Iris Automation has announced that its customer, United Drone Holdings (UDH), has been granted the first beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone waiver in South Africa, which allows UDH to conduct long-range commercial flights with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
The BVLOS flight approval was granted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), thanks to the utilization of the Iris Automation Casia onboard detect-and-avoid system. During live flight operations, Casia showcased its ability to make automated maneuvers to avoid collisions with manned aircraft.
Thanks to this approval, UDH will not need visual observers or ground-based radars when conducting BVLOS flights, so only two crew members are needed to perform these flights.
Software
Software
Adsys Controls' XSight 1721 next generation video processor being used for UAS detection/tracking and remote sensing systems
Adsys Controls Inc. has introduced its XSight 1721 next generation video processor, which provides advanced video processing solutions for applications that require reduced Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP).
According to Adsys Controls, initial customers are using the XSight 1721 within UAS detection/tracking and remote sensing systems.
“XSight 1721 is an enabler for systems demanding more complex video processing and analytics,” says Brian Goldberg, CEO of Adsys Controls.
“The market has been pushing for a low power and size solution and the XSight 1721 meets that need.”
Huntington Ingalls Industries acquires marine robotics developer Hydroid Inc.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced that it will acquire Hydroid Inc., which will expand its capabilities in the “strategically important and rapidly growing” autonomous and unmanned maritime systems market, the company says.
A provider of advanced marine robotics to the defense and maritime markets, and a U.S. based indirect subsidiary, wholly owned by Kongsberg Maritime, Hydroid will become part of HII’s Technical Solutions division.
ZM Interactive selects Iris Automation as detect and avoid provider for its UAS
ZM Interactive (ZMI) has selected Iris Automation as the detect and avoid (DAA) provider for its drones, which will allow ZMI customers to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
ZMI manufactures the xFold drone, which is an industrial, military-grade UAS that comes in various sizes and configurations. Its frame can change between a x4 (Quad), x6 (Hexa), X8 (octo) and X12 (Dodeca) configurations in minutes, and it has a heavy payload capability of more than 300 pounds, making the UAS ideal for a wide range of commercial, industrial, military and emergency response applications. Some of its use cases include aerial cinematography, 3-D Mapping and inspections, and cargo delivery.
Apex.AI announces availability of Apex.OS 1.0 for autonomous vehicles
Autonomous driving software developer Apex.AI has announced the availability of Apex.OS 1.0 for its customers and partners.
Apex.OS is based on open-source ROS 2. According to Apex.AI, ROS is the “de facto standard” for robotics. With Apex.OS, that standard is now extending to the autonomous driving industry, which gives companies a head start on bringing safety to the autonomous driving software layer, ultimately allowing these companies to “focus their business on their own key differentiators, and much faster time to market,” Apex.AI says.
Skyfront, Silvus Technologies partner to produce long-range UAS
As a result of a partnership with Silvus Technologies, hybrid-electric UAS provider Skyfront has combined its five-hour endurance Perimeter UAS with Silvus’ high-power StreamCaster radios, resulting in the Perimeter XLRS, which can fly for up to five hours while maintaining command and control links and streaming real-time video up to 60 miles from the ground control station.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Silvus Technologies to bring long-range aerial platforms into the mainstream,” says Troy Mestler, CEO of Skyfront.
Miso Robotics unveils next generation robotic kitchen assistant platform
Miso Robotics has announced a prototype for its newest product, the Miso Robot on a Rail (ROAR), which the company describes as the “next generation of zero-footprint, cost-efficient robotic kitchen assistant solutions for evolving commercial kitchens.”
Thanks to feedback from top Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), Miso Robotics has moved its robotic kitchen assistant Flippy to an upside-down rail. Designed to be installed under a standard kitchen hood, the newest generation of Flippy will be able to move along a line of kitchen equipment while staying out of the path of busy cooks.
Empire Drone Company receives FAA certification to use UAS for crop spraying
Fulton, New York's Empire Drone Company (EDC) recently received a Part 137 certification from the FAA that allows the company to use UAS to spray crops.
According to EDC, using UAS for crop spraying offers a number of advantages over traditional crop spraying methods, including helping growers save on equipment, application, and labor, cutting back on time and traffic in the field, and reducing applicators exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
“We are incredibly excited to be one of the first companies in New York to be given the go-ahead by the FAA to spray crops with drones,” says Sean Falconer, partner at Empire Drone Company.
AiRXOS adds 11 UAS partners to its Air Mobility Platform Ecosystem
In an effort to help scale and accelerate the adoption of compliant, safe, and extensible Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platforms for agencies and enterprise organizations, AiRXOS has added 11 UAS technology, service, and business partners to its Air Mobility Platform Ecosystem, which currently includes Measure.
The new partners include Adams and Reese LLP, AeroVironment, Airborne International Response Team (AIRT) Inc., Avitas Systems, DeTect Inc., Fortem Technologies, Kongsberg Geospatial, Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR) and The New York UAS Test Site, SRC Inc., SPH Engineering, and Syniverse.
GM turning Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant into first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant
General Motors (GM) has announced that it will invest $2.2 billion in its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to turn it into its first fully-dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant where it will produce various all-electric trucks and SUVs.
With production scheduled to begin in late 2021, GM’s first all-electric truck will be a pickup. That truck will be followed by the recently announced shared, electric, self-driving vehicle called Cruise Origin.
