In an effort to create smarter unmanned systems for global forces, Boeing Australia and Australia’s Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre (DCRC) will collaborate on the development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
According to Boeing Australia, equipping unmanned systems with machine learning techniques will help them better understand and react to threat environments.
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University of Michigan researchers demonstrate UAS attaching asphalt shingles to roofs with a nail gun
Researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated an octocopter attaching asphalt shingles to roofs with a nail gun.
The UAS is autonomous, which means that it can position the nail gun on a nailing point, place the nail and move to the next point all without any human intervention needed.
Sea Machines, Metal Shark introduce new autonomous vessel
Sea Machines and shipbuilder Metal Shark have introduced a new 29-foot autonomous vessel, the Sharktech 29 Defiant welded-aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel, which is being offered through Metal Shark’s “Sharktech” autonomous division.
The Sharktech 29 Defiant is equipped with OEM-integrated, Sea Machines technology that offers a full range of advanced capabilities, including active control and collision avoidance.
With Sea Machines' system onboard the vehicle, several modes of operation are possible, including traditionally manned, reduced-crew or unmanned autonomous operations to deliver “human-in-the-loop” navigation during both line-of-sight and over-the-horizon operations.
FLIR Systems introduces multi-gas detector for UAS
FLIR Systems has introduced the FLIR MUVE C360, which the company describes as the industry’s first multi-gas detector built specifically for UAS.
Currently compatible with the DJI Matrice 210 UAS platform, the MUVE C360 is designed to change the approach of emergency response teams when they are dealing with chemical, industrial, or environmental incidents by providing a new level of safety, significantly reducing time to action, and delivering a more complete assessment in situations where time is of the essence.
Aptiv, Hyundai forming autonomous driving joint venture
Aptiv and Hyundai Motor Group have announced that they are forming an autonomous driving joint venture, which will advance the design, development and commercialization of SAE Level 4 and 5 autonomous technologies.
The joint venture will start testing fully driverless systems next year, with a plan to have a production-ready autonomous driving platform available for robotaxi providers, fleet operators, and automotive manufacturers in 2022.
Autonomous farming robot developer FarmWise raises $14.5 million
FarmWise, a developer of autonomous farming robots, has raised $14.5 million in a Series A funding round. FarmWise will use the funding to grow its robotic engineering and operation teams, and to boost research and development efforts on plant-level detection and actuation capabilities.
Autonomous and enabled by artificial intelligence, FarmWise’s robots are designed to solve some of the most difficult challenges encountered by farmers. The robots perform a variety of farming functions, beginning with weeding, and providing personalized care to every plant they touch.
HAWK30 solar HAPS UAS successfully completes first flight
AeroVironment has announced that on Sept. 11, the HAWK30 solar HAPS UAS successfully completed its first flight at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California.
Funding for the design development and demonstration of the UAS comes from HAPSMobile Inc., which is a joint venture created by AeroVironment and SoftBank Corp.
“The first flight of HAWK30 builds on more than two decades of pioneering HAPS technology development and demonstration by the AeroVironment team, and comes only two years since SoftBank joined us in this endeavor,” says Wahid Nawabi, AeroVironment president and chief executive officer.
Silent Falcon, Silvus Technologies partner to equip UAS with comm systems
Silent Falcon UAS Technologies has partnered with Silvus Technologies to equip its Silent Falcon UAS with Silvus' advanced technology MIMO MANET Streamcaster communications systems, which includes the company’s new SF ATAK Field Observer Kit.
“Our partnership with Silvus Technologies has allowed Silent Falcon to greatly expand the capabilities and reliability of our Silent Falcon system,” says John W. Brown, Silent Falcon chairman and CEO.
GENIUS NY startups raise more than $10 million in additional private investments
GENIUS NY has announced that AutoModality, Civdrone, Fotokite, OmniMesh and TruWeather Solutions have raised more than $10 million in additional private investment.
All five of the startups participated in the GENIUS NY accelerator, with AutoModality and Fotokite receiving the $1 million grand prize investment during the accelerator.
“It’s exciting to see these early stage companies start to receive follow-on funding from names like Credit Suisse and ff Venture Capital,” says Jon Parry, director of GENIUS NY.
FLIR Systems to provide Norwegian Ministry of Defense and Oslo Police with its PackBot UGVs
FLIR Systems has announced that it has won contracts to provide more than 20 of its PackBot UGVs, as well as spare parts and training, to Norwegian Ministry of Defense and Oslo Police, which will upgrade and expand their ground robot inventory.
FLIR’s PackBot UGV supports various operations that would normally put humans at risk, including bomb disposal, close-in surveillance, and situations involving hostages or hazardous materials.
The UGV can be equipped with a range of payloads that deliver real-time intelligence, allowing it to perform sensing of chemical, biological, and nerve agents, radiation levels, explosive traces, and toxic industrial gases.
