supporters and doubled their fundraising potential by utilizing Kilter. ABOUT KILTER Kilter is the world's most inclusive supporter engagement platform that turns everyday health, wellness and lifestyle activities into opportunities for people to drive charitable dollars to their favorite causes, all while building culture and community to make a global impact. With 50+ trackable activities from running to yoga to pickleball to volunteering, plus our best in class user experience, functionality and customer support, employers, nonprofits and event producers will meet their supporters where they are today (on their phones) and easily exceed engagement and impact goals. Learn more at www.kilterapp.com. Contact Details Kilter Julian Lavelle +1 315-708-3494 julian@kilterapp.com Company Website https://www.kilterapp.com

January 18, 2022 10:40 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Osmo From BYJU’s Names Peter Glovin Senior Vice President of Educational Sales

Osmo for Schools

Award-winning STEAM brand, Osmo from BYJU’S, announces Peter Glovin’s appointment as Senior VP of Educational Sales, effective immediately. In this role, Glovin, a seasoned senior edtech sales executive, will develop and implement a U.S. sales strategy for the brand’s educational sales division, Osmo Education, as well as expand its sales team, targeting the Pre-K to Grade 5 education market. Osmo Education celebrated its fifth anniversary last March. “Peter’s proven background in edtech sales and business development will undoubtedly help open doors for Osmo in the education field,” says Cherian Thomas, Senior Vice President of International Business at Osmo from BYJU’S. “While we’ve seen tremendous support from kindergarten and elementary teachers in the past five years who individually purchased Osmo to use inside classrooms across the country, we’d love to build sales and begin support for the education community at the district level.” Glovin’s remarkable track record of success and longevity in sales is defined by his expertise in creating and implementing innovative sales programs, and providing targeted solutions for high-level customers. He was previously Senior Vice President of Sales at MIDAS Education where he led sales efforts for K-12, Higher Ed and Workforce development markets. “I see enormous growth potential for Osmo in the education market,” says Glovin. “The combination of tactile exploration and innovative technology is a powerful package that will help transform the way students learn while in school, and I’m energized by the shared vision that its learning system will be used by many more school kids in the near term, in addition to the focus and dedication of the team leading Osmo. I’m very excited to be part of the worldwide growth of BYJU’S.” Prior to MIDAS Education, Glovin was Vice President of District Relations at BrainPOP, where he led sales efforts for the K-12 supplemental content segment, increasing sales 500% between 2008 and 2019, and helping to expand the company’s domestic K-12 market share to 35%, plus building presence in key states like Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, and California. He was also closely involved in STEM-related product launches and liaising with industry advocacy groups. Before BrainPOP, Glovin held a number of business development roles for educational technology companies. In his early career, he held marketing roles with a number of media and publishing companies. Glovin has a B.A. from Hobart College. About Osmo from BYJU’S Osmo is an award-winning STEAM brand, wholly owned by BYJU’S, the leading global edtech company. Osmo from BYJU’s and Osmo Education products are used in over 2.5 million homes and 50,000 classrooms, respectively. Osmo builds a universe of hands-on, curriculum-based learning experiences that nourish the minds of children by unleashing the power of imagination. The brand brings physical tools into the digital world through augmented reality and its proprietary reflective artificial intelligence. Learn more at PlayOsmo.com and Osmo Education. Contact Details Osmo Lisa Fujioka lisa@tangibleplay.com Company Website http://schools.playosmo.com

January 18, 2022 05:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

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Velocity Global and Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks gives respite and relief to Marshall Fire victims

