Robotic drone delivery for small parcels and last mile applications are in development everywhere these days, and major air framers like Boeing have been working on cockpit automation for decades, but what about the space in between? California startup Xwing has demonstrated fully autonomous gate to gate operation of a Cessna 208 cargo aircraft, a type commonly used for short intercity light cargo operations. The technology may fill the gap between heavy lift between major hubs and local door-to-door delivery.General Motors has pressed the gas pedal on electric vehicle development with the announcement of second large battery factory in conjunction with LG. The big new plant, located next to the Spring Hill, Tennessee assembly operation will create packs for automobiles and light trucks, and will support Spring Hill as GM’s third electric vehicle assembly complex.And, over a year into the Covid 19 global crisis, supply chains everywhere are strained. American manufacturing however is enjoying steady growth, and this week the Institute for Supply Management reports that April is the 10th consecutive month of steady growth, despite serious issues in commodity pricing and logistics.Access all episodes of This Week in Engineering on Engineering TV along with all of our other series.