(Editor’s note: This post on Croatia’s new AI robodog is part of Dispatches’ Tech Tuesday series. Dispatches covers tech because so many of our highly skilled internationals are engineers and developers.)
Croatia is plagued by wildfires that rapidly spread out of control each and every summer. The tinder dry landscape of coastal areas like Dalmatia can easily burst into flames under the unrelenting heat of the scorching summer sun, placing people, houses, animals and cars in serious danger.
Unfortunately, it isn’t summer in Croatia unless there’s a large wildfire for firefighters to tirelessly tackle for days on end. This is where the Croatian startup Abysalto comes into the mix. Croatian firefighters recently held a demonstration of a robotic dog that will perform inspections during natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes, as well as in unstable buildings. The move will likely result in saving the lives of many firefighters who would otherwise have no choice but to go directly into danger zones.
The sci-fi-esque robodog programmed with Abysalto’s ultra-modern AI tech isn’t in Dalmatia (at least for the moment). He’s currently working with the Trnje fire department in Zagreb and will become the new assistant for an array of crisis situations in the future. Maja Pavlinušić of Abysalto stated that this is the first concept of its kind in Croatia, the fact that it involves a robodog created in collaboration with a fire department makes it even more unique. The small metallic “canine” is also the first of his kind in a movement to use AI platforms or robots to save human lives in this way. The goal is to use Abysalto to teach robodogs and humanoid robots to independently enter dangerous areas and conduct an initial search so that firefighters don’t need to put their lives at immediate risk.
These robots can also safely scan for casualties, offering better directions to firefighters who may need to perform rescue missions before tackling a blaze or an area severely disturbed by an earthquake.
Abysalto hopes that within next year, they’ll be able to let the robodog carry out the search missions on his own. The robot itself is made by Unitree, with the AI tech built into it by Abysalto. The robodog reacts quickly because it boasts sensors and LiDAR technology, allowing it to detect all sorts of objects. It can currently withstand temperatures of about 40 to 50 degrees Celsius and is not desinged to be exposed to direct fire. Instead it’s used for entering hazardous spaces and reporting on what it “see.” The AI robodog is about 50 centimetres long and weighs about 15 kilos and is powered by 12 motors, with a maximum speed of around 18 kilometers per hour.
Abysalto also makes a humanoid robot, the G1 Edu Flagship B-U4. On 25 March, Abysalto delivered the first public demonstration of AI and robotics (aboive) in a real-world firefighting intervention, in collaboration with the Zagreb Fire Brigade, the Firefighting School and DVD Trnje.
Abysalto currently has multiple career opportunities, which you can see here.
Rimac Group takes total control of Bugatti Rimac in collaboration with HOF Capital
Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac is continuing to make big moves as Bugatti Rimac is set to fall under the total control of the Rimac Group. Rimac recently signed an agreement with Porsche in which the German automaker will sell its stake in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group to a consortium led by HOF Capital, an investment firm from New York which invests in advanced companioes including OpenAI, SpaceX and Anthropic.
This latest move will see the Croatia-based Rimac Group take full control of Bugatti Rimac through a strategic partnership with HOF Capital and BlueFive Capital to support the enterprise’s continued growth. HOF Capital will join Rimac Group as the largest shareholder alongside Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Bugatti Rimac subject to all of the necessary regulatory approvals.
Porsche and the Rimac Group founded Bugatti Rimac as a joint venture to serve as a home for the iconic Bugatti brand back in 2021. Porsche held a minority share of 45 percent, while Rimac Group owned 55 percent. Porsche also holds a 20.6-percent stake in the Rimac Group.
Rimac Technology will remain a supplier of key components for Porsche and other brands within the wider Volkswagen Group. The investor consortium includes BlueFive Capital as the largest investor, as well as a group of institutional investors from both Europe and the USA.
Fasal Bio gets a 7 million euro investment
Fasal Bio, a Zagreb-based company developing a proprietary renewable material platform designed to reduce the reliance on conventional plastic, has secured a 7 million euro growth equity investment from private equity firm BlackPeak Capital.
This investment round marks Bulgaria-based Black Peak’s first direct investment in Croatia. BlackPeak Capital targets growth equity investments of 5–20 million eurs in fast-growing companies in Southeast and Central Europe. It manages two funds with 150 million AUM.
Lauren Simmonds
Lauren Simmonds is the editor of Total Croatia News, the largest English language portal in Croatia. She lives in Zagreb, Croatia, and is a translator, content writer, interpreter and the co-author of "Croatia - A Survival Kit for Foreigners," which was published in 2022.
