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National Instruments Introduces LabVIEW Robotics 2009
January 11, 2010
National Instruments recently announced LabVIEW Robotics 2009, a new version of its graphical system design software that provides a standard development platform for designing robotic and autonomous control systems.
The new offering provides developers with an extensive robotics library with connectivity to standard robotic sensors and actuators, foundational algorithms for intelligent operations and perception and motion functions for robots and autonomous vehicles.
LabVIEW Robotics 2009 can import code from other languages including C/C++, .m files and VHDL, and communicate with a wide variety of sensors using built-in drivers for everything from LIDAR, IR, sonar and GPS devices.
According to the company, LabVIEW Robotics 2009 is ideal for designing and prototyping applications including the following:
- Autonomous and semiautonomous ground vehicle
- Robot rescue platforms
- Personal and service robots
- Medical robotic devices
- Academic and research robots
- Agricultural and mining systems
Nissan Selects AeroVironment for LEAF Home-Charging Stations
January 11, 2010Nissan North America announced it has selected AeroVironment to supply electric vehicle home-charging stations and installation services supporting the introduction of the company's zero-emission, all-electric Nissan LEAF later this year.
AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems.
The LEAF is a five-passenger lithium-ion battery powered electric car that will offer drivers a range of 100 miles on a full charge. According to an official company statement, the Nissan-branded charging stations will be available at the sale of each Nissan LEAF as part of the vehicle's total driving system.
The home-charging stations must be connected to a 220-volt line, and it will reportedly take eight hours to fully charge the Nissan LEAF from a fully discharged state.
AeroVironment electricians will offer pre-installation home assessment services prior to vehicle delivery, and will install the charging stations.
Evolution Robotics Introduces Mint, Wins Award
January 11, 2010Evolution Robotics, Inc., had quite a week at CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, introducing Mint, a new automatic hard surface floor cleaning appliance, and announcing that the product was honored with a Popular Mechanics' Editor's Choice award for best new product at the Las Vegas event.
Mint is an automated appliance designed to dust and wet mop hard surface floors using popular cleaning cloths, such as Swiffer brand Dry and Wet Cloths and other similar products.
Evolution Robotics partnered with industrial designer Yves Behar and his team at fuseproject to create a device that merges a sleek design in addition to the technical capabilities of the Mint.
According to Behar, "The defined geometric shapes of Mint, clear color breaks, low-profile and very few visible buttons hint at great technology under the hood while giving a sense of simplicity and ease of use.
iRobot Sets Consumer Robotics Milestone
January 5, 2010Bedford, Mass.-based iRobot Corp. announced that it has achieved an industry milestone in the home robot market, saying it has sold over five million home robots since launching the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaning robot in 2002.
iRobot chairman and CEO Colin Angle was quoted as saying, "This achievement represents a huge milestone for iRobot and for the robotics industry as a whole. With over five million home robots sold, we have seen a widespread acceptance of this technology. This further fuels our drive to innovate and provide solutions that make a difference in people's lives."
Boeing Says Increment 1 to Enter Production
January 5, 2010Boeing recently announced that Increment 1 of the U.S. Army's Brigade Combat Team Modernization program was approved to begin Low-Rate Initial Production early in 2010 as a result of the Milestone C production review by the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB).
The DAB Milestone C review culminated an intensive series of reviews by the Department of Defense and the Army, as well as a rigorous testing cycle of Increment 1 capabilities. The Army and its industry partners also conducted numerous design and production capability reviews.
Increment 1 will provide soldiers with enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as increased survivability and lethality.
Golly Gee! Neato Launches New Robot Vacuum
December 16, 2009
A Silicon Valley startup named Neato Robotics has introduced a new home robot vacuum cleaner. The Neato XV-11 all-floor vacuum system offers so-called Room Positioning System (RPS) Technology, a solution that uses laser vision to map a home's entire floor space, which helps the robot avoid obstacles that other robots can only detect by impact.
"Our team of Neato engineers, some of whom are career roboticists, have worked tirelessly to squeeze innovation from commodity computing products and pioneer a smarter, more powerful robot vacuum than any previously seen on the market," says Max Safai, chief executive officer of Neato Robotics.
The Neato XV-11 all-floor vacuum system will be available for purchase in the U.S. via the Neato Robotics web site, and other retail partners during February 2010. The suggested manufacturer's retail price is $399.
CyPhy Works Wins Research Grant to Develop UAV for Bridge Inspection
December 16, 2009A company that was founded by a co-founder of iRobot has reportedly been granted a $2.4 million research award from the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology.
NIST announced up to $71 million in funding through its Technology Innovation Program (TIP) for 20 new cost-sharing projects designed to support innovative, high-risk research in new technologies that address critical national needs.
From Bayonne (Sort Of) To Baiona... Underwater
December 14, 2009
Teledyne Webb Research hailed the historic completion of the first transatlantic crossing of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), a Slocum glider manufactured by the company.
Rutgers University professors Drs. Scott Glenn, Oscar Schofield, and Josh Kohut, in concert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) led the effort to send a robotic vehicle across the Atlantic in order to raise awareness of and inspire students to engage in oceanographic research.
The glider, dubbed Scarlet Knight, was navigated by students from the Rutgers University Coastal Ocean Observation Lab (RUCOOL) and traveled more than 4,500 miles during its 7-month voyage.
Australian Air Force Leases Israeli UAVs
December 14, 2009Israel Aerospace Industries has delivered an order of Heron unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Jerusalem Post reports.
The aircraft will be deployed as part of the RAAF's efforts in Afghanistan.
