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04 Dec 18. Sandia Labs trains AI to spot drones in time and space. Sandia Labs, together with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, is working on a novel drone-detection technique. Sandia’s method is video-based. Called “temporal frequency analysis,” it analyzes pixel fluctuations in recorded footage of a drone, and then applies machine learning to that footage to train the algorithm to recognize all drones like it in the future, and then anticipate their movements.
While drones today can be detected by everything from radar to visual confirmation to transmitted radio signals, most of these methods face some limitations. Radar has a difficult time discriminating between birds and gyrocopters, and struggles on its own with smaller drones. Radio signals are revealing for as long as the drone and its controller are sending them, but increased autonomy reduces the signals sent, eliminating signals as a viable tracking tool.
Electronic warfare is a driving force behind the development of autonomous systems, but even without a denied environment a vehicle that repeatedly broadcasts its location is one that’s easier to spot and stop. Anticipating an autonomous future, video-based systems focus on what is observable.
Key to Temporal Frequency Analysis is not just the video of the drone, though there is that, but it’s how the drone moves in space. The whole frame becomes relevant information and the process captures tens of thousands of them.
To build a baseline of data, Sandia flew three different multi-rotor drones (think quadcopters, hexacopters and the like) in front of a streaming video camera. For the baseline flights, the drone would move forward and backwards, side to side, up as well as down. (No word on if the drones also hit A, B, select or start.) Analysis of the video then rendered the drone’s flight paths.
The baseline established, Sandia then tested the tool in distracting environments, with helicopters and cars and especially birds entering the frame. The Lab says it was ultimately able to distinguish between bird and drone. Iterating the design in a research setting makes a tool that will have some utility outside it. While this was a project primarily for Homeland Security, the same algorithms could likely be applied in other settings where drone detection and path-tracking is at a premium.
A battlefield is a terrible place to iterate data. Set aside the limitations of data transfer, the obstacles put in place by jamming and interference and constraints on bandwidth. Battlefields emerge in a hail of bullets or with the sudden boom of an explosion, and having data collection tools in place to even begin to train sensors for machine learning is hardly a given. Which means that if the military or the government is to see iteration done on threat detection, it will likely happen far from active war zones, with the hope that the data gathered and studied is valuable enough to inform defenses in the future. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
05 Dec 18. Sagetech Demos Micro-Mode 5 Transponder for NATO Small Drones. Sagetech Corporation, a maker of certified UAV avionics, this month demonstrated NATO Mode 5 encrypted interrogations/replies with a device weighing less than 6 ounces. The MX12B is an aviation transponder that enables small unmanned aircraft to interoperate in NATO military airspace, at minimal weight-cost. The event was hosted at a government facility near Patuxent River Naval Air Station by the “IMPAX” section of the Navy’s unmanned aircraft program office (PEO U&W), which is tasked with rapid acquisition of miniature Mode 5 technology for small U.S. military drones.
Congressional mandate requires U.S. armed services to upgrade their aircraft with NATO Mode 5 technology, but small unmanned aircraft struggle to carry heavy legacy transponders that weigh as much as 10 lbs. The Navy has long sought a lightweight Mode 5 transponder for use in its small drones, some that weigh only 40 lbs at takeoff. Sagetech’s MX12B transponder weighs 5.3 ounces, provides full specification performance, and includes the latest FAA-certified civil modes for compliant flight in both military and civil airspace.
Mode 5 is an air-combat identification system which positively distinguishes friendly from enemy aircraft, reducing fratricide. The technology employs spread-spectrum radio transmissions that are difficult for adversaries to intercept or jam and encrypts data with keys that change every few seconds.
The demonstration was attended by several unmanned military aircraft program offices: Fire Scout, Blackjack, ScanEagle, Shadow, Aerosonde, and Stingray.
“All were highly impressed to see such a small package deliver full specification Mode 5 performance;” said Kelvin Scribner, Sagetech’s CEO, “and the MX12B’s FAA certifications mean military UAS can operate compliantly in civil airspace as well.”
Sagetech is accepting orders for the non-certified MX12B that begins shipping February 14, 2019, and for the military-certified version that ships beginning December 24, 2019. A non-certified civil MXS transponder with no export restrictions is available now. The FAA-certified MXS model begins shipping on June 21, 2019. (Source: UAS VISION)
05 Dec 18. A new partnership agreement between BAE Systems, Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd and Williams Advanced Engineering Ltd will see technology, expertise and skills shared between the world leading, technology-led engineering businesses across a range of areas including cockpit designs, augmented reality and advanced materials.
