Speedbird Aero, a Latin American drone delivery company, has become the first company in Latin America to win regulatory approval for a drone delivery operation, as the company has received regulatory approval from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency, also known as ANAC, to operate two experimental drone delivery routes in Brazil.
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TomTom launches new product to ensure safe automated driving operations
TomTom (TOM2) has launched a new product for automated vehicles called TomTom RoadCheck that allows carmakers to decide where it is safe for drivers to activate their vehicles’ automated driving functions.
Parrot selected to participate in Blue sUAS program
Parrot has been selected to participate in the Blue sUAS (small UAS) program by the U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
The Blue sUAS program is a spin-off of the Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program launched by the Army and DIU in April 2019. The drone development effort under the Blue sUAS was organized in response to increased government-wide demand for secure and ultraportable drones that could be used for various military and federal applications.
Parrot is currently one of two finalists of the SRR project. A production-ready SRR drone is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year.
Conversations with AUVSI: Pratt Miller Mobility
Pratt Miller Mobility is an engineering and product development company that serves the spectrum of the mobility industry, from the world’s largest automotive OEM’s to budding start-ups, commercial truck to powersports – to bring their vision into reality. With roots in motorsports, the company is properly equipped to deliver what it describes as “ingenious solutions” to its clients' most challenging problems and wildest ideas.
New York UAS Test Site selected to participate in Phase 2 of UPP program
The FAA has selected the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York and the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership in Blacksburg, Virginia to participate in phase two of the unmanned aircraft traffic management pilot program (UPP).
Automated trucking technology company Ike announces 'Powered by Ike' customer program
Automated trucking technology developer Ike has announced its “Powered by Ike” customer program.
The program includes partnerships with logistics companies Ryder System Inc., DHL, and NFI, as these companies’ fleets will be among the first to deploy "level 4" automated trucks on highways.
As part of the multi-year Powered by Ike program, these fleets have collectively reserved the first 1,000 Class 8 tractors powered by Ike's technology. Leading up to the launch of a commercial technology, Ike and its fleet customers are working together to provide feedback, perform testing, and prepare to launch and scale up operations.
Self-driving forklift developer Fox Robotics to use new funding to increase production
Fox Robotics, a company that builds self-driving forklifts, has closed a $9 million Series A led by Menlo Ventures.
According to Fox Robotics, the company makes self-driving forklifts that are “more flexible, more capable and safer” than current automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The company says that its forklifts are capable of handling challenging tasks that no other automation can handle, such as unloading trailers without modifying the warehouse environment.
An added advantage of Fox's forklifts is that it takes less than a day to get Fox's forklifts installed and running in a new warehouse. Fox says that typical AGV's usually weeks or months to integrate into a new warehouse.
Dynetics successfully tests second X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle
Dynetics Inc. has announced that in July, the company successfully tested a second X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle (GAV), as well as the Gremlins airborne recovery system, at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
In preparation for an airborne recovery test later this year, the series of tests focused on risk reduction, as well as system and subsystem performance verification. The goal of the Gremlins Program, which is managed by DARPA's Tactical Technology Office, is to demonstrate aerial launch and recovery of multiple low-cost reusable UAS.
Near Earth Autonomy, Kaman Aerospace partner to develop autonomy system for K-MAX helicopter
Near Earth Autonomy and Kaman Aerospace, with support from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), have partnered to develop an intelligent autonomy system for a large-scale transport aircraft capable of lifting a payload of 6,000 pounds called the K-MAX helicopter.
According to the companies, the capability developed will be broadly applicable to large aircraft that can take off and land vertically with a large set of commercial and military applications.
“Our past efforts laid a strong foundation for solving complex autonomy challenges for small, medium, and large vehicles,” says Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth.
Weekend Roundup: August 28, 2020
This Week (and last week) in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
On Aug. 18, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Shaneka Shaw, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-1 (VMU-1), a weapons and tactics instructor (WTI), graduated from the MQ-9 Basic and Requalification/Transition Course 2 class 20-03, and became the first Black female Marine qualified to fly MQ-9 Reapers at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Shaw spent 55 training days learning to fly the MQ-9 at Holloman. (Air Education and Training Command)
