We designed and constructed an A-sized base autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), augmented with a stack of modular and extendable hardware and software, including autonomy, navigation, control and high fidelity simulation capabilities (A-size stands for the standard sonobuoy form factor, with a maximum diameter of 124 mm). Subsequently, we extended this base vehicle with a novel tuna-inspired morphing fin payload module (referred to as the Morpheus AUV), to achieve good directional stability and exceptional maneuverability; properties that are highly desirable for rigid hull AUVs, but are presently difficult to achieve because they impose contradictory requirements. The morphing fin payload allows the base AUV to dynamically change its stability-maneuverability qualities by using morphing fins, which can be deployed, deflected and retracted, as needed. The base vehicle and Morpheus AUV were both extensively field tested in-water in the Charles river, Massachusetts, USA; by conducting hundreds of hours of operations over a period of two years. The maneuvering capability of the Morpheus AUV was evaluated with and without the use of morphing fins to quantify the performance improvement. The Morpheus AUV was able to showcase an exceptional turning rate of around 25-35 deg/s. A maximum turn rate improvement of around 35% - 50% was gained through the use of morphing fins.

Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars said Monday it has signed an agreement to supply "tens of thousands" of self-driving cars to Uber, as the ride-sharing company battles a number of different controversies. Volvo--which is owned by China's Geely and has yet to build a self-driving system--said in a statement that it would supply Uber with "autonomous driving compatible base vehicles between 2019 and 2021." Uber would then add its own software system to enable the cars to drive pilot-less. When contacted by AFP, a Volvo spokesman did not specify the exact number of cars, but a source familiar with the matter said it could be around 24,000. Neither Volvo nor Uber released financial details, but based on list prices for the cars the deal could be worth more than $1 billion (around 850 million euros).

Volvo said Monday it will sell tens of thousands of vehicles to Uber Technologies Inc. starting as early as 2019 that will serve as the ride-hailing company's self-driving taxi fleet. The so-called base vehicles will be developed off of car architecture currently used on Volvo's 90 series cars and the XC60 midsize SUV. Volvo said in a statement that its engineers have worked closely with Uber to develop the technology on another SUV currently on the market. It's unclear when the vehicles would be put on the road. Jeff Miller, head of auto alliances at San Francisco-based Uber, said in a statement that the agreement puts the company on a "path towards mass produced self-driving vehicles at scale."

An Uber driver sits in his car near San Francisco International Airport on July 15, 2015. SAN FRANCISCO -- Uber customers in downtown Pittsburgh later this month will begin hopping into vehicles that can drive themselves to their destination. The ride-hailing giant, which has been valued at more than 60 billion, also said Thursday it was partnering with Swedish automaker Volvo on a 300-million joint project to develop self-driving vehicles. And it said it bought a start-up that's working on self-driving trucks. Uber has been testing a handful of tech-laden Volvo SUVs in Pittsburgh, which is headquarters for the tech company's nascent autonomous car research facility.

An Uber driver sits in his car near San Francisco International Airport on July 15, 2015. SAN FRANCISCO - Uber customers in downtown Pittsburgh will later this month begin hopping into vehicles that will drive themselves to their destination. The ride-hailing giant, which has been valued at more than 60 billion, announced Tuesday that it was partnering with Swedish automaker Volvo on a 300-million joint project to develop self-driving vehicles. Uber has been quietly testing a handful of tech-laden Volvo SUVs in the Pennsylvania city, which is headquarters for the tech company's nascent autonomous car research facility. Many of its staffers are former robotics experts from nearby Carnegie Mellon University, a longtime self-driving car tech hotbed.

The ride-sharing firm Uber will, for the first time, allow users to hail self-driving cars later this month, it has been reported. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Uber's chief executive Travis Kalanick said the launch would take place in Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. At first, the vehicles will be supervised by a driver, who can take control if necessary, and an observer. Uber eventually hopes to replace its one million drivers, Bloomberg said. Customers in Pittsburgh will request rides as usual via the Uber app but trips in self-driving cars will initially be free, according to Bloomberg.