Know What's Happening in Autonomy
Know What's Happening in Autonomy
ClassNK certifies first autonomous container ship navigation system
ClassNK has granted its AUTO-Nav2 (All) notation to the container ship Genbu, marking the world’s first certification for autonomous navigation on medium‑ to long‑distance routes. The vessel, built by Kyokuyo Shipyard and operated by Suzuyo Marine, is part of the Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 fully autonomous program.
Aurrigo International, a Coventry‑based developer of autonomy software and autonomous vehicles, has been granted a ground handling licence at East Midlands Airport (EMA). The licence, issued under the Airports (Ground Handling) Regulations 1997 and CAA compliance frameworks, allows Aurrigo to provide on‑site support for its autonomous baggage and cargo solutions. CEO David Keene highlighted the approval as a critical step to ensure seamless integration of its technologies with airport operations. The company now plans to seek similar licences at other airports to broaden its automation footprint.
Skyeton has equipped its Raybird long‑endurance UAV with an internal gamma‑radiation sensor, completing rigorous trials in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The payload integration preserves aerodynamic balance and enables real‑time radiation data transmission over distances up to 2,500 km. In 2025 the...
Leonardo Helicopters UK has completed two short test flights of its Proteus autonomous rotary‑wing demonstrator, the final milestone of a £60 million Phase 3a RWUAS contract with the UK Ministry of Defence. The 3‑tonne, modular‑payload aircraft leveraged off‑the‑shelf components and a digital‑twin...
LYNEports and the University of South Florida have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to combine the company’s AI‑driven digital planning platform with USF’s transportation research expertise. The partnership will target eVTOL route planning, network design, regulatory alignment, and infrastructure readiness...
The Department of Defense transferred stewardship of the Blue UAS Cleared List from the Defense Innovation Unit to the Defense Contract Management Agency in 2026, turning the list into a scalable procurement marketplace. DCMA’s Special Programs Unmanned Systems‑Experimental Command now...
- Scale out bottleneck is real - Co-packaged optics to be a “must” - NVDA pouring $$ into Lumentum/Coherent to lock down supply - Yet optical supply chain is still constrained and lumpy Photons are having their biggest moment since long-haul comms:
In this episode, Federico Borsari of the Center for European Policy Analysis explains how uncrewed systems are becoming essential for security, surveillance, and infrastructure protection in the Arctic. He outlines the shifting NATO threat picture—driven by Russia’s expanding presence, NATO’s...
DTC, a Codan Company, has partnered with FLANQ to embed its low‑size, weight, and power (SWaP) marine tactical radios into FLANQ’s uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for European defense operations. The integration provides encrypted, high‑bandwidth command‑and‑control links that remain resilient in...
Parallel Flight Technologies secured a Federal Aviation Administration 44807 exemption, allowing its Firefly hybrid heavy‑lift unmanned aircraft system to operate commercially across the United States. The clearance opens the platform for industrial missions such as sensor integration, wildland fire management,...
Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War Iran, a pioneer in lower-end uncrewed surface vessel technology, used at least one to attack the oil tanker MKD VYOM in the Gulf of Oman. https://t.co/YGpQWjAl2y
RoboCup 2026 introduces the Smart Manufacturing League (SML): a new unified league combining logistics, mobile manipulation, and intelligent industrial automation. 📝 TDP and a performance video ⏳ Deadline: March 20, 2026 🔗 https://t.co/oSq94PUdVO #RoboCup2026 #SML #Robotics https://t.co/pYWpgRMSpf
Tampa General Hospital has become the first health system in Florida to adopt Microbot Medical’s LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System, following the device’s FDA 510(k) clearance. LIBERTY is a single‑use, remotely operated robot designed for peripheral endovascular procedures, promising greater precision...
Purdue Polytechnic’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program has been chosen for the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems‑Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS‑CTI). The selection validates the school’s safety‑focused curriculum and aligns its coursework with upcoming federal regulations. Students will receive hands‑on flight, maintenance, and...
Time‑sensitive networking (TSN) is emerging as the new baseline for industrial automation by delivering guaranteed, deterministic packet delivery across shared Ethernet links. Built on IEEE 802.1 standards, TSN separates high‑priority control traffic from lower‑priority data such as video, preventing network‑induced delays...
Fraunhofer researchers unveiled NeurOSmart, a system that fuses high‑resolution LIDAR sensing with neuromorphic AI chips to enable safe human‑robot collaboration. The LIDAR sensor uses MEMS mirrors with AlScN material to create a 3‑D view, while AI algorithms pre‑process data directly...
