DUKE Robotics Corp. 10-K

Item 1. Business. Corporate Overview We are a robotics company developing an advanced robotics system that enables remote, real-time, pinpoint accurate firing of small arms and light weapons. Our advanced robotics system is able to achieve pinpoint accuracy regardless of the movement of the weapons platform or the target. We also introduced an insulator cleaning drone, which is a drone technology for conducting routine maintenance of critical infrastructure for cleaning electric utility cable insulators. We were founded in 2014 as Unlimited Aerial Systems, LLP (“UAS LLP”), and until the consummation of the Share Exchange Agreement (as hereinafter defined), we were a developer and manufacturer of commercial unmanned aerial systems, or drones, with the goal of providing a superior Quadrotor aerial platform at an affordable price point in the law enforcement and first responder markets. On March 9, 2020, we closed on the Share Exchange Agreement (the “Share Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which Duke Robotics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Duke”) became our majority-owned subsidiary (the “Share Exchange”). Such closing date is referred to as the “Effective Time.” As a result of the Share Exchange, the Company adopted the business plan of Duke. On April 29, 2020, we, Duke, and UAS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“UAS Sub”), executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which UAS Sub was to merge, upon the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, with and into Duke, with Duke surviving as our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Short-Form Merger”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we intended to acquire the remaining outstanding shares of Duke held by those certain Duke shareholders that did not participate in the Share Exchange. On June 25, 2020, Duke filed a Certificate of Merger with the State of Delaware, and consequently, Duke became our wholly-owned subsidiary and the Short-Form Merger was consummated. On January 29, 2021, we, through Duke Israel (as hereinafter defined), and Elbit Systems Land Ltd., an Israeli corporation (“Elbit”), entered into a collaboration agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) for the global marketing and sales, and the production and further development of our developed advanced robotic system mounted on an UAS, armed with lightweight firearms, which we market under the commercial name “TIKAD.” On August 15, 2022, Duke Israel introduced the Insulator Cleaning ("IC") Drone, a drone technology for conducting routine maintenance of critical infrastructure, and has signed an agreement with Israel Electric Corporation (the “IEC”) to provide drone-enabled systems for cleaning electric utility cable insulators. During October 2023, we successfully completed our obligations under its agreement with the IEC. Duke has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Duke Airborne Systems Ltd. (“Duke Israel”), which was formed under the laws of the State of Israel in March 2014 and became the sole subsidiary of Duke after its incorporation. Our mailing address is 10 HaRimon Street, Mevo Carmel Science and Industrial Park, Israel 2069203, and our telephone number is 011-972-4-8124101. Our web site address is https://dukeroboticsys.com/. Effective as of October 22, 2020, the Company’s common stock began to be quoted on the OTCQB tier Venture Market, under the symbol “USDR”. Company Overview Until the consummation of the Share Exchange, we were a developer and manufacturer of commercial unmanned aerial systems, or drones, with the goal of providing a superior Quadrotor aerial platform at an affordable price point in the law enforcement and first responder markets. Following the Share Exchange, we adopted the business plan of Duke. Duke is a robotics company dedicated to the development of an advanced robotics stabilization system that enables remote, real-time, pinpoint accurate firing of small arms and light weapons as well as other civilian applications with an emphasis on the field of infrastructure maintenance. Our advanced robotics system is able to achieve pinpoint accuracy regardless of the movement of the weapons platform or the target. 1 Although the first product has been designed to be used by an unmanned aerial system (a “UAS”), the robotic solutions are also adaptable to other military vehicles, boats and stationary environments, as well as civilian purposes, such as, high definition, high-end stabilized cameras. We believe that the system is to small arms and light weapons (e.g., weapons weighing less than 9 kilograms, or kg, or approximately 19.9 pounds) as drones are to air-to-ground missiles. We have completed our first generation of our robotic systems. Prior to marketing our systems to potential customers, for security reasons, we are required to obtain various governmental approvals for each sale. We have filed marketing applications with the Israeli Ministry of Defense (“IMOD”) and as a result thereof, currently hold marketing approvals for about 50 countries, including the United States. Currently, our commercialization efforts are primarily focused on the U.S. market, with secondary efforts outside of the United States focused primarily on Western Europe. On January 29, 2021, we, through Duke Israel, and Elbit, entered into the Collaboration Agreement for the global marketing and sales, and the production and further development of our developed advanced robotic system mounted on an UAS, armed with lightweight firearms, which we market under the commercial name “TIKAD.” Following the Collaboration Agreement, we are in the process of evaluating additional different applications for use of our technology and know-how including for its use in the civilian market. On May 11, 2021, we entered into securities purchase agreements with eight non-U.S. investors (the “Investors”) in a private placement offering in which we agreed to issue and sell an aggregate of: (i) 12,500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share at a price of $0.40 per share; and (ii) warrants