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    Mindful Escape

    Texas startup's new endeavor lets you escape to faraway lands — virtually

    Janet Miranda, InnovationMap
    Jul 27, 2020 | 9:30 am
    Escape: Roma virtual reality app
    Your virtual escape awaits.
    Courtesy image

    Rising coronavirus cases have canceled many summer vacations, but not all hope of summer sightseeing is lost. One Texas entrepreneur has created a virtual alternative.

    Houston-area industrial design startup Armstrong Innovations recently launched two Oculus Go app games, aptly named Escape. The virtual reality app was designed with relaxation and meditation in mind but has doubled as a new way to relax and sightsee without leaving your home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    "The sights and sounds of our new app assist with mindfulness and meditation," says CEO and founder Derek Armstrong. "It's about focusing on the sights and sounds, especially with the virus growing. It's a quick getaway without having to physically go anywhere."

    The project began a year ago and was completed in March — right at the start of stay-at-home orders that paralyzed everyday life — but just launched this month. The Oculus Go experiences aim to ease the mind and spirits, but with the rise of coronavirus, Escape can also serve to calm frayed nerves.

    The app is based on popular View-Master toys and stereoscopes from the 1800s. There are two different experiences to choose from: Escape: Roma, named for its old-world-inspired poolside lounge, and Escape: Utopia, which brings outer space to life in front of an Oculus user's eyes.

    "The app has already gotten a lot of traction in places where people are not able to go out in the world," says Armstrong. "It's so easy just to pop on your Oculus headset, open the app, and zone out or relax for a few minutes."

    Armstrong's startup was founded in 2018 and has also released a few music packs for Unreal Engine projects, a real-time 3D creation tool that serves as a game engine for creators to deliver interactive experiences.

    "Our company is focused on creating engaging gamified experiences," says Armstrong. "The inspiration for our packs and now our new app came from my interest in treating PTSD and how virtual reality can help ease the symptoms of anxiety in some cases."

    Armstrong Innovations hopes to grow into new areas of the industrial design world, especially in military-driven technologies and other video game opportunities, in the next year or so. Product keys for Escape can be purchased online now, available worldwide for maximum relaxation.

    ---

    This story originally appeared on CultureMap's sister site InnovationMap.

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    takin' it to the streets

    Houston will be the second city in America for Uber's new robotaxis

    InnovationMap Staff
    Jun 17, 2026 | 2:45 pm
    Uber Lucid Nuro robotaxi
    Courtesy of Lucid
    Nuro is currently testing the vehicles on Houston's streets.

    More autonomous vehicles are expected to hit the roads in Houston next year.

    Ridesharing giant Uber announced that it plans to roll out its premium robotaxi service in the Bayou City in mid-2027. Houston will be Uber’s second planned market for the program, following the San Francisco Bay Area, where the program is expected to be rolled out later this year.

    Uber, Nuro and Lucid Group will bring the robotaxi program to Houston with more markets planned for the future. Currently, Nuro is conducting autonomous on-road testing with safety operators in Houston. Testing includes simulation, closed-course testing, and supervised public-road testing.

    “Houston is a city Nuro knows well, and we’re excited to help bring this robotaxi service to the city through our partnership with Uber and Lucid,” Andrew Chapin, chief operating officer at Nuro, said in a news release. “Houston’s large, complex metro area is an ideal market for demonstrating how Nuro’s universal autonomy platform can generalize across different geographies and operating environments. We look forward to continued engagement with the community as we prepare to launch service in 2027.”

    The fleet of 100 vehicles across California and Texas will feature Lucid Gravity EVs and future Lucid Midsize vehicles equipped with Nuro Driver technology, Nuro’s Level 4 universal autonomy platform, plus a redundant sensor suite with cameras, lidar, radar and a roof-mounted halo.

    The vehicles will be owned and operated by Uber and its fleet partners and made available to riders through the Uber network, according to the company.

    In addition to the fleet of autonomous vehicles, Uber also announced that it has secured a 50,000-square-foot depot facility and dedicated charging pitstop in Houston. The facility will allow Uber and its partners to control vehicle maintenance, repairs, charging, cleaning, and day-to-day operations.

    “Houston marks an important next step in our partnership with Lucid and Nuro as we expand autonomous mobility to more riders throughout the world,” Sarfraz Maredia, global head of autonomous mobility & delivery at Uber, added in the release. “Together, we’re combining best-in-class vehicle and autonomy technology with Uber’s scale, fleet operations expertise, and infrastructure capabilities to build a service that can grow across dozens of markets in the years ahead.”

    Waymo launched its autonomous vehicle program in Houston in February.

    The company later suspended its driverless car services in Houston, other major Texas cities, and Atlanta, after one of its vehicles was stranded by flooding during heavy rains. However, according to the Houston Chronicle, the fleet has resumed activity in Houston and is fully active.

    ---

    This story was first published on our sister site InnovationMap.

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