Another element of the bill was the fact that Congress has authorized unmanned drones to share the same airspace as piloted commercial passenger airplanes.

The FAA will be required to provide military, commercial and privately-owned drones with expanded access to U.S. airspace by Sept. 30, 2015. Today, drone use is mostly restricted to blocks of military airspace, border patrols and some public and private usage.  

The next step is for the FAA to provide a plan that will show how drones can safely be operated in shared airspace with piloted aircraft.

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N. Korea Arming 1970's-Era U.S. Drones? - Feb 06, 2012

Lockheed Martin Acquires Avionics Specialist - Jan 18, 2012

U.S. Tests Solar-Powered HALE UAS at Naval Air Warfare Center - Nov 23, 2009

Air Force Awards $302.9 Million UAS Contract to Northrop Grumman - Nov 23, 2009

Separately, Stereotaxis announced regulatory clearance from Health Canada to commercially market the device in Canada.

Since its introduction to the European market in 2011, the Vdrive system has been installed in nine centers, with units scheduled to be installed in additional centers during the first quarter of 2012. The initial nine centers have performed 473 clinical cases with approximately 80% being completed in the left atrium of the heart.

Vdrive expands upon the company’s Magnetic Navigation platform and is designed to enable remote manipulation of diagnostic devices used during medical procedures.

Citing positive clinical feedback, Michael P. Kaminski, President and CEO of Stereotaxis is excited about the company’s future, and the new opportunities that the Health Canada regulatory clearance portends.

“With the Health Canada market clearance for the Vdrive system, and our planned new Vdrive installations in Europe and Canada this year, we are well-positioned to drive the growth and further adoption of this exciting technology in electrophysiology labs in these important markets,” he said.

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iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

CyberKnife Robotic Surgery System Deployed in Mexican Hospital - Jan 17, 2012

All Robotic Surgical Team Operates on Prostate Cancer Patient - Oct 20, 2010

Accuray Lands at 113 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 - Oct 20, 2010

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Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 15 percent to $130.8 million, compared with $114.0 million for the same quarter one year ago. Revenue for the full year 2011 increased 16 percent to $465.5 million from $401.0 million for the full year 2010.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $10.6 million, compared with $7.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Net income for the full year 2011 was $40.2 million, compared with $25.5 million for the same period in 2010.

“Our record financial results in 2011 were exceptional on all fronts, driven by especially strong performance in our Home Robots division,” said Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot.

Angle was very pleased with the home robot business, but cautioned that limited visibility in the defense business may lead to a decline in top and bottom line in the company’s G&I division.

However, Angle said that iRobot plans to continue to make investments in marketing and research/development to maintain and increase the company’s market position.

“To capitalize on our growing home robot business, intermediate and longer term opportunities in the defense business and exciting emerging opportunities, we will continue to make investments in marketing and R&D that extend our leadership position,” he said.

Some highlights from the release:

• Strong demand in overseas markets drove a 21 percent year-over-year increase in full-year home robot revenue.
• International home robot revenue of $196 million comprised 70 percent of total home robot 2011 revenue.
• Government & industrial robot revenue grew 9 percent in 2011, driven by shipments of Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles and spares.
• In 2011, operating cash flow was $55.7 million, compared with $49.2 million in 2010. As a result of improved net income, iRobot’s year-end cash and investment position was $184 million.

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iRobot Sets Consumer Robotics Milestone - Jan 05, 2010

iRobot Forms Healthcare Business Unit, Intros President - Oct 31, 2009

iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

iRobot's Angle Honored with Lifetime Achievement - Sep 22, 2009

iRobot Receives a Pair of Contracts from the U.S. Navy - Oct 27, 2010

iRobot in Deal to Provide 125 PackBots - Aug 05, 2010

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The news agency cited an anonymous South Korean intelligence report.

According to the source, “North Korea recently bought several U.S. MQM-107D Streakers from a Middle Eastern nation that appears to be Syria, and is developing unmanned attack aircraft based on them.”