to purchase 12,500,000 Company’s Common Stock. The warrants were exercisable immediately and for a term of 18 months and had an exercise price of $0.40 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $5,000,000 and the offering closed on May 11, 2021. On April 5, 2022, we entered into an agreement with the Investors pursuant to which we extended the term of the warrants, to expire on November 11, 2023. On November 1, 2023, we and the Investors executed a second extension agreement, such that the term of the warrants was extended so that they now expire on November 11, 2024. On May 27, 2021, our board of directors approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) pursuant to which the Company may issue awards, from time to time, consisting of non-qualified stock options, restricted stock grants and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). In addition, stock option awards that qualify under Section 102 of the Israeli Tax Ordinance (New Version) 1961 (the “ITO”), and/or under Section 3(i) of the ITO, may be granted. On June 15, 2021, we announced that Duke Israel received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent titled “Stabilization System” regarding its stabilization technology incorporated in its advanced robotic system. On August 15, 2022, we announced that Duke Israel, introduced the IC Drone, a drone technology for conducting routine maintenance of critical infrastructure, and has signed a collaboration and development agreement with the IEC, a public and 99% government-owned company, to provide drone-enabled systems for cleaning electric utility cable insulators. Market Opportunity Defense and military market Despite of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the classic confrontation of army against army has become rare, while guerilla (or asymmetric) warfare has unfortunately become commonplace. Further, the foreign policy of the United States and other countries is increasingly designed around the parameter of not employing “boots on the ground” while at the same time minimizing collateral damage. The United States and other countries around the world have significantly increased their use of UASs for intelligence gathering, surveillance and tactical applications, such as delivery of heavy ordnance bombs and missiles. The use of UASs to fire small arms and light weapons from the air, however, has not yet become a viable option. Our technology thus addresses a crucial need of modern warfare to bring a wide range of weapons other than bombs and missiles to bear on remote hostile targets without risk to the military personnel deploying the weapons, while at the same time minimizing collateral damage. In addition, the rapid evolution of small, unmanned air systems (“sUAS”) technologies, along with their size and low cost, enables novel concepts of employment that present challenges to current defense systems, creating new asymmetric threats for warfighters. Our system also addresses this crucial need for counter sUAS solutions and offers a kinetic interception, or “drone kill drone,” capability for defeating enemy sUAS. 2 Our system was designed with input from veterans of Israel’s elite special mission units. It is operated intuitively via a touch-based tablet, which serves as its control unit. Minimal prior training is required in order to operate the robot. In June 2016, our robot mounted on our UAS Octocopter platform was awarded the top prize at the Combating Terrorism Technology Conference sponsored by the United States Defense Department’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office, Israel’s Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense Research and Development and the MIT Enterprise Forum of Israel. Civilian sector Insulator Cleaning Drone Insulators are key components of every high voltage electrical infrastructure around the world while routine cleaning and maintenance of insulators is crucial in order to optimize system efficiency, prevent power outages, reducing risks of flashovers and corrosion. Cleaning of high voltage infrastructure leads to better system performance and efficiency, improves safety by reducing the risk of electricity failure and accidents especially in urban areas, and extends the life of the insulators. Currently, the global standard for routine cleaning of insulators involves the use of helicopter fleets and crane trucks. The cleaning routine requires getting near to active high voltage lines and using high-pressure washers carried by the helicopters or crane trucks. Such process is considered extremely dangerous and bears significant risks of electricity shock or an impact of the helicopter blades with the electricity grid resulting in damages to the grid line and possible harm to human life. IC Drone offers a revolutionary, safer and cost-efficient method for maintenance of high voltage electrical infrastructure. The worldwide electricity transmission market is huge and estimated in millions of insulators. The current cost per insulator cleaning is high and electricity operators around the world fail to meet cleaning plans. Products UAS Octocopter Integrated with Six Degrees of Freedom (“6 DOF”) Robotic Gimbal Our special purpose UAS Octocopter (DK-HIPPOGRIFF) integrates for operational usage with our 6 DOF robot and is intended primarily for Military and homeland security purposes. Our lightweight robot allows accurate firing from various configurations consisting of UAS-mounted, land-mounted on light all-terrain vehicles and sea-mounted on boats. The robot is mounted on our UAS Octocopter platform, a combined system which we market under the commercial name “TIKAD.” In addition to the various configurations and mounting options, the robots also permit the utilization of a wide range of small arms, light weapons and shotguns, with lethal and less lethal ammunition, with a maximum weight of nine (9) kilograms (approximately twenty (20) pounds). The combination of our robot, along with our stabilization platform and software, provides a unique firing platform that permits precision firing regardless of weather conditions or other variables. Additionally, our robot may also be utilized as a ground sniper platform. Since the robot is a standalone unit, it can be mounted on a patrol or attack vehicle or be positioned at a strategic location. The capability of remote operation without the need to expose the operator to tactical danger can replace troops in different settings. This capability may reduce the number of casualties due to “friendly fire” incidents and may also significantly reduce exposure and risk to combat troops. Our robot is controlled by a remote-control device that permits the user to exert full control over its functions, including arming the robot as well as control the firing mechanism. 