As part of its journey to become the airline of choice for customers with both hidden and visible disabilities, British Airways recently became the first airline to trial fully autonomous, electric mobility devices in North America.
Technology
Technology
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: How autonomous and remote underwater vehicles are boosting global maritime operations
Editor's note: To hear more on this topic and to visit with exhibitors at a Maritime Pavilion, register for Xponential 2020 here.
In January 1942, a 6,768-ton, 422.8-foot long British tanker, just five years old, steamed off Long Island, reporting that a menacing U-boat in its area was "increasingly serious."
On Jan. 15 of that year, the tanker, the Coimbra, was sunk by a German U-boat, taking it down and killing most of the crew. At the time, it had 2.7 million gallons of lubricating oil onboard. For 77 years, the oil would seep out, little by little — until recently.
Schiebel completes acceptance tests of new heavy fuel S2 engine for Camcopter S-100 UAS for Royal Australian Navy
Schiebel has successfully completed the acceptance tests of its new Schiebel-designed heavy fuel S2 engine for its Camcopter S-100 UAS for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
With more than 12 years of experience developing engines for the Camcopter S-100, Schiebel has learned a variety of lessons from extensive operations across the globe that have helped in the development of the S2.
“Given the single fuel policy adopted by the world’s Navies, we have responded to the requirement and have now developed, tested and produced our own Schiebel-designed heavy fuel engine for the Camcopter S-100 system,” says Hans Georg Schiebel, chairman of the Schiebel Group.
TuSimple expands autonomous service routes for UPS from Arizona to Texas
TuSimple has announced that it has not only expanded service for current customer UPS to 20 trips per week, but it has also added another route between Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas.
Through this engagement, 10 runs per week are on the established route between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, while the other 10 runs are on the new route.
Starship Technologies' food delivery robots begin operating at Bowling Green State University
In collaboration with Starship Technologies, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has become the first university in Ohio to offer a robot food delivery service on its campus.
A partnership between Starship Technologies and BGSU’s food-service provider, Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services, will result in Starship’s fleet of 30 autonomous, on-demand robots making deliveries from nine campus eateries including Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Panda Express.
Boston Dynamics, OTTO Motors showcase the role of robots in warehouse automation
Boston Dynamics has collaborated with industrial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) developer OTTO Motors to demonstrate the future of warehouse automation.
A video released on Tuesday, March 3, shows Handle, which is Boston Dynamics’s logistics robot, picking boxes and building pallets on top of OTTO AMRs in a distribution center testbed.
Last year, the Handle robot completed proof of concept trials with customers in their warehouses. Boston Dynamics and OTTO Motors are working together to further automate the logistics space.
GA-ASI, L3Harris Technologies successfully equip MQ-9 RPAS with EO/IR system
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and L3Harris Technologies have successfully completed equipping a GA-ASI MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) with the WESCAM MX-20 Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) system, resulting in an advanced targeting platform.
Beginning Feb. 18, a series of test flights were conducted to demonstrate the MQ-9’s ability to locate and track targets at long stand-off ranges thanks to the integration of the MX-20.
“The GA-ASI and L3Harris teams have worked closely over the past year to ensure the successful integration of this sophisticated system,” says Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI.
AIRT, Public Safety Unmanned Response Team North Texas support using UAS for public safety missions
The Public Safety Unmanned Response Team North Texas (PSURTNTX) and Airborne International Response Team (AIRT) have signed an agreement of cooperation to support using UAS for public safety and emergency management missions.
Through the agreement, PSURTNTX—a Texas-based non-profit organization made up of UAS remote pilots from regional public safety entities—and AIRT will collaborate to develop emergency preparedness, response, and resilience capabilities between one another, as well as among select partner organizations.
The goal is to develop a “robust network” of UAS responders and geographic information systems (GIS) experts that can provide direct assistance and location intelligence during complex emergencies, rapidly expanding incidents, and major disasters.
Union Robotics offering factory training certification program for UAS pilots
Robotics company Union Robotics is now offering a factory training certification program called R.A.F.T (Remote Aircraft Factory Training) to accompany its UAS. According to Union Robotics, the new program is the “most comprehensive training and certification instruction offered by a manufacturer in the industry.”
Through the program, industrial drone pilots will be prepared on how to be compliant with upcoming governmental mandates for UAS operations. The program will also offer skill development with drones created for the energy industry.
