Don't we already have crew-less locomotives moving freight in St. Louis?
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^I think you're thinking of the remotely controlled switching operations. I believe they have a crew, albeit on the ground near the locomotive rather than in it. (I was thinking they were one man crews now, but that's been an off and on fight for a good twenty years now. Also turf wars between unions.) And I believe they're also relatively restricted in where and how they operate. (Inside certain specified and signed limits, and I think basically just for sorting cars and making up trains.)
There was a completely autonomous train between the Black Mesa Mine and the Navajo Power Station, but that closed down some years back and I think both mine and power plant are now shuttered along with it. (So more of the dystopian shots from Koyanisquatsi have bitten the dust.) There's long been testing on autonomous trains, but I've not heard about anyone releasing them into the wild. That said . . . you have to figured it's just a matter of time. If the car children are ever allowed to do it there's not much to prevent the same thing from working (even better) on rails.
There was a completely autonomous train between the Black Mesa Mine and the Navajo Power Station, but that closed down some years back and I think both mine and power plant are now shuttered along with it. (So more of the dystopian shots from Koyanisquatsi have bitten the dust.) There's long been testing on autonomous trains, but I've not heard about anyone releasing them into the wild. That said . . . you have to figured it's just a matter of time. If the car children are ever allowed to do it there's not much to prevent the same thing from working (even better) on rails.
Yeah, that must be it. I remember seeing warning signs of "remotely operated locomotives" along the Macklind crossings.
Boy, talk about the ultimate model railroad!
Boy, talk about the ultimate model railroad!
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Reminds me that elevators used to have to be manned by an operator...dredger wrote: ↑Dec 28, 2021^ Unfortunately, I see the same issue dogging Freight railroads being the same for an automated railcar. States like Illinois and I believe a few others are going all in on requiring a minimum two man crew on current trains.
The idea of going automated will probably blow their mind as I can see the practical use of this technology would to string some cars together, say 5 or 10, and make multiple runs. The locals will probably freak out on seeing an automated 5-10 mini train blasting by the rail crossing every 10-15 minutes.
Perhaps automated cars could be allowed to operate one at a time and be compliant with these laws. If a single container on rails operates, is that technically considered a "train"?
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^There's a ton of weirdness where yards and MoW enter the picture, but I very much think it would be, yes. I can ask the pros if you want. I'm not positive that every hi-railer testing a crossing signal is considered a "train," but as a general rule if you're out on the main line you are, even if you're a single self-powered railbus with no one but the motorman aboard. There's some signage and signaling requirements, but they're looser than you might guess. You have to have an F on one end of the frame so folks can tell if you're going forwards or backwards. You have to have something to mark the end of the train. (Usually a thing eloquently called a "Fred" for "flashing rear-end device." Ideally hanging off a car that says "do not hump," but in the absence of a Fred a red flag will often do.) The minimum crew rules are a real concern, but trains used to have four and five man crews, so we've come a long way. ("Firemen" are still required on passenger trains, I believe, and switch jobs might occasionally have a brakeman, but as a rule two is the order of the day. And that's a huge labor savings enacted in the face of staunch opposition when unions were at the height of their power.)
Anyway, short version: I think short, automated trains dispatched just in time might well be the wave of the future. Unless the railroads kill them because it would mean they'd have to build more track or more maintenance facilities and they decide it's too much trouble and running a few commodities in five mile blocks is more profitable than running a lot of commodities in five car blocks. So they could work. But there are still complications. I do figure more automation is the way we will go, not less. So no matter how you skin it man hours per ton shipped will continue to go down. (That has been the story of the railroads from day one.)
Anyway, short version: I think short, automated trains dispatched just in time might well be the wave of the future. Unless the railroads kill them because it would mean they'd have to build more track or more maintenance facilities and they decide it's too much trouble and running a few commodities in five mile blocks is more profitable than running a lot of commodities in five car blocks. So they could work. But there are still complications. I do figure more automation is the way we will go, not less. So no matter how you skin it man hours per ton shipped will continue to go down. (That has been the story of the railroads from day one.)
