ThayerMahan Inc., a developer of autonomous maritime platforms, has been awarded a four-year, $19.4 million contract to develop innovative autonomous systems, and improve its proprietary acoustic and electronic search systems, in support of Navy and Marine Corps missions.
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded ThayerMahan the contract as part of its continuing effort to promote the development and deployment of Unmanned Maritime Systems in support of US Navy missions.
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SenseFly combining eBee X UAS with intelligent photogrammetry software from Agisoft Metashape for limited time
SenseFly has announced a limited-time offer that combines the company’s senseFly eBee X UAS and its suite of cameras with the intelligent photogrammetry software from Agisoft Metashape.
Fetch Robotics to use latest round of funding for international expansion among other things
Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) developer Fetch Robotics has announced a Series C round of funding that resulted in $46 million.
The funding will be used to help Fetch Robotics expand internationally, meet accelerating customer demand, and to facilitate ongoing research and development.
“Customers have responded enthusiastically to our unique Cloud Robotics solution, and we’re responding by securing the funds we need to continue growing and enhancing our offerings,” says Melonee Wise, CEO of Fetch Robotics.
UPS applies for Part 135 certification to operate commercial UAS flights
UPS has applied for Part 135 certification to conduct commercial UAS flights in the UPS network under a subsidiary business called UPS Flight Forward Inc.
A recently incorporated business, UPS Flight Forward could receive Part 135 certification as early as this year, which would lay the groundwork for UPS having one of the first fully-certified, revenue-generating drone operations in the United States.
When approved, the certification will lay the foundation for UAS operations beyond an operator’s visual line of sight (BVLOS), as well as for flights that occur during the day or night.
Pierce Aerospace, Redwing Labs partner to advance global medical drone deliveries
In an effort to advance global medical drone deliveries, Pierce Aerospace has announced a partnership with a drone delivery company based in Bengaluru, India called Redwing Labs.
The partnership will leverage the respective strengths of each company, including Pierce Aerospace’s Remote Identification expertise and technologies, and Redwing Labs' long-distance delivery UAS and operations.
“I am happy to see Redwing Labs and Pierce Aerospace combining efforts to advance medical drone delivery around the world,” says Aaron Pierce, CEO Pierce Aerospace.
Grand Sky to purchase Firebird aircraft from Northrop Grumman
Grand Sky Development Company LLC (Grand Sky) has announced that it will purchase Northrup Grumman’s optionally piloted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft system, Firebird.
Designed to provide critical ISR capability to meet the mission needs of customers, Firebird is available in manned, autonomous and optionally piloted configurations.
“We are excited to bring Firebird to Grand Sky to utilize its long-endurance and variable payload capabilities for commercial customers,” says Grand Sky Development Co. President Thomas Swoyer Jr.
Volkswagen investing $2.6 billion in Argo AI
Volkswagen AG is investing $2.6 billion in self-driving vehicle company Argo AI.
Volkswagen will commit $1 billion in funding, and will also contribute its Autonomous Intelligent Driving (AID) company, which is valued at $1.6 billion.
“Our agreement with Volkswagen positions us as a technology platform company, expands the potential geography for deployment and will further fuel our product development,” Argo AI explains in a company blog post.
“In fact, we’re the first self-driving company with definitive deployment plans in both the United States and Europe.”
Involi, AirMap developing pre-integrated UTM and Air Traffic Awareness platform
Involi, a provider of air traffic data for UAS, is partnering with AirMap to develop a pre-integrated UTM and Air Traffic Awareness platform for safe, efficient, and scalable UAS operations.
By combining its low-altitude air traffic data service with AirMap’s drone traffic management platform, Involi says that the companies can facilitate safe, complex, and autonomous UAS applications such as drone delivery, large-scale agriculture support, surveying and mapping.
“It was a natural progression for Involi and AirMap to formalize their ongoing technical integration,” says Involi CEO and co-founder Manu Lubrano.
H-E-B, Udelv launching pilot program to test deliveries via autonomous vehicle
In partnership with Udelv, San Antonio-based supermarket company H-E-B has announced plans to launch a pilot program later this year to test a delivery service that uses an autonomous vehicle.
H-E-B will use an autonomous van from Udelv to serve customers near its Olmos Park H-E-B, which is just north of downtown San Antonio.
“At H-E-B, we continue to evaluate and utilize innovative technologies in all parts of our business,” says Paul Tepfenhart, senior vice president of Omnichannel and Emerging Technologies at Central Market and H-E-B.
Northland Community & Technical College awarded grant to form National Center for Autonomous Technologies
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Northland Community & Technical College and five partner agencies a $7 million grant to form the National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT), which will be hosted on Northland’s Aerospace site in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
The NCAT will join the NSF’s large circle of Advanced Technological Education Centers (ATE).
“We will build upon the work of several other NSF ATE program investments, including Northland’s DRONETECH programs, MATE, CAAT, and GeoTech,” says Jon Beck, Northland Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) instructor & NCAT principal investigator.