3 Our lightweight robot can also be used for civilian purposes and bring solutions that do not yet exist for different tasks that require high-end stabilization, such as: vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) robotic landing gear for drones, VTOL aircrafts and medical aid robotic uses and for maintenance and monitoring of different essential infrastructures, such as cleaning electric utility cable insulators. We expect our sales of the robot to increase as additional product options expand. We will also address, as needed, evolving regulation of civilian UASs. IC Drone Our IC Drone is a first-of-its-kind robotic, drone-enabled system for cleaning electric utility insulators. The IC Drone unique system, based on Duke’s advanced intellectual property and know-how that integrates algorithms, autonomous systems, and robotic technologies used in mission-critical applications. Our IC Drone offers a revolutionary, safer and cost-efficient, method for maintenance of high voltage electrical infrastructure. which require routine cleaning of insulators in order to optimize system efficiency and prevent power outages. Currently, the global standard for routine cleaning of insulators involves the use of helicopter fleets and crane trucks. Assembly and Testing While we maintain the ability to assemble our robots and UAS Octocopter at our facility in Israel, we currently outsource the assembly and production to third-party manufacturers, from which we also purchase supplies and custom-made machined parts required for the production of our robots and UAS Octocopter. We currently source our parts and materials from approximately twenty (20) suppliers located primarily in the United States, Europe, Israel and China. We are not, however, dependent on any single manufacturer. In addition, while the components we purchase are built according to our specific designs and requests, we believe the components and materials we purchase are common in nature and can easily be obtained from alternative suppliers, if necessary. Components are tested and approved against the expected points of failure during extended and aggressive operations. For example, we test items such as the load carrying capacity of our products as well as various software components. After the lab testing phase, the robot and UASs undergoes a series of field tests which examine the operation of each function. Results are combined with multi-phased airborne testing. In addition, we have not executed supply agreements with our third-party suppliers. More importantly, our proprietary and confidential complex kinematic algorithms and control software is our most valuable intellectual property. We have built an in-house laboratory to support the assembly and commercialization of our products. We believe that the current size and capacity of our in-house laboratory, located at our facilities in Israel, will be sufficient to support all of our commercialization activities in the near future. Market Strategy Defense and Military Market We expect that our growth in the defense and military market will initially derive from sales of TIKAD (our robot mounted on UAS Octocopter platform), and later from sales of our robot mounted on other platforms, such as light all-terrain vehicles and sea-mounted on boats. ● Focus on sales in the United States . We believe that the United States military will be our lead and reference customer. The United States alone presents a significant and diverse market opportunity - special operation forces units, various counter-terrorism (federal, state and city) units, regular local police forces (the use of less-lethal weapons), U.S. Army, National Guard, U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and the Border Police. ● Sales to NATO . We believe adoption of our products in the United States will open the markets in countries that are U.S. allies such as the NATO countries. ● Civilian Market . We believe that our robot, due to its novel and unique capabilities, including stabilization of six degrees of freedom in real-time, can bring solutions that do not yet exists for different tasks that require high end stabilization, such as VTOL robotic landing gear for drones and aircraft that enables take-offs and landings on uneven terrain and on steep slopes and medical uses for robotic procedures which need high accuracy. 4 IC Drone On August 15, 2022, we signed an agreement with the IEC to provide drone-enabled systems for cleaning electric utility cable insulators. During October 2023, we successfully completed our obligations under our agreement with the IEC by proving the efficiency and safety that comes by using our IC Drone. Our plan is to provide insulation maintenance and washing services to electrical companies over the globe, throughout separate entities over the world, either alone or with strategic partners. Intellectual Property Our success depends, at least in part, on our ability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property, and to operate without infringing or violating the proprietary rights of others. We rely on a combination of trade secrets, know-how, and other contractual rights (including confidentiality and invention assignment agreements) to protect our intellectual property rights. We also restrict access to our sensitive intellectual property information to our most senior management. To protect certain key technologies, we have submitted a U.S. patent Application for stabilization