ROBOTIC RESEARCH AND TESIAC ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE TO REVOLUTIONIZE URBAN MOBILITY

Relationship will advance future-proof, smart city, mobility options for public and private sectors

CLARKSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Robotic Research, a global leader in autonomous driving technology and solutions, announced today that it has formed a strategic relationship with Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider TESIAC to deliver advanced mobility options as part of a larger smart city offering to government and private industry customers.

“TESIAC’s ability to provide a comprehensive, continuously upgraded infrastructure solution that requires no initial capital outlay is a game-changer, not just for mobility, but for energy, operations, and management too,” said Eddie Mottern, Executive Vice President for Robotic Research. “We’re honored to form this strategic alliance and be TESIAC’s autonomy partner for this next-generation mobility offering.”

Robotic Research will be leveraging its extensive experience deploying autonomy solutions for the mass transit, trucking, first-last mile, and accessible transit markets, as well as its support of Programs of Record for the U.S. military, such as Expedient-Leader Follower. Thanks to its 19-year-long history working with the Department of Defense, Robotic Research has created one of the largest autonomous vehicle fleets in the world.

TESIAC will benefit from Robotic Research’s experience to execute on its mission of developing a solution set for smart city projects with mobility at its core. With the support of private capital investment from TESIAC’s capital partners, these projects will be developed with the client’s end goals in mind. Preparing for full autonomy is one of the critical elements of TESIAC’s technology continuum which, through private investment, provides customers with a peace of mind that solutions can be programmatically upgraded and will not become outdated or obsolete within the scope of a project.

“TESIAC focuses on scalable and integrated infrastructure to bring efficient and more effective practices to sustainable development,” said Karen Morgan, a Managing Partner at TESIAC; “And with its vast experience, Robotic Research will help TESIAC create an ‘innovation continuum’ to meet its’ clients objectives.”

TESIAC, Robotic Research, and Verizon are organizing partners of the Electric Mobility Symposium (EMS) to be held on June 24th, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in San Diego. EMS brings together companies and technologies that make up this next-generation, smart city ecosystem, showing how 5G, autonomous mobility, electric vehicles, and microgrid technology unlock the clean, connected base of the future.

“It’s all about showing how these various technologies create an ecosystem that not only makes life better on a military base but can—and will—be replicated in the civilian world, with municipalities and private industry,” said Mottern.

About Robotic Research

Robotic Research is U.S.-based, global leader in localization, autonomy, and robotic technology transforming the way we move. Founded in 2002, the Company has been a trusted technology partner to the public and private sector for nearly twenty years. From people to platforms, at home or overseas, Robotic Research is driven to make the way you move smarter, safer, and more efficient.

To learn more about Robotic Research, visit www.rr.ai, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About TESIAC

TESIAC is a Managed Services Platform that delivers Infrastructure-as-a-Service to public and private entities through flexible project management and innovative financial structures. TESIAC operates at the nexus of mobility, technology, energy, and capital markets. By doing so we enable integrated and interoperable systems to enhance overall efficiencies, increase operational performance, and create layers of sustainable value. TESIAC brings together an experienced interdisciplinary team and partners with new and advanced technologies. Our core principles are centered around smart city development with a focus on climate, social equity, and job creation.

To learn more about TESIAC visit www.tesiac.com.

Contacts

Robotic Research Contact
Taylor Smith
Press@rr.ai

TESIAC Contact
Emma Buls
emma.buls@tesiac.com

Pentagon Experiments with Self-Driving Shuttles at San Diego Military Base

nextgov.com

Driverless technology provider Robotic Research and Verizon Public Sector on Wednesday confirmed their cooperative involvement in a pilot project to explore the use of autonomous shuttles at the Marine Corps Air Station, or MCAS, Miramar’s 5G Living Lab in San Diego.

NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge, US Ignite and Local Motors are also involved in this 90-day experiment with self-moving shuttles to transport people and packages around the military installation.

“This pilot is one example of how 5G-enabled applications carry the potential of enhancing operational effectiveness,” Verizon’s Senior Vice President of Public Sector Jennifer Chronis told Nextgov Wednesday.

The announcement comes almost a year after Verizon and MCAS Miramar unveiled their plans to deploy the former’s 5G Ultra Wideband on a military base for the very first time. Working with a range of strategic partners, they’ve since started to demonstrate 5G-enabled innovations across artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles and drones in real-world scenarios at the living lab. Broadly, those involved are assessing the benefits such next-generation wireless capabilities can bring to public safety, commerce and energy management.

“Working in conjunction with our partners in the Marine Corps at Miramar, we have created a true testbed for innovation—innovation that will have tremendous impact within the Department of Defense and across the public sector,” Chronis said.

