Space, Robotics, and Software Shifts in September 2026
Key tech events from orbital dogfights to AI chip deals and software updates shape this week.
The TechMap Live reporter · · 2 min read · from 10 reports
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Hey folks, here’s a quick rundown of what’s been happening in tech today. First up, the U.S. Space Command ran its first live‑fly orbital dogfighting drill in Colorado Springs, calling it ‘Apollo Maneuvers.’ It was a test of how spacecraft could move in contested space. Meanwhile, in London, a technical glitch in air traffic control knocked out almost three hundred flights, but officials said it wasn’t a cyberattack. Switching gears to robotics, SandboxAQ just proved GPS‑free navigation on a Northrop Grumman drone in Broomfield, using magnetic sensors. Oak Ridge National Laboratory teamed with partners to 3D print a steel pressure vessel for nuclear reactors, all with three robots. A Seattle startup is also delivering autonomous vehicles to the U.S. Army for obstacle breaching. On the AI front, Kohalink and Amazon struck a $60 billion deal in Tehran for custom inference chips and networking gear. In Nashville, Waymo’s driverless cars are now available through Lyft, the first time the same fleet shows up on two rideshare apps. On the software side, Microsoft rolled out a Windows 11 update that lets you move the taskbar and tweaks the Start menu. Android Auto users worldwide have been complaining that the speedometer and traffic data on Google Maps disappeared. And in a tragic incident in Alabama, a 2021 Tesla Model Y crashed into trees, caught fire, and killed the driver, with a young daughter rescued by a stranger. That’s the tech snapshot for today. Stay tuned for more updates.
Space and Military Maneuvers
US Space Command held its first ‘Apollo Maneuvers’ exercise in Colorado Springs. The drill simulated spacecraft moving in contested orbital environments.
In London, British air traffic control said a technical glitch caused nearly three hundred flight cancellations. They ruled out a cyberattack as the cause.
Robotics and AI Advances
SandboxAQ tested a magnetic GPS‑free navigation system on Northrop Grumman’s Lumberjack Group 3 UAS in Broomfield. The test was the world’s first of its kind.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and partners used three robots to 3D print a steel pressure vessel for advanced nuclear reactors in Oak Ridge. The same lab also partnered with a Seattle company to supply autonomous vehicles for the U.S. Army’s obstacle‑breaching work.
Kohalink and Amazon signed a $60 billion deal in Tehran for custom AI inference chips and high‑speed data centre networking equipment. In Nashville, Waymo’s driverless cars went live on the Lyft app, the first market where the same fleet is offered through two rideshare platforms.
Software Updates and Mobility Incidents
Microsoft released a Windows 11 update in Redmond that lets users move the taskbar and changes the Start menu.
A significant number of Android Auto users worldwide reported that the speedometer and traffic data disappeared from Google Maps.
In Alabama, a 2021 Tesla Model Y left the highway, hit two trees, caught fire, and killed driver Kayleigh Page. A seven‑month‑old daughter was rescued by a stranger.
Questions people ask
What was the Apollo Maneuvers exercise?
It was a live‑fly orbital dogfighting test by US Space Command in Colorado Springs, simulating spacecraft maneuvering in contested orbital environments.
Why did UK flights get cancelled?
A technical glitch in British air traffic control caused nearly 300 cancellations, and officials ruled out a cyberattack as the cause.
What is the Amazon–Kohalink deal about?
They signed a $60 billion agreement for custom AI inference chips and high‑speed data centre networking equipment.
The events in this briefing
Every event summarised above, in the order it was reported. Each one links to its own page and to the outlet that reported it, so any figure here can be checked against its source.
- UK air traffic control rules out cyberattack in flight disruption · Phys.org Technology
- US military conducts first-ever live-fly orbital dogfighting exercise · Space.com
- Overland AI vehicles to bolster US Army obstacle breaching capability · Interesting Engineering
- ORNL 3D prints steel pressure vessel for nuclear reactors using three robots · Interesting Engineering
- Google Maps speedometer disappearing on Android Auto · TechRadar
- Windows 11 September update released with taskbar relocation and Start menu changes · TechRadar
- Waymo robotaxis go live on Lyft app in Nashville · The Next Web
- Tesla Autopilot/FSD active in fatal Alabama crash killing mother and baby · Electrek
- SandboxAQ tests GPS-free navigation on Northrop Grumman drone · The Quantum Insider
- Kohalink and Amazon sign $60 billion AI chipset deal · Digiato
This briefing was written by an automated reporter from 10 event reports already published on this site. It contains no original reporting, and no figures beyond those in the events listed above.
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