Autonomous Systems

What The CES All Digital Show Says About the Future

Even in a virtual format, CES offered quite a few interesting nuggets that might hint at future government technology.

  • By John Breeden II

The Year Ahead: 3 Predictions From the ‘Father of the Internet’ Vint Cerf

With the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine being administered, a return to normal feels within reach but normal will change.

  • By Vinton G. Cerf

NPS Officials Share Fresh Details on Forthcoming Self-Driving Shuttle Pilot

Yellowstone National Park visitors can catch rides on the autonomous shuttles early next summer.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Soldiers Don’t Trust Robot Battle Buddies. Can Virtual Training Fix That?

Allowing soldiers to train their robot wingmen in game environments could be the key to human-machine teaming.

  • By Patrick Tucker

Self-Driving Shuttles Are Set to Be Deployed at Yellowstone National Park in 2021

The National Park Service is exploring emerging, autonomous technologies through a new pilot program that the public can opt to participate in.

  • By Brandi Vincent

New Pentagon Initiative Aims to Help Allies, Contractors Work Together on AI

New tools are planned to help various militaries and defense companies cooperate and interoperate on artificial intelligence.

  • By Patrick Tucker

AI for Self-Driving Cars Doesn't Account for Crime

Most ethical discussions about self-driving cars focus on whether the vehicle should choose between protecting itself or doing the least damage to humans. What if users have more nefarious motives?

  • By Matt Shipman, Futurity

Self-Driving Taxis Could Be a Setback for Those with Different Needs – Unless Companies Embrace Accessible Design Now

If done right, autonomous vehicles could improve access to transportation for everyone.

  • By John Lunsford, The Conversation

Navy Taps Undersea Consortium to Work on 15 Advanced Tech Problems

Members of the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium will get a chance to work on prototypes for everything from underwater drones to advanced weapons systems.

  • By Aaron Boyd

DARPA Wants to Produce Invisible Headlights

The agency is exploring how thermal energy might one day enable 3D vision.

  • By Brandi Vincent

A Checklist for Congress and the President in a Divided America

There are technologies waiting to be tapped as forces for good.

  • By Gary Shapiro

Electric Cars Will Challenge State Power Grids

An Energy Department study found that increased electrification across all sectors of the economy could boost national consumption by as much as 38% by 2050.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

DARPA Wants Help Developing a ‘Sea Train’ of Unmanned Warships

The Pentagon’s research arm is looking to produce technologies for a new class of long-distance unmanned surface vessels.  

  • By Brandi Vincent

Transportation Challenge Aims to Create Universally Accessible Automated Vehicles

The agency plans to award up to $5 million in prizes.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Featured eBooks

Biometrics in Action
The Future of Defense Networks
How the Cloud is Helping the Government’s Pandemic Response

Robotics Researchers Have a Duty to Prevent Autonomous Weapons

Our ever-growing appetite for intelligent, autonomous machines poses a host of ethical challenges.

  • By Christoffer Heckman, The Conversation

Weapons Makers Unveil A Herd of Robotanks—As the Army Worries about Battlefield Bandwidth

The U.S. Army is determined to field a mid-sized combat robot vehicle, but the prototypes are outstripping the datalinks that would connect them.

  • By Patrick Tucker

A Clue to the Reason for Women’s Pervasive Car-Safety Problem

Crash-test dummies are typically models of an average man. Women are 73 percent more likely to be injured in a car accident. These things are probably connected.

  • By Sarah Holder, CityLab

Collaboration the Key to Resolving Spectrum Skirmishes

Spectrum is limited but it doesn't have to be a zero-sum game.

  • By Sal D’Itri and Howard Watson

Why Our Government Leaders Must Take the Wheel on Self-Driving Vehicles in 2019—and How They Can Do it

Such vehicles will enable older adults, people with disabilities and people who are housebound to get around with greater ease.

  • By Gary Shapiro

The ‘Driverless Experience’ Looks Awfully Distracting

At CES 2019, carmakers showed off vehicles with perfume-puffing headrests, augmented-reality video displays, and all manner of in-car entertainment.

  • By Laura Bliss, CityLab

Uber Is Resuming Self-Driving Car Tests On U.S. Public Roads

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will see autonomous Ubers again.

  • By Alison Griswold, Quartz