This endeavor is new, but Chronis added that Robotic Research’s “commitment to MCAS Miramar began far before this pilot.” The company has been providing the Pentagon with autonomous technology solutions for nearly 20 years. In particular, she noted it specializes in “platform-agnostic autonomy,” enabling the automation of “a wide variety of platforms for both government and commercial customers.” In 2017, the Maryland-based company became the Autonomy Strategic Partner for the Marine Corps autonomous proving grounds at MCAS Miramar.

“This initial partnership led to additional collaboration focused on the use of autonomous technology on both the battlefield and installations,” Chronis said. “Current efforts include the unmanned logistics systems prototype being developed as well as the trial of low-speed autonomous shuttles doing package delivery on base.”

Through this fresh pilot, Robotic Research’s AutoDrive autonomy kit provides the self-driving capabilities of Local Motors’ autonomous shuttle, Olli, rolling through the military installation. Verizon’s 5G will transmit the heaps of system and sensor data collected by the shuttle back to a storage service, which is also provided by Robotic Research.

“Understanding the operational needs of our partners in the Marine Corps is a top priority,” Chronis noted, “and learning how 5G UWB, in conjunction with autonomous vehicle technology and real-time sensor data, can be leveraged to make package delivery more efficient across multiple scenarios—from tools to the flight line, to mail delivery, to product for retail environments—is a step forward in addressing the digital transformation needs at Miramar, and beyond.”

Generally, autonomous shuttles currently operate with an onboard safety operator. But one element the partners mentioned exploring in this project includes approaches where one person monitors a single fleet remotely, from a centralized location.

Verizon and Robotic Research are slated to showcase some of what’s to come during the Electric Mobility Symposium at MCAS Miramar on June 24.

CLARKSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Robotic Research, LLC (rr.ai), a global leader in autonomous driving technology and solutions, and Verizon Public Sector, a key Department of Defense digital transformation partner, announced today their joint support of an autonomous shuttle pilot project with US Ignite, Local Motors, and NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge as part of the 5G Living Lab at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, in San Diego.

As part of the 90-day pilot, Robotic Research is providing the autonomous driving technology for Local Motors’ autonomous shuttle, Olli, transporting people and packages around MCAS Miramar, leveraging Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband to transmit the vast system and sensor data collected by the shuttle back to Robotic Research’s nSight™ Vault storage service.

“Once the data is uploaded to nSight Vault through Verizon’s 5G network, our nSight Review system monitors health and performs data analytics to continuously improve the operation of the autonomous shuttles,” said Joe Putney, Director of Commercial Systems at Robotic Research. “We really benefit from Verizon’s 5G service at MCAS Miramar providing real-time access to the large amounts of data generated by the system.”

Verizon Public Sector and MCAS Miramar announced the first-ever 5G Ultra Wideband deployment on a military base last July. Since then, in collaboration with a number of strategic partners, they have created a true testbed for innovation, exploring 5G-enabled innovations across autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and drones.

Robotic Research officials see the nationwide rollout of 5G as creating huge opportunities for autonomous vehicles by enabling higher-bandwidth and real-time sharing of data between vehicles and between vehicles and infrastructure. Among the other areas of focus being pursued, the 5G Labs team within Verizon is exploring the benefits of 5G around public safety, frictionless commerce, and energy management.

“We have worked collaboratively with the NWIC Pacific team to create a true testbed for innovation at MCAS Miramar,” said Jennifer Chronis, Senior Vice President of Public Sector at Verizon. “Leaders across the Department of Defense understand the mission-critical role 5G plays in unlocking innovation for the military, and strategic partners like Robotic Research are bringing to life some of the exciting technologies that are possible when you integrate 5G.”

One area of innovation includes onboard safety attendants. Currently, in most autonomous shuttles, there is a steward who monitors the health and status of the vehicle. But as the autonomous industry continues to mature, it could follow a similar model to that of home security systems.

“Rather than having a security guard in your home, there is a security system that provides information to a centralized location, where a single person can monitor many homes simultaneously,” Putney said. “Similarly, you could have automated vehicles sharing data with a centralized monitoring station, so a single person can monitor and control a fleet of vehicles.”

All that is required is a reliable data backbone, and Robotic Research officials see Verizon’s 5G network as the next step in the right direction.

Both Robotic Research and Verizon will be showcasing the benefits of combined 5G and autonomous mobility during the Electric Mobility Symposium, June 24^th at MCAS Miramar.

