Weekend Roundup: May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020 | AUVSI News

This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) is working with stakeholders across various communities to study challenging, dynamic scenarios involving automated driving systems. The collaborative team is also examining ways to facilitate communications between these systems and their supporting physical infrastructure. (Virginia Tech Daily)

Yandex has announced the first commercial launch of its autonomous delivery robot, Yandex.Rover, in the city of Skolkovo, Russia. City employees at administrative offices can use the robot for deliveries of documents and small packages. (VentureBeat)

Autonomous trucking start-up Inceptio Technology has completed its capital raising of $100 million, as well as its A-sample validation in L3 autonomous truck volume production development. With a focus on China line-haul freight shipping, the company develops proprietary autonomous technology for trucks and plans to operate its own nationwide autonomous trucking network starting in 2022. (Inceptio Technology)

Food and grocery delivery robots have proven to be especially valuable during the Coronavirus pandemic. In Fairfax City, Virginia, tens of thousands of residents will now be able to order from various area restaurants and grocers, and have contactless deliveries made to them via the robots from Starship Technologies. (ZDNet)

In South Korea, scientists are developing a robot that can fly and walk, and switch between the two modes at great speed. Inspired by the streamlined movements of ladybugs, the scientists have constructed an origami design that can immediately unfold and lock in place when outstretched. (Cosmos)

After receiving three aircraft in Nov. 2019, Niger’s National Guard is set to receive a fourth UAS from French company Delair. With an endurance of up to 135 minutes and a cruise speed of 57 kilometers per hour, the Delair DT26X Surveillance can conduct remote or night surveillance missions. (defenceWeb)

It looks like Major League Baseball (MLB) is moving towards robot umpires. After making its debut last summer, the system was instituted in the Arizona Fall League in Sept. 2019. Shortly afterwards, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the tech would arrive in select minor league parks this year. (Sports Illustrated)