Robotics & Automation News

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aviation

Skyports receives design approval for first commercial vertiport in the UAE

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The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has granted technical design approval for the first commercial vertiport in the United Arab Emirates.

This significant milestone enables Skyports Infrastructure to continue with the development of its DXV facility, where commercial air taxi operations are scheduled to begin from 2026.

The Dubai International Vertiport (DXV), named for its location near Dubai International Airport (DXB), is the first facility to receive design approval under the newly established UAE Vertiport Regulations. [Read more…] about Skyports receives design approval for first commercial vertiport in the UAE

NASA boosts GoAERO’s mission with Space Act Agreement and university innovation project funding

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GoAERO says its Space Act Agreement with NASA codifies and expands its partnership and marks a “significant leap forward” in its mission to revolutionize emergency response aviation.

In addition, NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) has committed additional funding through its University Innovation Project, specifically targeting US-based university teams participating in the GoAERO Prize competition.

This collaboration, announced at the recent International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) conference, underscores NASA’s dedication to fostering innovation in aviation and emergency response technologies. [Read more…] about NASA boosts GoAERO’s mission with Space Act Agreement and university innovation project funding

Reliable Robotics flies large cargo aircraft with no one on board

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Reliable Robotics, a specialist in aircraft automation systems, says it has achieved “a significant milestone” in its work to bring advanced safety-enhancing technologies to market in the United States.

Last month’s successful flight of a Cessna 208B Caravan with no one on board was a first for aviation. A remote pilot supervised the uncrewed aircraft from Reliable’s control center 50 miles away. For a 360° experience inside the cockpit, view and scroll around at: https://youtu.be/0W5JHIHq40Q

The Reliable autonomous flight system enables the aircraft to be remotely operated by a pilot on the ground and improves safety by fully automating the aircraft through all phases of operation including taxi, takeoff and landing. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics flies large cargo aircraft with no one on board

Skyports unveils plan to launch advanced air mobility in urban Japan

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Skyports Infrastructure has revealed its involvement in the next phase of research for a Concept of Operations (ConOps) for advanced air mobility (AAM) for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).

The company will continue to work alongside its ConOps partners Kanematsu Corporation, Japan Airlines and Eve Air Mobility to define Japan’s framework for the development and implementation of advanced air mobility operations in Japan.

The ConOps is designed as a critical reference point for companies that are considering entering the Japanese AAM market. [Read more…] about Skyports unveils plan to launch advanced air mobility in urban Japan

Reliable Robotics and NASA complete ‘first-of-its-kind’ flight tests to advance aviation safety

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Reliable Robotics, a specialist in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), says it has completed flight tests designed to substantiate the use of existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primary surveillance radar (PSR) data to improve the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Reliable Robotics has been working with NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign since 2021 to advance the safe, secure and efficient integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems.

Of note – the FAA granted NASA limited access to PSR data for these specific flights conducted by Reliable Robotics – a step towards utilizing existing radar infrastructure for Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics and NASA complete ‘first-of-its-kind’ flight tests to advance aviation safety

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

Stratom and Imenco partner to develop robotic refueling systems for commercial aviation and offshore environments

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The strategic partnership combines industry-leading technologies and expertise to deliver best-in-class autonomous refueling solutions to increase efficiencies, optimize business objectives and improve safety for global customers across various industries

Stratom, a developer of robotic refueling and autonomous systems, and Imenco, a specialist in military and civil aviation refueling solutions for commercial aviation and offshore applications, have agreed a strategic partnership to bring robotic refueling systems to customers worldwide.

The collaboration offers proven advanced systems that deliver safe and sustainable autonomous refueling systems that boost business value for the industrial, aviation, defense and offshore industries.

The partnership brings new and advanced developments in the autonomous refueling space. The combined portfolio offering equips organizations with the right tools to streamline operating efficiency, improve resource optimization, maximize human capital and enhance decision-making when autonomously fueling aircraft, vehicles and equipment. [Read more…] about Stratom and Imenco partner to develop robotic refueling systems for commercial aviation and offshore environments

Raytheon invests in H55 to advance electric propulsion technologies for airplanes

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RTX Ventures, the venture capital arm of Raytheon Technologies, has made a minority investment in electric propulsion system company H55 to drive the development of electric aviation solutions.

The investment in H55 aligns with Raytheon Technologies’ longstanding leadership in the development of innovative and sustainable propulsion technologies.

H55, a Swiss company, is a leading enabler of electric propulsion solutions and battery systems. The team has proven ability in developing, integrating and flight-testing electric propulsion systems, including Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered electric airplane to fly around the world. [Read more…] about Raytheon invests in H55 to advance electric propulsion technologies for airplanes

Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

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Nidec Leroy-Somer has signed an agreement with Airbus, the worlds largest airplane manufacturer, to develop an electric motor for its hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine prototype, as part of Airbus’ ambition to bring the first zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035.

The long-standing expertise and extensive know-how of the French electric motor manufacturer, who already provides proven advanced technologies to many demanding industries, such as navy, nuclear, railway, automotive and robotics is now collaborating on aviation decarbonization.

Leroy-Somer, part of the Japanese Nidec Group since 2017, is entrusted to design and develop a series of electric motor prototypes which meet very high requirements in terms of safety, reliability, energy-efficiency and lowest weight for the targeted power. [Read more…] about Nidec Leroy-Somer selected by Airbus to develop electric motors for its future hydrogen powered zero-emission engine

Sarcos Robotics and Changi Airport test outdoor robotic baggage handling system

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Sarcos Technology and Robotics, a manufacturer of advanced robotic systems, and Changi Airport has completed a demonstration of a jointly developed outdoor-based autonomous baggage loading system prototype.

In collaboration with CAG, Sarcos is developing an outdoor-based baggage loading system to automate the loading and unloading of loose passenger bags from narrow-bodied aircraft.

The inaugural field demonstrations were conducted during September 2022 at Singapore Changi Airport and validated the opportunity for robotics to reduce the risk of on-the-job injuries from baggage handling and augment the ground handling labor force. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics and Changi Airport test outdoor robotic baggage handling system