Airbus Defence contract, AI robots, Lotus Robotics new collaboration, and more!
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Happy Thursday - welcome back to this week's LinkedIn newsletter!
This week: Airbus Defence signs new contract with the French Defence Procurement Agency, AI robots to explore lava tubes from 2028 onwards led by Professor Yasuharu Kunii, and Lotus Robotics is working with China’s CaoCao Mobility on what’s claimed to be China’s ‘first fully comprehensive autonomous driving system.’
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Lotus to team up with Chinese partner on robotaxis
Backed by Chinese automotive giant Geely, ride-hailing firm CaoCao Mobility has been working with Lotus Robotics on a self-driving pilot programme in the cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. The autonomous technology has clocked up 13,545km of driving in test areas without human intervention. According to Lotus Robotics – the self-driving technology arm of the British carmaker - the testing indicates that its software is ready for real-world deployment.
Underpinning the company’s technology offering is ROBO Soul, Lotus Robotics’ self-driving software stack that can provide up to level 4 autonomy. This means the vehicle can autonomously perform tasks such as parking and highway driving under specific circumstances, with human override as an available option. Lotus said aspects of ROBO Soul are currently in operation in the company’s Eletre and Emeya electric vehicles.?
Airbus Defence has signed new contract
The French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement) has signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, in partnership with Thales, for a risk-assessment study of the future maritime patrol aircraft programme. This 24-month contract follows on from the architecture and feasibility study launched at the end of 2022.
“The A321 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) has all the assets to become a true flying frigate capable of responding to the wide range of missions entrusted to the French maritime patrol,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Executive Vice President, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “Airbus offers a sovereign solution that provides the autonomy, availability and reliability required to contribute to the oceanic component of the nuclear deterrence.”?
AI robots to explore lava tubes from 2028 onwards
Japanese lunar exploration company ispace and Chuo University are assessing the feasibility of transporting AI-equipped robots to the Moon to explore lava tubes from 2028 onwards. The project will focus on ‘evolvable swarm robots that can share intelligence to settle in unknown and unexplored areas’ and will be led by Professor Yasuharu Kunii from Chuo University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering.
“The signing of this memorandum is a primary example of ispace providing opportunities for technology demonstrations on the Moon as part of the Japanese government’s Cabinet Office Moonshot Research and Development Program,” Takeshi Hakamada, founder & CEO of ispace, said in a statement. “As part of our business model, ispace will support pioneering projects by providing transportation services to landing sites that meet the needs of our customers.”
EP 17: Driving the Electric Revolution - What, how and why? w/ Sven Knowles & R.D. Popovici
Reaching net zero by 2050 will not be possible without the supply of Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) on a large scale. UKRI’s Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge , delivered by Innovate UK is helping the UK grasp the huge economic opportunities from this global transition.
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