Sea Machines, a developer of autonomous control and advanced perception systems for the maritime industry, has moved its team in Hamburg, Germany to a larger, waterfront work space in the Hammerbrook area of Hamburg.
The move was made to support the growing interest in the company’s autonomous controls and advanced perception technology in European markets, and to make sure that Sea Machines' upcoming commercial product release is successful.
“This move strengthens Sea Machines’ foothold in Germany and supports our growing demand for engineering, sales and marketing across Europe,” says Sea Machines CEO Michael Johnson.
Software
Software
3DR and Yuneec establish 3DR Government Services based on Dronecode platform
Two founding members of the Dronecode software consortium, 3D Robotics (3DR) and Yuneec, have established a US-based joint venture known as 3DR Government Services to bring new products based on the Dronecode platform to market.
With a focus on serving the security and open platform needs of US government customers and their vendors in construction, engineering, and public safety, 3DR Government Services will combine Yuneec’s UAS expertise and manufacturing scale with the capabilities offered by 3DR’s software.
Currawong Engineering's 18S ESC Velocity for UAS applications receives updates
Currawong Engineering has released its updated 18S ESC (electronic speed controller) Velocity, which features the addition of “true hardware interlock and fully isolated PWM input” to its existing design.
Featuring high power and aerospace grade reliability, the ESC Velocity is designed for UAS applications.
According to Currawong Engineering, true hardware interlock is the “ultimate in operator safety,” as it provides guaranteed motor shutdown without the need for bulky inline power switches. CAN communications operate independently of the interlock, which allows for preflight checks with absolute confidence in the safe status of the controller.
Smart Ag debuts software that enables tractors to drive autonomously
During the 2018 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, an Iowa-based software company called Smart Ag debuted its AutoCart cloud-based software platform that enables a tractor to drive autonomously.
During a demonstration, a newly autonomous John Deere tractor circled the demonstration field, and paused when a manually operated combine crossed its automated path.
“The first time that I saw a tractor operating without an operator in it, I just thought, ‘It looks like the Headless Horseman,’” says Smart Ag’s Chief Technology Officer Mark Barglo, via the Business Record.
AeroVironment's MacCready Works lab donates Quantix UAS to West Point Military Academy
AeroVironment Inc.’s MacCready Works lab has donated automated Quantix hybrid UAS, spare parts and AeroVironment’s Decision Support System (AV DSS) analytics software to the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point.
The UAS and accompanying parts and software will support West Point’s Center for Innovation and Engineering and Geography and Environmental Engineering Department.
NUAIR Alliance partners with Unifly to provide enhanced UTM capabilities
The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (NUAIR Alliance) and Griffiss International Airport have partnered with Unifly to provide enhanced unmanned traffic management (UTM) capabilities for the New York UAS Test Site's 50-mile UTM Corridor currently being constructed.
Once it establishes a presence in Central New York, Unifly will deploy its software platform and support traffic management testing.
Working with NUAIR, Unifly will enable enhancements to test beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) systems. The ultimate goal is to safely integrate UAS into the nation’s airspace.
Toyota extends collaboration with Uber on autonomous vehicle technology; announces investment
With the aim of “advancing and bringing to market autonomous ride-sharing as a mobility service at scale,” Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Uber have announced that they will expand their collaboration.
Through this expansion, technology from each company will be integrated into purpose-built Toyota vehicles that will be deployed on Uber’s ride-sharing network.
In addition to the announcement of its expanded collaboration with Uber, Toyota has also announced that it will invest $500 million in the ride-hailing service.
Phase One Industrial launches new camera series that can be used on UAS
Phase One Industrial, which provides aerial imaging technologies, has launched its iXM-RS metric camera series and new Aerial Systems, which can be used on UAS.
Full frame, 150 megapixels and available in RGB and Achromatic models, the iXM-RS150F camera is capable of increased productivity in a wide range of aerial image acquisition projects, thanks to its “ultra-high resolution (14204 x10652) backside illuminated CMOS sensor, fast capture speed (2 fps) and enhanced light sensitivity.”
Phase One Industrial says that the iXM-RS camera is the “imaging heart” of its Aerial System, which is a fully integrated platform for mapping and surveying.
Farmers don't have to spend a fortune to benefit from UAS
UAS have a variety of potential uses in the agricultural sector, including to scout fields and spot insect infestations, weed problems and nutrient issues.
The technology can be the difference between taking hours to walk a field or seconds to scan it from above, experts say.
“I think that’s what we’re looking at — potential,” says Dr. Jarrod Miller of the University of Delaware Extension, via Lancaster Farming. During the 4R Technology Day held in Queenstown, Maryland on August 15, Miller conducted UAS demonstrations.
ASV Global and TerraSond successfully complete hydrographic survey using unmanned vessel
ASV Global and TerraSond have successfully completed a hydrographic survey for charting off the coast of Alaska using ASV Global’s C-Worker 5 unmanned vessel alongside the Q105 survey ship acting as the mother vessel.
Fitted with a multibeam echosounder, the C-Worker 5 unmanned vessel conducted 53% of the 10,649-kilometer survey.
This latest operation was ASV Global and TerraSond’s fourth unmanned charting survey for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in as many years. The total unmanned survey lines completed now stands at almost 15,000 kilometers.