Tata Technologies has teamed up with UK‑based WITTENSTEIN High Integrity Systems to embed the SAFE RTOS operating system into its software‑defined vehicle (SDV) platform. The integration positions SAFE RTOS as a core safety layer for Tata’s automotive software stack, helping OEMs and...
Advanced smart sprayers are reshaping agronomy by integrating camera‑based automation, variable‑rate control, and mechanical flexibility. Case IH’s SenseApply and John Deere’s See & Spray deliver real‑time, nozzle‑by‑nozzle adjustments at speeds up to 25 mph, cutting chemical waste. New Holland’s Guardian combines live variable‑rate...
Warehouse robotics are moving beyond Amazon and Walmart as subscription‑based models lower entry barriers. A 2025 MHI study shows robot usage in warehouses jumped to 48%, with 64% of respondents adopting robotics‑as‑a‑service (RaaS) or SaaS solutions. Mid‑size firms like Superior...
Teledyne FLIR Defense and Norway’s STORM Adapt Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding at EnforceTac 2026 to integrate FLIR’s SkyCarrier quadcopter and Black Recon micro‑UAS with STORM’s Rapid Adapt and Deploy System (RADS). The MoU creates a vehicle‑mounted, modular platform that...
The UK Civil Aviation Authority released a Technical Concept of Operations detailing electronic conspicuity (EC) requirements for integrating BVLOS unmanned aircraft into shared airspace. Uncrewed systems must broadcast a 978 MHz ADS‑B signal and carry ADS‑B IN receivers, while crewed aircraft face...
Rokstone has launched Rokstone Velocity, a new division dedicated to underwriting complex casualty risks emerging from the digital economy, beginning with the U.S. market. The unit is led by Andrew Cooper, a veteran with 25 years of insurance experience, and...
AgentOps = MLOps for autonomous AI. 🧠⚙️ To scale agents in production you need the full stack: 🗺️ planning 🧠 memory/context 🤖 execution (tools/APIs/code) 📈 monitoring 🔁 optimization 🛡️ governance 🏗️ infrastructure Agents don’t scale without operations. #AgentOps #AIAgents #AgenticAI #LLMs #Automation
Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) announced a “Regulate First” strategy for Advanced Air Mobility, committing to a full regulatory framework before commercial operations begin. The move follows a high‑level meeting with Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau, where both sides examined airworthiness...
Joanna M. Pinkerton has been appointed HNTB’s national practice leader for digital infrastructure solutions, a role that will guide clients in using data intelligence and advanced technologies across transportation planning, design, delivery, and operations. Pinkerton joins HNTB after serving as...
In May 2025 the Yimin coal mine in Inner Mongolia launched a fleet of 100 AI‑driven, electric trucks equipped with 5G‑Advanced connectivity. The trucks use 568 kWh lithium‑iron‑phosphate batteries and automated swapping stations that replace packs in about five minutes with a 98 %...
Hargrave Technologies introduced the microDRIVE MP, a 60 V, 120 A motor controller tailored for medium VTOL and helicopter UAVs. The ESC offers high‑current performance in an IP67‑rated, rugged enclosure, addressing the growing power and durability demands of expanding UAV missions. It...
Swedish firm Everdrone unveiled the E3, a purpose‑built medical transport drone that replaces its earlier E2 platform with fully proprietary hardware. The new model doubles payload capacity to 4.5 kg and cruises above 80 km/h, enabling deliveries in under three minutes—significantly faster...
Quectel Wireless Solutions is unveiling its automotive‑grade mmWave radar portfolio at MWC Barcelona, featuring a 77 GHz forward‑collision warning unit with over 220 m range and the ability to track 40 dynamic targets. The company also displayed a blind‑spot detection radar that...
AGIBot unveiled its full humanoid robot portfolio at MWC 2026, showcasing A2, X2, G2, D1 and C5 platforms alongside the OmniHand dexterous limb. The company launched a global online store and a Robot‑as‑a‑Service (RaaS) leasing model with prices starting at €899...
Modern's 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards recognized top performers in warehousing/distribution, innovation, and e‑fulfillment. Performance Health won Warehousing/Distribution for a streamlined distribution center, reduced packaging waste, and improved KPI tracking. Staples earned the Innovation award for its integrated robotics platform, autonomous...
Tesla announced that its Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) system has now accumulated 8.4 billion cumulative miles, as shown on the company’s safety dashboard. The mileage grew from roughly 6 million in 2021 to 4.25 billion in 2025, with an additional 1 billion miles logged in...
U.S. Central Command confirmed that the LUCAS one‑way attack drone was employed for the first time in combat during Saturday’s airstrikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury. The low‑cost autonomous kamikaze, reverse‑engineered from the Iranian Shahed‑136, struck IRGC command and...
