Robotics & Automation News

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ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

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Astrocast, a global nanosatellite IoT network operator, and ArrowSpot has signed a multi-million-dollar contract to start mass production of ArrowSpot’s ArrowTrack SAT device.

The contract between Astrocast and ArrowSpot includes hardware integration and Satellite IoT (SatIoT) connectivity for an initial three-year period.

For context, ArrowSpot’s technology solutions provide the worldwide supply chain logistics industry with online information for safe & secure sensitive chilled cargo and high value cargo. Clients working with ArrowSpot include ZIM Shipping Line and Oceanex Inc. intermodal transportation services. [Read more…] about ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

Autonomous aviation company Xwing expands its air cargo operations to 400 weekly flights

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Autonomous aviation company Xwing is marking what it describes as “significant milestones”, including the expansion of its commercial cargo operations under FAA CFR Part 135 Air Carrier certificate, the addition of FAA CFR Part 145 certificates and “rapid company growth”.

Over the last 12 months, Xwing has more than tripled its team to 180 employees.

Xwing has completed the acquisition of Martinaire Aviation, a Texas-based FAR Part 135 air cargo carrier with over 40 years of experience throughout the United States. [Read more…] about Autonomous aviation company Xwing expands its air cargo operations to 400 weekly flights

Kawasaki demonstrates unmanned cargo transport system which combines an aircraft and a mobile wheeled robot

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Kawasaki Heavy Industries says it has successfully completed proof-of-concept (PoC) testing for an unmanned cargo transport system. (See video below.)

The system combines Kawasaki’s K-Racer-X1 prototype unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and what is commonly described in the industry as an autonomous mobile robot, and which the company describes as a “delivery robot”.

Kawasaki says the PoC testing was conducted with the aim of helping to solve societal issues such as labor shortages in the logistics industry. [Read more…] about Kawasaki demonstrates unmanned cargo transport system which combines an aircraft and a mobile wheeled robot

Reliable Robotics launches new cargo airline

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Reliable Robotics, a developer of automated aircraft systems, has appointmented David DeRose as director of finance and Lee Tomlinson as director of operations to the company’s fully owned Part 135 airline subsidiary in preparation for commercial cargo flights.

DeRose and Tomlinson join Jeff Drees, director of cargo strategy, to begin cargo services this year.

Reliable Robotics will continue to grow its airline team and operational experience as part of a phased certification approach to bring its Remotely Operated Aircraft System and services to market. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics launches new cargo airline

REE unveils fully autonomous concept vehicle based on its modular electric vehicle platform

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REE Automotive, a developer of e-mobility technologies, has unveiled its autonomous concept vehicle based on a new “ultra-modular” electric platform design.

The full-scale concept is geared for customers including last-mile autonomous and electric delivery companies, delivery fleet operators, e-retailers and technology companies seeking to build fully autonomous solutions.

Fully-autonomous delivery fleets “Powered by REE” will allow customers to build autonomous and electric vehicle fleets according to their exact specifications with unmatched interior space for transporting passengers and cargo. REE’s technology will be seamlessly integrated with any top hat and autonomous hardware. [Read more…] about REE unveils fully autonomous concept vehicle based on its modular electric vehicle platform

Xwing and Textron Aviation to develop autonomous flight

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Xwing, a startup developing autonomy for aviation, has signed a joint development agreement with Textron Aviation.

Under this non-exclusive agreement, Xwing and Textron Aviation, home to the iconic Cessna and Beechcraft brands, can begin to work together to accelerate the seamless integration of autoflight technologies into existing and future aircraft, beginning with the Cessna Grand Caravan.

On the heels of its recent $40 million funding round, $400 million valuation, and completion of the world’s first autonomous gate-to-gate flight of a commercial cargo aircraft, Xwing enters the agreement as a leader in autonomous flight technology. [Read more…] about Xwing and Textron Aviation to develop autonomous flight

Sea Machines embarks on ‘world’s first’ autonomous, remotely commanded voyage by an ocean tugboat

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In a milestone moment slated to prove that the world’s waterways are primed and ready for autonomous technology, Sea Machines will circumnavigate Denmark on a multi-week 1,000 nautical mile remotely commanded commercial voyage.

Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and control systems for the maritime industry, says it will embark on a 1,000 nautical mile autonomous and remotely commanded journey around Denmark later this month.

Aptly named “The Machine Odyssey”, the voyage marks a landmark moment for autonomous transportation and is slated to prove that the world’s waterways are primed and ready for long-range autonomy.

The Machine Odyssey will depart from Hamburg, Germany, on September 30, with full onboard vessel control managed by autonomous technology, while operating under the authority of commanding officers located in the United States. [Read more…] about Sea Machines embarks on ‘world’s first’ autonomous, remotely commanded voyage by an ocean tugboat

Perrone Robotics completes series of public road tests of its autonomous vehicles

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Perrone Robotics, a provider of autonomous vehicle technology, says it has successfully completed a series of public road demonstrations in the city of Westminster, Maryland, as part of an event hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory (MAGIC) Autonomous Corridor Project.

Following the success achieved in Maryland a week before, the company conducted back-to-back public road tests for customers with a GreenPower AV Star zero-emission transit shuttle, and a Low Speed Vehicle neighborhood electric vehicle, both integrated with Perrone Autonomy.

These vehicles are slated for customer deployment later this summer for use in municipal and university transit applications. [Read more…] about Perrone Robotics completes series of public road tests of its autonomous vehicles

Cargo Cove selects inVia Logic warehouse execution system software to optimize its facility

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Cargo Cove has chosen inVia Robotics’ warehouse execution system to accelerate digital transformation in its Jacksonville, Florida facility.

inVia Robotics is a provider of autonomous mobile robots and a AI-driven optimization software, specializing in e-commerce.

Cargo Cove will take advantage of inVia’s phased approach to automation and first deploy the inVia PickMate application to direct workers along the most efficient route through the warehouse to take products from inventory to pack out. Later this year, they will add inVia Picker autonomous mobile robots, which will augment existing labor and further increase productivity and accuracy rates.  [Read more…] about Cargo Cove selects inVia Logic warehouse execution system software to optimize its facility

Honeywell to provide flight control technology for unmanned cargo plane

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Pipistrel has selected Honeywell’s Compact Fly-By-Wire system for the Nuuva V300 cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), choosing a modern, lightweight, highly capable system with a proven architecture ideally suited for their autonomous cargo UAV.

Fly-by-wire computers act as the “brains” of an aircraft’s flight controls by operating them electronically and can be found inside nearly all large fixed-wing aircraft today.

The compact version from Honeywell has features derived from decades of expertise in fly-by-wire systems for airliners, but it’s much smaller – roughly the size of a paperback book. [Read more…] about Honeywell to provide flight control technology for unmanned cargo plane