The MQM-107 Streaker was designed as a reusable, turbojet powered, target-towing drone for testing and training. Developed in the early 1970’s the unmanned aircraft was phased out beginning in 2003 in favor of the smaller and lighter BQM-167 Skeeter drone.

The intelligence report opines that if the North Koreans are successful in their endeavor, the likely target would be South Korean troops stationed on border islands in the Yellow Sea.

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Defense Department Gets a Good Look at Argus One - Jan 17, 2012

Northrop Global Hawk Makes Historic Flight - Mar 08, 2010

IAI Heron Officially Joins Israel's Air Force - Feb 25, 2010

Fire Scout Tests Autonomous Resupply Mission - Feb 18, 2010

AirStar, Altitude to Supply UAVs, Services for Mining Industry - Jan 05, 2010

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Back in July 2011, the two firms announced a joint development and licensing agreement, which was established to explore opportunities for healthcare applications on iRobot platforms, such as the iRobot Ava mobile robotics platform.

InTouch Health provides telemedicine solutions and expertise designed to enable doctors to consult with patients in real-time, regardless of the distance between them. Using an online portal, doctors can access telemedicine devices from wherever they are located to provide care anywhere patients might be: homes, clinics, ambulances, and hospital procedure rooms and wards. The InTouch telemedicine network is powered through its SureConnect cloud-based infrastructure.

According to a press release, InTouch Health will provide access to FDA regulated healthcare facilities, granting iRobot an initial foray into hospitals, emergency care facilities, patient wards and operating and procedure rooms.

iRobot Chairman and CEO Colin Angle feels the partnership will create a situation where patients and elderly consumers of assistive technologies would benefit greatly. “Currently operating in over eighty hospitals in the U.S. and around the world, InTouch is in a very unique position as one of the first developers of FDA-cleared telemedicine devices,” Angle said.

Yulun Wang, chairman and CEO of InTouch Health agrees, and is quick to praise iRobot. “As evident from the demonstrations of Ava, iRobot is the industry leader in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence,” he said. “Working together, InTouch Health and iRobot will pioneer remote presence in healthcare settings, providing anytime anywhere patient care in hospital ICU’s, patient wards and operating and procedure rooms.”

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iRobot Announces Record Results - Feb 09, 2012

iRobot Sets Consumer Robotics Milestone - Jan 05, 2010

iRobot Forms Healthcare Business Unit, Intros President - Oct 31, 2009

iRobot's Angle Honored with Lifetime Achievement - Sep 22, 2009

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If on the other hand you think this is really fascinating and a great example of what the future holds, well then the video will be really, really cool.

The General Robotics, Automation, Sensing, and Perception (GRASP) lab at UPenn is conducting research using a series of nano quadrotors developed by KMel Robotics. Until now, the GRASP team had been able to showcase the robots flying "aggressively" meaning they could land on angled surfaces and navigate obstacles at high speed.

As evident in the video, the small copters can change direction, land, navigate past obstacles, and even fly in a figure-eight formation based on preprogrammed commands.

The applications of such swarming robot technology are many: military reconnaissance, search and rescue, and more.

Of course, when they’re not busy scooting around in preprogrammed figure-eight patterns, the quadrotors can actually autonomously build structures as shown in this video.

Someday findings based on this research might be used to build structures in environments that are hazardous or too extreme for humans.

For more information on what other GRASP groups at UPENN are up to, check out the highlights on the school’s current research page.

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Robotic Pitchers and Catchers - A Sure Sign of Spring? - Jan 30, 2012

iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

Swiss Robot Maker Set to Launch SCORP - Jan 26, 2012

TOSY Dancing Robot Can Cut A Rug - Jan 12, 2012

Mexico City to Host Robotic Soccer Championship - Jan 12, 2012

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The ROV was delivered in December 2011.