Velocity Global

$30,000 donation to relief fund VIP tickets to Red Rocks for those affected by the fire Velocity Global has partnered with Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks to donate $30,0000 to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to assist with recovery from the Marshall Fire, as well as a special VIP Red Rocks experience for those affected by the worst wildfire in Colorado history. “Our hearts go out to our neighbors who lost all of their possessions and precious life in the blink of an eye,” said Ben Wright, Velocity Global founder and CEO. “Money helps in times like this, but so does a brief escape from the realities of recovery. We chatted with our partners at Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks to find a way to provide that getaway, even for just a night at Red Rocks.” Denver-based Velocity Global, the leading platform for global talent solutions, is a presenting sponsor of Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, a partnership between Icelantic Skis, The Pinecone Project, and AEG Presents Rocky Mountain. The group is donating VIP tickets to those affected by the Marshall Fire. “Music and community can help heal and we’re thrilled to be in a position to offer both to those impacted by this tragedy,” said Sam Warren, director and founder of Winter on the Rocks. “We’re asking anyone who knows someone affected to let us know and we’ll give them a night at Red Rocks.” The only winter concert at Red Rocks is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year with Diplo, Sofi Tukker, Talib Kweli, DJ Matt Cassidy, and JACOBY on January 28th. Velocity Global will distribute tickets to those affected through its social media accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram starting today. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

January 13, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Democracy Think Tank, Section 1, Announces Release of Founder, Peter Biro’s, “Conscience-Shocking” First Music video of his Dramatic Rock Ballad, “Just History Now”

Section 1

Peter Biro, the founder of Section 1, a democracy think tank, has announced the release of a music video to accompany a powerful conscience-raising rock ballad, “Just History Now”. Biro hopes to attract the attention of politicians, educators, journalists and the civil society sectors to the song’s urgent and compelling message for the world of today. Biro calls it “a love letter to humanity in a dark age. A lament for the human condition. An irrefutable case for pessimism. An eternal reason for hope.” “This is us! This is about who we are”, says Biro. “Humanity is not divided into the good ones and the bad ones. We are each possessed of benign and evil inclinations. We seem condemned to both revisit and repeat our past atrocities, even as we atone and take stock of our own immortality. Every politician should watch. Every activist will want to share. Every high school should set aside 6 minutes and 22 seconds at its morning assembly for this.” Lawyer, writer, educator, think-tank founder, democracy activist, Chair Emeritus of the Jane Goodall Institute Global, and songwriter, Peter L. Biro, pays tribute to his late father and Holocaust survivor, George Biro, while calling us all “to look honestly at the hard truths about the nature of human nature!” “What have we done since Bergen Belsen? What have we learned from Birkenau? Where are the desaparecidos? It’s all just history now”. Beautifully conceived, performed and recorded in 2000, but never released, Biro decided that, tragically, the song was even more relevant and timely today than when he wrote it over two decades ago. JUST HISTORY NOW, and other songs by Peter, can be streamed at http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1601499105?ls=1&app=itunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1601499105 https://open.spotify.com/artist/5D9wk6ZDyqCDKtm12gJXlo?4, and most online music stores. About Peter Biro: http://www.section1.ca/the-team/ and at https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-l-biro-2438919/ Watch it. Share it. Broadcast it. Discuss it. Review it. And reach out to Peter at peter.biro@section1.ca with feedback and interview requests. www.section1.ca Contact Details Peter Biro peter.biro@section1.ca

January 12, 2022 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Entertainment Industry Leader Jed Weitzman joins Logitix as Head of Music

