FOS Future Lab: 2024 exhibitors

Protecting the planet

Tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time, the application of breakthroughs in material science, advanced engineering, automation and Earth observation is enabling the transformation of global industries; empowering our ability to build a future in which we can thrive and sustainably provide for the demands of an evolving global population, while also better understanding and protecting the little blue dot we call home.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Astroscale

A throwaway culture in space has led to Earth’s orbits becoming cluttered and the 5,000 redundant satellites and rocket bodies that have been discarded are a threat to our economy and daily lives. Astroscale is developing technologies to reduce orbital debris and enable a circular economy in space, for a sustainable future space environment.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Privateer

Privateer, co-founded by Apple inventor Steve Wozniak, is pioneering a satellite sharing economy to ensure a sustainable future in space. Their real-time Wayfinder platform helps satellite operators safely navigate crowded orbital highways, while the company’s recently acquired TerraScope application utilises AI modelling to expand access to Earth observations from space.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x DUSC

Powered by solar energy, DUSC’s vehicles showcase Durham University's commitment to innovation and complex engineering projects. Every aspect of their ultra-efficient cars benefits from thousands of hours of in-depth research, design and testing. DUSC2023 set a British record at the 2023 World Solar Challenge in Australia, completing the 3,000km journey in six days.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Helixx

Helixx pioneers Vertically-Integrated Mobility as a Service (V-MaaS) by enabling sustainable electric vehicle (EV) ecosystems through licensable ‘Factory in a Box’ solutions, making eco-friendly transportation accessible and affordable for all.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Levidian

Levidian is a climate tech business on a mission to decarbonise the world's most carbon-intensive industries. Its patented technology, LOOP, captures carbon from methane gas before it’s burned and creates two valuable products: hydrogen, a clean alternative fuel source; and solid carbon in the form of graphene.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x The Tyre Collective

Tyre wear is the second-largest microplastic pollutant in our oceans and a major source of air pollution; a problem exacerbated by electric vehicles due to increased battery weight and torque. The Tyre Collective is developing solutions to capture this stealth pollutant at-source, working with commercial fleet operators and vehicle manufacturers.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x KALMAR Automotive

Promoting the circular economy, KALMAR Automotive pioneers an ‘Evergreen Philosophy’ through which each upcycled KALMAR 7-97 E-Volt is handcrafted from an existing Porsche 964 and integrates cutting-edge materials to reduce environmental strain. Introducing an EV powertrain and sustainable light weighting, each vehicle features a revolutionary plant fibre composite bodyshell demonstrating immense strength and weight-reduction, while significantly reducing carbon emissions through the production cycle.

Robotics to the rescue

The world is on the cusp of a revolution in robotics. The life-changing innovations we dreamt about are now possible. New abilities brought about by fast-paced advances in AI, machine learning and automation offer radical benefits for every industry – with positive use cases across productivity, precision, environmental targets, safe and enhanced workforce, and unprecedented data analysis – demonstrating how human-machine collaboration is a force for good.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Shadow Robot

Developing the industry’s most advanced robot hands, Shadow Robot has been working on the challenge of robot dexterity for over 20 years. Customers can apply the robust hardware and software solutions to revolutionise workflows and bring precision and efficiency to wide-ranging research tasks. The company has recently launched a new robot hand in collaboration with Google DeepMind to meet the needs of real-world machine-learning applications.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Sheffield Robotics

Sheffield Robotics is dedicated to supporting a better understanding of the positive future potential of robotics, AI, and automation. They research across a range of use cases, including manufacturing, healthcare, and education, and develop interfaces for beneficial collaboration between robots and people.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Dexory

Dexory provides the logistics industry with the only real-time data intelligence platform for warehouse operations. Data is collected by fully-autonomous robots navigating the aisles to track inventory, visualise assets and monitor environment data – scanning 10,000 locations per hour, 24/7 – building a live digital twin. A highly intuitive analytics platform enables companies to operate with 100 per cent accuracy.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Earth Rover

