On May 29, a Black Hawk helicopter was operated with full-authority, fly-by-wire flight controls for the first time using a technology kit developed by Sikorsky.
The flight marked the official start to the flight test program for the soon-to-be optionally piloted aircraft. Follow-on flight testing will look to include envelope expansion throughout the summer leading to fully autonomous flight (zero pilots) in 2020.
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Raytheon, United Technologies merge to form Raytheon Technologies Corporation
Raytheon and aerospace company United Technologies have entered into an agreement to combine in an all-stock merger of equals, resulting in a combined company called Raytheon Technologies Corp.
The transaction will create what the companies call a “premier systems provider with advanced technologies to address rapidly growing segments within aerospace and defense.” Together, the companies say that they will offer a complementary portfolio of platform-agnostic aerospace and defense technologies.
EasyMile launches driverless shuttle capable of being remotely supervised
EasyMile has announced the launch of its new EZ10 electric driverless shuttle, which is the first such vehicle in the world ready to operate without an on-board attendant, according to EasyMile.
With most driverless operations including one or two attendants on board the vehicle, EasyMile has spent the last eight months conducting one of the first deployments in the world that relies purely on a remote supervisor. The shuttle is supervised by a fully trained supervisor from a remote control center, who uses a real-time data stream to monitor the autonomous vehicle, and ensure communication with passengers.
Honeywell unveils new tech for autonomous and Urban Air Mobility vehicles
Honeywell has unveiled a new compact “fly-by-wire” system for autonomous and Urban Air Mobility vehicles.
According to Honeywell, the flight control computer, which packs the “brains” of an airliner's flight controls into one system, adds stability to the designs of autonomous and Urban Air Mobility vehicles, by driving electric actuators and dynamically adjusting flight surfaces and motors for smoothly following flight paths.
The computer, which also reduces turbulence, allows designers to push the limits of aerodynamics, ultimately eliminating the need for heavy hydraulics, control cables or pushrods.
Amazon unveils latest Prime Air drone design
During Amazon’s re:MARS Conference (Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics and Space) in Las Vegas, the company unveiled its latest Prime Air drone design.
Amazon has been actively working to build fully electric UAS that can fly up to 15 miles and deliver packages under five pounds to customers in less than 30 minutes. The company says that with the help of its fulfillment and delivery network, it expects to scale Prime Air “both quickly and efficiently,” using the UAS to deliver packages to customers within months.
Amazon's newest drone design is equipped with advances in efficiency, stability and safety. The UAS also “advances the state of the art,” Amazon says, thanks to its hybrid design, and ability to perform vertical takeoffs and landings like a helicopter.
NXT Robotics Corp. launches Maverick UGV
NXT Robotics Corp. recently launched “Maverick,” its Generation 5 autonomous vehicle and cognitive software platform.
The baseline model of Maverick is equipped with four high resolution PTX security cameras that can be used to conduct artificial intelligence (AI) based analysis of a physical environment, along with license plate detection and facial and object recognition.
Maverick can also open a two-way audio stream, allowing the robot to communicate with people it encounters along its patrol routes, which are largely autonomous. The audio system can also stream pre-recorded messages and noises in response to particular situations it encounters.
BAE Systems purchases key assets of Riptide Autonomous Solutions
BAE Systems Inc. has purchased the key assets of Riptide Autonomous Solutions, which develops affordable UUV technology and platforms.
With a specialty in small UUVs, Riptide’s UUVs are described as “sophisticated yet simple, efficient, and highly flexible,” and offer “performance discriminators within this domain” that include greater depth, range, endurance, and speed.
“Adding Riptide's technological capabilities will position us to provide customers unmatched flexibility by offering a family of UUVs and integrated payload solutions capable of supporting a variety of critical missions,” says Terry Crimmins, president of BAE Systems Electronic Systems.
Milrem Robotics, ST Engineering demonstrate BVLOS combat UGV during live fire exercise
During a live fire exercise in April held in Tapa, Estonia, Milrem Robotics and ST Engineering demonstrated a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) combat UGV armed with a 40-millimeter AGL and a 12.7-millimeter HMG.
Made up of Milrem Robotics' THeMIS UGV and ST Engineering's ADDER DM Remote Weapon Station, the joint warfare system is meant to be a force multiplier for dismounted troops that can be used in urban areas, as well as rural areas.
NUAIR, ANRA Technologies conduct operational assessment of ANRA's UTM technology
Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR) and ANRA Technologies recently collaborated to conduct an operational assessment of ANRA’s UAS traffic management (UTM) technology for broadcast and network based remote identification (RID) of UAS.
During the assessment, which took place from May 28 to 29 at the New York UAS Test Site located at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, NUAIR staff used draft industry standards for evaluating both broadcast and network based remote identification capabilities to assess ANRA’s technology.
NUAIR staff flew several UAS; two of which carried a unique Wi-Fi broadcast module provided by ANRA and Doodle Labs, to test RID broadcast capability.
Airbus Aerial, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions partner to help companies identify flood risks using UAS
Airbus Aerial and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions are partnering to help companies efficiently identify flood risks and more accurately predict weather-related flood damage.
Through the collaboration, Airbus Aerial’s drone imagery and data will power FLOAT, the flood assessment tool of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.
“We are very excited to announce our collaboration with a global leader in the commercial insurance market, and to be able to offer this unique solution to Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ clients around the world,” says Jesse Kallman, president of Airbus Aerial, from the company’s Atlanta headquarters.