Innovators at BAE Systems play a key role in the development, manufacture and support of fast jets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 and Future Combat Air Systems and will now work in close collaboration with their peers at Williams, an organisation that has achieved decades of success in the ultra-competitive environment of Formula One.
Drawing on each organisation’s skills, experience and knowledge, it is expected that the new partnership will devise and deliver projects to create game-changing innovations, ultimately influencing the design, performance and production of both fast jets and fast cars.
Initial collaborations are likely to include: work on intuitive cockpit designs for fighter pilots and racing drivers, taking advantage of each organisation’s work in virtual and augmented reality; aerodynamics; lightweight materials; and battery technology that could power solar powered unmanned air vehicles and the cars of the future.
The companies will work together on product and technology development, co-ordinating funding where there is a mutual benefit in doing so. Opportunities to exploit existing intellectual property will also be explored to harness some of the latest developments in specialist low volume manufacture and expertise in vehicle dynamics in each organisation’s specialist sector. There will also be secondment opportunities for engineers across both companies.
The partnership agreement follows on from previous valuable collaborations between the companies, which have included engineers from Williams Advanced Engineering using their expertise to help design and deliver a revolutionary cockpit simulator that gives BAE Systems a fully flexible and interactive cockpit to experiment with designs for work on its future combat aircraft initiative.
Ian Muldowney, Engineering Director, BAE Systems Air said: “The Government’s Combat Air Strategy, published this summer, highlights the criticality of cutting-edge UK technology and Intellectual Property, including how this is generated, sustained and exploited.
“As we begin to explore what will be required from a UK future combat air system, we must work harder than ever to answer these questions. Working with technology leaders outside of our own industry will help us find new ways of asking questions and think in a different way about the solutions.”
Mike O’Driscoll, Chief Executive Officer of the Williams Group said: “We are pleased to be joining with BAE Systems in this strategic alliance. We look forward to growing this relationship still further and sharing expertise across the talented people at these iconic British companies, in engineering and beyond, to deliver significant benefits to our customers and partners.”
The agreement will be overseen by a steering committee comprised of senior representatives from each organisation, chaired by Ian Muldowney, Engineering Director for BAE Systems Air.
03 Dec 18. The U.S. Navy Calls on BAE Systems to Integrate and Sustain Critical Communications Systems across Military Vehicles and Command Centers. BAE Systems is supporting the rapid integration and sustainment of command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems under two contracts awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.
BAE Systems has earned positions on two single-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts that support the rapid integration and sustainment of command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). The two awards have a total potential value of more than $150m.
The first award, LCS CONUS, is a five-year contract to provide life cycle sustainment across military and commercial based communications platforms within the U.S. and abroad. These systems are used by Navy, Special Operations Forces, Homeland Security, and other Department of Defense (DoD) and non-defense agencies. The IDIQ contract has a maximum ceiling value of $83m.
“Our engineers specialize in providing custom, tailor-made C5ISR solutions to help close communications capability gaps for the U.S. military,” said Mark Keeler, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems’ Integrated Defense Solutions business. “BAE Systems takes pride in keeping the lines of communication open for those on the front lines of national security.”
The company also secured a position on a five-year IDIQ to provide rapid integration and production services for C5ISR systems on-board small and large militarized vehicles and air platforms. Most of the work will take place within NAWCAD’s Special Communications Mission Solutions Division’s production facility at St. Inigoes, Maryland, known as the Special Communications Rapid Integration Facility (SCRIF). The remaining work will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, providing direct support to the local Fleet Readiness Center (FRC). BAE Systems taskings will include supporting mobile, fixed-base stations, various fixed and rotary wing Air Platforms, and large command centers deployed around the world. The IDIQ contract has a maximum ceiling estimated at $68m.
03 Dec 18. Lightweight electricity solution emerges for deployed defence units. A micro gas turbine designed to provide electricity to defence units in the field has been demonstrated to leading industry players in Australia. South Australian company ecoJet Engineering demonstrated its 20kW gas turbine in Canberra last week. The prototype engine system is only about 10 per cent of the weight of a comparable internal combustion diesel engine and can be configured to run on a range of liquid and gaseous fuels, including propane, natural gas and diesel.
ecoJet Engineering received funding at the beginning of this year from the South Australian government and the RAAF Air Warfare Centre Innovation Hub to progress its concept design for a 20kW micro gas turbine into a viable prototype unit. The demonstration unit is the first stage in developing the next generation in deployable power generators for the military.