Logitix

Logitix, the leader in live event ticketing technology and analytics, announced they have named Jed Weitzman as their Head of Music. Weitzman brings over 25 years of experience as an executive in the entertainment industry, specializing in talent management, technology, and ticketing. Through this newly created position, Weitzman will lead the music division for Logitix to optimize concert ticket sales through real-time data, dynamic pricing, and distribution. “Jed is one of the most respected leaders in our industry,” said Logitix CEO Stuart Halberg. “He has a proven track record of helping artists and promoters navigate their ticketing strategy and increase revenue. He is joining an all-star team at Logitix that continues to prove that we are the most trusted solution to optimize ticket sales for live events.” Before joining Logitix, Weitzman built the music division for Ticket Evolution and consulted for over 60 major concert tours. He worked directly with agencies, promoters, venues, and managers to create revenue. Earlier in his career, Weitzman oversaw world tours and licensing deals, working with many of the world’s top artists, including Prince, Dave Matthews, Billy Joel, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, James Taylor, Jane’s Addiction, and Morrissey. “Throughout my career, I have always taken the approach to consider the artist first,” said Weitzman. “There is nobody helping artists, teams, and promoters more in the ticketing space than Logitix. They represent the present and future of the ticketing industry, and I’m thrilled to lead their music division.” Weitzman’s career started in television, working on shows like Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O’Brien before becoming a sought-after talent manager and TV development executive. He spent nearly 10 years managing careers of comedic talents, including Zach Galifianakis, Stephen Colbert, and Steven Carell. During his time at Brillstein Grey Entertainment, he worked with the writing and production staff of The Larry Sanders Show, Mr. Show, and The Dana Carvey Show. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2021, Logitix managed 2.4 million tickets that sold for over $300 million through teams across the NFL, NBA, and NHL, plus NCAA events and live event properties. Logitix optimizes ticket sale outcomes for all of its partners through proprietary dynamic pricing and distribution. Its unique platform analyzes millions of real-time data points, providing up-to-the-minute insights within the live event marketplace. About Logitix Logitix is the preeminent monetization engine and ticketing platform for the live event industry, combining optimized pricing, distribution, and inventory management with real-time insights to help sellers and buyers respond to a rapidly changing market environment. The Logitix vision is to automate the entire ticket life cycle and provide data-driven insights to serve the diverse needs of its clients. The company is backed by ZMC and is privately held. For more information about Logitix, visit Logitix.com or find them on LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://logitix.com/

January 12, 2022 11:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

iTradeNetwork Introduces OrderMaestro — The Food Industry’s Best-In-Class E-Commerce Platform That Gives Foodservice Distributors a Competitive Advantage

iTradeNetwork

iTradeNetwork, the food and beverage industry’s largest network with over 8,000 food and beverage trading partners, is proud to announce the launch of OrderMaestro for distributors — a mobile e-commerce solution that automates and streamlines the ordering process for their customers. OrderMaestro enables distributors to create powerful loyalty programs, easily promote specific products, increase sales opportunities and deliver a best-in-class mobile ordering experience that customers love. Over the last 18 months, distributors have had to evaluate business operations to survive in an ever-changing foodservice climate. Small and independent restaurants have closed their doors for good, forcing distributors to pivot to find new customers and explore different channels for revenue. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation and technology adoption by three to four years 1, pressuring distributors to quickly adapt to new technologies to meet customer needs. Customers are expecting more — and faster — than ever before. In order to compete with the thousands of distributors on the market, they need to deliver a seamless mobile ordering experience that will attract customers — and keep them coming back. Introducing OrderMaestro OrderMaestro is a branded e-commerce platform that catapults distributors into the digital age and allows them to do more with less. iTradeNetwork designed OrderMaestro to offer a personalized experience for customers. Distributors will not only grow sales revenue, but they will also provide an intuitive and scalable ordering experience for their customers. This best-in-class solution provides clear order guides across units, auto-generates orders from past purchases and offers configurable workflows to streamline purchase order (PO) approvals — but that scratches the surface of what OrderMaestro is capable of doing: Create Powerful Loyalty Programs That Attract and Engage Customers: Build a loyal customer base and increase revenue with in-app promotions. With OrderMaestro, distributors can create loyalty programs, drive volume to specific products, get rid of excess inventory quickly, run holiday and seasonal promotions and more. Gift Your Customers with Effortless Onboarding in an Easy-to-Use Mobile App: With widespread labor shortages, onboarding and ease-of-use is top of mind for distributors and their customers. OrderMaestro is simple to manage and requires no formal training — customers can submit POs from their mobile devices in minutes. 3-Touch “Scan-To-Search'' Smart Barcode Scanning: Now, customers can place an order or take inventory in as little as three taps. OrderMaestro’s barcode scanning and voice recognition functionality allow users to auto-populate product information right from their mobile devices. Collaborate In Real-Time and Increase Customer Satisfaction: With alerts, distributors can notify their customers about when to expect delays based on weather conditions, changes in account cut-off times and more. Gain Visibility into Customer Purchases, So You Can Grow Your Business: With barcode scanning and voice recognition technology, collect rich, comprehensive data on the products customers are purchasing from other suppliers. “In a very competitive foodservice distribution market, OrderMaestro is the key to differentiating yourself,” said Wills McMahon, senior product manager at iTradeNetwork. “Distributors will be able to increase sales through our in-app promotions while delivering a best-in-class mobile ordering solution to their customers. It’s a win-win.” The OrderMaestro mobile app is currently available for foodservice distributors on the Apple and Android app stores. About iTradeNetwork iTradeNetwork, Inc. is the leading global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry. Built upon deep industry expertise, a rich data foundation and the industries’ most extensive trading partner network, iTradeNetwork’s collaborative solutions allow distributors, manufacturers, operators, retailers, suppliers and wholesalers of all sizes to reduce cost, grow revenue and strengthen trading partner relationships. Today, iTradeNetwork’s growing customer list includes more than 8,000 companies globally. For more information, visit: https://www.itradenetwork.com/. 1 https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-covid-19-has-pushed-companies-over-the-technology-tipping-point-and-transformed-business-forever Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 itn@landispr.com Company Website https://www.itradenetwork.com/

