PUDDLE HOPS: Wearable industrial tech; Minnesota Twins partner with Techstars

Blockchain tech

TULSA–AppSwarm, Corp., a software development company and aggregator of mobile applications, announced the launch of DogeLabs.io for developing commercial applications around the Dogecoin blockchain protocol.

3D mapping

PITTSBURGH–Kaarta, an innovator of real-time mobile 3D reality capture, was issued a patent for its laser scanner with real-time, online ego-motion estimation last month. This strengthens Kaarta’s foundation for other patent applications in the real-time mobile 3D mapping space.

Wearable industrial tech

DETROIT–GuardHat Technologies pitches a multi-product intelligent safety system that integrates wearable technology and proprietary software to detect, alert, and prevent hazardous industrial work-related incidents.

Minnesota Twins partner with TechStars

MINNEAPOLIS–The Minnesota Twins have announced a partnership with Techstars for a three-year accelerator program based in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Twins Accelerator by Techstars will be the first of its kind in Minnesota sports.

Astrobotic to launch Griffin lunar lander

PITTSBURGH–Astrobotic has selected SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket in a competitive commercial procurement to launch its Griffin lunar lander to the Moon in late 2023. Griffin will be carrying NASA’s water-hunting Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER).

Fueling Agtech

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN–Purdue University has been chosen by Big Idea Ventures LLC, an early-stage food technology investment, to help fuel the commercialization of food and agricultural technology.

Garmin equipment on Mars

KANSAS CITY–When NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter landed on Mars earlier this month, it was carrying gear created by Garmin: The LIDAR-Lite v3, which uses pulses of laser beams to measure distance.

Holographic imaging

ST. LOUIS–SentiAR, a company that makes holographic imaging software for heart surgeons, has raised $5.1 million in a venture capital round.