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01 Dec 22. New Defense Office Connects Next-Gen Tech Developers With Much-Needed Capital. The Defense Department announced today creation of the Office of Strategic Capital, or OSC. The new office is meant to ensure that technologies under development right now or in the future, which may be critical to U.S. military requirements, are able to get the funding they need to make it to market.
“Next-generation biotechnology and quantum science often require long-term financing to bridge the so called ‘valley of death’ between the laboratory and full-scale production,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing today. “These technology companies also suffer from a limited supply of longtime-horizon ‘patient capital,’ which results in an inability to transition technology into military capabilities, even for technologies developed with the help of federal research grants or contracts.”
The OSC was stood up by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and aims to help find funding to ensure companies who are developing technology that may one day be used to support the nation’s defense, are able to bring that technology to maturity and then into full-scale production. Included among the types of technologies the OSC is interested are those that would typically have mostly commercial interest and not be purchased directly by the department, but which would enable future defense capabilities.
The OSC is not unique in its mission, Ryder said. Other innovation organizations within the department, such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, also known as DARPA, and the Defense Innovation Unit are also working to support the development of critical technologies.
“OSC aims to scale investments between science and technology-focused organizations, such as DARPA, and commercially-oriented organizations such as the Defense Innovation Unit, by increasing the capital available to critical technology companies to help them reach scale production,” Ryder said.
The OSC aims to be different in how it provides support, Ryder said, and is investigating the use of non-acquisition-based finance tools, such as loans and loan guarantees.
“Given the fact that the department relies on advanced technology for a lot of the capabilities we need to stay competitive, this gives us another capability to work with investors and to work with industry to ensure that programs that otherwise may not be funded, or may not be attractive to investors, can be funded in a way that gets them across … the so-called ‘valley of death,'” Ryder said. “It gives us another tool in the toolkit to be able to ensure that we can stay competitive against our strategic competitors, like China and Russia.” (Source: US DoD)
01 Dec 22. BMT SPARROW: A novel payload delivery device for drones operating in front line logistics and other challenging environments.
Last month, at the UK MoD’s ‘Army Warfighting Experiment’ in Portsmouth, BMT demonstrated a globally novel payload delivery device that offers advantages for logistics drones in the most challenging environments.
BMT, a leading international design, engineering, science, and risk management consultancy, has developed a novel concept described as an autonomous ‘air-ground payload transfer device’ to replace winches with truly disruptive capabilities for drone delivery applications. The device is called SPARROW and is a new type of lightweight suspended robot that descends on a line with the payload leaving the drone at height. While the drone remains in the approximate overhead, SPARROW has autonomous control of its descent while making horizontal adjustments for a safe, quiet delivery. This allows the drone to remain much higher above the destination, unheard and unobtrusive at ground level, compared to when using a traditional winch.
The concept also offers improvements in safety and accessibility, especially to complex and unpredictable environments.
Simon Gould, BMT Managing Director for Defence and Security UK, commented: “At BMT, we have an outstanding heritage and commitment to research and innovation that help to shape the ideas of tomorrow. This fully autonomous robotic concept is a great example of how we actively apply innovation to solve our customers’ complex problems. We are looking forward to seeing how this novel solution can help operators in a diverse range of applications and settings.”
BMT’s development partner, Dr Steve Wright from Wright Airborne Computing, commented: “During 30 years of working in aerospace, I have not seen anything like the surge in new aircraft, systems, and applications that has happened in the last five years. SPARROW is a perfect example of this revolution, fuelled by a happy convergence of 21st century technologies harnessed together by computers and software that engineers like me could only dream about 30 years ago.”.
Background
The SPARROW concept was initially developed by a team including ex-Service personnel at BMT for defence applications where drones are being trialled to resupply troops at dispersed, unpredictable, and potentially hostile locations. Still early in its development, SPARROW was selected by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the annual flagship innovation event called the ‘Army Warfighting Experiment’. The demonstration took place in Portsmouth, UK, in November 2022 with an ‘Exploitation Symposium’ planned for February 2023.
Problem solved
BMT set about solving a fundamental problem for drone delivery caused by having to satisfy many conflicting requirements. For example, a useful payload capacity demands a large powerful drone, but smaller lighter drones are less vulnerable and better at accessing confined destinations. Large rotors that can generate sufficient thrust to hover during payload delivery are naturally noisy, but it is better to be quiet in tactical or sensitive environments. In addition it is safer for large drones to remain well clear of environments cluttered by buildings, trees and wires, but delivery may be needed in confined unpredictable urban spaces. A compromised drone and compromised performance is inevitable.
The ideal solution would offer the uncompromised payload capacity, range and speed of a large, powerful drone without the associated physical size, noise and risk in close proximity to people at the destination.
BMT’s solution
Replacing a traditional drone-mounted winch, BMT’s novel robotic device (patent pending) lowers both itself and the payload at the bottom end of a low-profile, weight-bearing line (exactly where precise control is needed), with just the top end of the line attached to a 3rd party drone above. To provide autonomy, SPARROW has an internally powered cable drum, four small side-facing rotors, and all the necessary sensors, power, and processing. The drum rotation is controlled by an in-hub motor and brake, allowing a rapid and silent descent and ascent. The rotors do not generate lift and only operate when required to push sideways to counter the wind or move the payload horizontally.
Benefits to the end-user/operator
The SPARROW concept enables the large, noisy, vulnerable drone to remain high above the complex ground environment at the destination. Just how high depends on the use case and wind strength; but safe controlled delivery is possible using this approach from 200ft in windy conditions, and 500-1000ft in light winds. In comparison to using a traditional winch from a low hover, a SPARROW delivery offers a much smaller, quieter physical presence at the point of delivery. It also allows a safer, more precise delivery to a wider variety of locations, including confined spaces close to vertical surfaces and urban infrastructure.
