Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF), the subsidiary of the Piaggio Group headquartered in Boston focused on robotics and mobility of the future, has kicked off some pilot programmes to test further applications of its revolutionary robot carrier gita, together with partners active in various business sectors, including travel, hospitality, real estate, retail, local food delivery.

Gita is the first innovative project of Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF), the Boston-based robotics and future mobility company of the Piaggio Group. It is a unique follow-me robot carrier, with a payload of 20 kg, designed to follow the user indoors and outdoors, at a top speed of 10 km/hour and with a 4-hour battery life.

Having launched gita to the US consumer market, Piaggio Fast Forward now looks at new opportunities to integrate robotics into business-to-business sectors, always with the goal to improve the way workers and customers move in different environments, outdoor and indoor.

“These pilot programmes are a testament to the excitement and energy that a product like gita brings to folks. The gita robot is a new  tool for a new today and sits at the intersection of new urbanism, helper robots and the human mobility revolution” - commented Michele Colaninno, PFF’s Founder and Chairman of the Board – “Today robots are more acceptable and desirable than ever before for both personal use as a consumer and increasingly, at scale as an assistive device in retail, residential and commercial environments. This corresponds precisely with our ideas at PFF: robotic intelligence and human beings must cooperate and develop a mutually beneficial relationship in order to create a better world for tomorrow."

The first pilot programmes to be launched include relevant partners such as Cincinnati International Airport (CVG). With a traffic of seven million passengers per year, is a relevant hub in Kentucky, renowned for paving the way for the latest in airport. Gita will be used to clear the path for contactless, digital, concierge services for travelers and to assist elsewhere in processes like luggage and cargo transport.

Delivery Co-op, company focused on food deliveries at neighborhood level, based in Lexington, Kentucky. Gita will be used for safe, contactless neighborhood deliveries; Doğan Trend Automotive, part of Doğan Group, holding based in Istanbul controlling a number of companies operating in different sectors such as, energy, industry, fuel, finance, internet & entertainment, automotive, tourism and real estate, playing a pioneering role in Turkish market. Gita will be tested in a retail mall and a waterfront marina location, where consumers can elect to have Gita shepherd commonly needed items like and shopping bags for them.

 “Thanks to gita, people can walk further, faster and more frequently, doing it with more pleasure. We are ready to experiment the use of gita in retail, residential and commercial environments with the aim to simplify and enhance human performance” - said Greg Lynn, Chief Executive Officer at Piaggio Fast Forward.

Gita robots are produced in the new Piaggio Fast Forward facility in the Charlestown district of Boston. Marketing began in November last year through online channels, with a first phase focused on the US market, where the circulation of robots on city streets is already regulated. (MT)

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Ansys, now part of Synopsys, has formed a strategic partnership with the US-based non-profit Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) to enhance STEM education for students at Tier-2 engineering colleges in India.

The collaboration will grant students in MBF’s Tinkerers’ Labs – the supported makerspaces – access to cutting-edge simulation tools from Synopsys’ Simulation and Analysis portfolio, alongside the Ansys Learning Hub. This initiative is specifically designed to provide students in these institutions with resources that match those available at top-tier engineering colleges.

Under the new Synopsys-MBF Simulation Education Program, students and faculty at up to six selected institutions will initially receive academic teaching licences for Ansys' multiphysics simulation solutions.

Damayanti Bhattacharya, CEO, Maker Bhavan Foundation, said, “This collaboration levels the playing field for students who might otherwise be overlooked. Each lab equipped with world-class tools is a promise to these young engineers that innovation has no boundaries of geography or privilege.”

Beyond providing software, Ansys will offer technical mentorship, coordinate hackathons and workshops and support training for both faculty and students. MBF will manage the implementation, acting as the liaison between the institutions and Synopsys to ensure effective tool usage and track learning outcomes.

Mike Yeager, Area Vice-President, India and Japan, at Ansys, part of Synopsys, said, “We are proud to partner with MBF in building a strong talent pipeline for the future. By bringing global technology to local classrooms, we are empowering students in India to innovate and solve real-world problems.”

This initial one-year partnership is viewed as the start of a long-term plan, with both Synopsys and MBF intending to extend the engagement to more institutions if successful, thereby increasing the impact on India’s innovation ecosystem.

