This week (and last) in the Unmanned Systems and Robotics World Mississippi State University (MSU) engineers in the university’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory are leading research efforts that could make UAS operational by the U.S. government, as well as civilian aviation, in icy conditions. The U.S. Department of Defense is hoping that the icing system development and technology team being led by MSU will result in lightweight anti-icing systems, which would lead to certification for UAS to operate in forecasted icing conditions. (Mississippi State University)

Teledyne Optech’s CL-360 is a survey grade 360-degree laser scanner that enables OEM hardware manufacturers and integrators to develop the next generation of best-in-class UAV, mobile, and terrestrial scanning solutions for various surveying applications. Being a survey grade lidar scanner means that the resulting 3D points derived from the CL-360 are suitable for applications such as surveying or inspections. More specifically, the accuracy and precision (repeatability) of the points is greater than those obtained by lower performance lidar sensors or other methods such as photogrammetry, according to Mark Treiber, Product Manager, Compact Lidar.

Northrop Grumman has announced that it recently completed a series of mission focused engagements, including integration and testing of Overwatch Imaging’s TK-9 Earthwatch sensor on its Firebird system.  A provider of automated airborne imaging systems for piloted and unmanned aircraft, Overwatch Imaging's TK-9 Earthwatch sensor is equipped with a flexible onboard AI-enabled automatic image processing engine that allows the system to quickly adapt to new roles in new environments such as natural disaster emergency management, border security patrol, or large-scale infrastructure inspection.

University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) biomedical engineer Jacob Segil is working to restore the sense of touch for amputees, including veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An instructor in the Engineering Plus Program and program director for the Center for Translational Research at CU Boulder, Segil is designing artificial limbs that may one day allow amputees to feel the world around them through electronic sensors. “In my field, we have a gold standard, which is the physiological hand,” Segil says. “We’re trying to recreate it, and we’re still so far off.”