This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Uber and NASA will work together to develop software that Uber hopes to use to manage “flying taxi” routes, which could work in a similar fashion as the company’s current ground-based ride-hailing service that is used across the world. Uber says that it was the first formal services contract by NASA covering low-altitude airspace instead of outer space. (Reuters)
Commercial
Commercial
Las Vegas launches first self-driving shuttle pilot project in the United States
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the nation’s first self-driving shuttle pilot project designed specifically for the public was launched in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot project will utilize an autonomous shuttle from Navya.
The goal of the one-year pilot project, which is a result of a partnership between AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah (AAA), the city of Las Vegas, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) and Keolis North America (Keolis), is to provide Las Vegas residents and visitors with a first-hand experience of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, providing many people with their first hands-on experience with the technology.
AUVSI Announces LiquidPiston as Winner of Novus Unmanned 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 7, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
DroneBase launches Augmented Reality platform for UAS
According to UASweekly.com, DroneBase, which is a large network of UAS pilots, has announced the launch of AirCraft, which is the first Augmented Reality (AR) platform for both commercial and recreational UAS use.
Using the AR platform, pilots of any skillset can use their UAS to create, edit, and share objects in the sky.
“AirCraft gives pilots of all skill levels new reasons to fly their drones,” says Dan Burton, Co-Founder and CEO, DroneBase.
EasyMile's EZ10 shuttle bus becomes first autonomous vehicle operating in Germany
A German railway company called Deutsche Bahn has welcomed the first autonomous vehicle to the roads of Germany, in the form of EasyMile’s EZ10 shuttle bus.
The EZ10 shuttle bus is currently operating in Bad Birnbach, which is a municipality in the district of Rottal-Inn in Bavaria, Germany.
The vehicle, which has one staff member onboard to take over operation of the vehicle if necessary, will be used on a route that is approximately 700 meters long, from the town center to the thermal baths. Next year, the route will be extended to connect the town center and rail station.
LiquidPiston wins NOVUS Unmanned startup pitch competition
LiquidPiston, a company that has designed a revolutionary new rotary engine, took home the top prize at AUVSI’s NOVUS Unmanned conference and competition in San Francisco.
Ten companies vied for the top spot and seed funding at the conference, which was cosponsored by Investorfest, a company that coaches startups to help them get funding. They outlined their business plans and early successes before the judges picked a winner.
LiquidPiston will go home with $50,000 worth of prizes, including a presence at upcoming AUVSI shows and conferences and coaching from Investorfest.
Wal-Mart deploying shelf-scanning robots in 50 of its stores
After testing shelf-scanning robots in stores in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and California, Wal-Mart has announced that approximately 50 of its stores across the United States will start using the robots to “replenish inventory faster,” in an effort to save employees time when products run out.
The two-foot tall robots, which are a product of a company called Bossa Nova Robotics, are equipped with cameras that scan aisles to check stock and identify items that are missing and misplaced, as well as incorrect prices and mislabeling. The data obtained by the robots is passed on to store employees, who then stock the shelves and correct errors.
AVIDRONE Aerospace and PRODRONE announce partnership
Canadian UAS technology company AVIDRONE Aerospace Incorporated has secured an investment and formed a business alliance with a Japanese professional UAS manufacturer called PRODRONE Co. Ltd.
In an effort to revolutionize the commercial and industrial markets with “new ways to gather data, increase security, and deliver goods,” the two companies will combine their decades of UAS research and development to manufacture UAS that are innovative, as well as custom autopilot systems.
The companies say that their products will be able to transport items weighing between 0.5 kilograms to over 250 kilograms at speeds approaching 200 kilometers per hour, thanks to a “specially developed industrial autopilot system and drone designs.”
Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 UAS completes five-day flight
Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 UAS recently completed a historic flight, as it flew for a little over five days for a total of 121.4 hours.
After taking off on October 18 from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, the UAS began its long endurance test flight, and landed safely 5.1 days later, with three days of fuel remaining on board.
Vanilla Aircraft says that the flight is the “longest flight for an ultra-long endurance unmanned aircraft system that has the capability of carrying a payload of significant size weight and power that can meet or exceed military and commercial requirements.”
Delphi signs agreement to acquire nuTonomy
Delphi Automotive has signed an agreement to acquire nuTonomy, Inc. for a total of $450 million.
Through the acquisition, nuTonomy will help accelerate Delphi’s commercialization of autonomous driving (AD) and Automated Mobility on-Demand (AMoD) technologies for automakers and new mobility customers across the globe.
“Our mission has always been to radically improve the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of transportation worldwide,” says nuTonomy co-founder and CEO, Karl Iagnemma.