This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

Simlat, which is a provider of training and simulation systems for UAS, has announced that it will provide its existing and new customers with a high-fidelity maritime simulation, which includes an enhanced dynamic wave model that takes into account the sea state and the weather conditions, along with the characteristics of simulated vessels such as length, weight, drought and center of mass. Applications such as search and rescue operations, security and marine life exploration will benefit from the improved visuals.

Automated valet parking is now a reality, thanks to Bosch and Daimler developing technology that allows a driver to automatically park their car in an assigned spot without having to monitor the movement of the vehicle. Dubbed the “world’s first-ever infrastructure-based solution for a fully automated valet parking service in real conditions, with and without drivers at the wheel,” the parking service is initiated using a simple command from a smartphone, and is expected to be available for visitors to use in the Mercedes-Benz Museum parking garage in Stuttgart, Germany by early 2018. (Automotive World)

The University of Michigan will be home to a $75-million, four-story, 140,000-square-foot facility called the Ford Motor Company Robotics Building. The building will be used to facilitate the development of robotic technologies, as it will include an obstacle course for robots, as well as testing space for UAS. According to Deborah Mero, the College of Engineering Resource Planning and Management Executive Director, construction of the building is expected to begin after the project's design goes before the UM Board of Regents sometime in the coming months. (Michigan Live)

An underwater robot called “Tansuo” has conducted its first test dive in the South China Sea. Developed in China, the 3.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide “Tansuo” is capable of diving to a depth of 4,500 meters. The robot will team up with “Faxian,” which is an unmanned submersible, to conduct 20 hours of collaborative operations in the South China Sea. (Xinhuanet.com)

In Orange, Connecticut, the town’s police and firefighters are using UAS during a variety of missions across the town. Recently, the UAS was used when a despondent man was threatening to harm himself. The UAS, which is about two feet square and can fly up to 40 miles per hour, can also be used for other tasks such as search and rescue operations, which will be extremely beneficial in Orange since the town has an abundance of open space. (The Daily Progress)

From August 1 to 5, a driverless minibus will undergo a test run on a Taipei City street in Taiwan. The Easymile manufactured-EZ10 driverless shuttle will operate from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. during these dates, and will drive in two-way exclusive bus lanes. (Taiwan News)

Cyberworks Robotics and the University of Toronto are using self-driving software and hardware to develop self-driving wheelchairs. The wheelchairs would use similar sensors being used in autonomous vehicles that allow those vehicles to travel routes without assistance from the user, as well as dodge obstacles. In the past, autonomous wheelchair designs could cost consumers upwards of $30,000, but Cyberworks Robotics and the University of Toronto are working on something that could cost just $300 to $700. (TechDigg.com)