Autonomous Systems

US Army to Stage Largest Robot Tank Experiment Ever

Its lessons will inform the Army’s next-gen-unmanned-vehicles plan to ask tech firms to deliver the brains and established firms to deliver the wheels.

  • By Patrick Tucker

Elon Musk’s Tesla Bot Raises Serious Concerns – but Probably Not the Ones You Think

The Tesla Bot comes with a whole portfolio of risks that are hard to quantify and easy to overlook and yet inevitably end up tripping up innovators.

  • By Andrew Maynard, The Conversation

Swarms May Offer Next Level Artificial Intelligence

NASA wants to push the concept of swarm intelligence to new heights.

  • By John Breeden II

Why the Feds Are Investigating Tesla’s Autopilot and What that Means for the Future of Self-Driving Cars

Tesla’s Autopilot enables hands-free driving, but it’s not meant to allow drivers to take their eyes off the road.

  • By Hayder Radha, The Conversation

Cryptocurrency Company Makes Case for Running its Own Local Government

A Nevada commission is studying the concept. An executive with Blockchains Inc. says its plans for an "innovation zone" won't work inside an existing county.

  • By Andrea Noble

Pentagon Advances Experiments with Autonomous Barges to Replenish Aircraft

The next phase of an existing agreement commits millions to demonstrate this emerging technology.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Algorithm Could Improve How Self-Driving Cars Take on Narrow Streets

This kind of exchange requires drivers—human or machine—to make decisions based on largely unwritten rules of the road, researchers said.

  • By Aaron Aupperlee, Futurity

DHS Considering Small Business-Made Tech Greenlighted by Other Agencies

The agency wants to know if other parts of the government have developed tech that could help its mission.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Navy Drone Refuels Fighter Jet, a Key Step Toward Adding UAVs to Carrier Wings

The MQ-25 T1 Stingray is slated for tests on an aircraft carrier later this year ahead of a planned 2025 deployment.

  • By Caitlin M. Kenney

Drones Take on New Civilian and Military Roles

Plus, an update on the military's flying cars.

  • By John Breeden II

Army Researchers Examine Soldiers’ Brain and Muscle Responses to Smart ‘ExoBoot’ 

One of the end goals is to cut down on training time soldiers need to get acclimated with assistive, wearable technologies. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

General Motors Licenses Neural Network Tech from National Lab

The artificial intelligence-driven system can design thousands of networks in hours instead of years.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Army Launches Autonomous Vehicle Tests in Maryland

Researchers aim to better understand how the self-moving machines respond to real-world challenges.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Autonomous Vehicle Standards Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel

Embrace the approach already taken by experts.

  • By Jack Weast
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COVID-Cleaning Robots, GPS Abnormality Detectors Top DOT’s Small Business Wishlist

The agency is now accepting applications for the first phase of its 2021 SBIR program. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

Army Corps of Engineers Plans Next Moves for Autonomous Vehicle Research Testbed

The plan is to potentially branch out beyond the military base.

  • By Brandi Vincent

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