Tyler Schilling, chief executive officer for Schilling Robotics, expressed his satisfaction with Seabed’s choice to partner with his firm. “We are very proud to have added Seabed AS to our expanding customer portfolio. They are a discerning and innovative company, and we are delighted that they have chosen to expand their fleet with our products.”

Hans Martin Gravdal, CEO for Seabed, also believes the partnership is a good one. “With our experience and expertise, combined with ultra modern vessels, the HD ROV system will complement and enhance our capabilities as a prominent subsea operations company,” he said.

Seabed has a long history of undersea expertise, and the company was involved in the search for the Air France plane that crashed off the coast of Brazil in June 2009.

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Schilling Nets Two More UHD ROV Orders - Aug 05, 2010

BOURBON and Schilling Hail New ROVs - Mar 08, 2010

iRobot Announces Record Results - Feb 09, 2012

iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

Robotic Pitchers and Catchers - A Sure Sign of Spring? - Jan 30, 2012

Northrop, Navy Complete Autonomous Aerial Refueling Tests - Jan 27, 2012

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I mean, can it still be called catch if you’re playing alone?

According to information on DLR’s Web site, the technology necessary to mimic the human capacity for catching a thrown ball is not so basic. What’s needed is a good catching strategy, body control and dexterity. All of which means that creating a pair of robots that can soft toss is an excellent test bed for proving a number of related robotic technologies.

According to DLR:

“…head mounted HD stereo-cameras track the thrown balls. During the flight the predictions continuously improve and a real-time path planner decides where, when, and in which configuration to kinematically optimal catch the ball. For this, a non-linear optimization problem (including simple collision avoidance) is repeatedly solved on an external computing cluster (32 cores).”

The baseball tossing robotic Justins are DLR’s way of studying their component based aRD (agile robot development) software concept, with distributed sensors, actuators, and computing resources, communicating under hard real-time constraints.

This brings a whole new challenge to robotics as far as the battery is concerned.

If you’re curious, check out the video.

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iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

Swiss Robot Maker Set to Launch SCORP - Jan 26, 2012

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The tests, carried out using Calspan Corporation’s Variable Stability Learjet as a surrogate for the X-47B unmanned aircraft, and a K707 tanker provided by Omega Air Refueling proved the functionality of the hardware and software that will eventually enable the X-47B aircraft to demonstrate AAR in 2014.

The tests are part of ongoing work in the US Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program, and are designed to prove out technology which will eventually lead to unmanned aircraft being able to stay aloft for longer periods of time.

According to Carl Johnson, vice president and UCAS-D program manager for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector, “Future unmanned systems will need to use both refueling techniques if they plan to conduct longer range surveillance or strike missions from the carrier.”

Johnson was referring to two different aerial refueling techniques that were the subject of the recent testing — boom/receptacle and probe-and-drogue aerial refueling.

According to a Northrop Grumman news release, the UCAS-D program plans to demonstrate the ability of the X-47B demonstrator to safely operate from a Navy aircraft carrier, including launch, recovery, bolter and wave-off performance by 2013, followed by autonomous aerial refueling in 2014.

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Northrop Global Hawk Makes Historic Flight - Mar 08, 2010

Fire Scout Tests Autonomous Resupply Mission - Feb 18, 2010

Northrop Grumman Tests Ground Control Station for Unmanned Helicopter System - Oct 12, 2009

Defense Department Gets a Good Look at Argus One - Jan 17, 2012

NASA Global Hawk Soars Over the Pacific - Jun 14, 2010

IAI Heron Officially Joins Israel's Air Force - Feb 25, 2010

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Tufeld had a long and successful broadcast career, with announcing stints on TV shows like “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and commercial voiceovers for Gallo Wines as well as a radio career in the 1950’s that included credits on such shows as “Annie Oakley,” “Zorro,” “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends,” “The Fantastic Four,” and others.

