Unmanned Systems Technology 006 | ECA Inspector Mk2 USV | Antenna systems | Northwest UAV NW-44 | Unmanned ground vehicles | Navigation systems | Lunar X challenge

3 February/March 2016 | Contents Unmanned Systems Technology | February/March 2016 04 Intro The move to autonomous cars is such that, not long from now, manual driving will be seen as hopelessly archaic 06 Platform one: Mission-critical info High-resolution mapping technology for driverless cars launched, in-car computer system provides a form of AI, Intel buys into UAV collision avoidance expertise, and much more 18 In conversation: David Willems UMS Skeldar’s head of business development talks about his plans for this UAV joint venture 20 UST online Highlights of what’s new and most popular on our sister UST website, plus details of the Supplier Directory 22 Dossier: ECA Inspector Mk2 USV We look at how this core of a selection of systems meets the needs of marine customers looking for a complete capability 34 Focus: Antenna systems Guidance on the technologies and design options available for this key element of unmanned systems 44 Dossier: Northwest UAV NW-44 We report on what went into developing this pioneering small- displacement, single-cylinder two-stroke that has been designed specifically for UAVs 56 Insight: Unmanned ground systems With commercial driverless cars and transport systems set to appear on our roads before long, we report on developments in the technology  64 Focus: Navigation systems There are various directions engineers can take regarding navigation sensor technology and integration. We explore the options 76 Insight: LunarX challenge Private-sector teams are vying to be the first to land an autonomous rover on the Moon. We review the contenders for this prestigious prize 82 PS: Navigation software Simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) can encounter problems in some circumstances, which is where a technology known as SINS could prove useful 34 22 44 76 56