Ocean data startup Spoondrift and underwater drone developer OpenROV have announced that they have merged to form Sofar Ocean Technologies.
Sofar brings together two teams who have experience developing and scaling tools for distributed ocean sensing and monitoring, as the newly formed company notes that the world's oceans remain “largely unexplored, misunderstood, and tragically under-utilized.”
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Business Solutions
Gatwick Airport partners with Stanley Robotics to test robotic valet parking service
Stanley Robotics has signed a framework contract with Gatwick Airport that will result in Gatwick becoming the first airport in the United Kingdom to test robots that valet park passengers’ cars.
During the trial, which is expected to run from the second half of 2019 to early 2020, passengers will leave their cars in a ‘parking station’ close to the South Terminal entrance. A driverless robot will gently lift up the car and store it in a secure car park, all without passengers having to hand over their keys.
The system will be connected to real-time flight information so the robot simply returns the vehicle to the parking station. The user will receive a message that the vehicle is ready and waiting for their arrival.
ADAMA and Tactical Robots partner to develop UAS for aerial spraying
Global crop protection company ADAMA Ltd. has partnered with Israeli aerospace company Tactical Robotics Ltd. in a joint feasibility study for a High-Payload, UAS for aerial spraying.
Tactical Robotics has developed the Cormorant, which is a multi-role, compact, high payload, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS. Capable of carrying an effective payload of more than 500 kilograms (up to 764 kilograms including fuel), the UAS can perform a variety of tasks, from logistics and cargo services to fire-fighting and aerial spraying.
BAE Systems awarded contract to continue developing autonomy software to improve resiliency of air mission planning for military
BAE Systems has been awarded a Phase 3 contract worth $3.1 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to further the development of autonomy software, in an effort to improve the resiliency of air mission planning for the military.
The goal of the Resilient Synchronized Planning and Assessment for the Contested Environment (RSPACE) program is to develop human-centered software decision aids that can help air operators better control daily operations in a complex battlespace. As part of the RSPACE program, BAE Systems has created software called the Distributed, Interactive, Command-and-Control Tool (DIRECT) to improve air battlespace awareness.
Sea Machines Robotics opens new advanced technology center in Boston
Sea Machines Robotics has opened a new advanced technology center in Boston that will be used to accelerate product development and accommodate the company’s growing team.
Located adjacent to Sea Machine’s headquarters and vessel testing sites in East Boston’s shipyard, the fully renovated workspace provides a collaborative, open working environment, as well as expansive conference and meeting areas. The technology center is also near local restaurants, Logan International Airport and Boston’s public transit system.
Yandex and Hyundai Mobis partner on autonomous vehicle development
Tech company Yandex and automotive components manufacturer Hyundai Mobis have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop control systems for Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles, by combining Yandex’s self-driving technologies with Hyundai Mobis’ experience in the automotive industry.
The agreement also provides the potential for the companies to expand into other areas of cooperation such as developing joint products that are equipped with Yandex technologies including speech, navigation, and mapping to name a few.
QinetiQ North America wins U.S. Army's Common Robotic System-Individual program
QinetiQ North America (QNA) has announced that it has won the competition for the U.S. Army’s Common Robotic System-Individual (CRS(I)) program.
Valued up to more than $164 million, the seven-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is for the delivery of small ground robots, and includes a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase worth approximately $20 million over one-to-two years, which will be followed by a series of annual production releases.
As part of the LRIP phase, QNA has been awarded a $4,051,837 initial order.
Kroger and Nuro launching their autonomous grocery delivery service in Houston
Just months after launching a first-of-its-kind self-driving grocery delivery service in Scottsdale, Arizona back in Aug. 2018, Kroger and Nuro have announced that they will launch their autonomous grocery delivery service in Houston.
Expected to begin this spring, the service will be available through two Houston Kroger stores, serving customers residing in four local zip codes.
NUAIR and Measure partner on efforts to safely integrate UAS into national airspace system
The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR) has signed a collaboration agreement with aerial intelligence company Measure.
In support of NUAIR’s mission to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system, Measure will work with NUAIR to bring its commercial operations to the region.
NUAIR and Measure say that their partnership will enhance commercial support inspections, public operations and consulting capabilities at the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport.
Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development and Carmera working on HD maps for autonomous vehicles
Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development Inc. (TRI-AD) and Carmera Inc. have announced that they will collaborate to conduct a proof of concept surrounding the development of camera-based automation of high definition (HD) maps for urban and surface roads.
According to the companies, this is the first step towards realizing TRI-AD's open software platform concept known as Automated Mapping Platform (AMP), which will support the scalability of highly automated driving by combining data gathered from vehicles of participating companies to generate HD maps.