One of the Largest Utility Asset Management Companies in the EU Partners With Leader in Deep Learning Neural Networks to Power Drones and Automate Workflow

BOSTON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 19, 2018 — Deep learning neural networks company Neurala has today announced a partnership with Laserpas, one of the fastest growing utility asset management companies in the EU.

Neurala’s computer vision and deep learning technology will be deployed as a critical element of Laserpas’ workflow, enabling more efficient aerial inspections and reducing the time it takes the company to analyze the data collected. Neurala’s technology will detect core components such as lattices, poles, and insulators, and identify damage or rust on those assets. This will allow Laserpas to eliminate safety risks for boots-on-the-ground inspectors, avoid hiring human labor to do dull tasks, and future-proof its business as it continues to scale.

“We are thrilled to be working with Laserpas as we establish a strong presence in the EU and continue to demonstrate the value of AI in aerial-based inspections, drastically improving efficiency in a field that needs it,” said Massimiliano Versace, co-founder and CEO of Neurala. “Laserpas has come to Neurala to create a complete deployable solution, and our partnership will illustrate the value of working with a company like Neurala that can do it all.”

“Automation is a key focus for Laserpas as we continue scaling our business and maintain a tactical advantage over the competition,” said Mantas Vaskela, co-founder and CEO of Laserpas. “Today, we are collecting pictures and videos containing critical infrastructure components that need to be carefully analyzed. AI assisted data analysis is the only way forward for us, and a cost-benefit examination of alternative solutions pointed us to Neurala as the most efficient and cost-effective solution for our long-term business targets. Neurala is the right partner to deploy advanced AI that can improve in performance as we gather more and more data from the field.”

Laserpas will be using Neurala’s new Brain Builder tool, the first cost-effective, centralized AI workflow management tool that enables fast and accurate creation of large quantities of data for DNN training. Brain Builder has purpose-built annotation tools to simplify the process and drastically reduce tagging time in both static pictures and videos, leveraging on-the-fly learning to increase DNN precision as more data is added. Users can download the dataset to create a deployable DNN using industry-standard tools like TensorFlow and Caffe or export the data in different formats to train multiple types of neural networks.

Notable features of Brain Builder include:

• Secure, web-based portal: 24/7 access to global data from anywhere
• State-of-the-art annotation tools: Drastic reduction in annotation time
• File support for multiple image types: Upload large amounts of data and tag objects and concepts within images from multiple devices
• Central analytics dashboard: View analytics across projects and datasets
• Secure platform: Run in the cloud or host on a server behind a firewall
• Advanced data protection: Use of cloud storage with practically limitless scope in terms of size and recoverability
• In-house expertise: Neurala’s team holds more than eight Ph.D.s, has more than 20 years of AI experience, and holds 19 patents

About Laserpas

Laserpas is an aerial power line inspection service that provides surveillance and high-precision monitoring solutions for large power line operators worldwide. In its operations, the company relies on modern electric and petrol powered long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), as well as manned helicopters, which enable Laserpas to collect vast amounts of data at an unprecedented frequency. or more information, please visit:

www.laserpas.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/laserpas/

About Neurala

Neurala developed The Neurala Brain—deep learning neural network software that makes devices and products like drones, mobile phones and cameras more intelligent, engaging and useful. Neurala provides customized solutions ranging from high-end applications to inexpensive everyday products. With The Neurala Brain and an ordinary camera, products can learn people and objects, recognize them in a video stream, find them in the video, and track them as they move. The Neurala Brain is based on technology originally developed for NASA, DARPA and the U.S. Air Force and is now deployed commercially on over a million smart devices. Follow Neurala on Twitter @Neurala and on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn .