This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

Milrem Robotics introduced its next generation THeMIS UGV during UMEX 2018 in Abu Dhabi. Equipped with autonomous capabilities, the UGV is “intended specifically” for desert terrain and hot climates. (Business Wire)

In Virginia, Petersburg Police have acquired three new UAS “to tackle crime and keep the community safe,” according to Petersburg Police Chief Kenneth Miller. The department now has four UAS, which will be used to assist with a variety of department operations, including searching for lost or missing people. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), May Mobility, and the City of Tampa recently showcased autonomous vehicle technology on Downtown Tampa City streets. Passengers got the opportunity to ride in the May Mobility vehicle fleet and experience a real-world scenario of the technology, as the fleet drove down city streets and Marion Transit Way corridor. (HART)

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Predator B UAS is being used in San Angelo, Texas to conduct border security missions. This is the third year in a row that the UAS has been used for these missions. (San Angelo LIVE!)

Pony.ai, which is an autonomous driving technology startup, has become the first company to operate an autonomous ride-hailing service on public roads for public users in China. The service is operating in a “very specific, relatively small bounded area,” according to reports. (TechCrunch)

A-techSYN’s CGT45 SLT UAS recently conducted its first European test flight in Co Clare, a county in western Ireland. The UAS is said to be the largest ever flown in Ireland. (The Clare Herald)

For the first time, China has issued licenses to auto makers that allow self-driving vehicles to be road tested. The licenses, which were offered to SAIC Motor Corp Ltd­­ and NIO, would allow operators to test drive the vehicles on a 3.5-mile public road in Jiading District of Shanghai. (Reuters)