LOS ANGELES—The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $1.6 million contract to Machina Labs to advance and accelerate the development of the company’s robotic technology for manufacturing metal tooling for high-rate production of composites.

Several start-ups, such as Redwire Space, Space Forge Ltd. and Varda Space Industries, hope to ramp up activity over the next two years.

BLUE RIDGE, GA—For MES software to improve KPIs, it cannot sit in isolation from other manufacturing systems.

A mobile robot built by engineers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will reach the Moon before NASA astronauts.

A new technique for ultrasonic welding could eliminate the need for energy directors with fiber-reinforced plastics.

SANTA MATEO, CA—Alef Aeronautics Inc. has received a Special Airworthiness Certification for its flying car from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

BETHESDA, MD—Lockheed Martin Corp. and Sintavia LLC, are collaborating to expand research on metal additive manufacturing as an alternative to castings and forgings. Additive manufacturing has the capability to improve efficiencies in existing castings and forgings supply chains, and provide parts with a higher level of detail and greater design opportunities.

STRATFORD, CT—The U.S. Navy has approved full-rate production of the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter, a decision that is expected to increase production to more than 20 helicopters annually in the coming years. Sikorsky is procuring long-lead items and critical materials to support building full rate production CH-53K helicopters in its digital factory.

MALTA, NY—Lockheed Martin and GlobalFoundries (GF) are collaborating to advance U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and innovation and to increase the security, reliability and resiliency of domestic supply chains for national security systems. 

TORONTO—Lockheed Martin recently completed a project to evaluate the automation of airframe manufacturing operations using six-axis robots equipped with artificial intelligence technology from Canadian tech startup Xaba.