Weekend Roundup: April 24, 2020

April 24, 2020 | AUVSI News

This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

The University of North Florida College of Computing, Engineering and Construction has been awarded a grant to research the use of autonomous robotics for agriculture in Northeast Florida. The research grant will focus on using a multi-robot system to securely and efficiently collect agricultural information. (University of North Florida)

In an effort to help the Ministry of Transportation formulate future autonomous vehicle policy, two University of Windsor professors have received a provincial grant for a study of human interaction with Advance Driver Assistance Systems. The study is expected to last 18 months. (Windsor Star)

A technology start-up called Animal Dynamics is using the lessons it has learned from wildlife to inform its drone designs. The company currently has two drones to show for an intimate study of bird and insect life. (BBC)

Researchers have figured out how to wake up a drone, and even recharge environmental sensors using radio waves during a flyby. This could enable the management of a large number of sensors with ease, especially in an agriculture use case. (DroneDJ)

Researchers from Florida International University are working to solve problems related to the future of smart city infrastructures and autonomous vehicles. Two researchers from the College of Engineering & Computing are working on ways to revolutionize urban infrastructures, transportation networks and how cities work. (FIU)

Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) has restored an aging communications satellite known as Intelsat 901, and relocated it into a position to resume operations. Using its mechanical docking system, MEV-1 latched onto Intelsat 901 on Feb. 25, at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers above Earth. (Ars Technica)

Sony is possibly working on an autonomous robot companion that could talk to gamers and share their emotions while they play. In a patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Sony tagged the robot as a “joint viewing player” that sympathizes with players depending on what the player feels while playing games. (Yahoo Finance)

Photo below: The University of North Florida College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, in collaboration with the University of Central Florida (UCF), has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for collaborative research in the use of autonomous robotics for agriculture in Northeast Florida. Photo: University of North Florida