The right setting can make or break a nascent company. We believe we’ve found fertile ground to grow at New Bedford Research & Robotics (NBRR). This is an ideal launching pad for us for a couple of reasons. First, the building itself is kitted out with plenty of workspace, an overhead gantry, and large doors for getting a (moderately sized) AUV in and out. The NBRR staff have already assembled a nice collection of shared tools, including one of the largest 3D printers on the East Coast. The plans for renovating the facility are ambitious and we can’t wait to see how it transforms over the coming months.

Despite being one of the first startups to move in, the blossoming community is another element we’re pumped about. We felt welcomed into the space right away and have made friends with our neighbors in the building, Littoral Power Systems. NBRR leadership has a strong vision for inclusion and training of local talent, and they already have a robust roster of engineering interns ready to jump on projects - we’re looking forward to looping them into our work as soon as possible.

Finally, the city of New Bedford has a rich industrial history we’re proud to be a part of. Formerly the center of the nation’s whaling sector (and setting for Moby Dick), it is undergoing a renaissance to emerge as an offshore wind hub for the Northeast, home to a number of developers such as Vineyard Offshore, key parts of the supply chain, and the New Bedford Ocean Cluster. It’s got one of the best deep-water ports in the region, which we plan to make full use of for our testing (we can see the water from our office window!). A long-planned commuter rail line, funneling talent straight from Boston, will also begin operations early next year.

We spent our first days unpacking parts and gear that had been accumulating at Casey’s house, making a marathon Lowe’s run, and assembling some functional yet stylish furniture. We had a key decision to make when ordering from ULine - which free gift to choose? Industrial fan? Hammock loveseat? Portable wine glass set? Always planning ahead, we chose the air fryer - a healthy and delicious addition to the office kitchen that may provide many lunches (or dinners) to come in the next months.

We ran into our first unexpected challenge with the new space when we found that our area is pocked with 2 inch holes in the floor - remnants of the glass shop that once occupied it. Shortly after agreeing that we would definitely lose hardware down the holes if we didn’t cover them up, we proceeded to repeatedly lose hardware down the holes. The team’s brilliant engineering minds immediately began thinking of ways to mitigate this hazard, ranging from 3D printed covers to duct tape to expanding caulk. We ended up going with vinyl floor mats (literally sweeping the problem under a rug).

Stay tuned for updates on our first vehicle build…