January 12, 2022 06:02 AM Pacific Standard Time

Love is in the Air – and the Mail – This Valentine’s Day as Loveland, Colorado Launches 76th Valentine Season

Loveland Chamber of Commerce

In Loveland, the nation’s Sweetheart City, valentine season starts now. The Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Visit Loveland, and partners have unveiled details and plans for the 76 th year of the valentine program including the Valentine Re-Mailing Program, Sweetheart Festival, group wedding, valentine beer, wine and coffee, love locks, and the Sweetheart City Race. All activities and events happen in the first two weeks of February. “This is a very special year for Loveland and this amazing program. Going into the second year of this pandemic, there is no greater time to help spread love, joy, and unity when people need it most,” said Mindy McCloughan, president of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. “Our designs and verses this year reflect Loveland’s desire to share this honored tradition with the world and show that love is the greatest gift we can give or receive. Let’s work together to spread even more joy, happiness, and love this valentine season.” Loveland’s Valentine Re-Mailing Program The 2022 official Loveland valentine card, collector’s stamp (also known as a cachet) and postmark have been announced. The collector’s stamp and postmark will be stamped on every piece of mail that comes through the program. Loveland receives around 100,000 valentines from all 50 states and 110 countries across the world through its Valentine Re-mailing Program, the largest program of its kind. Sponsors & Volunteers handstamp the collector’s stamp and postmark onto each individual valentine that comes through the city. To get this special collector’s envelope artwork and the special 2022 postmark, send your pre-addressed, pre-stamped valentines in an enclosed, larger 1st Class envelope. Then send this envelope to Postmaster - Attention Valentines, 446 E. 29th St., Loveland, CO 80538-9998. Once received, valentines will be removed from the larger envelope and stamped before being re-mailed to its intended recipient. All international-destined mail must be received in Loveland by Feb. 2, all U.S.-destined mail to states outside of Colorado must be received by Feb. 7, and all Colorado-destined mail must be received by Feb. 9 to ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day. Northern Colorado residents can drop off their valentines now through Feb. 9 at the following Loveland locations during normal business hours: Loveland Chamber of Commerce, 5400 Stone Creek Circle Mueller Pye & Associates CPA, LLC - 762 W. Eisenhower Blvd. Independent Financial – 935 N. Cleveland Ave. Aims Community College - 104 East 4th St. Barnyard Vet & Pet Supply – 806 14th St SW Participants are encouraged to send their valentines to Loveland as soon as possible. 2022 valentine card on sale The 2022 card was designed by Chris Bierdeman. The watercolor card design features the word love in multiple languages, surrounding a globe, with the words, “Sending Love Around The World. Happy Valentine’s Day From The Sweetheart City.” The valentine card verse written by Cindy Mast is: “From the Sweetheart City around the lake come valentine wishes for you to take. May love and joy head out your way from the heart of Colorado on Valentine’s Day.” Valentine cards can be purchased online at loveland.org for $7 (which includes the card, printing, processing, and postage), and for $4.50 at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Loveland Visitors Center, The Bottled Olive, Colorado Coffee Company, Loveland King Soopers locations, Loveland Museum & Gallery, Rowes Flowers, and all Loveland Safeway locations. All cards purchased through loveland.org will automatically go through the remailing program. About the Loveland Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1902, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce is northern Colorado’s “driving force for business.” Comprised of more than 750 local companies, the chamber offers a vast array of educational and networking programs to help its investors, both large and small, gain the skills and resources necessary to thrive and prosper in today's economy. As a founding member of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance (NCLA), the chamber also serves as an advocate for business, working on behalf of entrepreneurs to lead and influence local, state, and federal policy on issues affecting the unique interests of business in northern Colorado. For more information on the Loveland Chamber, please call 970-667-6311 or visit loveland.org. Contact Details Mindy McCloughan +1 970-744-4791 mmccloughan@loveland.org Company Website https://loveland.org/