The demonstration unit generator weighs just 48kg, excluding the control system and the fuel tank, compared to 433kg for a current military diesel generator.
It is also about two-thirds the size of the diesel engine, measuring about 600mm long and 250mm wide
ecoJet co-director Alexander Wright said the mobility of the unit, the versatility of the fuel source and potential for more efficient electricity production were among the advantages of the system compared with traditional diesel generators.
He said the demonstration unit already had flow rates comparable with current diesel generators.
“And that’s comparing a prototype unit with a commercially mature product,” Wright said.
“We have a lot of scope for improving our efficiencies above that with things like heat recuperation, bearing advancements, the use of advanced materials such as ceramics and graphenes and multi-stage turbo machinery, which is uncommon for turbines of this scale.
“It is quite efficient and it’s not restrictive of other technologies, it can work quite well in parallel with solar and battery storage so it’s not a competitor to other products exclusively – it can complement other systems.”
The micro turbine works in basically the same way as a typical jet engine where a compressor draws in air and passes it into a combustion chamber where fuel is injected and ignited as it passes through a turbine, creating rotation.
“What we’ve got as part of our novel solution is an integrated shaft assembly where the shaft that connects the turbine and the rotor has an integrated generator attached to it.
“The generator spins with the turbine to create electrical energy from the rotational energy extracted from those combusted gases.”
The collaboration between Wright, James Kim and Warren Day that led to the formation of ecoJet Engineering began in 2015 with an Honours project at the University of Adelaide that achieved one of the world’s smallest ultra-micro gas turbines.
Through further studies at the University of South Australia, the collaboration won a Venture Capitalist grant in 2016, which helped launch the company.
ecoJet Engineering also pitched its ultra-micro gas turbine design at this year’s Land Forces event in Adelaide where it was named best innovation.
Major players in the global micro gas turbine industry include Capstone Turbine Corporation (US) and Bladon Micro Turbines (UK) but Wright said their focus was more on industrial applications in the 30kW and greater range.
He said the ecoJet micro gas turbine also had potential as a domestic product to complement renewable technologies such as solar and help households become independent from the electricity grid.
ecoJet’s 1kW ultra micro gas turbine was named best innovation at this year’s Land Forces event in Adelaide.
“A military product is a commercial product with a bunch of extra stuff on top so we can easily tweak it to suit both markets because we are very much looking to break into both areas,” Wright said.
“We’re planning a fairly rapid development timeline and as part of this demonstration we’re looking for further investment from defence and government grants.”
Last Wednesday’s Canberra demonstration included five sessions throughout the day with various stakeholders including senior representatives from all three Australian armed services, the Air Warfare Centre and the Defence Innovation Hub.
“It was a really good opportunity for us to understand from the Defence side where they would use this particular application, what requirements they value more highly such as size over weight or fuel efficiency over fuel versatility so it was really helpful in terms of the next stage of development,” Wright said.
“It was received well and we had some good conversations around some of the funding opportunities for the next stage of developing the technology and the specific capabilities.” (Source: theleadsouthaustralia.com.au)
05 Dec 18. F-35 countdown: JSF as a node for distributed lethality and situational awareness. The F-35’s network-centric capabilities will reshape the way the ADF identifies, categorises and prosecutes actions against targets, with the F-35 as a central node in a system-of-systems.
For the F-35, the aircraft’s mission systems refer to the various pieces of operating software, avionics, integrated electronic sensors, displays and communications systems that not only collect and distribute data with both the pilot and other friendly aircraft, they also enable the F-35 to act as a node within a broader system-of-systems.
This capability is supported by six individual components that, when used in combination with one another, enable the F-35 to enter hostile airspace, collect and disseminate complex data and targeting information, and transmit it to a range of sensor and ‘shooting’ units across the air, land and sea domains.
Major General Carl Schaefer of the US Air Force, formerly of the Joint Strike Fighter Integration Office, said, “The F-35 brings an unprecedented sensor fusion with the radar and its optical capabilities, its data link capabilities and its radar warning receiver capabilities. It’s going to be our multi-role fighter for the Air Force and provide close-air support missions, offensive counter air, defensive counter air, suppression of enemy air defences and the destruction of enemy air defences.”
These six individual components are made up of:
Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar: The F-35’s Northrop Grumman-designed AN/APG-81 AESA radar enables pilots to effectively engage air and ground targets at long range, while supporting improved situational awareness. The solid-state technology and elimination of mechanical moving parts enable the AESA radar to surpass current standards for systems reliability.
