FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Business Solutions
Business Solutions
Ride sharing a first step to automated vehicles, speakers say
Shared rides — such as are offered by Lyft’s Lyft Line and Uber’s Uber Pool — are likely the first step to getting riders to accept future automated vehicles, representatives of those on-demand services said at the second day of the Automated Vehicles Symposium in San Francisco.
Joseph Okpaku, vice president of government operations for Lyft, said Lyft Line is available in 60 cities worldwide. In those cities, 20 percent of Lyft rides are shared rides, and some places, such as San Francisco, are much higher, verging on 50 to 60 percent.
Describing the company as “bullish” on automated vehicles, Okpaku said in five years, most of the company’s rides will be in automated vehicles, at least in urban core areas.
NAVYA will build its autonomous shuttle vehicles at new plant in Michigan
In a joint announcement with project collaborators Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Ann Arbor SPARK, NAVYA has announced that it will open its first U.S. production plant in Saline, Michigan.
NAVYA plans on building approximately 25 of its ARMA fully autonomous shuttle vehicles at the 20.000+ sq. foot plant by the end of the year.
“We at NAVYA could not be more pleased to call Saline, Michigan home to our first assembly plant in North America,” says NAVYA CEO Christophe Sapet.
“As the greater Ann Arbor area continues to establish itself as a hub for autonomous vehicle development, we feel it’s the perfect location for us.”
BAE Systems to develop United Kingdom’s first dedicated autonomous systems testing service
BAE Systems, a company that provides “advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions,” will “design and deliver the UK’s first dedicated autonomous systems testing service,” after being awarded a grant of £457,000 from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The new service, which is expected to be ready for use later this year, will give customers a “safe, controlled and realistic environment in the Solent” where they can conduct trials and test a variety of systems such as unmanned boats, air vehicles and autonomous sensors.
Police forces launch first fully operational drone unit in United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police have become the first police forces in the country to launch a fully operational drone unit.
The UAS will be used for a variety of missions, including searching for missing people, responding to major road traffic collisions, and combatting wildlife crime.
According to Chief Superintendent Jim Nye, Commander for the Alliance Operations Department, there are currently five officers trained to use UAS across both forces.
The plan is for an additional 40 officers to complete their Civil Aviation (CAA) training over the next 12 months, so that they can be fully accredited, which will allow them to operate the UAS.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University awarded grant to develop advanced capabilities for USVs
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will develop advanced communication, perception and energy systems for USVs, after being awarded a five-year, $900,000 research grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
Under this grant, Embry-Riddle will seek to accomplish a number of goals, with one focus being to develop “stealthier ways for unmanned vessels on the ocean’s surface to communicate with unmanned underwater vehicles such as submarines.”
Fortress UAV announces new North American repair service for commercial and consumer UAS
On July 10, Fortress UAV, a newly formed subsidiary of Fortress Solutions, officially announced a new North American repair service for commercial and consumer UAS.
With three facilities in the United States, and over 220 employees in repair services, Fortress UAV is in position to be the largest and most comprehensive facility for UAS repair in North America, especially since thus far, UAS repair facilities have mainly been housed at hobby shops, or been a product of drone enthusiasts launching new repair businesses.
Students at Tulsa Community College uses drone education program to prepare for FAA certification process
Tulsa Community College has launched a drone education program, which is teaching students how to operate UAS, so that they can earn the FAA certification necessary to operate UAS commercially.
Thus far, TCC has offered two classes for students, according to Beth Wild, continuing education director at TCC. The first class was a nine-hour course that was offered in April. The program was increased to 12 hours after students said that they needed more class time.
In August, a third course will be offered at the TCC facility at Jones Riverside Airport, where Wild and Pat Green, Workforce Development interim vice president at TCC, recently observed students learning to fly UAS.
Toyota announces new venture capital fund for autonomous vehicles
Have some good ideas for autonomous vehicle technology? The Toyota Research Institute would like to hear about it, and may be willing to fund it and become a customer.
Gil Pratt, the former DARPA roboticist who is now COE of the TRI, announced a new venture fund named the Toyota AI Ventures at the Automated Vehicles Symposium on Tuesday, July 11, held by AUVSI and TRB in San Francisco.
The idea is to invite innovative companies “to join us in trying to move this field forward,” Pratt said.
TRI was founded just last year with a $1 billion investment, and has quickly grown from zero employees to 200. Toyota AI Ventures is funded to the tune of $100 million from the $1 billion that TRI itself was founded with just last year.
Sanborn Map Company secures five-year contract for on-call UAS services with El Paso County
Over the next five years, departments and municipalities within El Paso County, Colorado will be able to negotiate task orders and procure UAS services and products from Sanborn Map Company, Inc. (Sanborn), which is a leader in the geospatial industry that delivers mapping services to customers across the world.
After awarding Sanborn this on-call unmanned aircraft services multi-year contract, El Paso County will reportedly use the UAS for a variety of tasks including disaster and emergency response, the mapping of parks, open space and trails, highways and bridges, and inspections for roofs.