In an effort to build the interest, skills and knowledge necessary for K-12 students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, NASA's Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP) Aerospace Academy (MAA) is providing nearly $2.3 million in grants to seven Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
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Minority Serving Institutions to use grants from NASA to focus on UAS and robotics-related education
Wilhelmsen Ships Service to help develop future UAS regulatory framework for Singapore
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has been selected to help develop the future UAS regulatory framework for Singapore. The company will receive dedicated funding for its shore-to-ship delivery project.
Following a Call-For-Proposal (CFP) by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Ministry of Transport, Wilhelmsen Ships Service is one of just four companies to have received the funding.
The CFP seeks to “support the development of systems and technologies to enable innovations within the wide-ranging use of UAS.”
Self-driving truck startup Kodiak Robotics to expand its team and develop products using recent funding
A self-driving truck startup called Kodiak Robotics has raised $40 million in Series A financing.
The company will use the funds to expand its team—it currently has about 10 employees—as well as for product development.
In an interview with TechCrunch, Don Burnette, co-founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics, and Paz Eshel, the company’s other co-founder and COO, shared the basic vision for their company: “use self-driving technology to ease the current strain on the freight market.”
RADA receives $4 million in radar orders; company's radars can be used for counter UAS tech
RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. has announced that during the second quarter, it received $4 million in radar orders.
The orders were for the company’s software-defined radars, and will be used in “today’s most advanced defense applications,” RADA says, including active protection systems (APS) for armored vehicles, counter rocket artillery and mortar (C-RAM), counter UAS and short range air defense (SHORAD).
According to RADA, a third of the orders were follow-on-sales from existing customers, while the remaining orders were from “new and highly strategic customers,” such as leading defense organizations. Additionally, these orders represent initial sales from which RADA expects further follow-on orders in the future.
Oceans Unmanned expands its freeFLY UAS program to Dutch Harbor, Alaska
In partnership with Alaska Sea Grant and Aleutian Aerial LLC, and with additional support from DJI, Oceans Unmanned Inc. has announced the expansion of its freeFLY initiative into Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to provide UAS aerial support for marine mammal entanglement response efforts in the region.
The freeFLY program, which was launched earlier this year in Hawaii, provides training, equipment, and management oversight to networks of local volunteer UAS operators that are available to support response groups.
The Hertz Corporation to help Aptiv with its Las Vegas autonomous vehicles through new partnership
Through a new strategic partnership, the Hertz Corporation and its fleet management subsidiary, Donlen, will help with the operations and management of Aptiv's Las Vegas autonomous vehicles (AVs).
Additionally, the companies will “execute a phased approach” to develop standard operating procedures for mobility-related AV fleets.
“We're pleased to announce this partnership with Aptiv, a leader in the development of autonomous driving technology,” says Michael Fisher, senior vice president and chief digitization officer of Hertz.
Xwing developing software stack that enables pilotless flight of small passenger aircraft
An autonomous-aviation startup called Xwing recently secured $4 million in funding.
The company is reportedly focused on the software stack that will enable pilotless flight of small passenger aircraft.
In an interview with TechCrunch, Xwing’s CEO Marc Piette says that while he was pursuing his pilot’s license, he saw restraint when it comes to smaller aircraft, but he also saw potential.
“It became pretty apparent that there were major issues with the general aviation industry with smaller aircraft,” Piette said.
“And yet it had enormous potential to change the way people moved around.”
Aurora Flight Sciences to build robotics and integration facility in Manassas, Virginia
On July 26, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that Aurora Flight Sciences will invest more than $13.75 million to expand its operation in the City of Manassas, Virginia, where it is headquartered.
Aurora, which was acquired by The Boeing Company last year, plans on building a robotics and integration facility that includes a manufacturing unit, a research and development lab, a hangar, and office space. The project is expected to create 135 new jobs.
Skysense partners with Avansig to autonomously power indoor surveillance drone
Skysense has partnered with Avansig, a Spanish information and communication technology developer, to autonomously power the first indoor surveillance UAS for a multinational security company called Prosegur.
According to Skysense, its charging infrastructure, which the company describes as “lightweight, fast-charging, and easy-to-use,” eliminates the need for battery removal or manual charging every time a UAS battery runs out.
Prosegur’s surveillance UAS is capable of carrying out its own patrol route, and can land itself on Skysense’s charging pad to recharge. The UAS records and streams real-time video during surveillance patrols.
When potential security threats or breaches are discovered, the UAS sends alerts to the security central station.
Waymo expanding its self-driving car presence in Metro Phoenix through new partnerships
Through its early rider program, Waymo has learned from its early riders that most of their rides are to run errands, shop for groceries, commute to work, head to dinner or fix their personal vehicles.
With this in mind, Waymo has launched several initiatives to continue testing its self-driving cars in Metro Phoenix, while meeting the “top rider needs.”
“We’re proud to be a part of Metro Phoenix and are excited to grow and add partnerships that support the cities we operate in, bring unique value to our riders, and give more people access to a safe, self-driving future,” Waymo says in a blog post.
