After operating in stealth-mode for two years, Outrider, a developer of autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has emerged from stealth with the announcement that it has raised $53 million in funding, after seed and series A funding rounds led by NEA and 8VC, respectively.
Based in Golden, Colorado, Outrider has also deployed what it describes as the “first-to-market solution” that focuses on autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, the Outrider System.
According to Outrider, the goal of distribution yards is to keep semi-trailers full of freight moving quickly in the space between the warehouse doors and public roads, but a lot of these processes that make up yard operations are manual, inefficient, and hazardous, the company says.
Technology
Technology
Daimler Trucks, Torc Robotics expanding testing of automated truck technology to new public routes in the U.S.
After completing initial mapping of additional routes, Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics have announced plans to expand their testing of automated truck technology to new public routes in the U.S.
Robotic Research supports launch of international deployments of Local Motors' Olli autonomous shuttle
Robotic Research LLC has announced that its team recently supported the launch of two new international deployments of Local Motors’ Olli autonomous shuttle.
Both deployments support campus-based pilot programs, including at the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO) in Turin, Italy, and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.
uAvionix introduces new ADS-B transponder to its General Aviation and UAM lineup
uAvionix has introduced a new ADS-B transponder, tailBeaconX, to its General Aviation (GA) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) lineup.
The new Mode S Extended Squitter (ES) ADS-B OUT transponder is designed to address global air traffic surveillance system requirements for current and future ADS-B mandates. uAvionix notes that integration with the uAvionix AV-20-E and AV-30-E Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) “introduces transponder control into the popular multi-function displays.”
Black Swift Technologies unveils American-made UAS for automated industrial and structural inspections
Black Swift Technologies (BST) has introduced its American-made, advanced UAS called the Black Swift E2, which is designed for automated industrial and structural inspections.
Equipped with advanced navigation, the Black Swift E2 UAS can conduct highly accurate, up-close inspections of infrastructures even in extreme environmental conditions. Considered an intelligent drone because of its leveraging of advances in computer vision and machine learning, the UAS can complete autonomous flights when combined with an inspection payload.
The UAS can safely and reliably navigate around complex structures thanks to this optional laser navigation technology, all while providing real-time actionable data to its operator.
MIT researchers enables soft robotic arm to understand its configuration in 3D space using "sensorized" skin
MIT has announced that for the first time, its researchers have leveraged just motion and position data from the “sensorized” skin of a soft robotic arm to enable it to understand its configuration in 3D space.
MIT notes that soft robots made from highly compliant materials—similar to those found in living organisms—are being championed as safer, and more adaptable, resilient, and bioinspired alternatives to traditional rigid robots. Giving these deformable robots autonomous control is considered a “monumental task,” though, because at any given moment, they can move in a virtually infinite number of directions, which makes it hard to train planning and control models that drive automation.
Collins Aerospace, NASA entering final stage of project to integrate UAS safely into NAS
Collins Aerospace Systems is entering the final stages of a nine-year project with NASA to facilitate the safe operations of UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS). The project is expected to be completed in September of this year.
Co-funded by Collins Aerospace, the project has led to the development of a Command Non-Payload Control (CNPC) data link waveform that informed the initial certification standards for UAS Command and Control in the NAS.
Parrot, RIIS partner to develop custom applications of AI for Parrot's ANAFI drone platform
Parrot has partnered with mobile app, web development and IT consulting services provider RIIS to develop custom applications of artificial intelligence for Parrot’s ANAFI drone platform.
Together, the companies will explore how AI and computer vision technology, combined with drone data capture, can be used to solve a number of industry challenges using an efficient and cost-effective approach.
“We are excited to explore the immense capabilities AI and drones will deliver to our clients through our ongoing partnership with RIIS,” says Jerome Bouvard, Parrot director of Strategic Partnership.
“At Parrot, we are always looking for innovative solutions for our enterprise partner’s every-day pain points.”
COAST Autonomous, Saint Leo University developing plan for autonomous system for university's campus
Self-driving technology company COAST Autonomous has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saint Leo University in Florida to collaborate on the development of a plan for introducing an autonomous system onto the university's campus that works alongside existing campus transportation.
The deployment will include identifying routes and running simulations to determine the ideal fleet size and vehicle types that are needed to provide an efficient and useful service. This could include COAST P-1 shuttles and/or self-driving golf carts.
