Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Waymo have announced the expansion of their partnership, with an agreement to add up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo’s self-driving fleet.
This announcement comes after FCA announced in January that it will deliver thousands of its Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo’s driverless transportation service. Thus far, FCA has delivered 600 Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo.
“FCA is committed to bringing self-driving technology to our customers in a manner that is safe, efficient and realistic,” says Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
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Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
UAVOS has announced the creation of a qualitatively new main rotor blade, which will be installed on its UAS “with 77 lbs (35 kg) take-off mass and rotor diameter of 102,36" (2600 mm).” UAVOS says that the entire flight performance of the machine has been greatly affected by the “one-step blade molding technology using polymer composite materials and an improved aerodynamic shape.” (UAVOS)
Iris Automation selects Robotic Skies as aftermarket installation and field maintenance partner for its line of avionics products designed for UAS
Iris Automation has selected Robotic Skies Inc. as an “aftermarket installation and field maintenance partner” for its line of avionics products designed for UAS.
Under the agreement, Robotic Skies, through its global network of independently owned and operated certified aircraft service centers, will provide sales, installations, and ongoing field support for Iris Automation customers.
Corporate Service Supply & Manufacturing now an authorized reseller of Fruity Chutes UAV Recovery systems
Fruity Chutes, which manufactures UAS recovery systems, and Corporate Service Supply & Manufacturing (CSSM) have announced that CSSM is now an authorized reseller of Fruity Chutes UAV Recovery systems.
Through their agreement, CSSM can now sell the Fruity Chutes systems directly to its customers. The agreement also allows CSSM to integrate the Fruity Chutes Drone Recovery Systems into the UAS and system offerings that it markets to law enforcement, government, and commercial operators.
AeroVironment receives contract awards from U.S. Army for its Switchblade Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System and Contractor Logistics Support
AeroVironment has announced that in April, it received contract awards from the United States Army for procurement of its Switchblade Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System (LMAMS) and Contractor Logistics Support (CLS), bringing the total value of Switchblade awards to $111,054,202 since August 2017.
With the AeroVironment Switchblade, warfighters are provided with “rapid-response force protection and precision strike capabilities” up to 10 kilometers from its launch location. The Switchblade has been deployed by U.S. forces for more than five years.
Swift Navigation installing driverless vehicle technology in The Villages, Florida
Swift Navigation is currently in a census-designated place in Sumter County, Florida, called The Villages, installing technology to be used for driverless vehicles.
The California-based software company says that in the near future, people in The Villages, a well-known retirement community, will be able to sit in driverless cars, using GPS technology to safely travel.
“Take my wife to work, go back home, maybe pick up the kids at school and drive them home all with a single car,” says Lance Andre with Swift Navigation via News 6/ClickOrlando.com.
Alta Devices' solar technology selected to help power Hybrid Tiger UAV
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) will use Alta Devices’ “highly efficient, flexible, and light-weight” solar technology to help power the “breakthrough” Hybrid Tiger UAV.
The Hybrid Tiger is a project designed to create a Group-2 UAV that will stay aloft for at least three and a half days, and Alta Devices says that technologies developed for the project will be applicable to other unmanned vehicles.
Weekend Roundup
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Schiebel and Overwatch Imaging have successfully integrated a “revolutionary small target detection payload” called PT8 Oceanwatch on Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 UAS. According to the companies, the PT-8 Oceanwatch payload makes the Camcopter S-100 UAS “an even more powerful naval patrol solution,” as it delivers an image-based wide area maritime search capability that greatly extends coverage area. (Schiebel)
Intelligent Energy's fuel cell technology could greatly enhance flight times of UAS
During Xponential, United-Kingdom-based Intelligent Energy made its debut by showcasing its fuel cell technology, which includes its lightweight 650W Fuel Cell Power Module specifically designed for the commercial UAS market.
The company says that its lightweight 650W Fuel Cell Power Module “offers considerably longer flight time when compared to traditional batteries.”
Besides longer flight time, the module also offers additional benefits such as increased productivity, less downtime as a result of quick refueling, and increased payload capability.
uAvionix successfully tests and demonstrates DroneAware uAvionix UAS Remote Identification software for NASA's TCL3 UTM system
uAvionix has announced that it successfully completed testing and demonstration of the DroneAware uAvionix UAS Remote Identification software for NASA’s Technical Capability Level 3 (TCL3) UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system.
The tests were conducted in coordination with several entities, including North Dakota’s Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NP UAS TS), Simulyze, Rockwell Collins, and the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory.
