Sea Machines Robotics has partnered with shipbuilder Metal Shark Boats to supply the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)’s Research and Development Center (RDC) with a new Sharktech 29 Defiant vessel.
Responsible for helping transition innovative technologies and providing premier analysis and decision support to enhance operational performance across all Coast Guard missions, the RDC will use the vessel to test and evaluate the capabilities of available autonomous vessel technology.
Sea Machines SM300 autonomous-command and remote-helm control technology is integrated onto the vessel, providing the USCG with a full range of advanced capabilities, including transit autonomy, collaborative autonomy, collision avoidance and remote vessel monitoring.
Testing
Testing
DroneUp and partners successfully test autonomous drone delivery
In partnership with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allied Command Transformation, Joint Force Development Directorate, Operational Experimentation branch, DroneUp conducted an experiment on Sept. 21 in Lawrenceville, Virginia that was designed to determine if autonomous delivery of a specified payload to identified recipients under field conditions could be proven viable.
The special operations experimental team also included Pale Horse Weapons Institute, Daniel Defense, Ultimate Training Munitions (UTM), and WeaponLogic.
For the operational experiment, DroneUp provided a patent-pending technology delivery solution and experiment execution. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Atkinson, MBE, British Army, led the experiment.
GA-ASI conducts captive carry Sparrowhawk sUAS flight demonstrations
From Sept. 16 to 17, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted captive carry Sparrowhawk small UAS (sUAS) flight demonstrations.
Designed as an airborne launch and recovery demonstrator aircraft tailored to fit GA-ASI platforms, the Sparrowhawk aircraft focuses on Advanced Battle Management System’s attritableONE technologies.
To further airborne recovery of sUAS, Sparrowhawk iterates on the DARPA Gremlins Program, which reduces the cost of operation and enables new mission capabilities to GA-ASI’s MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
Weekend Roundup: September 25, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Wilson Logistics will equip 1,120 of its trucks with Locomation’s platooning technology, with the first units to be delivered in 2022. The two companies have also extended their commercial partnership through at least the end of 2028. (VentureBeat)
Milrem Robotics' Multiscope Rescue UGV showcases capabilities during urban search and rescue exercise
During the first week of September, Milrem Robotics’ Multiscope Rescue UGV was utilized by the Estonian Disaster Relief Team (EDRT) during an urban search and rescue (USAR) exercise in the main training facility of the Estonian Rescue Board in Väike-Maarja, Estonia.
Using the UGV, the rescue equipment of two USAR units was transported to the operation area, allowing members of the unit to save their energy and reach survivors quicker.
North Carolina A&T awarded $550K to establish Testbed of Connected Autonomous MicroTransit Vehicles
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded an interdisciplinary research team at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (North Carolina A&T) $550,000 to establish a Testbed of Connected Autonomous MicroTransit Vehicles.
Weekend Roundup: September 4, 2020
This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World
Yandex and Uber have announced that they are spinning out their self-driving joint venture into a standalone company. Yandex is also increasing its stake by investing an additional $150 million. (VentureBeat)
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.
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.
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)
