Caterpillar Inc. joins sponsors of first Astrobotic expedition to the Moon

Astrobotic Technology, a Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) spin-off company, has announced that Caterpillar Inc. will be a sponsor of its first robotic expedition to the lunar surface.

The initial Astrobotic mission will revisit the Apollo 11 site in April 2013 with a five-foot tall, 160-lb. robot broadcasting 3D high-definition video. The mission will carry payloads to the Moon and convey the experience to the world via internet video access.

The expedition also will claim a financial trifecta: up to $24 million in the Google Lunar X Prize, a $10 million data sale to NASA and Florida's $2 million bonus for launching from that state.

In 2007 Caterpillar sponsored Carnegie Mellon's winning machine in the Urban Challenge, a competition for autonomous vehicles conducted by DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The sensors and code base developed for this race of driverless cars through city traffic are evolving into the guidance and control for the spacecraft that will take Astrobotic's robot to the lunar surface.

"Caterpillar has enjoyed a successful relationship with Carnegie Mellon University over the last two decades. Our sponsorship of CMU's winning machine in the 2007 Urban Challenge has served as a technology foundation for further work to automate our large mining trucks", said Eric Reiners, Caterpillar Automation Systems Manager.

"Our customers are moving to more remote and harsh environments. This drives the need for further development of autonomous and remote operation of equipment. We look forward to applying the technology developed and lessons learned from the Astrobotic expedition toward our own Cat equipment".

Carnegie Mellon and Astrobotic have expended more than $3 million creating mission designs and prototype Moon robots engineered to operate during extreme heat — soil temperatures at the lunar equator hit 224 degrees F. at noon.

"Operating during the Moon's daytime heat is the central engineering challenge for lunar robots, and we will take advantage of Caterpillar’s experience with rugged electronics for harsh environments", said Dr. Red Whittaker, director of CMU's Field Robotics Center and founder of Astrobotic Technology.

Caterpillar's experience in autonomous mining and construction machinery also will assist with learning how to 'live off the land' using lunar resources. For example, polar ice deposits can be transformed into propellant to refuel spacecraft for their return to Earth, doubling their productivity. New NASA research shows that some of the polar ice (a mix of water, methane and other compounds) is covered by an insulating layer of dry soil that robotic excavators can remove to access the volatiles.

"Caterpillar makes sustainable progress possible by enabling infrastructure development and resource utilization on every continent on Earth. It only makes sense we would be involved expanding our efforts to the 8th continent, the Moon", said Reiners.

Panasonic will also sponsor a panel discussion titled 3D: Nature’s New Dimension, on Friday, August 27th at the Portola Hotel & Spa, moderated by Barry Clark, executive producer at Mandalay Media Arts. Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic's Chief Technology Officer for North America, will be among the featured panelists at the discussion.

One summit attendee will also win a Panasonic Full HD 3D VIERA Home Theater System which includes a VIERA VT25 Series Plasma, Panasonic 3D Blu-ray Disc Player and four pairs of Panasonic Active Shutter 3D Eyewear.

"Panasonic is proud to support the BLUE Oceans Summit and have the opportunity to share with many of the world's leading oceanographic filmmakers and experts our industry-leading work in 3D technology", said Panasonic's Tsuyuzaki.

"The underwater world is among our planet's most fascinating and mysterious places. The arrival of the 3D era provides filmmakers with a tremendous opportunity to capture the beauty of the ocean in a realistic and immersive way that was not possible a few short years ago and share it with people worldwide so that they too may gain a greater understanding of how important our oceans are".

"We are very excited to have Panasonic as an official sponsor of the BLUE Oceans Film & Conservation Summit", said Debbie Kinder, CEO/Executive Director, BLUE Oceans Film Festival.

"The arrival of the 3D era is a very exciting time for the talented film makers that participate in BLUE Oceans and having Panasonic's industry-leading 3D technology demonstrated here will really give us all a first-hand look at the tremendous power that 3D brings to film making and how it will enrich the entertainment experience for viewers".

