The U.S. military has officially unveiled a new Interoperability Profile intended to significantly increase commonality among the Army and Marine Corps' UGVs, their payloads and their peripherals. Officials say all future requirements documents and requests for proposals for UGVs must adhere to the new guidelines.

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When driverless cars finally hit the road, they will be programmed to obey all traffic laws, such as speeding or making full stops at traffic lights. But since their human counterparts don't always follow the rules of the road, adding law-abiding robotic cars to daily traffic could result in a few shaken fists, or worse.

AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems Program Review 2012 provides the latest information on government and industry programs for ground, air and maritime systems, this annual event is one of the most important to the unmanned systems community.

GROUND SYSTEMS DAY: Tuesday, 7 February 2012

AIR SYSTEMS DAY: Wednesday, 8 February 2012 

MARITIME SYSTEMS DAY: Thursday, 9 February 2012

SPECIAL ADDRESSES:
 
Dr. Scott Fish, chief scientist, U.S. Army on 7 Feb kicking off Ground Systems Day
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the House Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus on 8 Feb kicking off Air Systems Day.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), co-chair of the House Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus on 9 Feb kicking off Maritime Systems Day.
 
Register today at http://www.auvsi.org/uspr

Registration sponsored by:

Join us for AUVSI Day on Capitol Hill: National Robotics Week on 17 April. This annual members-only event is part of National Robotics Week, a nationwide effort to highlight the growing importance of robotics in a wide range of application areas. AUVSI Day on Capitol Hill: National Robotics Week will feature a breakfast meeting, meetings with members of Congress or their staffs, unmanned systems and robotics hardware exhibits in either the Rayburn Foyer or Cannon Caucus room and a network luncheon for guests and attendees, which will feature a keynote address from a member of either the unmanned systems or robotics caucus.
 
Register today at www.auvsi.org/hillday to attend the event and to secure an opportunity to exhibit as space is limited.

On Friday, 20 Jan., House and Senate leaders announced a compromise agreement on the stalled FAA bill, possibly clearing the way for its passage in the coming weeks. The major sticking point had been a labor provision governing when and how airline employees can unionize.

As previously reported, on 31 Dec., Congress passed and the president signed a defense bill requiring the creation of six UAS test sites. During a recent meeting with top FAA officials, AUVSI learned the FAA plans on soliciting public comment through a notice in the federal register. This will be your chance to tell the FAA what type of criteria they should look at when selecting a test site.