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These VC numbers are certainly one of the most encouraging trends I've seen about the direction of the city. There is smoke, hopefully it will catch fire soon.
I would love to see some VC firms open outposts here in STL. I'm sure it's already a priority of our economic development folks
I would love to see some VC firms open outposts here in STL. I'm sure it's already a priority of our economic development folks
The venture investment dollars will be better in 2022 than 2021. There are so many (20+) late seed, series "A" companies working towards $25M+ rounds plus another 5+ headed towards $100M+ funding rounds in 2022. 2021 was not a fluke but the continuation of serious growth within the startup community. Expect big news across Biotech, AGtech, FIntech, and B2C retail sectors. There are now over 1,000 venture back-able companies operating in St. Louis. You can track this success at Crunchbase. Even though there are no coastal VCs in St. Louis there is one or two, if not more, in town every month visiting companies of interest. Very different than even 5 years ago. It should be a very exciting and newsworthy year.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ll add this little blurb from the BJ that I read today.Techstl wrote: ↑Dec 30, 2021The venture investment dollars will be better in 2022 than 2021. There are so many (20+) late seed, series "A" companies working towards $25M+ rounds plus another 5+ headed towards $100M+ funding rounds in 2022. 2021 was not a fluke but the continuation of serious growth within the startup community. Expect big news across Biotech, AGtech, FIntech, and B2C retail sectors. There are now over 1,000 venture back-able companies operating in St. Louis. You can track this success at Crunchbase. Even though there are no coastal VCs in St. Louis there is one or two, if not more, in town every month visiting companies of interest. Very different than even 5 years ago. It should be a very exciting and newsworthy year.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... agnus.htmlHow did you become Canada’s honorary consul for the St. Louis area? (Canadian government officials) told me they needed eyes and ears on the ground in the St. Louis area because Canada is very interested in the ag work and our geospatial development, and so they want someone who can speak to Canadian interests on demand. There are a lot of Canadian companies that are expanding into the Midwest. My position is bipartisan and it’s also to promote trade, not just Canada. I equally will represent an American company that is seeking to expand into Canada or an American citizen that is having difficulty navigating something with respect to Canada. I work equally for the State Department as I do for the Canadian equivalent.
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Tech startup Disruptel (they really need a new name) inked a deal to supply its technology to one of the largest TV manufacturers in the world, TCL technologies in Hong Kong. Disruptel’s technology looks like the next generation of smart tv capabilities (I’m not saying they’re the only one).
Here’s a link to their website: https://www.disruptel.com/
If nothing else, this contract should enable them to attract a nice funding round.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/inn ... r-tcl.html
Here’s a link to their website: https://www.disruptel.com/
If nothing else, this contract should enable them to attract a nice funding round.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/inn ... r-tcl.html
Here’s how much St. Louis startups raised in 2021 — and why 2022 could be a strong year for VC funding
Getting closer to that billion dollar number…Local startups raised $699 million in venture financing in 2021, according to a report published Friday by research firm PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association. That’s up from the $490 million local startups snagged in 2020.
Here's how much St. Louis companies have raised in venture funding in each year dating back to 2014:
2014: $173.3
2015: $258.2
2016: $154.6
2017: $252.2
2018: $585.5
2019: $294.2
2020: $490.5
2021: $698.9
I think we will hit the $1B number this year. Should see large raises from SummerSalt, LockerDome, Balto, Clever, NanoGuard, Genoscopy, CoverCress, Capacity. Many should be over $100M. I am sure there are more on the Biotech side that I am not aware of?
Perficient's Global Perch - https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/inn ... mpany.html
A nice story on a somewhat quiet technology company in town, although they have a pretty strong presence at Cardinals baseball games.
