In an effort to provide its autonomous shuttle deployments with enhanced safety, May Mobility will equip its autonomous shuttles with lidar technology from automotive and mobility lidar technology company LeddarTech.
May Mobility has conducted more than 50,000 real-condition test drives to validate the technology, before launching in full mass production.
Designed to create a “complete 360-degree cocoon,” LeddarTech’s solid-state Cocoon lidar technology provides a higher degree of safety related to collision prevention in autonomous shuttle applications, according to LeddarTech.
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Drone Aviation receives first contract award for its WASP Lite system
Drone Aviation Holding Corp. has received a contract award valued in excess of $1.1 million for its newly designed aerostat product, the WASP Lite. This is the company's first contract award for the product.
Under the contract, which is from a U.S. Army customer, Drone Aviation will provide multiple WASP Lite aerostat systems capable of enhancing and extending the modern networked battlefield supporting specialized waveform communications equipment and day/night Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads.
Schiebel's Camcopter S-100 UAS selected for search and rescue trials as part of Arctic 2030 project
Schiebel has announced that its Camcopter S-100 UAS has been selected by Norway’s Andøya Test Center for extensive search and rescue trials as part of the Arctic 2030 project.
In a typical configuration, the Camcopter S-100 operates six hours continuously, and can carry multiple payloads at the same time, which provides users with significant payload flexibility. As a result, the S-100’s missions deliver aerial views that reach “considerably farther than manned helicopters,” Schiebel notes.
Riptide Autonomous Solutions receives award for its UUV technology
Riptide Autonomous Solutions has earned Frost & Sullivan’s 2019 North American Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award for its UUV technology. This award comes just a few years after Riptide was recognized by Frost and Sullivan as the 2017 North America Product Leader in the UUV market.
As part of Frost and Sullivan’s recent UUV Market Study, Riptide was recognized for its continuing growth in the UUV market and expanded market presence. Riptide was also acknowledged for the expansion of its headquarters in Plymouth, Massachusetts, as well as the build out of its new manufacturing center.
Hirth Engines showcasing lightweight propulsion system technologies for UAS during Xponential
Hirth Engines has announced that during Xponential 2019, it will demonstrate its future innovation program, and showcase the latest lightweight propulsion system technologies.
With its two-stroke propulsion systems, Hirth says that it meets customers’ needs for endurance, reduced footprints, lightweight platforms, cost-effectiveness and safer operations.
To deliver technologies for the future, Hirth says that it is now looking toward hybrid applications to “harness the power” of both an internal combustion engine and electrical motors.
Iris Automation launches detect and avoid tech to enable BVLOS operations for UAS
Iris Automation has launched Casia, which the company describes as the “first commercially available computer vision detect-and-avoid solution to enable beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for autonomous vehicles.”
According to Iris, Casia allows a UAS to truly understand the aviation environment around it as if a pilot were on board, as it detects other aircraft, classifies them using machine learning, and makes intelligent decisions about the threat they may pose to the vehicle, and triggers automated maneuvers to avoid collisions.
Ashtead Technology strengthens its ROV positioning with Aqua-Tech Solutions acquisition
Ashtead Technology, a provider of the rental and sale of survey and ROV equipment, has announced that it has acquired Aqua-Tech Solutions, a subsea equipment rental and cutting services specialist.
Ashtead Technology says that the acquisition “significantly strengthens” its ROV and mechanical tooling offering, as it broadens its already established survey sensor rental fleet.
With the introduction of subsea cutting equipment, the acquisition also extends the firm’s specialist subsea services capability.
Alta Devices announces new solar product for HALE market
Alta Devices has unveiled a new solar product that is designed to meet the specific needs of UAS that can serve as platforms for cellular and IoT connectivity.
According to Alta, the product, known as AnyLight Solar, combines “breakthrough” solar cell technology with several new inventions to provide features to maximize power, minimize weight, and provide sufficient protection from the harsh environment commonly found in the Earth’s stratosphere.
“Alta Devices recognizes that our aerospace customers need to innovate every aspect of these new and complex aircraft systems,” says Alta Devices CEO, Jian Ding.
Locus Robotics raises $26 million in Series C funding
Locus Robotics, a developer of autonomous mobile robots for warehouses, has raised $26 million in Series C funding.
Locus will use the funding to scale production of its multi-bot platform for warehouse fulfillment. The funding will also be used to expand Locus' sales and marketing efforts, both in North America, and internationally.
“We have seen a massive uptick in demand for the flexible automation incorporated into Locus’s multi-bot solution, which is uniquely suited to address these challenges,” says Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics.
uAvionix integrating its ADS-B IN receive capability into CubePilot's Carrier Board
uAvionix has partnered with CubePilot (ProfiCNC and Hex), a designer and manufacturer of “The Cube” autopilot—formerly known as “Pixhawk”—for UAS.
Through the partnership, CubePilot will equip its Carrier Board with uAvionix’s ADS-B IN receive capability.
Available in July, the new Carrier Board integrates uAvionix’s custom ADS-B silicon for 1090MHz ADS-B reception for worldwide Detect and Avoid (DAA) functionality.
Previously, CubePilot, which utilizes the open-source ARDUPILOT platform, provided plug-and-play functionality for several uAvionix ADS-B IN and OUT products. The companies note that support for these products is retained in the new design, which allows for “978MHz ADS-B reception or integration of ADS-B OUT functionality.”