Edge unveils swarming drones; Astra UTM eyes global expansion
Good morning!
Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!
With UMEX 2022, the Middle East defence-focused event dedicated to drones, robots and unmanned systems, taking place in Abu Dhabi this week, much of today's news is about drones and the defence sector.
Meanwhile, the UAE extended its month-long ban on private drone flights in the country for a further month.
By the way, if you missed the UMEX 2022 conference last Sunday, you can find the video recordings of all the sessions here.
Scroll down to check out these and more stories below.
Stay safe and have a great day!
/Carrington
Drones
UAE's Astra UTM eyes international expansion in Europe, South America — www.arabiandefence.com
#UAE #UTM - UAE-based Astra UTM, an advanced Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) platform, has announced the appointment of senior business development executives across several key geographies in Europe and South America as part of its expansion strategy. (Arabian Defence)
UAE extends decision to stop all private drone activities, light sports aircrafts — english.alarabiya.net
#UAE #regulation - The UAE’s Ministry of Interior announced the extension of the ban all flying operations by owners, practitioners and enthusiasts of drones. The ban was introduced about a month ago, following Houthi drone attacks on Abu Dhabi. (Al Arabiya)
Autonomous Vehicles
Driverless bus begins tours of world's largest single-site solar park — gulfnews.com
#UAE #AVs - Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is now operating a Navya driverless electric bus to offer tours to visitors at the Innovation Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The solar park is the the largest single-site facility of its kind in the world. (Gulf News)
R&D
Tawazun and L3Harris to set up two advanced technology centres — www.tawazun.ae
#UAE #security - Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) and L3Harris Technologies have signed agreements to establish two centres to advance intelligent software and electro-optical technologies in the UAE. L3Harris will set up the Intelligence Software Center with local partner Atlas Telecom, and the Electro-Optical Center of Excellence with Emirates Advanced Research and Technology Holding (EARTH). (Tawazun)
UAE to boost number of specialised AI laboratories in the country — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #AIstrategy - This year's first meeting of the UAE Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Council - chaired by H.E. Omar Sultan AlOlama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications - approved more than 60 national initiatives. (The National)
Energy
Saudi Aramco keen on utilizing AI at all its facilities: Al-Rumayyan — saudigazette.com.sa
#Saudi #Aramco - Aramco aims to employ AI widely across all its facilities to help the oil giant reduce carbon emissions, according to comments made by Aramco's chairman at IPTC, the International Petroleum Technology Conference. (Saudi Gazette)
Robotics
Meet the five robots of the future — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #UMEX22 - The robista - a robot coffee maker that can serve a flat white in minutes - is only one of five eye-catching technologies on display at Abu Dhabi's unmanned system conference, UMEX 2022. (The National)
Education
UAE’s ‘AI for Kids’ to build new generation of digital talents — www.itp.net
#UAE #robotics - The UAE Coders HQ, in partnership with Dell Technologies, has unveiled ‘AI for Kids,’ a new initiative to build new generation of coders from school students by introducing them to coding languages. (ITP)
AI Strategy
Egypt targets increasing AI contribution to GDP to 7.7% by 2030 - IDSC — www.egypttoday.com
#Egypt #AIStrategy - Egypt targets increasing AI's contribution to the country's GDP to 7.7 percent by 2030, according to the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC). (Egypt Today)
Defence
UAE defence company Edge unveils aerial drone swarms to overwhelm enemy targets — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #UAVs - UAE advanced technology group for defence EDGE, unveiled swarming drones, its latest application for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), on the first day of UMEX22. The systems are based on the Hunter 2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by EDGE Group company HALCON. (The National)
UAE invests in drones, robots as unmanned warfare takes off — www.france24.com
#UAE #UMEX22 - The United Arab Emirates is ploughing money into drones, robots and other unmanned weaponry as autonomous warfare becomes more and more widespread -- including in attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. (AFP)
US Navy plans launch of Mideast maritime drone force, alongside allies — apnews.com
#UAE #UMEX22 - The U.S. Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet announced Monday the launch of a new joint fleet of unmanned drones with allied nations to patrol vast swaths of the region’s volatile waters as tensions simmer with Iran. (AP)
EDGE introduces new AI-assisted unmanned ground vehicle at UMEX 2022 — edgegroup.ae
#UAE #UMEX22 - Edge launched its new SCORPIO-B unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) at UMEX 2022 this week. The UGV can be equipped with remote weapon systems, and used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). (Edge Group)
EDGE unveils 7IS Remote Control Weapon Station — nimr.ae
#UAE #UMEX22 - Edge introduced the 7IS Remote Control Weapon Station (RCWS), a vehicle-mounted system which provides the operator with a 360-degree coverage. (NIMR)
Israel accuses Iran of providing munitions for drones supplied to Venezuela — www.reuters.com
#Iran #Israel #UAVs - Israel accused Iran on Tuesday of planning to arm drones supplied to Venezuela with precision-guided munitions. (Reuters)
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About Carrington Malin — www.carringtonmalin.com Carrington Malin helps large organisations, digital brands and fast growing tech ventures with brand, communications and go-to-market strategies.