This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

UAS footage captured by two videographers shows the aftermath of a deadly earthquake that hit the island of Lombok, Indonesia. The footage was shared on Instagram by a charity called Project Karma, which is working to supply earthquake relief, and is raising money to help those who lost their homes and possessions. (Metro)

In Maplewood, Minnesota, high school robotics teams are becoming increasingly more and more diverse. An organization called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and an initiative called WIRES (Women in Robotics Empowering Sisters) are actively encouraging women and minority students to explore STEM fields. (MPR News)

In an effort to help children improve their English oral communication skills, Japan's education ministry plans on equipping schools with English-speaking artificial intelligence robots. The robot initiative is expected to launch in April 2019 on a trial basis at approximately 500 schools nationwide. (NHK World-Japan)

A Moroccan technology startup called ATLAN Space is developing artificial intelligence (AI) to guide autonomous UAS that can scan large areas to look for “environmental crimes” like illegal fishing, poaching or deforestation. After winning the National Geographic Society's $150,000 Marine Protection Prize, ATLAN Space will implement a pilot project to combat illegal fishing in the Seychelles. (CNN)

GENIUS NY has launched a new investment structure for round three of the innovative UAS business accelerator. Five finalist teams will be selected from a pool of applicants to participate in the third round of the competition, and a total of $3 million in direct investment funding will be awarded, including a grand prize of up to $1 million. (Genius NY)

Footage captured by a Predator drone and other advanced technology has helped piece together the final moments in the life of Air Force Tech Sergeant, John Chapman, who was killed on a mountaintop in Afghanistan on March 4, 2002, trying to rescue a Navy SEAL. Chapman’s wife recently accepted the Medal of Honor on Chapman’s behalf. (NBC News)

A UAS education provider called UAVAIR has been selected as the “preferred tenderer” to the Australian Army, which is the largest, most experienced and safest operator of UAS in the country. UAVAIR will provide training across 10 locations in Australia, and 840 Army soldiers will receive training. (sUAS News)

Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has announced that it will begin offering a baccalaureate degree in robotics engineering this fall. Graduates of the program will know how to engineer, test, and implement robots. (Lake Superior State University)

In an effort to help rural communities facing a shortage of labor, a drone start-up called Nileworks Inc. has developed a UAS that can hover above paddy fields and perform difficult tasks much faster than elderly farmers. Known as the Nile-T18, the UAS can apply pesticides and fertilizer to a rice field in about 15 minutes. This job would usually take more than an hour to complete by hand, and would require farmers to carry around heavy tanks. (Reuters)

Australia’s La Trobe University has released the final report on the Autonobus trial, which was the state’s first trial of autonomous buses. The final report outlines “key findings and recommendations to support the implementation of autonomous vehicles across Australia.” (La Trobe University)