3-D printing manufacturer Stratasys recently appointed one of China’s largest electronics and office supply retailers as master distributor for its entry-level “Idea Series” of 3-D printers in China. Stratasys Asia Pacific reported the news today, saying, “Stratasys 3-D printing technologies have gone mainstream and entered the office automation solution offerings in China.” The partnership is
The U.S. Army recently placed an order for $20 million worth of AeroVironment’s Mantis i23 gimbaled sensor payloads to upgrade its fleet of RQ-11B Raven unmanned aircraft systems. The Mantis is a multi-axis pan, tilt and zoom sensor that enhances the capability of the small, hand-launched RQ-11B Raven. AeroVironment says U.S. government fiscal 2013 appropriations provided funding
The Ohio/Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center & Test Complex reported yesterday that it will host the NASA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airspace Operations Challenge in April. The goal of the competition is to help pave the way for UAS in the national airspace by developing appropriate sense and avoid technology. It will take place April 28
Hospital-acquired infections are both dangerous for patients and a burden for health care systems, but a new generation of robots offer hope for at least a partial solution. Recent studies have shown that products from companies including Xenex Disinfection Services can effectively reduce the spread of infection using ultraviolet light. Two medical technology companies are
Three Mid-Atlantic states — Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia — recently signed an agreement to work collaboratively to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace. The FAA is currently in the process of selecting six UAS test sites, which will be used to conduct research into how to
In the world of mobile robots, there are leaders and there are followers. Well, not exactly, but leader-follower formations are a common way of organizing the movement of mobile robot groups. And it’s a system that works well — unless something happens to the leader. Recent research from Missouri University of Science and Technology aims
3D Robotics, the unmanned aerial vehicle company founded in 2009 by former Wired editor-in-chief Chris Anderson, today announced a $30 million Series B financing round. The company said it will use the funds to expand its development and deployment of advanced UAV applications, with a focus on agricultural crop mapping and other commercial aerial survey
Stryker Corporation, a medical technology company based in Michigan, yesterday reported a definitive agreement to acquire MAKO Surgical Corp. for a purchase price of about $1.65 billion. MAKO’s stock price exploded following the announcement, gaining more than 83 percent on the day to close at $29.45. MAKO builds robots designed to assist with orthopedic surgery.
Robot Turtles, a board game designed to teach 3- to 8-year-olds the basics of programming, has surpassed $500,000 on Kickstarter with two days left in its funding period. In the process, it has become the most-backed tabletop game ever on the service, according to its creator Dan Shapiro. Shapiro is a digital entrepreneur who sold
Northrop Grumman Corporation, one of the largest defense contractors in the world and a leading manufacturer of unmanned systems, was recently recognized for its actions to reduce carbon emissions by United Kingdom-based environmental watchdog CDP. CDP, which was known as the Carbon Disclosure Project until it outgrew its original focus, is an international not-for-profit that
