() has set the stage for commercialising its technologies in robotics and printed electronics through strong progress in 2020.

The company added the Robotics Sector to its focus due to increasing real-world applications, very large domestic and global markets and high valuations achieved by start-ups.

Strategic Elements is confident there’s a strong opportunity for its Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Platform (AxV) and the ASV Automated Security Vehicle, with Prescient & Strategic Intelligence Private Limited predicting the global autonomous mobile robots’ market could reach US$220.6 billion in 2030.

Additionally, Dataintelo4 forecasts that the Global Perimeter Security Market could reach US$282.26 billion by 2025.

Autonomous robotic vehicle platform

The Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Platform (AxV) combines the capabilities of autonomous driving, computer vision, purpose-built robotics and artificial intelligence into an integrated hardware and software platform.

From the ground up, the AxV platform has been built to operate in outdoor environments that are often subjected to harsh and variable weather conditions including security, defence, transport, resources and agriculture.

Autonomous robotic security vehicle

The first release from the AxV Platform, in a collaboration with global technology major and US$100 billion company International Inc (), is an autonomous robotic security vehicle (ASV) for Perimeter Security.

This solves the problem of perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS) testing which is a manual process required to be completed regularly to ensure PIDS are functioning properly and will detect intrusion attempts.

Automating PIDS is a large global opportunity with government regulations as well as pandemic and terrorist activities are providing lucrative growth opportunities and PIDS an important security measure for critical locations.

The global perimeter security market could reach US$282.26 billion by 2025.

Robotics roadmap

The company’s roadmap for the next six months includes:

• Extend collaboration with Honeywell, which operates total asset and facility management operations globally across a range of market segments including justice, commercial, health, defence and hospitality, for development of ASVs for the correctional justice sector;
• Complete validation/testing phase of initial WA Department of Justice Automated Security Vehicle;
• Sign agreements with additional correctional justice facilities for the Automated Security Vehicle;
• Complete prototype of drone software integration into AxV Platform;
• Enhance Patrol and Surveillance capabilities of ASV with additional artificial intelligence and computer vision;
• Sign agreements with non-correctional facilities for Patrol and Surveillance and PIDS testing;
• Form agreements with leading technology groups to incorporate advanced technologies into the AxV Platform; and
• File patent applications on technology advancements.

Printable memory ink

The company, via 100%-owned Australian Advanced Materials, is also developing a world-leading transparent printable memory with an international team of world-leading development partners – The University of New South Wales, CSIRO Manufacturing in Melbourne and VTT in Finland.

Printed electronics has the potential to transform the electronics industry where electronic devices are printed onto surfaces such as plastic and glass using traditional printing methods and advanced functional inks rather than on rigid silicon.

Printed electronics is based on the combination of new materials and cost-effective, large-area production processes to enable new applications which are not possible to create with (only) conventional silicon electronics.

A key advantage is the ability to make thin, lightweight, flexible and robust electronic products.

Market opportunity

According to IDTechEX6, printed, flexible and organic electronics are expected to grow from $31.7 billion in 2018 to $77.3 billion in 2029

Printed and flexible sensors constitute the largest printed electronics market and the market for fully printed sensors is projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2030.

The memory component is the heart of all electronics and is the largest sector of traditional silicon semiconductor sector.

Nanocube Memory Ink

Even though Printed Electronics is experiencing significant growth, it is being held back by ongoing development of printed memory.

The Nanocube Memory Ink is a transparent ink containing billions of nanometre-scale particles, which, when printed onto a surface and assembled with electrodes, operate as computer memory.

The Nanocube technology is based on a new type of resistive random-access memory (RRAM) using tiny metal oxide Nanocubes developed by the University of New South Wales.

The technology was demonstrated at the world’s premier Printed Electronics event ‘IDtechEX’ in Berlin May 2020, showing the capabilities of printed electronics materials by bringing together touch, display and data storage onto glass.

This could have applications for enhanced security – delivering storage on glass and plastic for transparent, structural and/or flexible electronics.

Printable memory roadmap

Over the next six months, the company’s roadmap for printable memory includes:

• Expand Nanocube Memory development on plastic and deformable substrates;
• Fabricate a Nanocube Memory demonstrator device with 2D storage array;
• Lodge patent filings over technology advancements;
• Acquire licenses over new electronic materials technologies;
• Form partnerships with advanced manufacturing companies;
• Seek potential licensing partner or strategic funding partner for the Nanocube Nanomaterial; and
• Secure an additional funding grant from the Australian Government.