Universal Robots (UR) has hired more than 20 Rethink Robotics staff members, merging its Boston office with Rethink’s former headquarters in Boston’s seaport area “with immediate effect.”
UR says that Rethink’s personnel brings “extensive” collaborative robotics experience in engineering, product development, and customer applications. This experience, combined with UR’s expertise, will help UR continue to develop new and innovative collaborative robotics platforms.
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
Kongsberg Maritime selects Leclanche to provide batteries for its autonomous vessels
Kongsberg Maritime has selected battery company Leclanché as its battery partner and supplier of customized marine energy storage platforms.
Through the partnership, Leclanché will be an asset to Kongsberg’s new generation of hybrid power platforms, which includes “cutting-edge autonomous and crewed vessel newbuilds.”
“The partnership between Kongsberg Maritime, one of the world’s leading providers of electrification solutions to the maritime industry and Leclanché has the potential to be game changing as it brings low and zero-emission solutions to the sizeable and fast growing electric and hybrid marine market,” explains Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché.
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: Military looks to startup world to speed technological innovation
Recognizing the need to revitalize its procurement process, the Pentagon established a fast-track organization two years ago that would accelerate delivery of critical new technologies and systems to its warfighters.
Under the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the new Defense Innovation Unit, known as DIU, would serve as a direct pipeline to connect military customers with non-traditional businesses.
Ocean Infinity orders five Kongsberg Maritime HUGIN AUVs
Ocean Infinity has placed three separate orders for a total of five Kongsberg Maritime HUGIN AUVs, which will increase the company’s inventory to 15.
According to Kongsberg, the AUVs are equipped with the latest generation Kongsberg Maritime HISAS 1032 synthetic aperture sonar, which gives Ocean Infinity a total of six HUGIN AUVs in its fleet that have the ability to deliver high resolution imaging.
“We are pleased to continue to support Ocean Infinity’s operations and value the confidence placed in the HUGIN AUV,” comments Thomas Nygaard, vice president Marine Robotics, Kongsberg Maritime.
AeroVironment to provide allied nation in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility with its Puma AE II UAS
AeroVironment will provide an allied nation in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility with its RQ-20B Puma AE II small UAS, training and support, after receiving a $3,228,856 firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The anticipated delivery date of this technology and services is by March 30, 2019.
QinetiQ Target Systems and Canadian UAVs partner to provide UAS services for military and commercial markets in Canada
Two of Canada’s leaders in the UAS space have announced that they will begin working together.
QinetiQ Target Systems and Canadian UAVs (CUAVs) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that outlines their collaborative efforts to produce the “best of breed” platforms for military and commercial markets.
The focus of the agreement is providing services to clients that require long range, endurance and payload capacity primarily with the Skeldar V200 UAS, Mosquito UHV-T Group 2 UAS and the class 1 UAS Snyper.
KPIT Technologies and Udacity partner to enhance engineering talent ecosystem for autonomous technology
KPIT Technologies has partnered with a Silicon Valley-based lifelong learning platform called Udacity to upskill and build the engineering talent ecosystem for autonomous technology, including self-driving cars and autonomous flight.
A global technology partner to OEMs and Tier 1s, KPIT helps these companies accelerate the implementation of next generation vehicle technologies, including autonomous driving.
Kratos opens new UAS production facility in Oklahoma City
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. recently cut the ribbon on its new 100,000 square foot UAS production facility, which is located in the Will Rogers Business Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
According to Kratos, the new facility will be used to accommodate existing and expected increased demand for its newest line of high performance, jet powered unmanned aerial tactical and target UAS.
Kratos says that over the next five years, it plans to hire at least 350 employees in Oklahoma. Kratos says that these employees will fill the “high-skilled engineering, design, and manufacturing functions” that will be needed to support the production contracts for these aircraft.
PrecisionHawk expands network of UAS pilots through acquisition of Uplift Data Partners
PrecisionHawk Inc. has purchased Uplift Data Partners, which is a company that delivers turnkey inspection services for construction, building information management (BIM) and real-estate.
Having provided UAS services for leading national and global brands, Uplift’s nationwide network of commercially trained UAS pilots will join PrecisionHawk’s Droners.io network of UAS pilots, which currently stands at more than 15,000.
“This acquisition displays PrecisionHawk’s commitment to strengthening our technology and expertise in high-growth markets,” says Michael Chasen, PrecisionHawk CEO.