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Asia’s largest integrated platform for traffic management, road construction and smart mobility solutions officially opened its doors today at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The combined Traffic Infratech Expo, Road Infratech Expo and Parking Infratech Expo are showcasing over 300 brands under the theme ‘Enabling Responsible Infrastructure and Mobility.’

The 2025 edition emphasises innovation, sustainability and collaboration, bringing together government officials, industry leaders and technology providers to address India’s rapidly evolving infrastructure needs.

Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, said, “At Messe Frankfurt India, our commitment to create platforms that don’t just showcase technologies but actively drive industry conversations and policy alignment. Traffic Infratech Expo has evolved into an ecosystem where government, industry leaders and innovators converge to shape the future of mobility. This year’s edition, with its scale and focus on responsible infrastructure, reflects India’s ambition to lead in safe, sustainable and technology-driven transport solutions.”

A key focus of the expo is ‘Transforming Transportation for the Future,’ with several high-level discussions planned on supporting home-grown technology solutions.

The event will host a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) to accelerate indigenous technology development within the automotive sector.

Jayprakash Nair, Managing Director, Virtual Info System (VIS Group), said, “Over the years, Traffic Infratech Expo has become a catalyst for change in India’s transport and mobility landscape. Together with Messe Frankfurt India, we have built a platform that drives industry and government collaboration. Technology providers, product manufacturers, government associations, infrastructure, and policymakers are converging at the expo to discuss the real challenges and solutions needed. The 2025 edition is particularly significant as it not only introduces next-gen product categories but also brings multiple agencies and stakeholders to the table, reinforcing the show’s role as a driver of innovation and progress.”

The expo is supported by several key government bodies, including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and will feature the Smart Mobility Conference to enable in-depth policy discussions. The two-day event is set to host over 20 new product launches and facilitate B2B and B2G networking.

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Cognizant hosted Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver Lance Stroll and driver ambassador Pedro de la Rosa at its GAR campus in Hyderabad. The visit was part of 'Celebrating Cognizant', a series of sporting and cultural activities for company associates.

Lance and Pedro met with Cognizant’s leadership team and hundreds of associates, discussing how Cognizant’s digital expertise supports the team, especially ahead of the 2026 regulations.

Lance Stroll, said, "It was a pleasure to visit the Cognizant offices in Hyderabad and meet so many of the team. Hearing first-hand about Cognizant’s technology and services was valuable and we felt incredibly welcomed by everyone we met.”

Rajesh Varrier, President – Global Operations and Chairman & Managing Director, Cognizant India, said, “Today’s celebration with Lance is a proud moment for our associates and a powerful reminder of how far we have come in shaping the future of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team through innovation. I am inspired by what we have achieved together and optimistic about the promise this partnership holds for the future.”

A fireside chat with Lance, Pedro, and Rajesh underscored the role of technology in F1 and the Cognizant partnership. The drivers engaged with associates in a Q&A session.

In addition to the visit, Cognizant hosted a virtual hackathon for nine teams from three organisations supported by its Outreach programme. Participants developed low-code or code-based solutions to make the team’s Ai.lonso avatar into an engaging digital companion for fans. The top two teams won cash prizes and met Lance and Pedro.

Cognizant began its partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in 2021. The technology company acts as the team’s digital transformation partner, improving IT infrastructure and daily operations.

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Ola Electric, one of India’s largest electric vehicle manufacturers, has announced that it became the first two-wheeler EV maker to get government certification for its in-house developed rare-earth-free ferrite motor.

The company claims that the ferrite motor eliminates its need to import rare-earth motors with permanent magnets.

The certification has been granted by Global Automotive Research Centre, Tamil Nadu, after undergoing rigorous performance verification and mandatory motor power tests as per AIS 041 that is notified by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India.

As per the company, the in-house developed ferrite motor’s performance matched that of the motors with rare-earth permanent magnet motors in terms of net power for 7kW and 11 kW variants.

Ola Electric claimed that the ferrite motor delivers efficiency, performance and durability on par with rare-earth permanent magnet motors, while dramatically lowering costs and de-risking supply chain fluctuations. The company first introduced its ferrite motor at its annual ‘Sankalp 2025’ event in August this year.

With this, Ola Electric is set to integrate the ferrite motor across its product lineup, further enhancing performance, affordability and sustainability.

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