Verizon and the Los Angeles Times are planning to accelerate the deployment of advanced robotics and technology from the telecom company to expand on the way LA Times news is gathered, shared and consumed.
Through the partnership, the carrier and the publisher plan to integrate 4G-connected drones, 5G-connected ground robots and 3D modeled data, among other technology, which they expect to s add dimension to news reporting and storytelling.
“By combining Verizon’s network, edge computing and intelligent software technologies, with the innovative thinkers at the L.A. Times, we have the potential to transform the future of storytelling,” said Elise Neel, Verizon senior vice president of New Business Incubation, in a prepared statement. “Verizon is working with partners to innovate in their respective industries and this collaboration is an example of how we are using technology to drive innovation in the industry. Through the work we are doing with the L.A. Times, people from all over the world could have an opportunity to feel like they are immersed in the stories of Southern California.”
The partnership will initially concentrate on:
- Receiving remote visuals via ground robots to capture digital stills from onboard cameras in difficult-to-access areas.
- Providing a “see what the robot sees” experience through high-definition, near real-time video feeds from the robots in the air and on the ground.
- Providing context from multiple perspectives through the creation of digital twin models to add visual and location context in near real-time or for after-the-fact recreations.
The decision builds on Verizon’s strategy of reorganizing some of its technology business units behind its drone and ground robotics holdings to form the Robotics Business Tedronchnology unit, which is part of the company’s New Business Incubation division.
