space

AImotive and C3S take self-driving car technology from the road to space

July 7, 2020 by Abdul Montaqim Leave a Comment

AImotive, the automotive supplier of automated driving technologies, and C3S, the satellite and space technology provider, has entered into a collaboration to create a prototype hardware platform for the efficient execution of artificial intelligence onboard satellites by the second half of 2021.

C3S will adapt AImotive’s aiWare NN hardware acceleration technology in its space electronics platform to enable high performance AI capabilities in small, power-constrained satellites.

The results of this collaboration are expected to accelerate the commercialization of a wide range of services for both specialized and mass-market applications, such as telecommunications, Earth and space observation, autonomous satellite operation, docking support, asteroid mining and so on. [Read more…] about AImotive and C3S take self-driving car technology from the road to space

Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

June 26, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

The Australian government’s newly formed Australian Space Agency (ASA) has partnered with Fugro to design, build and operate the Australian Space Automation, Artificial intelligence and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Western Australia.

Benefitting from additional funding support from the WA State Government, the new complex will support start-ups, small businesses and researchers in controlling robotics activities in space, including servicing satellites in orbit.

The ASA selected Fugro in Australia on the basis of their track record in cutting-edge remote operations and robotics control in harsh marine environments, which demonstrates their robust robotics control capability via satellite communications. [Read more…] about Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

Airbus and Xenesis to demo 10 Gbps networking on ISS for robotics and other applications

June 10, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Airbus and Xenesis have signed a contract for a payload slot on the International Space Station Bartolomeo platform for the demonstration of their Xen-Hub optical communication space terminal.

The Xen-Hub is a greater than 10 gigabyte per second optical communications terminal. The terminal was enabled with a technology transfer from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is designed to increase satellite communications bandwidth.

The Airbus-built Bartolomeo platform offers external science and payload hosting capabilities on the ISS, providing new opportunities for science and research. [Read more…] about Airbus and Xenesis to demo 10 Gbps networking on ISS for robotics and other applications

Xilinx launches ‘industry’s first’ 20 nanometer space-grade FPGA chip

June 9, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Chipmaker Xilinx claims it has achieved “lift-off” with the launch of what it says is the industry’s first 20 nanometer space-grade FPGA for satellite and space applications.

Xilinx, which invented field-programmable gate array chips, says the new FPGA provides full radiation tolerance and ultra-high throughput and bandwidth performance for satellite and space applications.

The new 20nm Radiation Tolerant Kintex UltraScale XQRKU060 FPGA provides true unlimited on-orbit reconfiguration, over a 10x increase in digital signal processing (DSP) performance – ideal for payload applications – and full radiation tolerance across all orbits, says Xilinx. [Read more…] about Xilinx launches ‘industry’s first’ 20 nanometer space-grade FPGA chip

SICK launches new ultra-compact safety laser scanner nanoScan3

April 7, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

SICK is launching its newest ultra-compact safety laser scanner, nanoScan3. The company says the new product combines smart safety functions with excellent measurement data quality for accurate and reliable localization.

With an overall height of just over three inches, this space-saving sensor can be used wherever machines and vehicles require maximum performance, but have minimal mounting space.

This enables manufacturers to use small automated guided vehicles or mobile robots equipped with SICK’s leading-edge safety technology. [Read more…] about SICK launches new ultra-compact safety laser scanner nanoScan3

India to send humanoid robot astronaut into space

January 23, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

India is planning to send a humanoid robot astronaut into space, according to a number of media reports. (See video below.)

Called “Vyommitra”, the humanoid robot has been given a female form and does not have any legs. India Today reports that it can “recognise astronauts, converse with them and answer their questions”.

Sam Dyal, a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation, says Vyommitra is referred to as “half humanoid” because it only has an upper body and has limited movement – “it can only bend sidewards and forward”. [Read more…] about India to send humanoid robot astronaut into space

GM’s Cruise Automation unveils new driverless electric vehicle

January 22, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Cruise Automation, the driverless car startup acquired by General Motors, has unveiled its first vehicle.

The Cruise Origin, as it is called, is electric, autonomous, driverless with no steering wheel, and designed to carry several people – about six in spacious comfort.

The company says the Origin is the answer to the many problems of motoring today. Cars today use fossil fuels which pollute the atmosphere, and are designed in a way that limits the space available. [Read more…] about GM’s Cruise Automation unveils new driverless electric vehicle

Key supplier selection criteria for when you’re building optical assemblies for commercial space applications

January 3, 2020 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

By Joe Salemi, OEM sales manager, Optical Components Group, ZYGO Corporation

It is often easy to ignore the fundamental role that technology plays in our everyday lives.

Consider the ability to analyze changes to the Earth’s surface, daily. Consider the possibility of ubiquitous internet access even in remote parts of the world. Consider satellite navigation systems in almost every new road vehicle.

All these and thousands of other activities that are driven by the need to monitor what is happening in the world every minute of every day are only possible because of commercial space projects, and the technology used in such space craft must marry reliability with utmost precision. [Read more…] about Key supplier selection criteria for when you’re building optical assemblies for commercial space applications

European Space Agency to launch robot to clean up space

December 12, 2019 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

The European Space Agency is planning to send a robot out into space to clean it of debris, which mainly consists of the countless satellites sent into orbit over the past few decades.

The vast majority of these “junk” satellites – communications, weather, military – have operational lifetimes lasting a few years – about five to 10 years, after which there is no system for bringing them back or clear them in any way. (See simulation of space debris around Earth below.)

Some have previously proposed to build robots that can travel to those obsolete satellites to perhaps fix them or make use of them somehow or at least maintain them so they are operational for longer, but that is an idea that is still in development, although also mentioned as part of ESA’s plan. [Read more…] about European Space Agency to launch robot to clean up space

Waypoint Robotics moves to larger facility to ‘meet growing demand’ for its warehouse robots

December 11, 2019 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

Waypoint Robotics has moved to a larger facility to meet what it says “growing demand” for its autonomous mobile robots. Among the products the company supplies is the MAV3K, an AMR with the capacity to lift 3000 lb.

The new, larger manufacturing facility in Nashua, New Hampshire. The new location features expanded space for production, design, engineering, quality control, and robot testing.

Jason Walker, CEO and co-founder of Waypoint, says: “The response for our Vector and MAV3K AMRs has been strong and we quickly outgrew our Merrimack, New Hampshire location. We need space to ramp up production as customers transition from pilot programs into scaling their robot fleets. [Read more…] about Waypoint Robotics moves to larger facility to ‘meet growing demand’ for its warehouse robots