system patents, which is pending. We do not know whether any of our current or future patent applications will result in the issuance of any patents. Sales and Marketing Defense and Military Market Our robot has been designated as a unique system by the IMOD and has received official approval as the sole supplier of this solution to the IMOD. The IMOD has also publicly endorsed our combined robotic and UAS system, which we market under the commercial name TIKAD, as an innovative future battlefield technology that may be implemented by the Israeli Defense Forces (the “IDF”). We intend to focus our sales efforts in the United States because the U.S. military in general and special operation forces units in particular are expected to be our largest customers. On January 29, 2021, we, through Duke Israel, and Elbit entered in the Collaboration Agreement. Pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement, Duke Israel has granted Elbit a worldwide exclusive license for the use of Duke Israel’s know-how and intellectual property and the marketing, sales, production, and further development of the TIKAD for military, defense, homeland security, and para-military uses. As consideration for granting the worldwide exclusive license, Elbit will pay Duke Israel royalties from revenues received from worldwide sales of TIKAD, with royalty rates ranging from low to mid-double-figure percentages, depending on the tiers of the selling price of TIKAD, for a period starting from the date of the Collaboration Agreement until 15 years following receipt of $50 million in cumulative revenues from sales of TIKAD units. In addition, Duke Israel agreed to pay Elbit similar rates of royalties for revenues received by Duke from sales of its advanced robotic system for civil use, if such systems will include new know-how developed by Elbit. 5 On June 15, 2021, we announced that our wholly owned Israeli subsidiary, Duke Airborne Systems Ltd., received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent titled “Stabilization System” regarding its stabilization technology incorporated in its advanced robotic system. Marketing and sales efforts related to TIKAD are being led by Elbit due to our Collaboration Agreement with Elbit. Civilian Sector Marketing and sales efforts are currently concentrated on the IC Drone using company employees, agent and related electric infrastructure companies that are in cooperation with the IEC. The current marketing volume and efforts are limited and are expected to increase significantly upon the next version of the IC Drone which is expected to be release in the fourth quarter of 2024. Competition Defense and Military Market While we believe that our products are novel, and that we have unique knowledge of military operational demands and challenges and years of developing complex military airborne systems and advanced robotics, the defense industry is a competitive environment. Civilian Sector To our knowledge there is no equivalent cleaning system which is based on drones for cleaning insulators. Although drones are being used for cleaning solar panels as well as windows, using high pressure water, such systems cannot handle the challenges that come with cleaning of insulators due to the high voltage environment that effects the drones. Competition is based on product and program performance, price, reputation, reliability, life cycle costs, overall value to the customer and responsiveness to customer requirements. This includes the ability to respond to rapid changes in technology. In addition, our competitive position sometimes may be affected by specific requirements in particular geographic and product markets. We plan to continually adapt to market conditions by adjusting our business strategy to changing market conditions. In addition, we plan to seek to enter into strategic partnership and cooperation agreements that we believe can assist us in overcoming the challenges of competing in our industry. Our competitors, either alone or through their strategic partners, might have substantially greater name recognition and financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing and human resources than we do. These entities may also have significantly greater experience and infrastructure in commercializing civilian or defense products, obtaining regulatory approval for those products and commercializing those products around the world. Government Regulation Government Contracting Regulations. We operate under laws, regulations and administrative rules governing defense and other government contracts, mainly in Israel and the United States. Some of these carry major penalty provisions for non-compliance, including disqualification from participating in future contracts. In addition, our participation in governmental procurement processes in Israel, the United States and other countries is subject to specific regulations governing the conduct of the process of procuring defense and homeland security contracts. 6 Israeli Export Regulations. Israel’s defense export policy regulates the sale of a number of our systems and products. Current Israeli policy encourages exports to approved customers of defense systems and products such as ours, as long as the export is consistent with Israeli government policy. Subject to certain exemptions, a license is required to initiate marketing activities. We also must receive a specific export license for defense related hardware, software and technology exported from Israel. Israeli law also regulates export of “dual use” items (items that are typically sold in the commercial market but that also may be used in the defense market). We have filed marketing applications with the IMOD and have already received marketing approvals for about fifty (50) countries including the U.S. It is expected that in the mid-term more than seventy-five (75%) of our revenue will be derived from exports subject to Israeli export regulations. Approval of Israeli Defense Acquisition. The Israeli Defense Entities Law (Protection of Defense Interests) establishes conditions for the approval of an acquisition or transfer of control