January 11, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Velocity Global welcomes LPGA Tour Stars Lexi Thompson and Albane Valenzuela as brand ambassadors

Velocity Global

Velocity Globa l, the leading provider of global talent solutions, welcomed 11-time LPGA Tour champion, Lexi Thompson, and former Stanford collegiate standout and rising LPGA star, Albane Valenzuela, as global golf brand ambassadors. Both 2021 Olympians will display the Velocity Global logo on their hats throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Thompson and Valenzuela join six-time PGA TOUR champion and 2021 DP World Tour BMW PGA champion, Billy Horschel, and four-time Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Tour champion, Kevin Hall, as global brand ambassadors for Velocity Global. “Studies are backed by stories from our clients and employees on how important ‘work anywhere’ is to women, and it was time for us to welcome two of the best professionals in the world of golf to help us tell that story,” said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global chief revenue officer. “Lexi and Albane carry our message to a global audience that embraces the opportunity to work for anyone, anywhere. We can’t wait to support both of them as they compete around the world.” Thompson is one of the biggest stars on the LPGA Tour and across all of sports, and has been a top performer since she turned pro in 2010 at the age of 15. She owns 14 worldwide professional victories, including one major championship, and she is currently ranked 12th on the Rolex Rankings. She has represented the U.S.A. five times at the Solheim Cup and twice as an Olympian in Rio and Tokyo. She turned her passion for fitness and self-care into businesses as an entrepreneur with her LEXI Skin and LEXI Fitness brands. “I’m blessed to apply my talents all over the world, and that’s what Velocity Global makes possible for other professions,” said Thompson. “They help people work for anyone, anywhere around the world. And as an entrepreneur, I love their passion for helping businesses grow. Velocity Global is a perfect fit and I’m proud to represent them.” Valenzuela is truly a global citizen of the game as she was born in New York, moved to Mexico at a young age, and later grew up in Switzerland. Her father is from Mexico and her mother is from France, which led to her fluencies in English, French, Spanish, and German. She had a historic collegiate career at Stanford University where she competed in 11 major championships as an amateur, was the 2019 Pac-12 Golfer of the Year, and was a two-time runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Albane turned pro in 2020 and represented Switzerland in the last two Olympic games. She uses her platform on the LPGA Tour to support her other passion, Alexis for Autism, a foundation established with and named after her brother that raises funds for associations, foundations, and medical research for autism. “I grew up in a family that knows what it means to be global citizens, and I found a partner in Velocity Global that aligns with that world view,” said Valenzuela. “Golf is truly a global sport. To achieve success, you must perform against anyone, anywhere. That’s exactly what Velocity Global enables for businesses and talent.” Thompson and Valenzuela begin their 2022 seasons at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio on January 27. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com For Lexi Thompson Brett Falkoff, VP, Golf, GSE Worldwide bfalkoff@gseworldwide.com For Albane Valenzuela Jon Heaton, VP, Excel Sports Management jheaton@excelsm.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

January 11, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Duality Robotics awarded DARPA project for photorealistic environmental simulation and sensing for autonomous UGVs

