Media Contact: Jackie Beckwith, jbeckwith@auvsi.org
Robotics
Robotics
'Disruptive Women' summit to spotlight cutting-edge AV technologies and female leaders helping to bring them to the fore
The trigger for the upcoming virtual summit, “Disruptive Women Powering Our Autonomous Future,” won’t likely make any history books, but it felt like a milestone – or at least an aha moment.
Pamela Gauci, events director for Velodyne Lidar, was reviewing the lineup for a panel discussion that was to be part of another event that the company hosts, an annual conference on safety and autonomous vehicles. With her was Sally Frykman, Velodyne Lidar’s chief marketing officer.
Neither the general topic of that other conference nor the specific topic designated for the panel – the regulatory road ahead – had anything to do with gender. Yet every expert on the list was a woman.
Wibotic launches software to simplify complexity that comes with keeping large fleets charged
Seattle-based Wibotic last week launched a software package to help customers manage the increasingly complex array of tasks necessary to keep vehicles in growing unmanned fleets charged and ready to perform.
The software, called Commander, offers constant, at-a-glance awareness of all vehicles through a user-friendly interface, said CEO and co-founder Ben Waters. Users will be able to assess quickly how soon vehicles need to be charged, as well as to gather data on things like power usage and battery performance over time – to inform future scheduling and purchasing decisions.
“It might be used for a single vehicle on a single site, or a single vehicle on hundreds of sites, or it could be used for hundreds of vehicles on one site,” Waters said.
Weekend Roundup: January 8, 2021
This week (and the last two weeks) in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Buffalo Automation demonstrated its autonomous water taxi, the “Greycraft,” to city leaders in Knoxville, Tennessee this week. Considered the world’s first autonomous ferry, the solar and electric-powered taxi can give people rides from Volunteer Landing on the north side to Suttree Landing on the south side of the Tennessee River. (WATE-TV)
Weekend Roundup: December 18, 2020
This week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Skydio has announced the general availability of a broad set of advanced AI-pilot assistance capabilities for enterprise and public sector operators called Skydio Autonomy Enterprise Foundation (AEF). According to Skydio, AEF optimizes the Skydio 2 drone for professional use in a wide range of missions, including outdoor/indoor inspections, search and rescue, emergency response, security patrol, and situational awareness. (Skydio)
LG Electronics developing autonomous robot to disinfect high-touch, high-traffic areas
LG Electronics has announced that it is developing an autonomous robot that will use ultraviolet (UV-C) light to disinfect high-touch, high-traffic areas.
The robot will be officially unveiled at Digital CES 2021 in January. LG Business Solutions USA plans to offer the UV robot to U.S. hospitality, education, corporate, retail, restaurant, and transportation customers in early 2021.
“We hope LG's first UV disseminating robot will give our customers, and in turn their customers, peace of mind,” says Michael Kosla, vice president, LG Business Solutions USA.
Weekend Roundup: December 11, 2020
This week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
In coordination with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has announced the latest round of PlanetM testing grants, which are expected to take mobility to “new heights” supporting both drone and connected vehicle technology programs. Great Lakes Drone Company, RAVE Cave and P3 Mobility are the recipients of the grants. (Michigan Economic Development Corporation)
AeroVironment acquires German ground robotic solutions developer Telerob
AeroVironment has acquired German ground robotic solutions developer Telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierungstechnik mbH.
Founded in 1994, Telerob, which is based near Stuttgart, Germany, offers advanced and comprehensive turn-key unmanned ground robotics solutions, including the telemax and tEODor EVO family of UGVs, fully-equipped transport vehicles and training, repair and support services. Some of the dangerous missions that Telerob’s solutions safely and effectively perform include explosive ordinance disposal (EOD), hazardous materials handling (HAZMAT) and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat assessment.
Weekend Roundup: December 4, 2020
This week (and last) in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Mississippi State University (MSU) engineers in the university’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory are leading research efforts that could make UAS operational by the U.S. government, as well as civilian aviation, in icy conditions. The U.S. Department of Defense is hoping that the icing system development and technology team being led by MSU will result in lightweight anti-icing systems, which would lead to certification for UAS to operate in forecasted icing conditions. (Mississippi State University)
RE2 Robotics secures patent for invention of fluid rotary joint that can be used in robotic arms
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued RE2 Robotics a patent for the invention of a fluid rotary joint that is capable of precise positioning while being driven by both fluids and gasses, including water, hydraulic fluid, and air.
According to RE2 Robotics, the patent, “Fluid Rotary Joint and Method of Using the Same,” further adds to its mobile manipulation intellectual property and underwater robotics expertise.
“The issuance of this patent further solidifies RE2’s position as a world-class intelligent mobile manipulation provider,” says Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO.