About Robotic Research

Robotic Research is U.S.-based, global leader in localization, autonomy, and robotic technology transforming the way we move. Founded in 2002, the Company has been a trusted technology partner to the public and private sector for nearly twenty years. From people to platforms, at home or overseas, Robotic Research is driven to make the way you move smarter, safer, and more efficient.

To learn more about Robotic Research, visit www.rr.ai, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Taylor Smith
Press@rr.ai

ROBOTIC RESEARCH AND FPINNOVATIONS PARTNER TO DEVELOP RESOURCE ROAD TRUCK PLATOONING TECHNOLOGY

Joint efforts will provide Level 4 Autonomy for natural resource sector roads

CLARKSBURG, Md. and MONTRÉAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Robotic Research, LLC (rr.ai), a global leader in Automated Driving Systems (ADS), and FPInnovations, a Canadian private non-profit research and development center, announced today their collaboration to develop an off-road truck platooning system for the forest industry. This project will combine Robotic Research’s proven expertise as a global leader in self-driving technology with FPInnovations’ knowledge in forestry and transportation to adapt the truck platooning technology to off-highway environments.

The multi-year project aims at accelerating the adoption of off-road automated-vehicle (AV) technology to improve safety and address an acute labor shortage, thereby improving the quality and viability of rural jobs where natural resources are located. Looking to the future, a successful project would not only benefit Canada’s forest industry, but other Canadian sectors such as mining resources and natural resources in Northern Canada.

Robotic Research, with a history of other groundbreaking projects, including the development of the Xcelsior AV announced with New Flyer this year, will create unmanned convoys of Class 8, ADS-enabled trucks that follow a driver in a lead vehicle. The project will adapt existing technology to challenging Canadian conditions such as four-season weather and operations on off-pavement roads, particularly for resource roads in continental and polar climates.

“We are extremely proud to have been selected by FPInnovations and believe this project is a transformative model of how ADS can aid industries, like forestry, operating in perilous conditions or facing workforce shortages.” said Alberto Lacaze, President, Robotic Research. “The unmanned truck convoys work in concert with commercial drivers to enhance their efficiency, while also protecting their safety.”

In Phase I, truck convoys will be put through safety trials that mimic the routes from harvesting sites to sawmills. Once the system is proven to be secure, FPInnovations will run trials on actual resource roads, known to be challenging because of dust, sharp curves, and steep slopes.

“We are very pleased to partner with Robotic Research whose leading-edge expertise in the commercial on-road and defense transportation will greatly benefit Canada’s natural resource sectors and help address an acute labor shortage” stated Stéphane Renou, President and CEO, FPInnovations.

About Robotic Research

Robotic Research is U.S.-based, global leader in localization, autonomy, and robotic technology transforming the way we move. Founded in 2002, the Company has been a trusted technology partner to the public and private sector for nearly twenty years. From people to platforms, at home or overseas, Robotic Research is driven to make the way you move smarter, safer, and more efficient.

About FPInnovations

FPInnovations is a private not-for-profit research and development center with professional researchers who create solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness. It is ideally positioned to perform state-of-the-art research, develop advanced technologies, and deliver innovative solutions to complex problems for every area of the sector’s value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products. Its R&D laboratories are located in Québec City, Montreal, and Vancouver, and it has technology-transfer offices across Canada.

Related links:

To learn more about Robotic Research, visit www.rr.ai, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

To learn more about FPInnovations, visit web.fpinnovations.ca, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Contacts

Taylor Smith
press@rr.ai

Robotic Research Announced as Finalist for AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards

CLARKSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Robotic Research, LLC (rr.ai), a global leader in autonomous technology, announced today it was named by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) as a finalist for an XCELLENCE Award in the category of Innovation.

AUVSI selected Robotic Research for its Pegasus Mini, a lightweight, compact unmanned system that can fold out of a backpack and transform from a tracked ground robot to quadcopter-type drone, and then back again.

“Pegasus Mini, as well as our whole Pegasus family of systems, was designed with the user in mind, as a way to overcome the challenges faced by legacy systems,” said Alberto Lacaze, co-founder and president of Robotic Research. “So, it’s very gratifying to be nominated as a finalist for an AUVSI XCELLENCE Award.”

AUVSI represents the unmanned industry. The XCELLENCE Awards are, therefore, the industry honoring peers—individuals and organizations—that have demonstrated a commitment to advancing autonomy, leading and promoting safe adoption of unmanned systems, and developing programs that use these technologies to save lives and improve society.

“During the last year, the unmanned systems industry rose to meet urgent new challenges posed by the pandemic. It is inspiring to see organizations and companies that led this charge among the XCELLENCE Awards finalists,” said Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI. “As unmanned systems become increasingly integrated within our society, AUVSI is pleased to recognize this distinguished group for their innovative work that will accelerate our industry forward toward assured autonomy.”

Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL trade show, held on August 16-19, at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), in Atlanta, Georgia.

About Robotic Research

Robotic Research is a U.S.-based global leader in localization, autonomy, and robotic technology transforming the way we move. Founded in 2002, the company has been a trusted technology partner to the public and private sector for nearly twenty years. From people to platforms, at home or overseas, Robotic Research is driven to make the way you move smarter, safer, and more efficient.

To learn more about Robotic Research, visit www.rr.ai, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About AUVSI

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)—the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics—represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. For more information, visit AUVSI.org.

About XPONENTIAL

AUVSI XPONENTIAL is the largest, most significant event for the unmanned systems industry. The 2021 exhibit hall will showcase hundreds of cutting-edge companies from around the world and the conference will feature educational programming by unmanned systems experts, providing information about the future of policy, technology and business solutions and trending topics.

Contacts

Taylor Smith
press@rr.ai

Robotic Research Autonomy Powers North America’s First Automated Heavy-Duty Transit Bus 

CLARKSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Robotic Research, LLC (rr.ai), a global leader in autonomous driving technology and solutions, and New Flyer of America Inc. (“New Flyer”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, announced today the successful development of the Xcelsior AV™ – North America’s first fully operational automated heavy-duty transit bus.

“Welcome to the future of mass transit,” said, Alberto Lacaze, president of Robotic Research. “Automated transit buses, like the Xcelsior AV, are not just safer and greener, but more efficient. By optimizing rider capacity, improving traffic flow, and reducing stop-and-go accordion delays, these vehicles have the potential to not only increase the efficiency of travel for those on board, but for all vehicles on the road. Our partnership with New Flyer has resulted in a new mode of transit that brings together the latest technologies, ultimately helping to enable a safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more accessible transportation solution for the public.”

With the addition of Robotic Research’s autonomous AutoDrive® technology, the Xcelsior AV™ can visualize its environment, allowing it to avoid collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, and other hazards. Its automated precision docking capabilities precisely maneuver the bus within inches of the level boarding platforms, providing easy access to passengers with disabilities in accordance with ADA rules. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications can also enable “platooning,” where multiple buses are linked and dispatched together to accommodate more passengers at peak transit times. Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications also provide links to traffic lights and crosswalk signals to smooth traffic flow.

“Our Xcelsior AV represents the anticipated future of safety in public transit and the latest leap forward for New Flyer. The technology is real and it’s here,” said Chris Stoddart, President, New Flyer and MCI. “In the future, we expect fleets of automated buses to improve road safety and with the potential to shorten commute times, increase energy efficiency, and reduce congestion. As standards and regulations are developed and implemented and automated buses are deployed across North America, we expect our Xcelsior AV to enable meaningful improvements in the public transit user experience, which will hopefully lead to increased ridership. Together with Robotic Research, we are leading clean, accessible, reliable mobility that’s safer for all.”

The new Xcelsior AV™ bus is equipped with Robotic Research’s AutoDrive® automated driving system, the eyes and brain of the AV bus, and AutoDrive ByWire® drive-by-wire system, which enables automated throttle, brake, and steering. The AutoDrive® technology is already operating in first-mile/last-mile transit applications across four continents on both mixed traffic, public roadways and corporate and academic campuses.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has already announced that it will deploy New Flyer’s Xcelsior AV™ buses to serve on its CTfastrak bus rapid transit (BRT) route between New Britain and Hartford, anticipated to commence early 2023¹. The CTDOT project is funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of its Integrated Mobility Innovation (“IMI”) initiative. It also is the first scheduled public automated bus application and will operate within the dedicated CTfastrak BRT guideway.

“We have amassed quite a team for this project,” said Dennis Solensky, Transit Administrator, CTDOT. “CTfastrak is a one-of-a-kind asset to test new technology on, and we are thrilled to put it to its best use and roll out the first automated full-sized buses in North America!”

For more information, read our white paper, Automated Bus Rapid Transit: A Mode of High Quality, High-Capacity Transit Corridors.

About Robotic Research

Robotic Research, LLC, is an award-winning, leading provider of autonomy and robotic technology driving the transformation of commercial and government autonomous operations through innovative and intelligent systems. Whether providing autonomous vehicles to the military to keep the warfighter safe; delivering unmanned, transformable robots to extend the reach of Special Forces units; or making commercial transportation safer and more efficient, Robotic Research is leading this dynamic revolution in technology.

To learn more about Robotic Research, visit www.rr.ai, and on Twitter and LinkedIn.

¹ APTA

Contacts

Taylor Smith
press@rr.ai