Tufeld was even cast on TV’s “The Simpsons” several times between 1998 and 2004.

But “Lost in Space” was perhaps the most memorable role of his career. In fact when the show was remade into a feature-length film in 1998, Tufeld reprised his role of the robot that spoke the oft-quoted phrase, “Danger, Will Robinson.”

He is survived by two daughters, two sons, six grandchildren and a brother.

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iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

Robotic Pitchers and Catchers - A Sure Sign of Spring? - Jan 30, 2012

Swiss Robot Maker Set to Launch SCORP - Jan 26, 2012

TOSY Dancing Robot Can Cut A Rug - Jan 12, 2012

Mexico City to Host Robotic Soccer Championship - Jan 12, 2012

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An item on Gizmag.com sparked my interest today. As it turns out, Lausanne, Switzerland-based Novatiq is set to release a micro-unmanned ground vehicle, or MUGV, called SCORP. Classified as a “throwable” robot, the device is specially designed for front-line personnel engaged in antiterrorism, police, bomb squad and military activities.

Novatiq describes the 2.5 kg (5.5 lb.) SCORP as an “…advanced small, lightweight portable reconnaissance robot… that can be deployed and operated by a single person.”

Users would literally throw the device to deploy it into the area they need to survey, and then they can control it wirelessly from a remote control unit. The wireless link to the control unit features a range of around 500 meters outdoors (line of sight) and 100 meters indoors (line of sight). The use of alternative frequencies can allow up to four robots to operate within the same area.

Four cameras are built into the robotic platform to give the operator omnidirectional vision. SCORP can be used both during the day and at night, by utilizing the infrared lighting packs fitted on the cameras.

Designed to withstand falls of 300 cm (~10 feet), the dust and watertight SCORP can operate at temperatures ranging from -15°C to +55°C (~5 to 130°F) , and can thus be deployed in almost any environment.

According to the company, 2012 will see the launch of a series of accessories to extend the range of applications of the robot: biochemical detector, disruptor, encryption, manipulator with pincer, autonomous navigation, firing explosive charges, thermal imaging, and more.

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iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

Robotic Pitchers and Catchers - A Sure Sign of Spring? - Jan 30, 2012

Northrop, Navy Complete Autonomous Aerial Refueling Tests - Jan 27, 2012

Defense Department Gets a Good Look at Argus One - Jan 17, 2012

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Two teams of students — one US-based and one European team — earned bragging rights as the winners of the SPHERES Challenge, which tasked them with programming a group of miniature satellites that are currently in orbit aboard the International Space Station. Alliance Rocket from the United States and Alliance CyberAvo from Europe were named the winners. Both winning efforts were in turn made up of three individual teams:

• Alliance Rocket comprised Team Rocket, River Hill High School, Clarksville, MD; Storming Robots, Branchburg, NJ; and SPHEREZ of Influence, Rockledge High School/Brevard County, FL. (Storming Robots was the current defending champion from the previous Challenge.)
• Alliance CyberAvo consisted of CyberAvo, I.T.I.S., Amedeo Avogrado, Turin, Italy; Ultima, Kaethe Kollwitz Oberschule, Berlin, Germany; and Lazy, Heinrich Hertz Gymnasium, Berlin, Germany.

Astronauts Don Pettit and Andre Kuipers, who currently live aboard the International Space Station, presided over the event and gathered data from the student-controlled SPHERES flight programs after each phase of the competition.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was effusive in his praise of the budding scientists/engineers. “It is just amazing to me what these high school students have accomplished,” he said. “To program a robotic spacecraft with the precision of a NASA flight controller is quite a feat, but to have that ability, talent and discipline at such a young age is remarkable. Our future is in good hands.”