A nice story on a somewhat quiet technology company in town, although they have a pretty strong presence at Cardinals baseball games.
Might have been noted already but one of those that landed $100 million and looking to add jobs as per BizJournalsTechstl wrote: ↑Jan 17, 2022I think we will hit the $1B number this year. Should see large raises from SummerSalt, LockerDome, Balto, Clever, NanoGuard, Genoscopy, CoverCress, Capacity. Many should be over $100M. I am sure there are more on the Biotech side that I am not aware of?
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... -100m.html
Thanks to funding from St. Louis-based holding company Hermann Cos. and prominent entrepreneur Jim McKelvey, EmpowerMe Wellness plans to aggressively pursue growth, including hiring 500 employees over the next three years.
Their expansion seems like it would be a good fit for CORTEX. Also, with Jim McKelvey as investor maybe downtown. I have no knowledge let alone where they are currently working out of.
According to the BJ article, it sounds like much of the expansion will take place in their existing office space.
The company currently has more than 1,000 employees, and says it added more than 200 jobs last year in Missouri. It said it plans to add 500 jobs at its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, 1335 Strassner Drive in Brentwood, in the next three years. As it expands its team, EmpowerMe Wellness said it is currently on the hunt to hire therapists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, phlebotomists and laboratory scientists for roles in St. Louis and beyond the region.
U.S. Department of Defense makes St. Louis a 'hub' in its focus on innovation
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/inn ... ation.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/inn ... ation.html
Laktas leads the Midwest region for NSIN, a program office of the U.S. Department of Defense focused on fostering collaboration and venture creation among the defense, academic and entrepreneurial sectors. NSIN’s Midwest includes Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, with its “hub city” being St. Louis, where Laktas is based. NSIN appointed Laktas to his regional director position in 2021. Before that, he served as university program officer for NSIN.
In St. Louis, NSIN has hosted and supported programming focused on startup creation, accelerating new technologies and talent development. Its partners locally include the Cortex Innovation Community, downtown entrepreneurship center T-Rex, the Global Center for Cybersecurity @ Cortex and Washington University.
Laktas said NSIN believes the St. Louis region is a key hub for defense-related innovation given that it's home to Scott Air Force Base and the western headquarters of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as well as its growing entrepreneurship efforts in geospatial technology and biosciences.
Let's see if Cori Bush tries to stop it, the way she voted against other local defense spending.
That’s eerily close to one of my 2022 predictions. Holding out for something different but might claim it come December.
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Just looking at their building on Google Maps, it doesn't look like it's big enough or has nearly enough parking to accommodate 500 people.sc4mayor wrote: ↑Jan 24, 2022According to the BJ article, it sounds like much of the expansion will take place in their existing office space.The company currently has more than 1,000 employees, and says it added more than 200 jobs last year in Missouri. It said it plans to add 500 jobs at its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, 1335 Strassner Drive in Brentwood, in the next three years. As it expands its team, EmpowerMe Wellness said it is currently on the hunt to hire therapists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, phlebotomists and laboratory scientists for roles in St. Louis and beyond the region.
^ that's kinda where I was going with my comment. No idea how much space is remaining, or if they're banking on WFH, but 500 additional employees seems like a tight squeeze.
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Given McKelvey's involvement, perhaps they'd be a good candidate for the new innovation district near Square/Block.Timmy wrote: ↑Jan 25, 2022^ that's kinda where I was going with my comment. No idea how much space is remaining, or if they're banking on WFH, but 500 additional employees seems like a tight squeeze.
Relocating to innovation district near square/block would be fantastic!debaliviere wrote: ↑Jan 25, 2022Given McKelvey's involvement, perhaps they'd be a good candidate for the new innovation district near Square/BlockTimmy wrote: ↑Jan 25, 2022^ that's kinda where I was going with my comment. No idea how much space is remaining, or if they're banking on WFH, but 500 additional employees seems like a tight squeeze.