Known for providing an open-source-based, enterprise operating system for drones called Auterion Enterprise PX4, Auterion has announced two new hires, and a U.S. office to guide the company’s growth. David Sharpin, formerly vice president of Sales and Business Development for AeroVironment, has been named the General Manager for Auterion U.S., while Marco Bill-Peter, current SVP Red Hat, has been named an Auterion Board Member. Auterion notes that currently, the Defense Department’s drones run largely on custom software that is created and maintained by several military contractors. The open source software development model is starting to change that, though, according to Auterion.

Artificial intelligence technology provider Dynam.AI and GBA, a provider of engineering and architecture technologies, have announced that they will work together to identify defects in bridge roadway surfaces using a joint platform consisting of GBA’s UAS and Dynam.AI’s Auguste image detection and classification algorithm. There are more than 47,000 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S. according to a 2019 study from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. Traditionally, collecting the necessary data to determine the location and severity of the structural deficiencies would be done manually, which would require ground crews and extensive lane closures, creating hazards for drivers, road workers and inspectors.

Autonomous technology developer Aurora has partnered with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to work on self-driving commercial vehicles. Aurora says that the partnership will “further expand the scope” of the Aurora Driver, which is an independent platform that Aurora describes as “the hardware, the software, and the data services that guide vehicles powered by it safely through the world.” This will ultimately allow Aurora to offer a variety of technologies to strategic customers in logistics, transit, and other use cases, the company says. 

Empirical Systems Aerospace Inc. (ESAero) has announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Award from NASA. Currently in negotiation, the award is under NASA Topic A1.06 for Vertical Lift Technology and Urban Air Mobility. ESAero says that its proposal, “Validation of UAM Dynamics Modeling Tool Suite Using Scaled Modular Aerial Research Testbed,” will “comprehensively address a gap in knowledge due to a lack of publicly available datasets for the dynamic handling qualities of UAM and eVTOL aircraft powered by all-electric or hybrid-electric propulsion systems.”