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Students to Compete in Robotics Challenge - Jan 18, 2012

Discovery Set to Carry Robonaut 2 to ISS - Oct 27, 2010

ISS: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? - Apr 26, 2010

NASA Global Hawk Soars Over the Pacific - Jun 14, 2010

Training in the Desert With an Eye to Space - Oct 02, 2009

iRobot Announces Record Results - Feb 09, 2012

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The Foundation, which is committed to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, will award the grants to 22 teams from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia. The funds will be used to offset costs associated with items such as registration fees, parts and materials and team apparel.

Since it began supporting the FIRST competitions, the Chrysler Foundation has provided over $1.7 million in grants and support for the youth robotics programs.

Additional award funding will be available to teams that qualify for and attend the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship or FIRST Lego League World Festival.

Jody Trapasso, President of The Chrysler Foundation, said, “The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Group are proud to play a role in encouraging students to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

In addition to providing funding, employees within Chrysler Group’s Product Development organization have been known to volunteer their time to mentor students and help them learn basic physics, electrical/mechanical engineering, and machining skills.

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iRobot Announces Record Results - Feb 09, 2012

iRobot Takes Minority Stake in Telemedicine Firm - Feb 01, 2012

Seabed Acquires Schilling ROV - Jan 31, 2012

Robotic Pitchers and Catchers - A Sure Sign of Spring? - Jan 30, 2012

Northrop, Navy Complete Autonomous Aerial Refueling Tests - Jan 27, 2012

Swiss Robot Maker Set to Launch SCORP - Jan 26, 2012

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According to a press release hailing the acquisition, Procerus provides autopilot, targeting and payload technologies for micro UAS to domestic and international governments, as well as industry and academic institutions.

One example is the company’s Kestrel autopilot system (pictured), which is designed as a small and light, yet fully-featured micro autopilot system for surveillance and reconnaissance applications. The Kestrel solution offers intelligent, autonomous flight control of single or multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) complete with GPS waypoint navigation and autonomous takeoff, flight and auto-landing capabilities for mini and micro UAVs.

Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO, Bob Stevens, believes that the acquisition of Procerus is consistent with the firm’s long-term vision.

“This acquisition is consistent with our focus on acquiring capabilities that enhance our product portfolio and align with our customers’ strategic priorities,” he said. “Small unmanned aerial vehicles are low-cost, highly effective tools for our military, and the expertise Procerus brings will enhance the value we offer to our customers.”

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors (MS2) will manage the Procerus business. This division has experience managing unmanned systems such as the Desert Hawk, Persistent Threat Detection System aerostats, K-MAX unmanned helicopter system, and high altitude airship programs.

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U.S. Tests Solar-Powered HALE UAS at Naval Air Warfare Center - Nov 23, 2009

Air Force Awards $302.9 Million UAS Contract to Northrop Grumman - Nov 23, 2009

Lockheed Martin Adds Infrared Sensor to Desert Hawk Unmanned System - Oct 12, 2009

Defense Department Gets a Good Look at Argus One - Jan 17, 2012

Boeing Wins DARPA Development Contract - Sep 20, 2010

NASA Global Hawk Soars Over the Pacific - Jun 14, 2010

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NASA will upload software developed by 27 teams of high school students onto Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES), which are bowling ball-sized spherical satellites aboard the International Space Station.

The students will have their code sent to the space station, where an astronaut will command the satellites to execute the teams' flight programs. The 27 teams of students were determined by winning a series of previous competitions.

The winning team of the SPHERES Challenge will be the students who achieve the highest software performance over several rounds of competition.

The event will take place on January 23^rd at the MIT campus in Cambridge, Mass., and will be broadcast live on NASA Television from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST

The winning team will be awarded certificates and a SPHERES flight patch that was flown to the space station.

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Two Teams Emerge Victorious in SPHERES Challenge - Jan 25, 2012

Discovery Set to Carry Robonaut 2 to ISS - Oct 27, 2010

ISS: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? - Apr 26, 2010

Boeing Wins DARPA Development Contract - Sep 20, 2010

NASA Global Hawk Soars Over the Pacific - Jun 14, 2010

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