This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
For the first time, liquid hydrogen and a unique refueling system have been used to power UAS. The demonstration was conducted by a Washington State University research team. The team says that the test demonstrated a key technology needed for long endurance, all-electric flights for medium-sized UAS. (Washington State University)
Education
Education
North Carolina A&T awarded $550K to establish Testbed of Connected Autonomous MicroTransit Vehicles
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded an interdisciplinary research team at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T) $550,000 to establish a Testbed of Connected Autonomous MicroTransit Vehicles.
Weekend Roundup: September 4, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Yandex and Uber have announced that they are spinning out their self-driving joint venture into a standalone company. Yandex is also increasing its stake by investing an additional $150 million. (VentureBeat)
Digital Harvest donates UAS to Blue Mountain Community College
Digital Harvest, known for using remote sensing and data science techniques to solve large scale problems in agriculture, has donated four UAS and associated equipment to Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) in Pendleton, Oregon.
As part of its Precision Agriculture program, BMCC currently offers courses in UAS for agriculture. In coordination with local industry, BMCC is also in the process of developing a full UAS program. The newly donated UAS and associated technologies will support the current UAS courses, as well as the development of the new UAS program.
Weekend Roundup: July 10, 2020
This Week (and last week) in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Parrot has made several announcements over the last few weeks. Last week, the company announced the launch of its ANAFI USA drone, which is designed for first responders and enterprise professionals. This week, the company announced partnerships with Hoverseen and the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT), respectively.
Jay Merkle and Brian Wynne provide debrief following Episode I of FAA UAS Symposium - Remotely Piloted Edition
Episode I of the 5th Annual FAA UAS Symposium - Remotely Piloted Edition is officially in the books.
Following two days of virtual sessions, roundtables, debates, and networking, Jay Merkle, head of the FAA UAS Integration Office, and Brian Wynne, president & CEO of AUVSI, provided a Post-Flight Debrief on Thursday, July 9, to reflect on what the community has accomplished thus far, and the work that still lays ahead.
Jenny Laird helps establish USACE UAS training program at Hinds Community College
In conjunction with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Graduate Institute, Jenny Laird, the UAS lead for the ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory (EL), established the USACE UAS training program at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi.
As UAS technology became more advanced and affordable over the last few years, the USACE began using the technology in new and innovative ways, but the USACE UAS program had no unified standard, making adoption of the technology throughout the organization “disorganized and decentralized.”
Just one year into his position as the aviation program manager at USACE headquarters, Jason Kirkpatrick advised the Army Chief of Staff that the USACE UAS program was at high risk, primarily for training.
JTA, Florida State College at Jacksonville expanding JTA's autonomous vehicle program
Through new testing and educational initiatives on the campuses of Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and FSCJ have agreed to expand the JTA’s autonomous vehicle program.
The JTA Board of Directors approved a memorandum of understanding with FSCJ on May 28. The MoU includes the expansion of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) Test & Learn Program to FSCJ’s Commercial Driver’s License Test Track on the school’s Cecil Center Campus; the development of an autonomous vehicle deployment or “Agile Plan” on an FSCJ campus; and the development of curriculum and educational initiatives relative to autonomous vehicles, and related technology.
Weekend Roundup: May 29, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
In an effort to help families in need, Optimus Ride will use its self-driving shuttles to deliver meals to a waterfront development in Washington, D.C. called the Yards. Optimus Ride’s fleet will distribute the meal kits to the families on a weekly basis, serving a total of 5,000 meals. (VentureBeat)
Olds College to deploy fully autonomous DOT Power Platform on its Smart Farm
Olds College in Olds, Alberta, Canada has announced that it will be the only post-secondary institution in the world to deploy the fully autonomous DOT Power Platform as a teaching and research tool on the College’s Smart Farm.
