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Matternet receives approval to operate its drone in Saudi Arabia

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Matternet, the developer of an urban drone delivery system, has been approved by Saudi Arabia to operate its M2 drone within the region – it is the first drone operator to receive such approval.

The approval was granted by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) after the agency determined that the M2’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification issued by the US met GACA airworthiness standards.

Matternet’s M2 drone delivery system became the first to achieve FAA Type Certification in September 2022. [Read more…] about Matternet receives approval to operate its drone in Saudi Arabia

Opinion: Will autonomous cars ever gain regulatory approval to operate freely on public roads?

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The news that General Motors has decided to fold Cruise into its overall business should send shock waves through the industry. If Cruise can’t do it, with all its money and giant parent’s backing, who can?

Cruise is a relatively new startup which had huge optimism around it because several billion dollars were invested into it and a lot of people still believe autonomous cars are the future of global road traffic.

But after burning through $10 billion and only generating $500 million in revenue, Cruise seems to have lost its parent company’s confidence and has now been absorbed into the historic automotive giant, with its technology being repackaged into GM production cars as, essentially, an advanced driver assistance system called “Super Cruise”. [Read more…] about Opinion: Will autonomous cars ever gain regulatory approval to operate freely on public roads?

EndoQuest Robotics applies for FDA approval for its new robotic surgery device

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EndoQuest Robotics, a privately held medical device company and pioneer in the development of flexible endoluminal robotic technologies, has submitted an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for its pivotal colorectal clinical study.

EndoQuest says its mission is to “transform surgical outcomes for minimally invasive surgery” (MIS) with its groundbreaking flexible robotic system.

This IDE will enable EndoQuest to begin their Prospective Assessment of a Robotic-Assisted Device in Gastrointestinal Medicine (PARADIGM) study, which is a prospective, multi-center, open-label study. [Read more…] about EndoQuest Robotics applies for FDA approval for its new robotic surgery device

Distalmotion raises $150 million for its robotic surgery system

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Distalmotion has raised $150 million in new financing.

The company says this “significant fundraise reinforces the confidence” of its existing investors led by Revival Healthcare Capital.

Dexter, Distalmotion’s robotic platform, is in day-to-day clinical use in Europe, successfully treating patients across a multitude of complex and high-volume procedures in general surgery, gynecology, urology. [Read more…] about Distalmotion raises $150 million for its robotic surgery system

Xwing’s uncrewed aircraft system becomes FAA’s first certification project

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Autonomous aviation company Xwing has submitted a Project Specific Certification Plan (PSCP) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), becoming the first Standard Category large unmanned aerial system (UAS) to receive official project designation.

This marks the beginning of the process for approval of uncrewed commercial cargo operations in the national airspace.

Unlike other aviation projects that focus on augmenting piloted operations with autonomous technology or have Special Category certification, Xwing’s Superpilot technology integrates into existing type certified aircraft to enable uncrewed operations that work within the existing air traffic control system. [Read more…] about Xwing’s uncrewed aircraft system becomes FAA’s first certification project

Flytrex receives FAA approval to double drone delivery radius to two nautical miles

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Flytrex, a specialist in on-demand drone delivery for food and retail, has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand its delivery radius from one to two nautical miles across all its operating stations in North Carolina and Texas.

Deliveries will be made in cooperation with longtime partner Causey Aviation Unmanned, offering food, drinks and other goods to approximately 100,000 eligible customers that can opt into the service – a substantial increase from the 40,000 customers that were previously eligible.

Flytrex and Causey will conduct all flights while maintaining the highest safety standards. [Read more…] about Flytrex receives FAA approval to double drone delivery radius to two nautical miles

AMD given approval to acquire Xilinx

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Semiconductor giant AMD says it has received approval from “all necessary authorities” to proceed with the acquisition of Xilinx, a chip maker which specialises in the industrial sector.

With the exception of the remaining customary closing conditions, all conditions to the transaction closing have been satisfied and the company expects the transaction to close on or about February 14, 2022.

AMD announced its intention to acquire Xilinx in an all-stock transaction on October 27, 2020. [Read more…] about AMD given approval to acquire Xilinx

Mercedes-Benz receives ‘world’s first internationally valid system approval’ for conditionally automated driving

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Mercedes-Benz says it has become the first automotive company in the world to meet the demanding legal requirements of UN-R157 for a Level 3 system.

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has granted system approval for this on the basis of the technical approval regulation UN-R157, thus paving the way for offering such a system internationally, provided that national legislation allows it.

Germany has taken a pioneering role in this with the opening of the Road Traffic Act (StVG) for Level 3 systems in 2017. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz receives ‘world’s first internationally valid system approval’ for conditionally automated driving

Flexiv gains ‘world’s first’ CE and ETL certification for ‘force-controlled robot’

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Flexiv, a maker of “general-purpose” robotics, has received CE and ETL approval for their Rizon 4 robot, making it the “first-ever” seven-axis force-controlled adaptive robot to achieve both certifications at the same time, according to the company.

Demonstrating the “intrinsic safety” of the Rizon 4 robot, the CE and ETL approval was awarded by the world’s foremost testing, inspection, certification and assurance provider, Intertek. Accepted in the EU and Northern America, the approval enables Flexiv to distribute the Rizon 4 in the European Union, Canada, and the USA.

Meeting or exceeding the strict CE and ETL requirements, the Rizon 4 was subjected to hundreds of individual testing, evaluations, and assessments focused on machinery safety, electrical safety, functional safety, environmental reliability, electromagnetic compatibility, and collision detection. [Read more…] about Flexiv gains ‘world’s first’ CE and ETL certification for ‘force-controlled robot’

Bosch and Daimler obtain approval for ‘world’s first’ fully automated driverless valet service

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Bosch and Daimler have obtained approval for what they claim is the “world’s first fully automated” driverless parking system, or automated valet service.

The two automotive giants say the new system is “a milestone on the way to automated driving”.

The two companies obtained approval from the relevant authorities in Baden-Württemberg for their automated parking system in the Mercedes-Benz Museum parking garage in Stuttgart (pictures). [Read more…] about Bosch and Daimler obtain approval for ‘world’s first’ fully automated driverless valet service