Unmanned Vehicles & Robotics

Briefs: Unmanned Systems

DDDAMS-based Urban Surveillance and Crowd Control via UAVs and UGVs

Investigating algorithmic approaches to create scalable, robust, multi-scale, and effective urban surveillance and crowd control strategies using UAVs and UGVs.

Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics

Quantifying Autonomous Soaring on a Surveillance and Communications Relay Mission

Research demonstrates that a surveillance mission is still achievable by unmanned vehicles while performing autonomous soaring.

Articles: Defense

Drone Swarms: A Transformational Technology

The U.S. military is prioritizing development of drone swarms as a means to reduce risk to our warfighters.

Articles: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Connectors Lighten the SWaP Burden in UAV/MUMT Aircraft Electronics

Combat is being transformed by Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies that improve a warrior’s situational awareness.

Articles: Aerospace

Playing Defense⁠ — Uncertain Regulations Stall the Implementation of Counter-UAS Technology in The U.S.

A raft of companies have emerged to provide counter-UAS technologies, but challenges remain.

Articles: Unmanned Systems

Robotic Combat Vehicles: Putting the Brains Behind the Brawn

A new era of Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) is about to begin

Application Briefs: Unmanned Systems

Anti-Drone Remote Weapon System

Weighing only 70 kilograms, the Pitbull-3 delivers Point & Shoot technology

Briefs: Defense

Assessing the Effectiveness of a Combat UGV Swarm in Urban Operations

Recent technological advancements could enable the military to employ robotic platforms in swarms to help overcome operational challenges in an urban environment.

Briefs: Unmanned Systems

Validation of Architecture Models for Coordination of Unmanned Air and Ground Vehicles via Experimentation

Using the relationship of system architecture products and model-based systems engineering analysis, a UAV-UGV team can collaboratively conduct the structured, rudimentary tasks necessary to find a person in distress.

Briefs: Aerospace

Systems Engineering Approach to Develop Guidance, Navigation and Control Algorithms for Unmanned Ground Vehicle

This research explores the development of a UGV capable of operating autonomously in a densely cluttered environment such as the tropical jungles or plantation estates commonly found in Asia.

Articles: Photonics/Optics

NASA Prepares for the Moon and Mars with Expanded Deep Space Network

NASA is adding a new antenna for communicating with the agency’s farthest-flung robotic spacecraft.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Deformation Sensing in Soft Bio-Surrogate Materials

Accurate measurement of deformations occurring within or on soft materials will advance the next class of soft robotics and wearable biomedical sensors.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Agile Robust Autonomy: Inspired by Connecting Natural Flight and Biological Sensors

Understanding the mechanics of insect flight could help improve the agility, autonomy, robustness and integrated sensing and processing of unmanned aerial vehicles.

INSIDER: Unmanned Systems

Sky Devils Provide Critical Link to Soldiers

New Jersey Army National Guard soldiers train daily to operate the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle for surveillance, targeting and communications relay.

Products: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

New Products: February 2020 Aerospace & Defense Technology

Flexible testing systems; mission-defense tech; high-speed comparators; and more.

Application Briefs: Aerospace

Automatic Drone Detection System

Tektronix partnered with Erisys RF Solutions to release an automated drone detection solution.

Products: Manufacturing & Prototyping

New Products: December 2019 Aerospace & Defense Technology

Metal 3D Printers, Dispensing Robots, Resistance Spot Welding, and More

Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control

Marking Aircraft Components

Although marking adds no intrinsic value to a component, it is central to the smooth operation of the industry.

Articles: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Changing How the Aerospace Industry Makes Parts

Today's technology must increase production rates and part quality, while reducing setup times and costs.

Application Briefs: Data Acquisition

Robotic Helicopter

Steadicopter's Black Eagle 50 unmanned helicopter has been upgraded.

Blog: Transportation

AUSA 2019: A View From the Show Floor

Editor Bruce A. Bennett offers a look at the Association of the United States Army's 2019 Annual Meeting.

Blog: Motion Control

Answering Your Questions: How Will the Military Use Motion Control Technology?

A Tech Briefs reader asks: What's next with military motion control?

Application Briefs: Software

Drone Control System

Kongsberg Geospatial recently introduced a new multi-domain control system for coordinating the use of drones in the battlespace.

Application Briefs: Defense

Unmanned Helicopter Drone

A Robinson-22 helicopter converted into an unmanned drone successfully completed in-air programmed missions.

Articles: Electronics & Computers

Microturbine Propulsion for UAVs

The continued use of reciprocating engines has limited the UAV market’s ability to reach its true growth potential.

News: Design

Inside Story: Allied Motion

Many medical devices — from robotic surgery to autonomous delivery robots in hospitals, to dialysis equipment — use motion control products to operate. Allied Motion’s long and successful experience as a...

Blog: Transportation

LASER World of PHOTONICS, Day 3 — Unusual Exhibits

Editor Bruce A. Bennett takes us through the unusual — and completely unexpected —at this year's LASER World of Photonics.

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

New Products: June 2019 Aerospace & Defense Technology

Lange Couplers

The construction and port orientation of the Lange Coupler from SemiGen (Londonderry, NH) makes it useful as both a power combiner and splitter for RF and...

News: Energy

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2019: Helicopter Drones

Three new unmanned helicopters were unveiled at AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL show in Chicago.