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Florida Poly makes history with first flying police vehicle

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LAKELAND, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Florida Polytechnic University Police Department has become the first law enforcement agency in the nation to integrate an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle into its operations.

The manned aircraft, dubbed Astro in a double nod to science and the dog from the classic Jetsons cartoon, marks Florida Poly’s entry into the rapidly developing field of advanced air mobility (AAM), creating new opportunities to explore how the emerging technology can support public safety.

“Advanced air mobility is a technology on the rise, and we can either choose to be proactive or reactive as it develops,” said Aaron Murray, the University’s police chief. “We want to stay at the forefront of this technology and understand how it can be used to advance public safety and airspace safety altogether.”

Florida Poly is in the final stages of seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to use the aerial patrol vehicle in its operations. Murray said Astro can enhance the department’s ability to monitor campus and surrounding acres, reach areas difficult to access by traditional vehicles, assist with post-storm recovery efforts and deliver emergency supplies quickly when needed.

The University Police plans to collaborate with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to deploy Astro in support of emergency response and other public safety operations.

First in the U.S.
Stéphan D’haene, CEO of Jetson, said the California-based company fast-tracked Florida Poly’s order of the Jetson ONE vehicle despite a three-year waiting list because of the University’s STEM focus and the police department’s public safety purpose, both of which reflect Jetson’s goals for the future of safe flight.

“In our business plan and in alignment with our mission, we have always been looking for the use case beyond the recreational intent,” D’haene said. “We believe that this project is so important and aligns so much with what we want to do that we made it a priority.”

A new educational horizon
Beyond its public safety applications, Astro will become a hands-on learning and research tool for Florida Poly students and faculty. The University launched its new aerospace engineering degree this fall, providing students an immediate opportunity to study emerging flight technology in a real-world setting.

“At Florida Poly, we want our students working with emerging technologies before they become commonplace,” said Dr. Brad Thiessen, Florida Poly’s provost. “Astro gives our students and faculty a living laboratory where they can analyze real-world data, tackle new engineering challenges and help shape the future of advanced air mobility.”

Faculty and students are already coordinating efforts to use real-time operational data from Astro for academic research and senior capstone design projects.

“Connecting an educational component to this technology is a big deal,” Murray said. “We are a technology university, and this aerial vehicle delivers more opportunities to learn, build partnerships and explore ways to keep our airspace safe, while connecting the work of our police department directly with our students.”

Technology takes flight
The introduction of the Astro flying police vehicle is the latest example of Florida Poly putting emerging technology into practice across campus. The University recently added a drone unit for its police department and a student-powered Security Operations Center for cybersecurity.

“There are a lot of things that people once looked at as recreational vehicles that are incredible tools in our profession now,” Murray said. “People used to think that bicycles, motorcycles and drones were all just toys or hobbies, but look at the huge impact they have made on our law enforcement profession.”

Astro’s arrival also comes as AAM gains momentum across the state, particularly in Central Florida.

Florida was recently selected to participate in the Federal Aviation Administration’s eVTOL and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, designed to safely integrate next-generation aircraft into the national airspace. The SunTrax facility in Auburndale, Florida, located only four miles away from Florida Poly, is home to the nation’s first dedicated AAM aerial test track, with eVTOL testing expected to begin by the end of 2026.

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SOURCE Florida Polytechnic University

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Kontron Launches Two New KBox F-Series Industrial Computers To Bring Greater Flexibility and Scalability to Industrial Edge Computing

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16 minutes ago

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October 21, 2026

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TAIPEI, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kontron, a leading global provider of IoT/Embedded Computing Technology (ECT), expands its KBox F-Series with the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, two compact industrial computers designed to address diverse requirements in intelligent Industry 4.0, edge computing and industrial IoT applications.

Both systems are powered by 12th, 13th or 14th Gen Intel® Core™ i9/i7/i5/i3 S-Series socket-type processors with a TDP of up to 65 W and support up to 96 GB DDR5 memory, providing a scalable computing foundation for demanding industrial applications requiring flexible performance configuration and long-term deployment.

The KBox F-203-RPS offers two LAN configurations with either two or four GbE ports, allowing customers to select the connectivity level that best fits their applications. The dual-LAN configuration provides an efficient solution for general industrial computing, equipment control and edge applications, while the four-LAN configuration offers additional network connectivity for applications involving multiple devices or network segments, such as machine vision, industrial automation and IoT gateways.

For applications requiring greater system expandability, the KBox F-204-RPS provides one PCIe x16 or two PCIe x8 expansion slots, offering the flexibility to integrate graphics, networking, AI acceleration or other add-on cards according to specific application requirements. With support for up to four 2.5-inch SATA HDDs/SSDs, it also provides extensive storage scalability for data-intensive workloads. These capabilities make the KBox F-204-RPS particularly suitable for industrial edge computing, machine vision, video processing and applications requiring additional functionality or large local data storage.

Together, the KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS enable customers to select the configuration that best matches their requirements, from a slimmer, network-focused industrial computer to a highly expandable edge computing platform.