Duality Robotics

DARPA’s RACER-Sim program leverages advanced simulation to accelerate development of autonomous off-road vehicles that strive to match soldier driving abilities Duality to provide 20 km x 4 km photoreal and tunable virtual environment to simulate vehicle’s diverse operating conditions Precise digital twin of the vehicle is capable of streaming high fidelity, real time synthetic data from virtual sensors Duality and Neya Systems to close the loop between real and virtual worlds for virtualized validation in complex terrain Duality Robotics has been selected as a provider of advanced environmental simulation technology to help bridge the gap from virtual to real-world environments as part of DARPA’s (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) RACER-Sim program. Over the next four years, the goal of DARPA’s Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency – Simulation (RACER-Sim) program is to ensure that algorithms can be developed, validated and deployed more efficiently to enable autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that meet or exceed soldier driving abilities in diverse terrains and operating conditions. To help meet this goal, Duality Robotics will leverage its expertise in bridging the physical and virtual worlds, as well as its Falcon platform for advanced digital twin simulation. The Duality Robotics team is also tasked with building a 80 km 2 realistic environment wherein autonomous vehicle systems can be designed and validated, ensuring their ability to maneuver off-road landscapes as precisely as humans. To capture the natural variations of a physical environment, no two square meters of this environment will be identical. In addition, the environment can be tuned to increase or decrease vegetation cover, rock sizes and other operating conditions using Pixar’s open-source Universal Scene Description (USD) format — the interoperable 3D data model that forms the backbone of Duality’s platform. The other key building block of Duality’s platform is the Unreal Engine from Epic Games which functions as a 3D operating system for the Falcon simulator as well as an authoring ecosystem with readily available 3D assets and talent. Duality has partnered with Neya Systems, a division of Applied Research Associates, to leverage Neya’s autonomy expertise to validate the developed technologies through testing, data collection, machine modeling, and integration with autonomy stacks. By connecting to the data streams from virtual sensors in Falcon, the autonomy algorithms will make complex driving decisions in real time and pass back machine actuation commands to the digital twin of the UGV. This closed loop simulation will also allow RACER participants to more quickly understand the implications of algorithm and code changes in their autonomy software, run regressions to ensure system stability, and collect synthetic data to train their machine learning (ML) models. “In partnership with DARPA and the other RACER program participants, Duality Robotics and Neya Systems will help accelerate innovation in environmental simulation and autonomy software for mission critical UGV applications,” said Michael Taylor, Chief Product Officer, Duality Robotics. “Duality is building foundational infrastructure for improving automated unmanned vehicles’ safety, reliability and adaptability in and around complex operating environments.” “With these tools and capabilities, Neya can quickly create a range of scenarios, validate new software builds and measure system performance parameters at a fraction of the cost,” said Mike Formica, Division Manager, Neya Systems. About DARPA’s Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency – Simulation (RACER-Sim) Program The RACER-Sim program is seeking to develop technologies that bridge the gap from simulation to the real world and significantly reduce the cost of off-road autonomy development. While the past decade has seen increased use of simulation in developing field robotics, the military off-road environment is especially challenging and complex. Requirements include re-creating three-dimensional surfaces, compliant soils and vegetation, hundreds of obstacle classes, and unique platform-surface interactions. In addition, modeling the high speed off-road performance of sensors/modalities and their interaction with the environment remains a software and processing challenge. Over a four year timeline, RACER-Sim will develop technologies that are applicable to the off-road environment in the areas of algorithm development, simulation element technologies, and simulator content generation. About Neya Systems Neya Systems, a division of Applied Research Associates, is a leader in advanced off-road autonomy and high-level multi-robot mission planning. Neya provides innovative solutions to customers in the defense, mining, construction, and security industries. Neya’s full-stack autonomy includes capabilities in low-level control, perception, safeguarded teleoperation, full autonomy, and multi-agent mission planning. To learn more, visit www.neyarobotics.com About Duality Robotics With over 50 patents across robotics, simulation and visualization, Duality’s multidisciplinary team is building the enterprise Metaverse for solving real world problems. Accurate digital twins of environments and operating systems result in high-fidelity data and predictive behavior modeling that enables Duality’s customers to deploy automated systems robustly and at scale. For more information, visit www.duality.ai. Contact Details Jenna Beaucage press@duality.ai Company Website https://www.duality.ai

January 10, 2022 08:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

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