Maxar is buying Wovenware, a synthetic intelligence and software program agency based mostly in Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON — Maxar Applied sciences final week introduced a brand new acquisition that furthers the corporate’s objective of turning its satellite tv for pc imagery archive into 3D merchandise for gaming, media and different industries.
The corporate is buying Wovenware, a synthetic intelligence and software program agency based mostly in Puerto Rico. Daniel Jablonsky, Maxar’s president and CEO, mentioned Nov. 3 that Wovenware was acquired for its experience in 3D geospatial expertise and machine studying. “We’re bringing their 150 software program engineers and builders to the Maxar workforce,” Jablonsky mentioned throughout a third-quarter earnings name.
Wovenware is the newest addition to Maxar’s 3D tech enterprise following the 2020 acquisition of Vricon and a strategic funding earlier this yr in Blackshark.ai.
Maxar executives informed analysts they plan to generate new enterprise within the video gaming, media, leisure and metaverse sectors. They mentioned the corporate is effectively positioned to serve these markets with its high-resolution satellite tv for pc imagery archive, day by day picture collections and 3D manufacturing capabilities.
Jablonsky mentioned acquisitions of tech corporations like Wovenware are wanted investments with the intention to generate new sources of income from the corporate’s present and future imaging satellites. The brand new Worldview Legion imaging constellation is vital to Maxar’s profitable U.S. authorities enterprise however the firm is also in search of business markets. After a number of delays brought on by manufacturing and testing points, Jablonsky mentioned the primary two satellites shall be able to launch in January, with 4 extra to comply with later within the yr.
Dan Nord, a former Amazon and Digital Arts government, joined Maxar final yr as senior vice chairman of enterprise enterprise.
He famous that Maxar’s 3D digital twin of the Earth has been used to develop extremely correct immersive coaching environments for the U.S. Military and maps for autonomous automobile navigation, and the following goal markets are gaming and leisure.
Maxar teamed with Blackshark.ai to pitch a digital twin product final month on the Unreal Fest convention hosted by Epic Video games, makers of a preferred sport engine. “We offered {our capability} to 1000’s of builders and launched a demo of a digital twin of New Orleans the place the convention was being held,” mentioned Nord. Maxar desires to make its 3D digital twin accessible to builders in order that they will use them for his or her video games and functions.
Movie producers, he mentioned, might use Maxar’s 3D globe in a sport engine and theoretically movie anyplace, mentioned Nord. “We mentioned Blackshark would assist us enter the gaming market and now it has.”