To learn more about KBox F-203-RPS and KBox F-204-RPS, refer to https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-203-rps/p301099 and https://www.kontron.com/en/products/kbox-f-204-rps/p311867.

About Kontron

At Kontron, we champion IoT and Industry 4.0, by creating secure, state-of-the-art solutions that span hardware, software and services. Our approach speeds market entry, reduces the cost of ownership, and offers longevity, ensuring our role as your trusted partner in the integration of smart technologies. For more information, please visit www.kontron.com, dial +886-2-2799-2789 or email SalesAsia@kontron.com.

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SOURCE Kontron

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Mouser Electronics Brings Smart Sensing Solutions to PSECE 2026

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October 21, 2026

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MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, announces its participation in the 21st Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE 2026) from October 26 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippines. This event underscores Mouser’s commitment to supporting the region’s growing electronics design community with immediate access to cutting-edge technologies.

Visitors are invited to meet the Mouser team at Booth #110-111 to explore new products and practical design resources. The booth features a live demonstration of Würth Elektronik’s smart sensing and visual indication solutions, integrating environmental and motion sensing with programmable visual feedback and wireless connectivity. This interactive display illustrates how modern devices can detect physical conditions and translate them into clear, immediate visual data, addressing the critical need for reliable intelligence in connected systems.

“As we advance into an era of interconnected intelligence, Mouser remains committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge components and real-world application,” said Daphne Tien, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Mouser APAC. “Our presence at PSECE 2026 underscores our dedication to empowering engineers with the tools they need to innovate. We look forward to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where technology translates into tangible progress for the Philippines and beyond.”

Mouser’s participation highlights its strategic objective to strengthen ties with local partners and accelerate the adoption of advanced semiconductor technologies. By providing a platform for knowledge exchange, the company aims to help design communities turn promising prototypes into practical applications.

Attendees will have the opportunity to gather invaluable insights, learn industry best practices, and connect with professionals from across the region. The booth also features interactive activities where visitors can win premium gadgets and engineering tools, making innovative technology more approachable for everyone.

To learn more about Mouser’s presence at PSECE 2026, visit https://www.mouser.ph/psece-seipi/. 

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mouser-electronics-brings-smart-sensing-solutions-to-psece-2026-302914806.html

SOURCE Mouser Electronics

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Workato Launches Self-Serve Platform in Singapore, Opening Enterprise AI to a Broader Community of Builders

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October 21, 2026

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New offering gives developers, students, and customers access to the full power of Workato’s enterprise-grade engine to build AI agents and MCP servers

SINGAPORE, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Workato®, the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI, today announced the launch of a new self-service offering that gives customers, developers, and students across Asia access to the Workato platform to govern and scale their AI initiatives, including building and productionizing AI agents and MCP servers.

Making AI accessible has been at the heart of Workato’s mission the past several years. Through the AI Institute Alliance, unveiled in September 2025, Workato partnered with leading institutes of higher learning across Singapore, including Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and the National University of Singapore. The initiative equipped students and educators with automation and AI skills.

The AI Lab, which opened a year later, extended that commitment further into the public sector through its partnership with EDB, and into inclusive hiring through SG Enable.

The newly launched self-serve platform will provide users access to:

A free account to start building immediately, with the option to upgrade to a paid plan, no contract required, as projects growThe ability to build recipes, Agents/Genies, and MCP servers directly on the platformThe same governed, enterprise-grade engine that powers Workato’s largest deploymentsA path built for independent developers, students, and small teams, as well as large enterprises

Since launching in 2026 in North America, Workato has seen rapid growth in the builder community. The platform is enterprise grade, but free to get started. As builders solve problems for their business, they can grow by upgrading to a paid plan. With this launch in Singapore, Workato is making an investment in the local builder community.

“The next era of AI won’t be defined by who has access to intelligence, but by who can turn it into action. We’re putting the same enterprise-grade power trusted by the world’s largest companies into the hands of every builder. We want everyone to be able to transform how their business operates,” said Rishi Mallik, Chief Growth Officer, Workato. 

Workato showcased its self-serve platform and broader community initiatives at World of Workato (WOW) 2026 in Singapore.

Builders can sign up now at https://app.trial.workato.com/users/sign_up_trial?utm_content=sg_wow2026.

About Workato

Workato is the leading Control and Execution Platform for Enterprise AI — the neutral platform enterprises trust to put AI to work across their business. Workato unifies data, applications, and processes into a single platform so AI can reliably orchestrate business processes in production at enterprise scale. Built on more than a decade of running mission-critical processes for over half the Fortune 500 — including Nasdaq, Cisco, Vodafone, Atlassian, and Lucid Motors — Workato turns over 17,000 enterprise systems AI needs to act on into one governed execution layer. For more information, visit workato.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/workato-launches-self-serve-platform-in-singapore-opening-enterprise-ai-to-a-broader-community-of-builders-302914795.html

SOURCE Workato

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