Earth Rover is a pioneering agri-tech company on a mission to revolutionise agriculture and horticulture through the sustainable autonomous robotic solution, CLAWS. This light-weight, solar-powered technology harnesses the power of AI, applying concentrated light technology to target the meristems of weeds, eliminating them at their growing points and effectively avoiding the need for chemical herbicides and soil disturbance, preserving soil health and structure.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x HausBots

HausBots design and manufacture robotic platforms for a variety of inspection and maintenance tasks in industrial processes, such as chemical storage tanks or silo cleaning within food manufacturing. Removing humans from dangerous environments, these robots can climb inside confined spaces or crawl up the outside of tall structures.

Future of flight

Cutting-edge developments in unmanned flight technologies are opening-up commercial and logistical opportunities for revolutionary aerial services, benefiting both industry and daily life. Companies at the forefront of this dawning era are pioneering new operating systems and platforms to safely navigate and manage airspace, while others are designing exceptional new aircraft and aerial vehicle solutions to support delivery logistics, industrial inspection, environmental research, transit and connectivity.  

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Hybrid Air Vehicles

HAV is pioneering zero-emission aircraft for a better-connected tomorrow. They have developed Airlander to be the world’s most efficient, large aircraft. Airlander 10, HAV’s first aircraft, delivers ultra-low emissions across cost-effective cargo, passenger transportation, communications and surveillance use cases, with a clear pathway to zero emissions by 2030.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x The Drone Rules

TDR pioneers drone operations, leading the industry with innovative solutions and advancing education through its STEM divisions: Drone City which provides books, programmes and camps to educate and inspire children aged 5–11, and Droneworxx, which offers specialised programmes designed to prepare individuals aged 11–21 for careers in technology and aviation, together raising aspirations in STEM careers by showcasing how drone technology is changing the world for the better.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Sees.ai

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will soon be part of daily life – flying routinely through our world, inspecting, monitoring, and carrying cargo and people. sees.ai is developing the Operating System that makes it possible to deliver aerial intelligence at scale.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Windracers

The low-cost logistics champion dedicated to bringing prosperity to those who need it, Windracers is a pioneer in self-flying aircraft. Their universal ULTRA fixed-wing drone is powered by a ground-breaking uncrewed autopilot system Masterless, and is available to everyone, everywhere, for multiple applications. Holding more BVLOS permissions than any other operator, they have deployed their drone for organisations including the MOD, British Antarctic Survey, and Royal Mail.

Our world in pixels

Combining exciting advances in spatial computing, AI, real-time processing, and sophisticated gaming engines is resulting in the digital world becoming an increasingly dynamic environment for research, product development, education and training. The realm of extended reality (XR) facilitates visualisation and experiences which are not physically possible, while digital twin solutions are being applied with wide-ranging positive impact across industries to improve efficiency, safety and sustainability.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Atlantic Productions

Founded by Anthony Geffen, the world’s leading factual documentary company and pioneer in immersive storytelling, Atlantic Productions, has won multiple BAFTA and Emmy awards including the first-ever BAFTA for virtual reality storytelling. Recent immersive projects have included Galápagos VR with David Attenborough and other collaborations with Google, Apple, Meta and NASA. Atlantic is a content partner for the cutting-edge Apple Vision Pro headset, Apple’s first spatial computing offering.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Performit Live

Performit Live is pioneering real-time motion capture streaming to facilitate next-generation engagement, with live content using revolutionary patented technology that connects animators with skilled performers anywhere in the world, democratising the art of motion capture.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Miirage

Miirage is at the forefront of redefining holographic technology delivering photo-realistic, life-size digital experiences. They have developed a unique, flexible, high definition modular system with razor-sharp visual quality, concentrating on enhancing the realism and interactivity of next-generation holograms and prioritising accessibility and affordability.

FOS Future Lab 2024 x Metaverse VR

Metaverse VR is revolutionising skills and experiential training for complex and challenging environments, predominantly for the military, by creating and delivering award winning immersive content solutions in VR.

Main image courtesy of Toby Adamson.