Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced that it will deliver thousands of its Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo, to support the launch of the world’s first driverless ride-hailing service.
This will not be the first mass delivery of Pacifica Hybrid minivans from Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles to Waymo, as in 2016, the automobile company delivered 100 Pacifica Hybrid minivans, adapted for self-driving, to Waymo. 500 more were delivered in 2017.
The collaboration between Waymo and FCA engineers allowed the teams to design a “self-driving vehicle built on a mass production platform.”
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SUEZ partners with Sky Scape Industries to utilize small UAS in North America
SUEZ in North America, which is under Paris-based parent company SUEZ, has partnered with UAS service provider Sky Scape Industries (SSI) in what the companies call an industry first, as they look to implement UAS technology into water utility operations.
SUEZ North America owns and operates 15 water utilities, and operates 70 municipal systems through public-private partnerships and contract partnerships. With this in mind, the companies say that this partnership will “incorporate safe and efficient drone technology solutions into the maintenance and construction of one of the country’s most valuable utilities.”
PrecisionHawk says it can use latest funding to 'build upon its lead in the commercial drone space,' among other things
PrecisionHawk, Inc. has announced that it has raised a $75 million round of funding, bringing its total funding to more than $100 million since it was founded in 2010.
With this investment, PrecisionHawk says that it can “build upon its lead in the commercial drone space,” apply capital to expand its team, focus on product innovation, and make strategic acquisitions.
The company says that this is “all part of a broader mission to foster the adoption of commercial drones and capture the global market opportunity.”
Commercial UAS software provider Converge raises more than $750,000 in seed funding
A commercial UAS software provider called Converge has announced that during its first seed funding, the company raised more than $750,000. The initial round of funding included investors such as Samsung NEXT, Techstars Ventures, and Kima Ventures.
Founded by alumni from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Converge is developing artificial intelligence (AI) fueled software for UAS that enables them to handle dull, dirty, and dangerous work. Converge says that its software has already been piloted by a selection of UAS service providers, as well as one of the largest construction companies in Florida.
AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems – Defense. Protection. Security. to Feature Array of Innovative Exhibitors, Feb. 6 to 8
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 25, 2018
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
'DriveOhio' launches, will focus on autonomous and connected vehicle initiatives in Ohio
On Jan. 18, Ohio Governor John Kasich made DriveOhio official with an executive order. DriveOhio is essentially a “one-stop shop for researchers, developers and manufacturers to collaborate on autonomous and connected vehicle initiatives in Ohio.”
The executive order brings together two entities; those that are responsible for building transportation infrastructure, and those that are developing advanced mobility technologies. It provides a “statewide, single point of entry” for companies and innovators to test and build smart mobility technologies together, and, it establishes an “infrastructure for developing and establishing statewide standards and strategic recommendations” in regard to the types and use of technology for deployment, as well as their financing.
GreenSight Agronomics receives waiver from FAA for BVLOS UAS operations
UAS services and agricultural intelligence provider GreenSight Agronomics has announced that on Dec. 15 of last year, it was granted a waiver from the FAA to operate its UAS beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
With this waiver, GreenSight, which provides daily monitoring services at top-5 agrochemical company test sites, golf courses, and farms, will be able to operate its UAS remotely from its Boston command center. The waiver still requires a local visual observer, though.
GreenSight, which says that it is just the ninth company to obtain a BVLOS waiver from the FAA, will use this waiver to begin testing BVLOS operations at a customer site.
Drone America and Thrush Aircraft partner to develop world's first autonomous air tanker
UAS manufacturer Drone America and aircraft manufacturer Thrush Aircraft have formed a strategic alliance to begin the development of the world’s first autonomous air tanker, which would add to the arsenal of airborne tactics available to firefighters and first responders when fighting wildfires.
The new tanker is expected to mix Thrush’s large airframe and airborne delivery system expertise with Drone America’s “Ariel” amphibious platform, producing an aircraft capable of delivering approximately 800 gallons of water or fire retardant, autonomously.
Development of self-driving vehicles one of the focus areas of GM Canada's new Canadian Technical Centre
On Jan. 19, GM Canada opened its new Canadian Technical Centre (CTC) in Markham, Ontario, Canada.
One of the areas of focus at the CTC Markham Campus will be software development and innovation in the area of software and controls related to GM’s development of self-driving vehicles.
The CTC Markham Campus will be the largest new automotive and mobility software center in Canada, with more than 700 staff, as it leverages a large network of university and local company partnerships.
AUVSI Launches Tampa Satellite Chapter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 22, 2018
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786