"We are thrilled to be awarded this great opportunity", said Brian Fahle, president and CEO of Main Event Merchandise Group. "This is a fantastic new partnership for us, and we are honored to become part of the U.S. Figure Skating family".

EVC, which has worked closely with U.S. Figure Skating to supply videographer services at several qualifying competitions during the past three seasons, will now supply those services exclusively at twenty-one qualifying competitions during the 2010-11 season. The partnership offers skaters the opportunity to buy competition DVDs prior to, during and after events through an integrated online and on-site purchasing process.

EVC will also introduce new technology throughout the term of the agreement, exploring new ways to deliver video content to skaters in a timely and user-friendly format, with a focus on growing social media platforms.

"During the last three years, we have developed wonderful relationships with several skating clubs around the country", said Chris Ronzio, president and founder of EVC. "Through this new relationship, we are excited to introduce our coverage and share our services with a wider audience of skaters and their families".

"It's a wonderful opportunity to support a great cause and launch our company's 'Doing Good and Giving Back' efforts", said Susan Reddel, PoshPorts Chief Ambassador. "We believe that the luminaries of Chicago's vibrant culinary scene and PoshPorts' focus on global food, wine, travel and entertainment are a perfect fit to bring attention to this important event".

This year's event will feature the hottest restaurants, chefs, mixologists, craft beers and DJs Chicago has to offer. There will also be a dessert lounge featuring the best tastes from Chicago's finest pastry chefs. Taste of the Nation Chicago is being held at the historic Aragon Ballroom.

Participating chefs donating their time and talents include Top Chef Master Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolbampo, Xoco), Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat), Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot Restaurant), Carol Wallack (Sola) and Mindy Segal (HotChocolate). This year's theme - Street Food - seems sure to be a winner with palates of all types.

"With crowds estimated to surpass the 60,000-plus visitors from last year, it will have a tremendous economic impact on the local economy during a traditionally-slow tourist month".

Tourism on the Gulf Coast of Florida has been harmed by the misconception that Florida is covered in oil. This could mean potential disaster for those who stake their livelihoods on a constant influx of visitors.

This type of sporting event, which is the longest running offshore power boat racing in the United States, again hopes to bring in tourists and pump up the local economy during a crucial time for the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Last year, Super Boat brought an estimated 60,000-plus people to Clearwater and made an estimated impact of $5-6 million on the local economy, without spending a penny of taxpayer's money.

Irwin L. Jacobs, Chairman of FLW Outdoors, said: "Walmart has been an integral part of professional and recreational fishing for many years. We recognize Walmart's renewed, long-term commitment to FLW Outdoors as a substantial and important confirmation of Walmart’s support for their customers’ passion for the outdoors".

"Many Walmart customers have a deep commitment to the outdoors. To them, time spent fishing represents 'living better'", said Stephen Quinn, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Walmart. "Through this partnership, we see another way to connect with this important segment of our customer base, while nurturing additional interest in fishing at all levels, whether professional or recreational".

Local Walmart stores will be offering in-store family-friendly events, such as fishing simulators, and an expanded assortment of fishing gear for sale. Individual stores will also play supporting roles for FLW tournament events around the country.

Walmart will serve as title sponsor across multiple circuits of FLW Outdoors, including the FLW Tour. As part of the sponsorship, Walmart will receive exposure and prominent presence across the multiple platforms of FLW Outdoors, including all bass and walleye events, FLW Outdoors' multiple websites, FLW Fantasy Fishing, FLW Outdoors Magazine, "FLW Outdoors" television show, broadcast to over 500 million households in twenty-four countries, and additional marketing functions operated by FLW Outdoors.

Walmart began its sponsorship of FLW Outdoors in 1997, a deal which was the first of its kind for the world's largest retailer and for the sport of bass fishing.