This Week in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World

Northwest UAV (NWUAV) has partnered with Hirth Engines (Hirth) as distributor for North and Central America. NWUAV and Hirth will work closely together to provide “seamless, continued support” for existing customers. (Hirth Engines)

Xenia has introduced XECARB SL composites, the newest Xenia Materials family of Carbon filled, super light structural compounds. Developed in partnership with Arkema, the XECARB SL composites family is ideal for special drone applications. (Xenia)

Known for developing autonomous vehicles for handling materials in factories and warehouses, Seegrid has announced that it has closed on a $52 million funding round. The new funds are expected to be used to accelerate new product development, to finance potential acquisitions in the future and to grow its workforce. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

In Redding, California, Redding police officers used a UAS to rescue an injured camper along the Sacramento River Trail in Redding. After the man’s wife called Redding Police to report him missing, saying that he had fallen and injured himself, the police used the UAS to find the camp, which was hidden in tall vegetation and only visible from the air. After being located, the man was taken to the hospital for treatment and reunited with his wife. (KRCR-TV)

A Boston startup called Cleo Robotics has taken a new approach to drone development by putting the propellers inside, resulting in a drone called the Dronut. By having the propellers inside, the drone could be sent into dangerous spots without the risk of a propeller hitting a wall and breaking the UAS. (CBS Boston)

A fleet of 40 autonomous robots has been deployed on Arizona State University's Tempe campus. The robots are a product of Starship Technologies, which has been deploying its robots across college campuses across the country. (AZCentral)

Last Friday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo welcomed home several individuals who have been helping battle and contain wildland fires raging in western states, including two members of the New York Air National Guard who provided mission support with UAS to detect fire lines and aid in fire control measures while assisting California Air National Guard’s 163rd Attack Wing at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California. (Mid Hudson News)

A San Francisco-based company called Tortoise has unveiled its new delivery robots. Roughly the size of an electric wheelchair, the robots, which are capable of carrying 100-plus pounds, are driven remotely by teleoperators as opposed to operating autonomously. They are also meant to make scheduled deliveries of groceries, parcels and other goods within a three mile radius of a store or hub, instead of on-demand deliveries. (The Spoon)