A Chinese driver of a Lynk & Co Z20 used a voice command to turn off interior lights, but the system mistakenly disabled the headlights, leading to a crash captured on dashcam. Lynk & Co quickly issued an emergency over‑the‑air...
The article frames warehouse technology adoption as a series of seasonal maturity levels, ranging from manual operations to fully dynamic, software‑driven facilities. It warns that forcing a single platform across all sites creates fragmentation, higher costs, and stunted growth. Instead,...
The article warns that autonomous‑vehicle firms are rebranding human remote operators as "assistants" to dodge legal responsibility. By labeling these operators as non‑drivers, companies aim to shift liability from tort negligence to product‑defect claims, even when human error directly causes...
In episode 233 of The Robot Report, hosts Steve Crow and Mike Oitzman discuss the explosive growth of AI funding, highlighted by OpenAI’s $110 billion raise, and its implications for robotics. They interview Andrew Singletary and Amir Sharif of Three Laws...
Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) fuse ADAS, infotainment, cloud services and OTA updates onto electric powertrains, creating a far more intricate tech stack than conventional cars. Engineers must grapple with modular architectures, multi‑vendor integration, and stringent cybersecurity mandates such as ISO/SAE 21434...
Senator Todd Young introduced the Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability (SAFER) Transport Act to tackle freight fraud, theft, and safety on U.S. highways. The bill mandates a freight fraud advisory committee, eliminates MC numbers in favor of a single...
Factory floors in 2026 are shifting from basic automation to intelligent, software‑defined systems. The article ranks the top five automation vendors—Hefestus, Rockwell Automation, Siemens Digital Industries, ABB Robotics, and Fanuc—highlighting each firm’s niche strengths such as high‑precision packaging, edge computing,...
The latest Electrek Podcast recaps a turbulent week for Tesla, highlighting the departure of the Cybercab program manager and Elon Musk’s threat to halt the Giga Berlin expansion over a union vote. It also spotlights Donut Lab’s solid‑state battery that...
The Technology & Maintenance Council’s 70th annual meeting convenes in Nashville March 16‑19, featuring nearly 400 exhibitors across 350,000 sq ft. The event is split into education, exhibition, and voluntary standards tracks, with over 100 task forces shaping new recommended practices. Sessions...
LUCID Vision Labs launched the Atlas10 SWIR, a 10GigE camera featuring Sony’s 5.2 MP IMX992 and 3.2 MP IMX993 SenSWIR InGaAs sensors. The camera incorporates integrated thermoelectric cooling (TEC) that can be set to 10 °C, cutting dark current and image noise for...
UK orders for uncrewed maritime vehicles (UMVs) are expected to sustain work at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard as the Type 31 frigate programme winds down in the early 2030s. The Ministry of Defence’s Strategic Defence Review calls for a hybrid fleet of...
PwC’s latest outlook finds manufacturers will more than double automation, AI and advanced‑technology use by 2030, with the median adoption rate climbing from 26% to 68% of operations. Adoption in production and product design is already high, while business support...
Waymo's autonomous robotaxis were captured in a surveillance video attempting to navigate a narrow street in opposite directions, resulting in a minor traffic jam dubbed a "robot‑taxi ballet." Two, then three Waymo units struggled to coordinate, briefly blocking the crosswalk...
HUBER+SUHNER is developing a 3D waveguide radar antenna for ADAS and autonomous driving. The antenna reduces signal loss, improves resolution and works in adverse weather. Operating at 77 GHz, the technology offers larger apertures, higher channel counts and better EMC integration...
Elektrobit’s safety‑certified EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications has been integrated into Mobileye Drive, the company’s Level 4 autonomous‑driving platform. The Linux OS received TÜV Nord’s technical assessment for ASIL B and SIL2 compliance, meeting ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 safety standards. Mobileye plans to use...
Researchers at the University of Southampton have created a soft‑robotic wing with a liquid‑metal e‑skin that senses water flow and reshapes itself automatically. In lab tests the wing cut unwanted uplift impulse by 87% versus rigid AUV wings, responded up...
AB Dynamics’ Soft Bicycle 360 has received Euro NCAP approval as a certified test target for advanced driver‑assistance system (ADAS) evaluations. The lightweight, single‑piece design replicates cyclist radar signatures while minimizing vehicle damage during impact. Weighing 30% less than competing targets, it features...
Teledyne Marine and UK‑based M Subs have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a strategic collaboration focused on Royal Navy and other international naval programs. The partnership will fuse Teledyne’s unmanned vehicle platforms, autonomy software, sonars, acoustic communications, cameras, lighting...
