Weekend Roundup: June 5, 2020

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This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

The U.S. Army has launched a $3 million program to research off-road unmanned ground vehicles. Seven universities and one company received funding to research whether robots can drive through tomorrow's battlefields without human input under the Army Research Laboratory effort. (Stars and Stripes)
  
Researchers at North Carolina State University and the University at Buffalo have developed a technology they call the "artificial chemist," an AI system for performing chemical reactions to accelerate the research and development and manufacturing of materials. Researchers can plug in the properties they want the final material to have and the artificial chemist figures out how to get there. (NC State News)
  
Stanford University scientsist are looking at a way for drones to hitchhike on buses or trams while making deliveries, thereby cutting down on congestion and energy use while boosting the range drones can travel to deliver packages. (Venture Beat)
  
The U.S. Army plans to award a contract this month to produce hundreds of robotic "mules" to help carry soldiers' gear as part of the Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport, or S-MET program. (Army Recognition)
  
India's government has issued new rules governing the manufacture and use of drones. The country's aviation ministry has invited public comments for 30 days, after which final rules will be issued. (Times of India)
  
The U.S. Air Force is planning to pit an autonomous drone against a manned fighter aircraft next year as part of a "moonshot" effort to revolutionize air-to-air combat. (The Drive)
  
The U.S. Air Force has issued a request for information to industry for an eventual replacement for the MQ-9 Reaper drone. The service is seeking cost-effective systems, including ones that might be expendable, to come online starting in 2031. (Military.com)
 
Below: The U.S. Army will test software for off-road UGV driving on a Warthog UGV. Photo: Jim Nelson/Army Research Laboratory
 

The U.S. Army will test software for off-road UGV driving on a Warthog UGV. Photo: Jim Nelson/Army Research Laboratory
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