of an entity that is determined to be an Israeli “defense entity” under the terms of the law. Designation as a “defense entity” is to occur through an order to be issued jointly by the Israeli Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Economy Minister. Although no such orders relating to us have been issued as of the date hereof, it is possible that our Israeli subsidiary may be designated as a “defense entity” under the law. An order (pursuant to the law) would establish conditions and restrictions regarding non-Israeli control of our Israeli subsidiary. For example, Israeli government approval might be required for acquisition of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting securities or a smaller percentage of shares of common stock that grant “means of control” in the Company, if such were to directly affect the control of our Israeli subsidiary. Means of Control for the purposes of the law includes the right to control the vote at a shareholders’ meeting or to appoint a director. Approval of U.S. and Other Defense Acquisitions. Many countries in addition to Israel also require governmental approval of acquisitions of local defense companies or assets by foreign entities. Mergers and acquisitions of certain types of defense related businesses in the U.S. are subject to the Foreign Investment and National Security Act (“FINSA”). Under FINSA, foreign acquisitions of certain types of defense related businesses in the U.S. require review, and in some cases approval, by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”). In that regard, if a foreign entity attempts to acquire us or all of our domestic assets, such transactions may be subject to FINSA, and in certain instances CFIUS has the authority to order divestment and cancellation of the transaction. “ Buy American” Laws. The U.S. “Buy American” laws impose price differentials or prohibitions on procurement of products purchased under U.S. government programs. The price differentials or prohibitions apply to products that are not made in the United States or that do not contain U.S. components making up at least fifty percent (50%) of the total cost of all components in the product. However, a Memorandum of Agreement between the United States and Israeli governments waives the “Buy American” laws for specified products, including most of the products we are currently selling in the United States. Procurement Regulations. Solicitations for procurements by governmental purchasing agencies in Israel, the United States and other countries are governed by laws, regulations and procedures relating to procurement integrity, including avoiding conflicts of interest, corruption, human trafficking and conflict minerals in the procurement process. Such regulations also include provisions relating to information assurance and for the avoidance of counterfeit parts in the supply chain. Anti-Bribery Regulations. We conduct operations in a number of markets that are considered high risk from an anti-bribery compliance perspective. Laws and regulations such as the Israel Penal Code, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and corresponding legislation in other countries, prohibit providing personal benefits or bribes to government officials in connection with the governmental procurement process. Israeli defense exporters, like ourselves, are required to maintain an anti-bribery compliance program, including specific procedures, record keeping and training. Audit Regulations. The IMOD may audit our books and records relating to its contracts with us. Our books and records and other aspects of projects that will be related to the U.S. defense contracts will be subject to audit by U.S. government audit agencies. Such audits review compliance with government contracting cost accounting and other applicable standards. If discrepancies are found this could result in a downward adjustment of the applicable contract’s price. Some other customers have similar rights under specific contract provisions. 7 Civil Aviation Regulations. Several of our products for commercial aviation applications are subject to flight safety and airworthiness standards of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and similar civil aviation authorities in Israel, Europe and other countries. Environmental, Health and Safety Regulations. We are subject to a variety of environmental, health and safety laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we have operations. This includes regulations relating to air, water and ground contamination, hazardous waste disposal and other areas with a potential environmental or safety impact. Employees We currently have one full-time employee, our Chief Executive Officer, and two (2) executive officers, our Chief Technology Officer and our Chief Financial Officer. We hire freelance contractors and consultants in order to limit our operating expenses and therefore allowing us to scale as necessary. We maintain long-term relationships with these freelance contractors and consultants. All of our consulting agreements include undertakings with respect to non-competition and assignment to us of intellectual property rights developed in the course of employment and confidentiality. The enforceability of such provisions is limited for some employees by Israeli law. We are also currently a “smaller reporting company,” meaning that we are not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent company that is not a smaller reporting company and have a public float of less than $75 million and annual revenues of less than $50 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. As a “smaller reporting company” we are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosures in their filings; are exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) requiring that independent registered public accounting firms provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting; and have certain other decreased disclosure obligations in their SEC filings, including, among other things, only being required to provide two years of audited financial statements in annual reports.