What comes to mind when you think about business and robotics?
Complicated stuff? Heavy machinery? Never-ending budgets?
Yes, usually that’s how it works, unless Intermode is involved.
A robotic platform ready to be customized to your business needs that on top of that is worry-free and honestly affordable. How innovative does that sound?
Well, Ann Larson, Co-Founder of Intermode is here to share more of that with us.
How it started
Intermode was founded by Ann Larson and Arnold Kadiu, Ann is an engineer with extensive experience in testing electric cars, she worked for Ford, she sees this period as a learning momentum because it was there that she could witness and really understand how vehicles were made to work in the real world. The idea of Intermode came from her co-founder as he was constantly interested in robotic delivery vehicles.
Covid-19, as an opportunity.
Before the pandemic struck us, the idea of autonomous delivery cars was something that still seemed to be pulled out of a sci-fi plot, after COVID-19, however, consumer demands and reality evolved to be more open and even dependent on robotics services. For Ann and her co-founder, it was the right time to launch their innovative idea.
The platform
We’ll probably be saying this a lot, but the platform, or Modal as Intermode calls it, it’s pretty amazing.
This automotive-grade electric vehicle platform is built just like a traditional car, featuring a high-capacity battery pack, independent four-wheel drive, four-wheel Ackermann steering, and a full suspension system. It’s engineered to handle any environment, it doesn’t matter if your business operates on the road, in bike lanes, on sidewalks, or even off-road.
You will have many challenges many problems along the the way but you have to just jump in and try to do it
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Open to your own design
The Modal can be acquired as a bare platform, this way customers can add as many modules as they need, besides that the Modal’s system is designed to adapt just as easily. If there’s a need to reposition sensors or upgrade requirements. The team is always ready to help, making adjustments straightforward for a seamless experience.
Saving time for everyone
What Intermode is doing with the Modal, is envisioned to help people save time, recognizing that time is one of the most precious resources for everyone. While at the beginning they focused on delivery, because that’s often the core of autonomous vehicles, It’s also tailored to assist businesses across various fields and industries, making life easier and more efficient not just for companies but for people as well. Americans, for instance, are known to spend hours driving to the grocery store just to buy food.
Affordable, for real.
Yes, there might be some similar vehicles out in the market but what makes Intermode completely unique and amazing, is its lease model. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on buying a single robot, business owners can lease a fleet of 15 or 20 robots for the same amount. This way, businesses can benefit from a more dynamic way of shipping and moving their products while at the same time, the environment doesn’t suffer as much.
You just have to jump in
Ann has a piece of special advice for everyone interested or dreaming about becoming an entrepreneur: It’s not as hard as you might think. No, creating something from scratch and making it commercially attractive is not a walk in the park, there is going to be a long list of challenges, but you don’t have to face them alone. There’s a serious amount of support from the government and other larger businesses to help all aspiring entrepreneurs in the U.S., so before freaking out about the many things you have to do to create your vision, breathe and search for that hand ready to work with you.
