This week in the unmanned systems and robotics world

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control has deployed unmanned aircraft to survey growing damage caused by several wildfires in the state. An official said the information gathered by one of the drones is crucial to providing the department an estimate of the size of one of the fires. (The Independent)

You, however, should not be flying your drone over any wildfires in Colorado. Two lawmakers have introduced legislation that would fine people who fly over fires without authorization, and could send them to jail. (The Drive)

Facebook says it is ending its plans for a high-flying UAS to provide global internet access. The Aquila program began in 2014 but Facebook announced in a blog post that other companies are now working on similar aircraft, including Airbus, so Facebook can work with them in the future instead of building its own system. (UAS Magazine)

In other cancellation news, Honda says it’s stopping development on Asimo, its child-sized, dancing, soccer-playing robot. The company will cease production on Asimo to concentrate on using its underlying technology for more practical things, such as nursing. Work on Asimo began in the 1980s and the diminutive robot made its debut in 2000. (The Verge)

A floating robot that resembles a swimming-pool speaker is headed to space to help the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The Crew Interactive Mobile Companion, or Cimon, is for now just demonstrating its possible utility, and won’t be responsible for opening the pod bay doors. (Wired)

China has been testing drones that look like doves, enough so that they have gone undetected by the people they’ve been flying over in regions such as Xinjiang. The drones can replicate about 90 percent of the movements of a real dove, such as diving and accelerating in flight. (Business Insider)

U.S. Army instructors at Fort Benning, Georgia, have opened a new drone training program "to teach young soldiers to become as familiar with these flying devices as they are handling M4 carbines." (Military.com)

Below: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ralph Stroup, a student with the small unmanned aerial system course, launches a fixed-wing drone during joint training with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment. The 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, 316th Cavalry Brigade, opened its new small unmanned aerial system course facility June 11, 2018.  Photo: U.S. Army/Joshua Good