This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

Yuneec International has announced that its “first product offering dedicated to commercial use,” the H520 sUAS, is now available. The H520 sUAS, which uses Yuneec’s six-rotor platform, includes enterprise-grade cameras and mission planning software, making it useful commercially across a variety of verticals such as construction, inspection and public safety. Some of the offerings of the sUAS include an assortment of payload options, reliable and stable flight, and an integrated ground controller. (Yuneec)

As of the morning of Thursday, August 31, the FAA had issued 43 unmanned aircraft system authorizations to UAS operators supporting the relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey, or those that were covering the storm as a part of the media. The authorizations cover a wide range of tasks being conducted by local, state and federal officials that are performing damage assessments of critical infrastructure, homes and businesses to “help target, prioritize and expedite recovery activities.” (FAA)

Samsung Electronics has received permission from the California DMV to test self-driving technologies in the state. According to a company spokesperson that confirmed Samsung’s participation in California's Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program, the company has “no plans to enter the car-manufacturing business,” but it will continue to develop sensors that utilize its artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning software, along with other components for autonomous vehicles. (Engadget)

In late August, the United States Army displayed several autonomous military vehicles during a gathering of senior Army leaders and researchers at the Maneuver Center of Excellence on Fort Benning, Georgia. The demonstration featured a robotized Polaris MRZR military all-terrain vehicle with a tethered UAS, a self-driving Humvee with an automated machine gun and an automated M113 armored personnel carrier. According to Maj. Alan Stephens, a lead project officer, the purpose of the demonstration was to “broaden horizons and expand the realm of possibilities by using repurposed older military vehicles.” (Army Times)

In Panama City Beach, Florida, the Bay County branch of Huntington Ingalls Industries has been working on the Proteus underwater drone, which could one day handle some of the work that has been traditionally done by manned submarines. Among its many capabilities, the 26-foot military vehicle is capable of searching for and clearing underwater threats, surveying a warfare environment, and putting up sensors in an area. The vehicle has been in its testing phase since 2012, and has logged 2,000 dive hours locally and abroad since then. (Panama City News Herald)

The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) has launched the Career Pathways Initiative, which is a new program that will provide direct job placement opportunities to those who hold a valid USI certification. Through the program, USI graduates will have access to a variety of opportunities such as internships, externships, and direct job recruitment into jobs as professional remote pilots. To bolster the Career Pathways Initiative, USI has partnered with Unmannedpower, which is the “recognized leader in professional recruiting dedicated to the unmanned systems industry.” Unmannedpower will help place USI graduates who are qualified pilots with job opportunities across the UAS industry. (Argus)