This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Amazon has announced that its Scout delivery robots have made their way down south and are now operating in two new locations. The robots have begun delivering packages to select customers in Atlanta, Georgia and Franklin, Tennessee. (The Amazon Blog: Day One)
Technology
Technology
Swift Engineering's HALE UAS completes maiden flight
Swift Engineering has announced that its high-altitude long endurance (HALE) UAS has completed its maiden flight. The flight was completed in partnership with NASA’s Ames Research Center.
To validate the vehicle’s configuration for high-altitude continuous surveillance missions, Swift’s flight team performed a full-system check. The flight trials were conducted at New Mexico’s Spaceport America.
“The applications of this technology will usher in a new era of data acceleration. Swift is able to deliver what no other industry or defense contractor can provide in the US market,” says Rick Heise, president and CEO of Swift Engineering.
Parrot works with French authorities and regulators to address progressing UAS regulations in France
To address the rapidly progressing drone regulations in France, Parrot has announced that it has worked closely with French authorities and regulators.
Plus.ai, Transportation Research Center partnering to conduct capability tests of Plus.ai's self-driving system
Plus.ai has announced an agreement with North America’s largest independent vehicle test facility and proving grounds, the Transportation Research Center (TRC), to conduct capability tests of Plus.ai’s self-driving system using a rigorous multi-vehicle approach.
Expected to break new ground in Level 4 commercial vehicle testing, this test program will utilize a multi-vehicle test approach to simulate complex, real-world driving conditions. Current published standards only require a single other vehicle test, Plus.ai notes.
AutoX receives permit to test driverless vehicles in San Jose, California
On Friday, July 17, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued self-driving car tech company AutoX a permit that authorizes the company to test driverless vehicles on surface streets within a designated part of San Jose, California, pursuant to state law and regulation.
Skydio, DroneResponders develop safety principles to advance responsible and effective deployment of drones
Skydio has announced that it worked with DroneResponders to help develop the “The Five C’s: Principles for the Responsible Use of Drones by Public Safety Agencies,” which was released on Monday, July 20. The principles are designed to advance the responsible and effective deployment of drones.
“We take pride in developing autonomous solutions that earn the trust of our customers,” Skydio says. “But we know it’s not enough. In order to realize the full potential of unmanned flight, the public must trust the technology, and the way it is used, as much as our customers.”
Teledyne Marine's Silbo AUV completes four-year journey that circumnavigated Atlantic Ocean in four legs
Teledyne Marine has announced that Silbo, its Slocum G2 Glider, recently completed a four-plus year journey that circumnavigated the Atlantic Ocean in four legs, which is considered a first for an AUV.
Manufactured by Teledyne Webb Research, Silbo was named in honor of its 2011 maiden voyage from Teledyne Gavia in Iceland to the Canary Islands, which is a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa. Silbo then went on to complete a western crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
In preparation to circle the Atlantic Ocean, Silbo was updated in 2016 at the Teledyne factory with an extended energy bay and thruster.
Pratt Miller Mobility demonstrates Large Area Autonomous Disinfecting vehicle at Michigan airport
From July 13 to 17, Pratt Miller Mobility (PMM) demonstrated its Large Area Autonomous Disinfecting (LAAD) vehicle at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in front of key stakeholders and members of the press.
The demonstrations were conducted in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and PlanetM, which is Michigan's mobility initiative representing the collective mobility efforts across the state.
“The new technology from Pratt Miller is a great tool in our Fly Safe. Fly Ford. campaign to restore confidence in the flying public,” says Tory Richardson, CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Weekend Roundup: July 17, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
In association with JR East Group, Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Production Engineering Co., Ltd. have launched a mobility service trial using Panasonic's robotic mobility device, an electric wheelchair with autonomous tracking function. The goal of the trial is to verify serviceability of the devices in a sunny, semi-outdoor environment. (Panasonic)
