On May 9, Ohio Governor John R. Kasich signed an executive order to authorize autonomous vehicle testing in Ohio. The executive order also seeks to “lay out a roadmap” for how the automotive industry can go about testing technologies in the state. “Ohio is well positioned to lead in developing the cars of the future, and just as Wright Brothers did at Huffman Prairie, our great state stands ready to once again launch a new era in transportation,” Kasich said.

This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World Virginia Tech has opened what it claims is the tallest drone park in the United States. The netted, football-field-sized park stands 85 feet above ground, and offers three million cubic feet of “unobstructed flight space” for student research, education, and recreation, the university says. (The Roanoke Times)

This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Waymo recently applied to test cars without drivers on California roads. Waymo's application was submitted to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Thus far, only two companies have applied for such permits, but the identity of the other company has yet to be publicly revealed. (San Francisco Chronicle)

ASV Global (ASV) and Peel Ports Group have launched a partnership to “develop the use of autonomous vessel technology for UK port operations.” The partnership, which was cemented in March when the companies signed an official Memorandum of Understanding, began with a visit from ASV’s team to the Port of Liverpool to demonstrate an autonomous vessel called the C-Cat 3, which is ideal for shallow survey operations. Operating in Brocklebank Dock, the C-Cat 3 conducted seabed survey using a Norbit iWBMS multibeam echosounder. The successful demonstration led Peel Ports Group to look into the possibility of using the technology at its other sites throughout the United Kingdom.