The FAA has granted the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Division of Aviation authorization to conduct UAS test flights at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas beginning Monday, Sept. 16. Several inspection missions are planned, including foreign object detection, wildlife hazard management and airfield emergency response. Operations will be conducted as part of the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP). “This FAA approval will significantly improve airport efficiency and safety,” says KDOT Director of Aviation Bob Brock.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded an Ohio-based team of industry, academia and community partners a $7.5 million grant known as the Automated Driving Systems Demonstration Grant, which will be used to develop and deploy “automated transportation solutions” for the state’s rural roads and highways. “The award of this grant shows that Ohio continues to be at the center of this new transportation technology era,” says Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.  “Ohio is committed to being at the forefront of connected and autonomous vehicle technology development.”

The Javelin Joint Venture team, which is a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, has announced that it successfully fired Javelin missiles from a Kongsberg remote launcher mounted on a Titan UGV during demonstrations at the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center, Alabama. The Javelin Joint Venture team describes Javelin as a “versatile one-man-portable and platform-employed anti-tank and multi-target precision weapon system.” “Javelin is ready to support emerging military robotic vehicle requirements,” says Sam Deneke, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “Remotely operated technology like this protects soldiers in battle.”

Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics have announced that their automated trucks have begun operating on highways in southwest Virginia. During these operations, an engineer oversees the system. A highly trained safety driver with a commercial driver’s license that has been specially trained in vehicle dynamics and automated systems, and has been certified by Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics, is also a part of these operations.  Before hitting the road, the trucks underwent months of extensive testing and safety validation on a closed loop track. The companies note that as part of their comprehensive safety process, both test track and on-road validation “play an integral role in establishing the essential building blocks for successfully advancing automated technology.”