Meanwhile, the radar system also features a “replaceable assemblies” design for faster, easier repairs or upgrades to hardware and software modules. For these reasons, AESA life-cycle costs are expected to be significantly lower than those of MSAs. The active arrays on the F-35 should have almost twice the expected life of the physical airframe.
Distributed aperture system (DAS): Also designed by Northrop Grumman, the AN/AAS-37 electro-optical DAS provides the F-35 with a 360-degree, spherical situational awareness system. This gives the pilot high resolution, real-time imagery to their helmet from six infrared cameras mounted around the body of the aircraft, allowing the pilot to see the environment around them, day or night.
Additionally, the DAS is integrated as part of the broader systems, enabling the aircraft to analyse threats and alert the pilot. In the case of multiple threats, DAS is able to identify the highest value targets and recommend the order in which to deal with each threat.
This ‘data fusion’ affords F-35 pilots with a significant advantage over adversaries by simplifying, analysing and managing complex information for the pilot, who must quickly evaluate a complex range of options in a hostile, tactical air combat environment.
DAS serves a number of specialised roles, including:
- Missile detection and tracking;
- Launch point detection;
- Situational awareness IRST and cueing;
- Weapons support;
- Day/night navigation;
- Fire control capability; and
- Precision tracking of wingmen/friendly aircraft for tactical manoeuvring.
Electro-optical targeting system (EOTS): Designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s EOTS is the world’s first and only sensor to combine forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and infrared search and track (IRST) capability. F-35’s EOTS is designed to maintain the airframe’s low observability profiling and ensure aerodynamic performance.
The high-performance, lightweight, multi-function system enhances F-35 pilots’ situational awareness and provides precision air-to-air and air-to-surface targeting capabilities, supporting the aircraft’s role as a ‘strike’ fighter.
Communications, navigation and identification (CNI) avionics system: The integrated CNI system is developed by Northrop Grumman and provides F-35 pilots with the capability of more than 27 separate avionics functions.
The CNI system utilises software-defined radio technology and allows for simultaneous operation of multiple critical functions, such as identification friend or foe, precision navigation, and various voice and data communications, while greatly reducing size, weight and power demands.
Helmet mounted display systems: Supports the delivery of key data and sensor information to the pilot, enabling the pilot to see airspeed, heading, altitude, targeting information and warnings, all projected on the helmet’s visor, rather than on a traditional heads-up display on the canopy widescreen.
The real-time imagery provided by the DAS enables the pilot to ‘look through’ the aircraft, allowing the pilot to see the entire environment around the aircraft. Additionally, the helmet provides pilots with infrared night vision through the use of an integrated camera, making images in total darkness look exactly like what they would see in daylight.
Each of these individual components feeds into a broader system of sensor fusion.
Sensor fusion: Enables pilots to draw on information from all of the above mentioned components, to establish a single, integrated picture of the battlespace. A core component of sensor fusion is the immediate data shearing capabilities of the F-35, which ensures that all of the information gathered is then automatically shared with other pilots and command and control operating centres on their network using the most modern, secure and low-observable data links.
Maintaining datalink and information security is supported by the introduction of the multi-function advanced data link (MADL), which enables pilots to share data with other strike aircraft as well as other airborne, surface and ground-based platforms required to perform assigned missions.
The ability to transmit both complex intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data and targeting information enables Army, Navy and other Air Force assets for appropriate tasking by a ‘shooter’ platform.
This ‘node’ capability is described best by Commander Air Combat Group, Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, who told Defence Connect, “Integrating the F-35 goes beyond just the pilot and aircrew training across the technology, it involves integrating the F-35 with the Air Force’s other key platforms like the E-7A Wedgetails, our Super Hornets and Growlers and KC-30As. Furthermore, it includes integrating the aircraft into systems like the Poseidon and the Triton, which is where we start to see a web of systems created.”
This is reinforced by Major General Gus McLachlan, Commander Forces Command, who described the role of the F-35 as part of the broader ‘joint force’ ADF from an Army perspective, saying, “It is Army’s response to the ADF’s journey to develop an internet of things (IoT) approach to data gathering nodes across the services, like Navy’s AWDs and Air Force’s F-35s, and then Army being able to provide a shooting solution, should it be required.”
The F-35 and its diverse range of capabilities will radically change the options available to Australia’s strategic decision makers, enabling a tailored, adaptable and high-capability response to a variety of threats, well into the 2040s. (Source: Defence Connect)
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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