This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
The FAA recently awarded a $1.6 million contract to advance unmanned traffic management (UTM) at the New York UAS Test Site. A team of five commercial companies—led by CAL Analytics—will develop a single, integrated contingency management platform (CMP) for UAS integration. (NUAIR)
Maritime
Maritime
ThayerMahan to use new financing to accelerate growth, expand operations and R&D
Maritime technology company ThayerMahan Inc. has closed on $10 million of new financing from AE Industrial Partners Structured Solutions I, LP (AEI Structured Solutions), which is an affiliate of private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, LP (AEI).
ThayerMahan will use the capital to accelerate growth through acquisitions and expand operations and research and development.
“AEI is the right partner for ThayerMahan at this stage in our development.” says Mike Connor, ThayerMahan's co-founder and CEO, and retired Vice Admiral of the US Navy.
2G Robotics launches line of payloads for light, modular AUVs
2G Robotics has launched a line of payloads that can be used on light, modular AUVs.
The RECON line of products includes the RECON CS, which is a 4K stills camera and LED lightbar payload, as well as the RECON LS, which is a payload that features the ULS-500 Micro laser scanner and Micro OBSERVER stills camera.
“We have proven this as a viable inspection solution for man-portable AUVs for commercial and naval mine countermeasure (MCM) applications,” says Chris Gilson, Product Development manager for 2G Robotics.
“This removes the final barrier to adoption of these small vehicles and could revolutionize the cost effectiveness of high accuracy inspection operations.”
Sonardyne, XOCEAN use USV to conduct live seabed-to-shore data harvesting mission
As part of a seabed monitoring campaign at the giant Ormen Lange field offshore Norway, Sonardyne International Ltd. and XOCEAN recently used a USV to successfully complete a pioneering live seabed-to-shore data harvesting mission for A/S Norske Shell.
Believed to be one of the largest data harvesting missions using a USV to date, the project was completed without a single person having to travel offshore or from their home office. According to Sonardyne, the project was achieved with “significantly less emissions, health and safety risk and cost” than could be done with a manned vessel.
Weekend Roundup: April 17, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Oceanographers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) recently uncovered a hidden Arctic eddy using an autonomous glider. Eddies are circular movements of water that have broken off from an ocean current. (Scottish Association for Marine Science)
Elbit Systems equips Seagull USV with Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar for USVs
Elbit Systems Ltd. has successfully equipped its Seagull USV with the Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) for Unmanned Surface Vessels (TRAPS-USV).
A product of Elbit's Canadian wholly owned subsidiary Geospectrum, TRAPS-USV is a compact and powerful low frequency towed sonar.
The Seagull USV underwent sea trials, during which multiple deployment and recovery cycles were conducted, as well as towing at different speeds and transmission at various power levels.
Kraken Robotics, Greensea Systems partner to 'rapidly advance the capabilities of marine robotics'
Kraken Robotics Inc. has entered into a partnership agreement with Greensea Systems Inc., which is known for its open architecture robotic platform called OPENSEA.
Under the agreement, Greensea will support development, integration, and testing work with Kraken across several of the company's technology platforms.
“The partnership we have signed is very significant. It is a relationship formed between the most disruptive, agile, and aggressive technology developers in the industry,” says Ben Kinnaman, CEO of Greensea.
AeroVironment receives contract award for Puma 3 AE UAS for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps SUAS program
AeroVironment Inc. has announced that on Feb. 18, it received a $10,677,987 firm-fixed-price contract award for its Puma 3 AE systems and spares for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Program.
Delivery of the technology is anticipated by this month.
“Puma 3 AE is a combat-proven enabler of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps tactical operations, providing persistent situational awareness, expeditionary reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition, force protection and overwatch – anywhere and at any time,” explains Rick Pedigo, AeroVironment vice president of business development.
NOAA establishes Unmanned Systems Operations Program to support growing use of UxS across agency
To support the growing use of unmanned systems across the agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is establishing a new Unmanned Systems Operations Program.
According to NOAA, the program will support the “safe, efficient and economical operation” of unmanned systems (UxS) that it uses to collect high-quality environmental data for its science, products and services.
“Unmanned airborne and maritime systems are transforming how we conduct earth science at NOAA,” says retired Navy Rear Adm. Timothy Gallaudet, Ph.D., deputy NOAA administrator.
Kongsberg Maritime develops new Launch and Recovery System for HUGIN AUVs
To facilitate a series of “far-reaching operational improvements,” Kongsberg Maritime has developed a new Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for its HUGIN range of AUVs.
According to Kongsberg, LARS is a result of a “uniquely integrated combination of advanced in-house technologies” that the Kongsberg Group offers, which have been reinforced with years of accumulated expertise. LARS is expected to operate from midships, with the release and capture of HUGIN marine robots occurring beneath the sea surface.
“There is limitless scope in this new LARS design,” says Bjørn Gjelstad, Marine Robotics R&D manager, Kongsberg Maritime.
