Unmanned Systems Technology 010 | nuTonomy driverless taxi | Embedded computing | HFE International marine powertrain | Space vehicles | Performance monitoring | Commercial UAV Show Asia report

58 S pace has become a new proving ground for technology, particularly autonomous systems such as the latest rockets, which are bringing their large, first-stage propulsion units back to Earth safely so they can be re-used in an effort to cut the cost of launches and even promote pilotless tourist journeys. Autonomous systems are also on their way to nearby asteroids to look for mining opportunities, while at least three projects are already planning to put their autonomous rovers on the Moon as part of the Lunar-X competition, and autonomous rovers from a joint European-Russian project, China and the US will be heading for Mars starting in 2018. In time, an autonomous submarine could also be investigating the seas of Saturn’s moon Titan, while new propulsion technologies will make autonomous navigation a necessity. Autonomous systems are helping to boost mankind’s efforts to explore and exploit our planetary neighbours. By Nick Flaherty Boldly going October/November 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology