Starting in 2019, people in Sentosa—an island in Singapore—will be able to call for on-demand autonomous shuttles to transport them around the island, as part of a three-month public trial.
The vehicles will complement Sentosa’s on-island transportation network during the public trial, giving guests additional ways to access the island’s various unique leisure experiences.
Technology
Technology
Liquid Robotics' Wave Gliders USV selected to conduct scientific research in Arctic and Southern Oceans
Liquid Robotics’ Wave Glider USV has been selected as the sensor platform to conduct advanced scientific research in the “most inhospitable and remote regions” of the Arctic and Southern Oceans by top oceanographers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps) and the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington (APL-UW).
FLIR Systems announces Black Hornet 3 nano UAS
FLIR Systems Inc. has announced the launch of its latest UAS, the Black Hornet 3 nano UAS, which is designed for use by global militaries, government agencies, and first responders.
FLIR’s Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) is already the “world’s smallest combat-proven” nano-UAS. The next generation Black Hornet 3 nano UAS adds the ability to navigate in GPS-denied environments, giving the warfighter the ability to maintain situational awareness, threat detection, and surveillance no matter the location of the mission.
General Dynamics team successfully completes all stages of formal Sea Acceptance Testing of Knifefish UUV
The General Dynamics Mission Systems team has successfully completed all stages of formal Sea Acceptance Testing (SAT) of the U.S. Navy’s Surface Mine Countermeasure (MCM) UUV system, Knifefish.
Testing, which was conducted off the coast of Boston, used Navy mine test targets, and included various undersea, MCM operational scenarios in several simulated mine fields.
With SAT now complete, the Knifefish system will begin Developmental Tests and Operational Assessment evaluations.
In-Flight Data and senseFly partnering on Canada's largest BVLOS UAS Operations trial to date
In-Flight Data has announced that starting this week, it is embarking on Canada's largest BVLOS UAS Operations trial to date.
With support from senseFly, this project will seek to “demonstrate that BVLOS UAS flights can be conducted safely and efficiently, to the benefit of all Canadians, while providing cost reductions and/or operational efficiencies for the different use-cases involved.”
“We are truly excited to get the go ahead for this ambitious project,” says Chris Healy, the owner of In-Flight Data.
Mcity Driverless Shuttle begins operation at University of Michigan
The Mcity Driverless Shuttle research project at the University of Michigan (U-M) launched on U-M’s North Campus on Monday, June 4.
Through the project, Mcity is examining how passengers react to the driverless shuttles, in an effort to measure consumer acceptance of the technology.
During the project, data generated during operation will be captured using the shuttles’ onboard cameras and Wi-Fi communications. This is the first driverless shuttle project of its kind in the U.S., according to Mcity Director Huei Peng, who is also the Roger L. McCarthy Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the faculty lead on the shuttle research project.
SeeByte's Area Breakdown Tool helps increase efficiency of unmanned maritime systems operators planning complex MCM missions
SeeByte has launched the Area Breakdown Tool (ABT), which is designed to increase the efficiency of unmanned maritime systems (UMS) operators as they plan complex Mine Countermeasure (MCM) missions.
ABT has been designed to help operators divide large Operational Areas into smaller sections that can then be assigned to unmanned systems. These areas can be customized for the platform type, the duration of the mission, or the number of vehicles in the squad.
The result is that ABT helps the operator efficiently prepare a “set of sortie plans,” and quickly evaluate alternatives for a complex mission involving multiple unmanned maritime vehicles.
Northrop Grumman and U.S. Navy celebrate commencement of MQ-4C Triton UAS flight operations
On May 31, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy officially welcomed the MQ-4C Triton UAS to the fleet during a ceremony to celebrate the commencement of flight operations at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu.
Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu in California is home to the maintenance detachment of Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP)-19 DET Point Mugu, which is the Navy’s first unmanned patrol squadron. Maintainers are currently conducting training and tests on the Triton UAS before it deploys to Guam later in 2018.
Point Mugu has also completely refurbished an existing hangar that will house up to four Triton UAS. The first two Triton UAS are located at Point Mugu.
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
UAVOS has announced the creation of a qualitatively new main rotor blade, which will be installed on its UAS “with 77 lbs (35 kg) take-off mass and rotor diameter of 102,36" (2600 mm).” UAVOS says that the entire flight performance of the machine has been greatly affected by the “one-step blade molding technology using polymer composite materials and an improved aerodynamic shape.” (UAVOS)
School district in Texas holds "Tech Wars" robotic competition for students
In McAllen, Texas, the McAllen school district recently held its inaugural “Tech Wars” robotic competition, which gave students the opportunity to compete against in each other in drone racing, a Battle Bot competition, and an unmanned vehicle competition.
Tech Wars took place on a football field, and according the Monitor, which is McAllen's newspaper, the idea behind creating Tech Wars came from McAllen ISD Superintendent J.A. Gonzalez.
“We wanted to give kids with these technology talents the opportunity to shine, so it’s not about the star quarterback or star pitcher or great swimmer or great volleyball, but now it’s about the great drone racer,” Gonzalez says.