Weekend Roundup

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This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

During the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland, L3 Technologies exhibited its new Iver Precision Workhorse (Iver PW) AUV. L3 Technologies says that the new Iver PW AUV is the first in a family of “advanced, highly capable military AUVs” to address a plethora of customer missions. (Business Wire)

AeroVironment, Inc. has announced that the Puma-Switchblade automated sensor-to-shooter (S2S) capability was successfully demonstrated from a US Navy Coastal Riverine Craft for “increased mission autonomy to counter threats.” AeroVironment says that the “tightly integrated walk-on/walk-off system” uses existing RQ-20B Puma Block 2 - All Environment small UAS with the new Mantis i45 sensor gimbal combined with “automatic coordinate transmission” to the battle-proven Switchblade lethal loitering missile to “quickly and accurately surveil and respond to threats on land or at sea.” (AeroVironment)

In partnership with W.S. Darley and Co., Skyfire Consulting will provide a public safety agency with a complete UAS program. Valued at more than $25,000, the program will include equipment, training and FAA authorizations for the winning department. (Skyfire Consulting)

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA‑ASI) Avenger Extended Range (ER) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) set a new endurance record when it flew 23.4 continuous hours on January 24-25. Avenger flew in a “representative Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) configuration” while carrying out a simulated reconnaissance mission. (GA-ASI)

Stanford University students in a class called “Principles of Robotic Autonomy” were charged with the task of programming autonomous robots that mimic self-driving cars. Students programmed the robots—which were approximately the size of a milk jug—to autonomously navigate an unknown cityscape and aid in a simulated rescue of animals in peril. (Stanford News)

The University of Melbourne and EasyMile have teamed up to investigate how autonomous vehicles can reduce congestion. The entities signed a three-year partnership that makes the University of Melbourne EasyMile’s innovation hub in Australia and New Zealand. (The Australian Financial Review)

A fleet of driverless street cleaning vehicles is being tested at an industrial park in Shanghai. Designed and developed by a technology company called Autowise.ai, the vehicles can detect traffic lights, avoid roadside barriers and make right angle turns. (GBTIMES)

A small fleet of UAS will be used to monitor traffic and perimeters for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which is taking place in Indio, California from April 13 to April 22. According to Indio Police Sgt. Dan Marshall, an outside company that has experience flying UAS is providing the technology, which is cheaper and easier to call in than a police chopper. (Los Angeles Times)