Tangram Vision develops software to help robots interpret sensor information, CEO Brandon Minor said. The Tulsa company’s technology is designed to help machines perceive depth, recognize objects and interact with changing environments. Minor said the company plans to remain in Tulsa and support the growth of the local robotics industry.
The Tulsa robotics startup addresses a problem that can affect how robots perform their intended tasks: sensor data may be misaligned or difficult to interpret. Minor compared that challenge to crossing your eyes while trying to walk. Tangram Vision develops software that helps correct those issues and improve the information robots receive from their sensors.
Vision Develops Software for Robot Perception
The software supports depth detection, interaction with objects and labeling what a robot sees. Minor said those capabilities matter in unstructured environments, where surroundings and conditions can change. He said the company primarily works with businesses developing autonomous vehicles, drones, humanoid robots, delivery robots and robotic lawn mowers.
Minor said the idea for the company came from his earlier work at a sensor company. Working with companies that used sensors showed him how difficult the problem could be, he said. “I found that the more I worked with the companies that worked with the sensors, the harder I realized this problem was, and so that is the problem I intended to solve,” Minor said.
His experience led him to focus on helping machines interpret sensor information. Tangram Vision develops software for that task, with applications Minor described across several kinds of robots and autonomous machines. The company’s list includes delivery robots and robotic lawn mowers as well as vehicles, drones and humanoid robots.
The range of machines reflects the company’s focus on robots interacting with the physical world. Other technology coverage includes a robotics startup, a small-business software launch and AI coding software.
Tangram Vision Plans to Stay in Tulsa
Minor described Tulsa as an emerging robotics community with roots in its energy and industrial sectors. Oil and gas have historically defined the region, he said, while robotics activity is less visible. “It may seem unorthodox on the face of it, but Tulsa is actually a robotics community,” Minor said.
Minor said Tangram Vision first established itself in Tulsa without fully understanding the local robotics ecosystem. As the company became more involved, its leaders saw an opportunity to help the industry grow. He said they want to stay and contribute to that growth.
“So we started here kind of unbeknownst of that, but as we’ve integrated into the environment, we know we want to, you know, help that grow,” Minor said. “So we’re just going to stay.” His plan links the company’s future in Tulsa with the local robotics community it has joined.