The United States Army, Air Force, and Navy have collectively ordered more than 250 additional FLIR Centaur UGVs from FLIR Systems Inc., worth $32 million combined.
The award is being sourced through the Army’s Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc. II) program.
“We’re tremendously honored that EOD teams across America’s military are relying on our Centaur robot to help them perform dangerous missions with greater stand-off capability,” says Tom Frost, VP and general manager for Unmanned Ground Systems in the Unmanned and Integrated Solutions business at FLIR.
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FLIR Systems awarded $26 million contract modification in support of NBCRV SSU program for U.S. Army
In support of the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Sensor Suite Upgrade (NBCRV SSU) program for the U.S. Army, FLIR Systems has been awarded a $26 million contract modification.
As a follow-on to a $48 million contract announced in April 2019, the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement was awarded through the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND).
Self-driving forklift developer Fox Robotics to use new funding to increase production
Fox Robotics, a company that builds self-driving forklifts, has closed a $9 million Series A led by Menlo Ventures.
According to Fox Robotics, the company makes self-driving forklifts that are “more flexible, more capable and safer” than current automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The company says that its forklifts are capable of handling challenging tasks that no other automation can handle, such as unloading trailers without modifying the warehouse environment.
An added advantage of Fox's forklifts is that it takes less than a day to get Fox's forklifts installed and running in a new warehouse. Fox says that typical AGV's usually weeks or months to integrate into a new warehouse.
Sea Machines Robotics closes $15 million financing round
Sea Machines Robotics has closed a new $15 million financing round, which marks one of the largest venture rounds for an advanced technology company serving the marine and maritime industries, according to Sea Machines.
“This reinforces Sea Machines’ position as the leading developer of autonomous navigation and wireless vessel control systems,” says Michael G. Johnson, CEO, Sea Machines.
“Our ability to secure significant financing during a challenging economic environment is an indicator of investors’ confidence in our ability to reshape and retool the marine industries with modern-day, advanced technologies.”
Conversations with AUVSI: Deuce Drone
Founded in 2019, Deuce Drone’s goal is to solve the last mile delivery problem for “brick and mortar” retailers by enabling drone shipment from existing stores. Leveraging the current infrastructure of its clients, Deuce Drone designs, builds and operates drone delivery systems to transform retail stores into customer fulfillment centers, which helps retailers compete with major e-commerce players through a cost-effective, technology-driven solution for same-day delivery.
FCA selects Waymo as its exclusive, strategic technology partner for L4 fully self-driving technology
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has selected Waymo as its exclusive, strategic technology partner for L4 fully self-driving technology across FCA’s full product portfolio.
Waymo will also work exclusively with FCA as its preferred partner on the development and testing of L4 autonomous light commercial vehicles for the movement of goods, including in the Waymo Via vehicle.
Navistar, TuSimple partner to co-develop SAE Level 4 self-driving semi-trucks
Navistar International Corporation and TuSimple have entered into a strategic partnership to co-develop SAE Level 4 self-driving semi-trucks targeted for production by 2024.
The strategic partnership is the result of a successful technical relationship between the companies for more than two years. Navistar has also taken a minority stake in TuSimple.
“Navistar’s strategic partnership with TuSimple positions us to be a leader in developing solutions for our customers by leveraging our organizations’ collective expertise to integrate our vehicle design and systems integration capabilities with TuSimple’s innovative autonomous technology,” says Persio Lisboa, president and CEO, Navistar.
PRICE Systems helps eVTOL aircraft innovators convert the concept of affordably flying
For electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to become a regular part of society, it will be important to realize large economy of scale, there must be enough demand to achieve the critical mass of adoption, and the public must be accepting of the technology, according to Dr. Nate Sirirojvisuth, senior cost research analyst at cost estimating company PRICE Systems.
In an email interview with AUVSI, Sirirojvisuth hypothesizes that eVTOL will likely start off as a niche product in the short term, providing value-added to the most affluent sections of society.
Amazon acquires autonomous vehicle company Zoox
Amazon has signed an agreement to acquire autonomous vehicle company Zoox.
Described as a “forward-thinking team that is pioneering the future of ride-hailing by designing autonomous technology from the ground up with passengers front-of-mind,” Zoox will continue to operate as a standalone business under its current leadership of Aicha Evans, Zoox CEO, and Jesse Levinson, Zoox co-founder and CTO.
“Zoox is working to imagine, invent, and design a world-class autonomous ride-hailing experience,” says Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s CEO, Worldwide Consumer.
DroneBase to expand services to renewable energy market, open new office in Germany using new funding
Professional drone services company DroneBase has raised $7.5 million in Series C funding.
DroneBase will use this funding to expand its services to the renewable energy market with DroneBase Insights for Wind and Solar, and to open its first international office in Germany.
“DroneBase’s expansion into renewable energy reflects our belief in the growth potential of the wind and solar energy industries,” says Dan Burton, CEO and founder of DroneBase.
“Since many energy companies have both wind and solar assets, we are well positioned to leverage our DroneBase Insights platform to grow our global market share in renewable energy.”
