New Atlas

Drones Audio available

Rega air rescue drone can autonomously search for missing persons

David Nield April 16, 2019

We've seen autonomous aircraft doing everything from spraying crops to surveying wildlife, and now the Swiss air rescue organization Rega has announced a drone that's capable of searching for and finding missing people all on its own.

The Rega drone can spot signs of missing people and alert rescue teams on the ground

Robotics

SwagBot autonomous agricultural robot to hit the farmers market in 2020

Loz Blain April 9, 2019

Back in 2016, we wrote about the Agerris SwagBot farming robot and its abilities in crop inspection, weed removal and yield counting. Now, having raised US$4.6 million for commercialization, the company is looking to get an AI version of the robot onto the market within a year.

The SwagBot autonomous farm robot has received enough funding to commercialize it by 2020

Space Audio available

Self-driving spacecraft tech to be road-tested as part of planetary defense mission

Michael Irving April 9, 2019

ESA has now detailed the side mission it’s planning for the asteroid-visiting spacecraft Hera. After the main work is complete, the probe will test out some new autonomous navigation systems, which should help future spacecraft get around without relying on ground control all the way back on Earth.

Hera is set to become the first autonomous spacecraft

Robotics Audio available

Pile-driving autonomous robot builds walls in the ground

Ben Coxworth April 8, 2019

Driven into the ground, interlocking metal plates known as sheet piles can keep soil from eroding after rainfall, they can serve as retaining walls on slopes, or perform other functions. Installing them is a laborious process, though, which is why scientists have created a robot to do the job.

The Romu robot, seen here inserting sheet piles in the sand

Robotics Audio available

Autonomous sub seeks plankton patches to save birds

Ben Coxworth March 7, 2019

Phytoplankton aren't just evenly distributed throughout the ocean. Instead, they occur in three-dimensional concentrated patches. A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is able to find and map those patches, potentially helping to preserve wildlife such as seabirds.

The Harald AUV detects fluorescence that signifies the presence of phytoplankton

Robotics Audio available

FedEx rolls out autonomous delivery robot

Paul Ridden February 27, 2019

Readers will likely be well aware of Amazon's air and ground autonomous delivery robots, and you may have seen Starship's electric six-wheeled bot trundling around hundreds of cities. Now FedEx has joined the ranks with the development of the SameDay Bot.

Initial testing of the FedEx SameDay Bot is due to commence later this year in Memphis

Robotics Audio available

Autonomous bot is good to go, for clearing snow

Ben Coxworth February 21, 2019

If there's one thing that many North American cities need this winter, it's help in snow removal. That's likely why Colorado-based Left Hand Robotics is currently sold out of its SnowBot Pro, which autonomously brushes snow off of sidewalks while avoiding pedestrians.

The SnowBot Pro is powered by a gas engine, and automatically avoids obstacles

Automotive Audio available

Autonomous robot valet parking is coming to Gatwick Airport

Loz Blain January 24, 2019

Airport parking sucks, but a little French robot parking valet wants to make it better for everyone. After successful trials in Paris and Lyon, the Stan autonomous parking system is on its way to Gatwick, London – and it looks like a terrific idea.

These cute valet parking robots make travel more convenient while making more efficient use of parking ...

Automotive Audio available

Honda tests self-driving, off-road “Autonomous Work Vehicles”

Loz Blain December 17, 2018

They’re almost cute, these little seatless quadbikes, and they can be programmed to perform a bunch of handy tasks outdoors. Honda has been testing them in search and rescue, firefighting, construction, agriculture, landscaping and snow removal applications.

Honda sees potential for its AWV in a wide range of applications, including construction

Marine Audio available

Rolls-Royce welcomes Intel aboard its pursuit of self-navigating ships

Nick Lavars October 15, 2018

Rolls-Royce has made some pretty solid steps toward an autonomous shipping future since first unveiling its vision of a robotic cargo ship in 2014. Now it is teaming up with Intel to accelerate the development of autonomous shipping systems to make operations safer and more efficient.

Rolls-Royce imagines using satellite systems as part of ship-to-ship communication networks