This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Drones are being used to survey seven UC natural reserves that were damaged during August wildfires. The drones are revealing the extent of the damage, and providing scientists with data that can help them understand the long-term and short-term damage caused by the fires. (Phys.org)
Software
Software
Sagetech Avionics, Kraus Hamdani complete integration of Sagetech's UAV transponders with open source autopilot
Aerospace technology company Sagetech Avionics and UAS technology company Kraus Hamdani have announced that they have completed the integration of Sagetech’s UAV transponders with ArduPilot, a leading open source autopilot.
The new integration was successfully tested onboard the K1000 Ultra Long Endurance (K1000ULE) UAV, which is the world’s longest endurance, fully electric aircraft in its size and weight category.
“We’re thrilled to provide UAV innovators like Kraus Hamdani with reliable, integrated transponders for new platforms,” says Sagetech Avionics CEO Tom Furey.
BAE Systems awarded multiple contracts to develop key tech for Army's A-Team program
The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems multiple contracts to develop key technologies for its Advanced Teaming Demonstration Program (A-Team).
BAE Systems was the only company awarded contracts for three of the program’s four focus areas, which are designed to advance manned and unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities that are expected to be important components in the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.
The U.S. Army developed the A-Team program to create an automated system to offload the cognitive burden of pilots while allowing them to command swarms of UAS, all in an effort to combat the increasingly complex, contested, and communication-denied battlespace presented by near-peer adversaries.
UBIQ Aerospace secures financing to continue development of autonomous icing protection solution for UAS
UBIQ Aerospace, a deep-tech startup that uses cutting-edge research to create innovative products that greatly enhance autonomous and unmanned aircraft capabilities, has announced that it has secured financing in a second seed round.
UBIQ Aerospace has raised capital from New York investment firm Lupa Investment Holdings to continue the partnership set to introduce the D•ICE solution, which UBIQ Aerospace says is the world's first autonomous icing protection solution for autonomous and unmanned aircraft.
Milrem Robotics demonstrates THeMIS UGV to Italian Army
This week, Milrem Robotics demonstrated its autonomous THeMIS UGV to the Italian Army. The company also launched a new program to assess and analyze the implementation of intelligent systems into the army’s doctrine.
Weekend Roundup: October 30, 2020
This Week (and last week) in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Australian Defence Force (ADF) Academy has announced that in August, it received two Mk6 UGVs. According to private Jacob Joseph, the academy received the vehicles after undergoing testing at Exercise Talisman Sabre. (Army Technology)
Dive Technologies successfully trials LD-AUV powered by Kraken's pressure tolerant batteries
Dive Technologies recently completed successful sea trials of a Large Displacement Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (LD-AUV) powered by Kraken Robotics’ pressure tolerant batteries. Kraken expects further contracts with Dive for additional batteries in 2020 and beyond.
EMCORE's EN-300 precision FOG IMU, ideally suited for UAS, now in high-rate production
EMCORE Corporation, a provider of advanced mixed-signal products that serve the aerospace and defense and broadband communications markets, has announced that its EN-300 FOG (Fiber Optic Gyro) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is now in high-rate production and is broadly available for purchase with 12-week lead times.
EMCORE’s EN-300 offers up to 10 times the bias performance of legacy systems in a form, fit, and function compatible package, making it ideally suited to serve GPS denied navigation, precise targeting, and line-of-sight stabilization requirements for UAS, as well as other demanding applications.
MDOT-led coalition conducts multi-state automated truck platooning demonstration
On Thursday, Oct. 22, the Smart Belt Coalition (SBC) conducted an automated truck platooning demonstration that began in Pittsburgh and ended in Michigan.
A collaboration between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), transportation agencies in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and academic institutions in all three states, the SBC partnered with Locomation, the provider of the world’s first trucking technology platform to offer human-guided autonomous convoying, to complete the demonstration. The SBC and Locomation demonstrated the agency coordination and administrative and procedural requirements necessary for a truck platooning system to operate continuously through the three states.
General Dynamics Mission Systems awarded $13.5 million contract for Knifefish SMCM UUV
General Dynamics Mission Systems was recently awarded a $13.5 million cost-plus fixed-fee and cost-only modification to continue its engineering support, development, test, and production of the Knifefish Surface Mine Countermeasure (SMCM) UUV.
A modification to the original contract, this award brings the post-milestone C phase of the effort to $62.1 million since Sept. 2019.
A medium class mine countermeasure UUV, Knifefish SMCM is designed to be deployed from the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship and other Navy vessels of opportunity. The UUV will operate within minefields as an off-board sensor while the host ship stays outside the minefield boundaries to reduce risk to personnel.
