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SeaTrac equips unmanned vessel with mammal monitoring technology

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A landmark project supported by the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) “Real-Time Marine Mammal Monitoring Service via Uncrewed Surface Vehicle” program has successfully demonstrated a novel and effective method for real-time marine mammal monitoring.

In a collaborative effort, JASCO Applied Sciences and SeaTrac Systems deployed an advanced Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system aboard SeaTrac’s SP-48 Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV).

Equipped with JASCO’s acoustic technology, a collapsible directional array and heave-compensating winch, the system successfully detected several endangered North Atlantic Right Whales during trials conducted off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. [Read more…] about SeaTrac equips unmanned vessel with mammal monitoring technology

Drone market forecast to grow to $123 billion by 2030

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The drone economy is set to soar, with unprecedented growth on the horizon. According to global intelligence firm ABI Research, civil and commercial applications of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS), aka drones, will expand dramatically, rising from just 8 percent to an impressive 32 percent of the total market by 2030.

In this timeframe, annual drone shipments will more than double from 1.5 million units in 2024 to 3.32 million, fueling an ecosystem poised to quadruple in value.

By the decade’s end, the sector will generate $123 billion in annual revenue, marking a transformative shift in the commercial and civil drone landscape. [Read more…] about Drone market forecast to grow to $123 billion by 2030

Sea Machines Robotics unveils new unmanned ‘workboats’

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Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of marine autonomous technology, has launched “Selkie”, its latest innovation in unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

The company described the launch as “a momentous move that will further the flood tide of autonomous marine operations”.

The first model, Selkie 7, is a 7-meter USV powered by the company’s flagship SM300 Autonomous Command and Control system, Selkie represents a leap forward in autonomous technology and a new era of marine exploration and operations. [Read more…] about Sea Machines Robotics unveils new unmanned ‘workboats’

Japanese researchers develop ‘innovative, low-cost’ UAV for inspecting transmission lines

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The novel approach avoids costly and sophisticated equipment, while also enabling automated close-range inspection of transmission lines

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are now widely used for remote inspection of electrical transmission lines, but capturing detailed information over long distances poses challenges.

Additionally, sophisticated equipment is needed due to magnetic field interferences, increasing costs. Now, a team of researchers has introduced an innovative low-cost UAV platform.

Using specialized algorithms, it addresses the limitations of affordable equipment, facilitating close-range inspections. The proposed system paves the way for the widespread adoption of automated inspection systems. [Read more…] about Japanese researchers develop ‘innovative, low-cost’ UAV for inspecting transmission lines

Teledyne’s Thermal by FLIR program sees expansion with US drone makers BRINC and Teal

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Thermal By FLIR Collaborators Teal and BRINC Mark the Next Generation of Small Thermal-Equipped Unmanned Aircraft for Defense and Public Safety Use

Teledyne FLIR, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, today announced continued momentum within its Thermal by FLIR program for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), highlighted by the integration of its Hadron 640R dual visible-thermal payload within the recently announced Teal 2 drone and the Lepton 3.5 thermal micro camera within the BRINC LEMUR 2. 

Mike Walters, vice president, product management, Teledyne FLIR, says: “Teledyne FLIR brings decades of thermal camera development experience to the sUAS market, with a strict focus on reducing the size, weight, and power while expanding the technical capabilities today’s emergency personnel, law enforcement, and warfighters require.

“The integration of the Teledyne FLIR thermal camera modules into the cutting-edge LEMUR 2 and the Teal 2 demonstrates our continued commitment to innovation and streamlined platform integration.” [Read more…] about Teledyne’s Thermal by FLIR program sees expansion with US drone makers BRINC and Teal

Boston Dynamics joins Persistent Systems mobile telecommunications ecosystem

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Persistent Systems, a provider of mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) technology, says that mobile robotics company Boston Dynamics has joined its Relay Ecosystem.

The Ecosystem is an industry alliance of unmanned system and sensor producers all using the Wave Relay MANET as their preferred network for command-and-control and communications.

As part of its agreement with Boston Dynamics, Persistent will supply the MANET devices used on robots sold to defense, public safety, law enforcement and US federal government customers. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics joins Persistent Systems mobile telecommunications ecosystem

Colruyt tests Clevon’s unmanned vehicle in Belgium for shopping deliveries

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Collect&Go, Colruyt Group’s online shopping service, is currently testing the state-of-the-art technology: an autonomous vehicle built by the Estonian technology company Clevon that combines remote teleoperation with advanced autopilot functionality.

The aim is to find out what such a vehicle can mean for Collect&Go in a rapidly changing e-commerce context. Remotely controlled, the self-driving vehicle will take to public roads for the first time today.

In doing so, it will cover a 4-kilometre route, from the distribution centre to Collect&Go’s pick-up point in Londerzeel. This is the longest route ever covered in Belgium by an unmanned vehicle. [Read more…] about Colruyt tests Clevon’s unmanned vehicle in Belgium for shopping deliveries

Port of Rotterdam selects Airwayz as partner to develop prototype drone airspace

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Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR), in the Netherlands, has selected Airwayz as the partner to build the U-Space Airspace prototype for the port industrial complex.

The partnership is set for a period of two years in which the U-Space services will be set up and the Airwayz unmanned traffic management (UTM) system will be configured to the ports’ needs and requirements.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority believes that monitoring the lower airspace and offering UAS traffic services will in future greatly support drone services and allow them to thrive. [Read more…] about Port of Rotterdam selects Airwayz as partner to develop prototype drone airspace

Stratom launches platform to enable faster development of autonomous systems in complex terrain environments

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Stratom, a developer of autonomous ground vehicles and robotic systems for logistics and operational applications, has launched its Summit Off-Road Autonomy Platform, which it describes as “a highly configurable modular software system that can be easily customized for various unmanned vehicles, applications, operations and environmental conditions”.

Leveraging Stratom’s proven off-road and complex terrain capabilities, Summit delivers flexible, tailored and cost-saving autonomy solutions for a variety of industries and applications in challenging or dangerous environments. [Read more…] about Stratom launches platform to enable faster development of autonomous systems in complex terrain environments

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