The first two test robots from Marble, a San Francisco-based robotics company, began mapping out the city streets and sidewalks of Arlington, Texas on Friday, August 17, according to NBC DFW.
Marble is the first company to deploy this type of technology in Arlington after the City Council gave approval for private companies to deploy robotic delivery devices to test their usage in the city back in June.
“This is our first step in interacting with the city of Arlington and we are very excited to be here,” says Marble representative Jackie Erickson.
Technology
Technology
ASV Global and TerraSond successfully complete hydrographic survey using unmanned vessel
ASV Global and TerraSond have successfully completed a hydrographic survey for charting off the coast of Alaska using ASV Global’s C-Worker 5 unmanned vessel alongside the Q105 survey ship acting as the mother vessel.
Fitted with a multibeam echosounder, the C-Worker 5 unmanned vessel conducted 53% of the 10,649-kilometer survey.
This latest operation was ASV Global and TerraSond’s fourth unmanned charting survey for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in as many years. The total unmanned survey lines completed now stands at almost 15,000 kilometers.
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: Interoperability efforts are changing the way robots are used in the field
During the more than 17 years of continuous warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have proven to pose the most serious threat to service members stationed in combat theaters. Mitigating this threat, as such, has emerged as a primary mission for engineering and design teams in both industry and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Additionally, research teams are well aware of the utility UAS can provide in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) realm. Perimeters of harbors and land-based installations can be monitored and kept clear of obstacles and potential threats — without placing human lives in harm’s way.
Colorado Springs Police Department prepares to launch UAS fleet
The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) in Colorado Springs, Colorado is preparing to launch its fleet of UAS.
The department has purchased eight UAS—DJI Mavics, Phantom 4s, and a larger and more expensive Inspire 2—which will be used for everything from documenting accident scenes to finding a fugitive on the run.
One of the Phantom UAS will include an infrared camera for nighttime operations, when officers are most at risk.
Danville Community College launches UAS program
Danville Community College (DCC) in Danville, Virginia recently launched a new UAS class.
On Friday, August 10, DCC Instructor Steven Carrigan conducted a three-hour introductory training session at the college with 12 students. On Saturday, August 11, the students participated in the hands-on portion of the course at a remote site in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
While instructing the students, Carrigan was joined by several Certified 107 Pilots volunteering their time, who helped teach students the dos and don’ts of operating UAS.
Naval Oceanography personnel perform UUV exercises
On Thursday, Aug. 16, Naval Oceanography personnel from Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi performed maneuvers with UUVs in the Mississippi Sound.
The Navy's Fleet Survey Team (FST) prepares their UUVs — including those with sonar capability — to go up against the Naval Oceanographic Mine Warfare Center (NOMWC) and their underwater drones.
Kroger and Nuro launch autonomous grocery delivery service in Arizona
After announcing their pilot program for a fully autonomous grocery delivery service in June, Kroger and Nuro have now announced that the program is launching in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Starting August 16, customers can place delivery orders with a single location of Fry's Food Stores via the store’s website or the Fry's Food Stores mobile app. Orders are placed based on slot availability.
Grocery orders can be scheduled for same-day or next-day delivery by Nuro's fleet of self-driving vehicles. There is no minimum amount required to place an order, and the service charges a flat fee of $5.95.
New reports shed light on automated vehicle future
Two recent reports highlight the way that industry and government are seeing the automated vehicle market shaping up.
The Governors Highway Safety Association, made up of state and territory highway safety officials, released “Preparing for Automated Vehicles: Traffic Safety Issues for States,” funded by insurance giant State Farm and drawing on research, survey findings, government documents and other sources.
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Last week, the City of San Diego, along with Cape, a company that builds software that unlocks the “true potential of drones,” completed a public UAS deployment, marking the city’s first UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) demonstration by the San Diego Fire Department. The event began with a live public safety demonstration in which Cape and the San Diego Fire Department used Cape's Aerial Telepresence platform during a simulated fire call. (The Drive)
Swift Engineering uses Swift020 UAS for forestry mission in Japan
Swift Engineering, which provides products, technologies and “fully integrated product development solutions from ideation to market,” recently flew its Swift020 UAS over densely forested areas within the Ishikawa prefecture in Japan.
Swift Engineering worked with a number of entities to complete the flights from July 23 to 25, including the local forest cooperative association, key forestry industry leaders and members of the Ishikawa Prefecture Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry.