FAA UAS Symposium 2020
Autonomy
Autonomy
WHILL's autonomous driving Personal EVs being trialed at North American airports
WHILL, the developer of the Model Ci and Model A Intelligent Personal Electric Vehicles (EVs), has announced that its autonomous driving Personal EVs will be trialed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG).
According to the company, the trials are part of an initiative to further the current mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) model across the world.
University of Houston welcomes Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robots to its campus
The University of Houston (UH) has become the first institution of higher education in the state of Texas to offer robotic food deliveries on its campus.
The result of a partnership between the University of Houston and Chartwells Higher Education, which manages UH Dining, the robotic delivery service utilizes Starship Technologies’ autonomous delivery robots.
“This revolutionary delivery method will make it more convenient for the campus community to take advantage of our diverse dining program from anywhere on campus while expanding the hours of operation,” says Emily Messa, UH associate vice president for administration.
University of Wisconsin-Madison launching autonomous delivery robot service
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s University Housing Dining & Culinary Services is launching a new food delivery service utilizing Starship Technologies’ autonomous delivery robots.
“Our students are juggling more than they ever have before and we are always looking for inventive ways to support their campus dining needs,” says Peter Testory, director of University Housing Dining & Culinary Services.
“This delivery service allows us to reach them in a whole new way with made-from-scratch meals we offer from our dining markets. This added convenience and flexibility of dining for students allows us to provide an affordable option for those on campus.”
GEODIS using Vecna Robotics' robots to transport pallets within distribution center
Autonomous technology developer Vecna Robotics has partnered with supply chain operator GEODIS to equip a GEODIS distribution center in Dallas, Texas with autonomous platforms.
The distribution center in Dallas is currently using Vecna robots and workflow technology to automate the horizontal transport of inbound pallets from a staging area to put-away storage within the 150,000 square foot distribution center. The pallets were previously picked up, delivered and put away using human labor and manual trucks.
University of Michigan researchers demonstrate UAS attaching asphalt shingles to roofs with a nail gun
Researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated an octocopter attaching asphalt shingles to roofs with a nail gun.
The UAS is autonomous, which means that it can position the nail gun on a nailing point, place the nail and move to the next point all without any human intervention needed.
Built Robotics raises $33 million for autonomous construction technologies
Built Robotics, a developer of technology that transforms construction equipment into fully autonomous robots, has announced the close of a $33 million Series B.
Existing equipment from any manufacturer can be equipped with Built Robotics’ automated guidance systems, while still maintaining the ability to have complete manual operation. The upgraded equipment can perform a variety of tasks fully autonomously including digging trenches, excavating foundations, and grading building pads.
A web-based platform manages the autonomous fleet, which allows the robots to be supervised by remote equipment operators.
General Dynamics Mission Systems introduces new Bluefin-12 autonomous UUV
During Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2019, General Dynamics Mission Systems introduced its new Bluefin-12 autonomous UUV.
Building off of the Bluefin autonomy, the Bluefin-12 is capable of completing long endurance, high-consequence and changing missions for users by leveraging shared Bluefin Robotics' core capabilities, increased mission modularity and embedded intelligence.
Flirtey unveils Eagle drone and launch portal, sets sights on commercial delivery next year
Drone delivery pioneer Flirtey announced a new cargo-carrying drone and a launch platform that it says will help it begin commercial drone deliveries next year.
"I'm here to tell you that a new age of technology is dawning and it is being driven by mission-driven technology startups," Flirtey CEO and cofounder Matt Sweeny said at a press conference Monday morning at the National Press Club.
"We protect data, we defend the privacy of our customers, we empower our partners, we manufacture in America, we reduce traffic congestion and we reduce carbon emissions and we work hand in hand with the communities who want drone delivery."
MIT says that its autonomous boats are now capable of shapeshifting
MIT has announced that its fleet of robotic boats has been updated so that it can now “shapeshift” by autonomously disconnecting and reassembling into various configurations to form floating structures in Amsterdam’s many canals.
Described as “rectangular hulls equipped with sensors, thrusters, microcontrollers, GPS modules, cameras, and other hardware,” the autonomous boats are being developed by MIT and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute), as part of an ongoing project known as “Roboat.”
