Brendan Digney: Machine Eye

 

Brendan Digney is the founder of Machine Eye: a tech start-up from Belfast that uses AI and Computer Vision to make heavy machinery autonomous and safer.

(AKA: “he turns big diggers and cranes into Teslas”)

Having grown up surrounded by farms, fields, and machinery, Brendan has an intimate knowledge of the industry which he is now using to save lives (and costs) on construction/agricultural sites around the world.

Outside of Machine Eye, he can be found enjoying his other passions including: photography (he runs his own agency), microlight aircraft (he’s an experienced pilot), writing (for a monthly aircraft magazine) and sports (cycling, triathlon and GAA).

In today’s show we talk about:

  • Our shared love for the Centra/Go Garage on the A1

  • Why hardware is hard

  • The future of autonomous vehicles

  • How his company gives diggers eyes and a brains

  • (And why that matters)

  • How he got into flying

  • What the heck “flamping” is

  • Why he enjoys doing so many different types of things

  • And the greatest highs/lows of his journey so far

Check it out.

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Treasure Trove

What's One Thing Most People Don't Know About You?
I'm a pretty transparent person (I think). I'm not sure what people don't know about me! Although I am currently re-building (restoring) and old aircraft in the garage

What's Your Favourite Book?

  • Also reading a lot of business theory etc... too at the moment

What's Your Favourite Quote?
Hardware is HARD!

Last but not least, is there anything you'd like us to promote?

  • Machine Eye - a startup working with some seriously cool technology, locally. Will be looking for people who want to be involved with real cutting edge tech, but also getting to do it in unusual, impressive places.

  • Microlight flying is fun, super affordable, and it's possible to do it close to here. There's scholarships for young people, women, those who want to try it out. Everyone should try it once.

How To Listen

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Thanks again to Brendan Digney for taking the time to share his story with us.

See you next time.

— Matt

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Matthew Thompson