Technology
Technology
Aptiv and Lyft to provide rides in self-driving vehicles during CES 2018
During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Aptiv, which is a global technology company that develops automated driving technologies, and Lyft will partner to demonstrate a “first-of-its-kind fully automated point-to-point ride-hailing experience” known as the Aptiv-Lyft CES 2018 Automated Experience.
Building off of previous CES drives performed by Aptiv, including a 6.3-mile driving loop of city streets and highways in 2017, the Aptiv-Lyft CES 2018 Automated Experience will demonstrate Aptiv's automated system and Lyft's user platform to offer rides to more than 20 destinations throughout Las Vegas.
Weekend Roundup
A Federal Aviation Administration panel has recommended ways to track and identify flying drones, but hasn’t reached a consensus as to whether hobbyist drones should be included. The Academy of Model Aeronautics says no, but other groups say they should be. (USA Today)
'Unified Pilot System for Unmanned Aircraft Products and Systems' platform to be used in UAE
The details of a platform called the “Unified Pilot System for Unmanned Aircraft Products and Systems” were announced on Dec. 18 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The platform is the first unified electronic platform for UAS and air vehicles to be used in the UAE for recreational, service and commercial purposes.
Reportedly “in line with the UAE government's keenness to provide a civil aviation environment and a safe community for practice,” the platform will be used to obtain UAS information and conform to the UAE standards that were established by the Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Light Sports System.
Riptide announces expansion of UUV payload options
Riptide Autonomous Solutions says that the ease of integration of payloads into its product line of UUVs “has been a key value proposition for diverse customers,” and this flexibility was recently demonstrated by the quick integration of a new sonar and a WiFi data system.
Recently, Riptide took part in a US SOCOM effort to evaluate diver assistance aids. During this program, a Klein 3500 Combined Side Scan and Interferometric Sonar was integrated into a Riptide 1MP 1 Man Portable 7.5” (190mm) diameter UUV/AUV in less than four working days. Successful field demonstrations followed this quick integration.
Sacramento State planning for self-driving electric shuttle
Sacramento State's University Transportation and Parking Services (UTAPS) is looking into bringing a self-driving electric shuttle to campus.
Right now, the shuttle is in the planning stages by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), UTAPS, the City of Sacramento and Regional Transit.
UTAPS Director Tony Lucas says that the goal of the project is to “ease commute times for students who use the light rail,” as the shuttle would take commuters from the 65th Street Light Rail Station to campus. Lucas says that a dedicated track operating from the station to campus— without having to go through rush-hour traffic on Folsom Boulevard—will help accomplish that goal.
Warm Springs FAA UAS Test Range to offer UAS pilot training course in January
From Jan. 11 to 15, 2018, Warm Springs FAA UAS Test Range will offer a UAS pilot training course to train the next generation of career-oriented UAS enthusiasts to enter the commercial services market.
The training course will consist of four components: Part 107 training to earn FAA certification for safe and legal operations, hands-on flight training to teach the fundamentals of flying a UAS, UAS operational safety training to improve safety and operational performance skills, and a commercial enterprise course to teach UAS enthusiasts how to make money flying UAS.
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
The city of Palo Alto, California plans to submit two proposals for the UAS Integration Pilot Program, which was announced back in October. Under one of the proposals, UAS would be used to deliver units of blood from Stanford Blood Center to Stanford Hospital. Under the other proposal, the city could UAS for a variety of purposes including airport operations or for law enforcement missions, depending on the city’s interest. (Palo Alto Daily Post)
UAVOS converts manned aircraft into UAVs
UAVOS Inc. has developed an unmanned aerial complex based on Pipistrel’s Sinus light aircraft.
UAVOS converted three Pipistrel Sinus aircraft into UAVs, and modified the wings of the original aircraft for the installation of hangers for payload. In addition to that, the wiring was changed, and the company integrated its UAVOS automatic control system into the aircraft.
Vadim Tarasov, UAVOS investor and Board member, says that converting manned aircraft into UAVs is a much simpler process than building a heavy UAV from scratch.
BAE Systems and the University of Manchester successfully complete first flight trial with MAGMA UAS
BAE Systems and the University of Manchester have successfully completed the first phase of flight trials with a small scale UAS called MAGMA.
The flight trials are part of an ongoing project between the two entities, as well as a long-term collaboration between industry, academia and government to explore and develop innovative flight control technology.
“The technologies we are developing with the University of Manchester will make it possible to design cheaper, higher performance, next generation aircraft,” says Clyde Warsop, Engineering Fellow at BAE Systems.
