Autonomous

NUI is lowered into the Aegean Sea before plunging to a depth of 500 meters (1,640 ft) to explore the active Kolumbo volcano

Marine

Underwater robot autonomously gathers seabed samples

While underwater remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) certainly are useful, manually controlling the things via a console can be quite a painstaking task. That's why researchers have now enabled one to autonomously gather samples from the ocean floor.

Plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the ride in the BMW i3 Urban Suite

Automotive

BMW makes smart cars cozier with zero gravity and hotel interiors

BMW has hit the CES concept car scene with an imaginative duo of chauffeured vehicles that ride like living rooms, taking care of passengers' every whim and need. Forgive the clunky names, and you see an attractive vision of future commuting.

Stanford's self-driving DeLorean in action

Automotive

Watch Stanford's self-drifting DeLorean spin around an entire circuit

After a few years worth of tinkering, Stanford researchers have now equipped their autonomous DeLorean with some serious driving chops, sending it sideways around a kilometer-long drifting course all on its own.

Including its battery, Whiz tips the scales at 77 lb (35 kg)

Robotics

Autonomous robotic janitor gets North American release

If you've heard of SoftBank Robotics, it's likely been in regards to the company's Pepper and NAO humanoid robots. This Tuesday, however, SoftBank announced North American availability of its new Whiz robotic vacuum sweeper.

By detecting movement in the shadows, MIT's ShadowCam could help autonomous vehicles avoid bumps with vehicles coming around corners

Automotive

ShadowCam looks for movement in the shadows

MIT engineers have developed a system that looks at shadows on the ground to help autonomous vehicles avoid collisions with objects like cars or pedestrians appearing from around corners or behind buildings.

Gita will be available from November 18 for a price of US$3,250

Robotics

Piaggio wheels out its grocery-carrying Gita robot

After showing off an early developmental version back in 2017, Piaggio Fast Forward has wheeled out a consumer-ready courier robot built to carry up to 40 lb of everyday items for folks traveling on foot.

Drones

Movie-production drones could soon be their own directors

Although camera drones can already automatically circle or follow a subject, they don't know what sort of shots actually "look good" artistically. That could be about to change, as a new system turns drones into self-directed aerial cinematographers.

The Sharktech 29 Defiant allows for manned, reduced-crew and unmanned operation

Marine

Metal Shark and Sea Machines launch autonomous patrol boat

Boston's Sea Machines Robotics has developed and launched the Sharktech 29 Defiant autonomous patrol boat with shipbuilder Metal Shark.

Bell Textron's APT 70 cargo drone has completed its first autonomous test flight

Drones

Bell's eVTOL cargo drone makes first autonomous flight

Bell has joined the cargo drone space with its APT 70, which has just nailed its first autonomous test flight.

Autonomous boating company Sea Machines Robotics is developing its autonomous spill response vessel in collaboration with the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration

Environment

First autonomous oil spill boat takes to the water

In the not-too-distant future, folks dealing with oil spills may have a robotic helper to call on.

Netflix and YouTube will soon be available on Tesla's in-car displays

Automotive

Tesla adding Netflix and YouTube to its huge in-car display

Tesla is poised to add yet more entertainment options for owners of tis electric vehicles, with CEO Elon Musk confirming that Netflix and YouTube streaming will soon be enabled on its generously-sized in-car displays.

Visitors to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart can now take advantage of the first officially-approved driverless automated valet parking system

Automotive

Bosch and Daimler get official approval for driverless automated parking system

We've seen a number of solutions aimed at automatically parking the car so that drivers don't have to. Bosch and Daimler say that their app-controlled system is the first fully autonomous, completely driverless parking service to be officially approved by authorities for everyday use.