This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

Intel and Mobileye are testing their 100-car autonomous vehicle fleet in Jerusalem. The companies say that Jerusalem is a good place for testing this technology not only because of convenience of location—Mobileye is based in nearby Israel—but also to show that this technology is capable of operating in any geography and under all driving conditions, as Jerusalem is known for its challenging and aggressive traffic conditions. (Intel)

Remote GeoSystems Inc. has announced the release and availability of Video GeoTagger FREE & PRO, which the company describes as “revolutionary new tools allowing anyone to easily geotag and geospatially play back video – by simply clicking on a map.” Video GeoTagger allows both amateurs and professionals to geotag video from a variety of sources, including UAS. (Remote GeoSystems)

UAS are being used for a variety of purposes in Japan. In one scenario, a UAS is used to alert workers that their day’s work is done, in an effort to prevent employees from abusing overtime, while in another instance, the technology is used to track and scare off crop-damaging wildlife in rural areas. (The Japan Times)

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is deploying its UAS to help secure Shell Companies’ oil and gas pipelines, along with other critical oil installations in the Niger Delta. These deployments, which express NAF’s readiness to partner with Shell Companies, are also being used to make sure that the maritime domain is safe for social and economic activities by preventing a host of malicious activities, including oil-theft, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping and other forms of “economic sabotage,” in an effort to help to sustain the economic lifeline of Nigeria. (PRNigeria News)

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) provided and operated the REMUS 6000 AUV to survey an area off Colombia’s Barú Peninsula, in search of the three-century old San José, which is a 62-gun, three-masted Spanish galleon ship that sank with a cargo believed to be worth billions of dollars. The REMUS AUV has participated in the search for other high-profile wrecks, including when it was used to map and photograph the Titanic wreck site during a 2010 expedition. (WHOI)

The United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science a $1.25 million grant to “undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicle platforms” for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will involve the development of USVs that serve as “motherships” for UUVs and UAS, ultimately enabling “multi-vehicle, multi-domain capability that may serve as a mobile coastal monitoring system, as well as training and education of graduate and undergraduate students in ocean engineering.” (FAU)

The Australian Army is confident that its new Black Hornet Nano UAS will save lives on the battlefield. Small enough to fit in the palm of someone’s hand, the Black Hornet Nano UAS is a radio controlled helicopter equipped with two cameras that live stream video back to the operator. The UAS provides enhanced situational awareness, allowing commanders on the ground to make more informed decisions. (The Courier Mail)

In Illinois, the Orland Park police's UAS has been especially beneficial in tracking down suspects over the past few weeks. In one instance, the UAS was used to follow a suspect until he was eventually apprehended. In another instance, the UAS was used to find a driver who crashed and ran away from officers. (NBC Chicago)