Autodiscovery ramping up the robot revolution with Innovate UK support

Autodiscovery’s flagship product, the HEAD360, is a game-changing innovation in the field of robotics. Designed for superhuman situational awareness, it is compatible with multiple robotic platforms. This innovative system allows for enhanced data collection, making it indispensable in sectors such as agriculture, off-road vehicles and manufacturing. “The HEAD360’s open-source design has made it flexible and rapidly developing, driving increased productivity and safety across industries,” according to Aron Kisdi, CEO of Autodiscovery.

“Robots enhance what humans can achieve, increasing quality and efficiency across a range of tasks. They can support humanity in being more productive, more environmentally friendly and free us up from repetitive, menial tasks.”

Unlocking internationalisation

Autodiscovery started working with Innovate UK Business Growth after successfully applying for the Global Incubator Programme (GIP) in Agriculture, Singapore, which also includes dedicated support from an Innovation and Growth Specialist. It also participated in Global Explorers, focusing on key markets such as China, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan.

Aron says: “Global Explorers has been incredibly valuable to us. We utilised it fully to gain knowledge of state-of-the-art robotics from leading companies in Asia, assess our market fit and create a competitive edge in our products for years to come.

“It helped us bring valuable innovation ideas from overseas to the UK and it also enabled us to gain insight into manufacturing robots by observing and learning from many manufacturing companies in China.”

Through Innovate UK Business Growth’s extensive support, Autodiscovery was able to identify grant opportunities that aligned with its strategic goals. The company secured several Innovate UK grants, including a £55,000 Farming Innovation Programme grant for poultry health monitoring, a £190k N2Vision+ grant to further develop its robotics technology, a £170k RASR (Robotics and Autonomous Systems for Resilience) grant to enhance robotic systems in challenging environments, and a £50k Fast Start grant to accelerate the development of its cutting-edge innovations.​

Innovation and Growth Specialist, Ross Clark, played a central role in supporting Autodiscovery. He worked closely with the team to identify funding opportunities and provided guidance on the company’s strategic development.

Aron adds: “The Action Plan Ross developed covered potential support across the whole Innovate UK network, but mainly focused on funding and internationalisation. Ross helped us identify and highlight key business opportunities, which have been instrumental in our success.

“More generally, Innovate UK Business Growth support has raised our profile internationally, as a springboard for exporting our UK-made products globally.”

Scaling impact through robotics innovation

Autodiscovery’s robotics technology addresses two key challenges: affordability and robustness. The company is dedicated to making robots more accessible across industries. From soil quality monitoring in agriculture to security and decontamination, Autodiscovery’s innovations are transforming productivity in sectors where precision and efficiency are paramount​.

Thanks to the HEAD360, the company has already delivered robots to universities and companies, helping them adopt cutting-edge automation solutions. The positive impact of this technology extends to both the UK economy and wider society, enhancing productivity while maintaining a focus on sustainability.

Autodiscovery’s focus on international growth has also yielded substantial results. With support from Innovate UK, the company has forged new partnerships in China, Spain and Germany. These partnerships have bolstered Autodiscovery’s global supply chain and opened doors to new markets. Domestically, the company’s customer base includes leading research institutions and household names, such as Tesco, Ford and Pepsi​.

Innovation-led growth and future ambitions

Autodiscovery’s journey with Innovate UK Business Growth has been transformative. This partnership has enabled the company to create jobs, increase revenue and establish new market opportunities.

To date, Autodiscovery has maintained three jobs and created two new positions as part of its expansion​. Looking ahead, the company plans to continue scaling its operations, with an eye on new ventures in humanoid robotics and expanded international sales.

By harnessing opportunities for internationalisation and innovation, the company is well-positioned to lead the charge in the robotics revolution.

The Action Plan [Innovation and Growth Specialist] Ross developed covered potential support across the whole Innovate UK network…[he]…helped us identify and highlight key business opportunities, which have been instrumental in our success.

– Aron Kisdi, CEO of Autodiscovery