Advanced Technology International (ATI) has awarded General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) a contract to develop and demonstrate a prototype Lithium-ion Fault Tolerant (LiFT) battery system for the U.S. Navy’s prototype “Snakehead” Large-Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (LDUUV).
Built to increase endurance, range, and payload hosting capabilities in support of various future mission and operations requirements, the Snakehead LDUUV’s propulsion and support systems will be powered by the LiFT battery system.
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Ike believes self-driving trucks can help solve challenges plaguing trucking industry
A self-driving truck startup called Ike has announced that it has raised $52 million in Series A financing.
Ike notes that a number of factors such as a shortage of drivers, new regulations, growing accident rates, and the rise of ecommerce are having a major impact on the trucking industry, but the company believes that self-driving trucks can help solve these challenges.
“We came together over a passion for trucking, and created Ike with a mission to make trucks safer, truckers more valuable, and trucking more efficient,” Ike says in a company blog post.
MetaVista complete nearly 11-hour UAS flight using Intelligent Energy fuel cell power module
Intelligent Energy has announced that a South Korean liquid hydrogen specialist called MetaVista conducted a 10 hour and 50-minute multi-copter test flight using an Intelligent Energy Fuel Cell Power Module.
The flight, which utilized Intelligent Engineering’s lightweight 650-watt Fuel Cell Power Module (FCPM), is believed to be the longest flight time of its kind.
iRobot unveils Terra robot mower
With a mind towards reinventing how people care for their lawn, iRobot Corp. has unveiled its new Terra robot mower, which features state-of-the-art mapping and navigation technologies, high-performance, high-quality mowing, and easy installation.
Using iRobot’s Imprint Smart Mapping technology, Terra learns its environment, and can mow a lawn like a human does, as it navigates a yard and cuts efficiently in straight, back-and-forth lines.
Terra remembers its location in the yard, and where it still needs to cover. If its battery runs low, it will return to its base to recharge, and then pick up where it left off until the yard is complete.
Delair partners with firms to provide comprehensive customer support for its Delair UX11 UAS
Delair has partnered with UAS resellers and service providers Frontier Precision and Seiler Instrument to expand its customer service operations with the qualification and opening of its first two repair and maintenance centers in the United States.
Frontier Precision and Seiler Instrument will provide comprehensive customer support for Delair’s Delair UX11 advanced mapping and surveying UAS.
Delair worked with technicians from both Frontier Precision and Seiler Instrument to certify them on the latest maintenance and repair processes, which are required to optimize the operations of Delair's UX11 UAS.
FlightWave Aerospace's tiltpod enables smooth, stable flights of quadcopters
With the development of its new tiltpod — which the company describes as a compact motor, propeller and servo with a thrusting and tilting function — FlightWave Aerospace Inc. believes that it can effectively eliminate the pitch and roll aspect of quadcopters, which will lead to improved stability for the UAS.
Known for its FlightWave Edge UAS, which is equipped with the tiltpod, FlightWave says that the tiltpod allows an aircraft to hover without tilting its whole body forward, enabling pilots to eliminate pitch and roll. So instead of tilting the aircraft, only the motor would need to be tilted.
LCS Mission Module Program successfully completes shipboard integration testing of unmanned systems
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has announced that on Jan. 14, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Module Program successfully completed shipboard integration testing of two unmanned systems on board USS Independence (LCS 2).
The Knifefish UUV and Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) are part of the Mine Countermeasures Mission Package (MCM MP), which targets specific portions of the water column and segments of the MCM detect-to-engage sequence using a system-of-systems approach.
During the integration events, the Knifefish UUV and UISS both successfully verified the communications link between Independence and the unmanned systems. Additionally, several launch and recovery evolutions from the ship were also executed.
Waymo looks forward to building self-driving vehicles in Michigan
Waymo has announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) voted to approve its effort to establish the company’s manufacturing presence to build its self-driving vehicles in the state of Michigan, which will create hundreds of jobs along the way.
“Thanks to our collaboration with MEDC, we’ll bring new job opportunities to the talented citizens of Southeast Michigan,” Waymo says in a company blog post.
“The Great Lakes State is one we already know and love, with a talented workforce and excellent snowy conditions for our cars to test.”
Northwest UAV partners with Embention to offer Veronte Autopilot to unmanned industry
Northwest UAV has announced that it has partnered with Embention to offer what it calls the “most advanced and user-friendly avionics systems” in the industry.
According to Northwest UAV, Embention's Veronte Autopilot is the pilot’s choice for advanced professional UAS and Unmanned Vehicle Control, making the Veronte Autopilots an ideal addition to Northwest UAV’s growing list of product offerings.
“We are very selective about the companies and components that we endorse, and even more selective about what we distribute,” says Jeff Ratcliffe, NWUAV chief technical officer.