What next for BMT’s solution
Alongside drone applications in Defence, the approach may also offer value to manned helicopter operations and across other domains such as Maritime Ship-Shore deliveries, support to maintenance engineers on tall structures, Emergency Services, and commercial drone delivery to domestic addresses. The project is looking to partner and licence the technology to a range of leading established suppliers.
If trials continue to prove successful, BMT is offering an alternative vision of the future in which the environment is not filled by the buzzing of drones hovering in close proximity to people, but one where drones remain safely at height, out of sight, out of earshot and out of mind.
30 Nov 22. Airbus and CERN to partner on superconducting technologies for future clean aviation. Two European pioneers at the heart of disruptive technology. Airbus UpNext, a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus, and CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, are launching a project to evaluate how superconductivity can contribute to the decarbonisation of future aircraft systems. The Super-Conductor for Aviation with Low Emissions (SCALE) demonstrator aims to promote the adaptation and adoption of superconducting technologies in airborne electrical distribution systems.
“In its research, CERN pushes the limits of science and engineering, and partners with industry to enable innovation, with positive environmental impact,” said Raphael Bello, CERN’s Director of Finance and Human Resources. “Our technologies have the potential to be adapted to the needs of future clean transportation and mobility solutions, as demonstrated by this agreement with Airbus. This partnership is only a first step in our journey with the European leader in aviation, and shows how much we value the excellence of our Member States’ industry.”
“Our role at Airbus UpNext is to explore the full potential of technologies applied for future aircraft and to partner with the world leaders to prepare for this future. Partnering with a leading research institute such as CERN, which brought the world some of the most important findings in fundamental physics, will help push the boundaries of research in clean aerospace as we work to make sustainable aviation a reality”, said Sandra Bour-Schaeffer, CEO Airbus UpNext. “We are already developing a superconductivity demonstrator called ASCEND (Advanced superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental powertraiN Demonstrator) to study the feasibility of this technology for electric and hybrid aircraft. Combining knowledge obtained from our demonstrator and CERN’s unique capabilities in the field of superconductors makes for a natural partnership.”
The SCALE demonstrator combines CERN’s experience in superconducting technologies with Airbus UpNext’s capabilities in innovative aircraft design and manufacturing. First results are expected at the end of 2023. It is a first step of a long term collaboration that will pave the way to superconducting power distribution for aircraft. The initiative seeks to develop and test in laboratory conditions, an optimised generic superconductor cryogenic (~500kW) powertrain by end 2025. SCALE will be designed, constructed and tested by CERN using Airbus UpNext specifications and CERN technology. The demonstrator consists of a DC link (cable and cryostat) with two current leads. The cooling system is based on gaseous helium.
30 Nov 22. Airbus unveils its DisruptiveLab to test new decarbonisation focused technologies. Airbus used the occasion of its annual Summit to unveil its DisruptiveLab, a new flying laboratory designed to test technologies destined to improve aircraft performance and to reduce helicopters’ CO2 emissions.
The DisruptiveLab will evaluate a new aerodynamic architecture intended to reduce fuel consumption, as well as pursuing the implementation of hybridisation with a fully parallel hybrid propulsion system that enables the battery to be recharged in-flight. The new demonstrator will take to the skies before the end of 2022 in order to begin flight testing and maturing these new technologies.
“The DisruptiveLab goes another step further in Airbus Helicopters’ ambitious strategy to reduce the environmental impact of its helicopters and to lead the way towards a sustainable aerospace industry,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The innovative architecture and the fully parallel hybrid propulsion system could only really be tested on a brand new demonstrator in order to verify the combined impact in CO2 reduction which could be as much as 50 percent, ” he added.
The new architecture of the DisruptiveLab features an aerodynamic aluminium and composite fuselage, specifically designed to reduce drag and thus reduce fuel consumption. The blades are integrated into the rotor in a way that allows for a more compact rotor head which reduces drag and therefore improves energy efficiency while lowering the perceived noise level. Its lighter rear fuselage incorporates a streamlined Fenestron tail rotor that also contributes to improved performance.
The DisruptiveLab demonstrator is part of the French Council for Civil Aviation Research Conseil (CORAC)’s roadmap and has been partly financed by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) in the frame of the French Stimulus plan, which is part of the European Plan, Next Generation EU, and the France 2030 plan.
Airbus Helicopters’ strategy relies on demonstrators to test and mature new technology in an agile manner. The Company started work on its first demonstrator, the FlightLab, in 2020. The FlightLab uses an existing H130 platform and is mainly dedicated to researching and developing technologies related to enhanced autonomy and safety technobricks. On the other hand, the DisruptiveLab will focus on improving aircraft performance and reducing environmental footprint.
30 Nov 22. Defence accelerates digital skills development with Amazon.
Amazon and the Ministry of Defence are teaming up to scale up and accelerate work on advancing digital skills development across UK defence. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MOD and Amazon Web Services (AWS) will see AWS supporting MOD’s Digital Skills for Defence Programme for the next three years.
It will deliver cloud-based skills development and training to thousands of personnel across UK defence, equipping the next generation of future leaders in the British Armed Forces and wider supply chain with the data and digital skills to defend the UK from emerging threats.
The MoU sets out a number of initiatives designed to directly push the MOD’s Digital Skills for Defence programme forward at scale and pace. Key aspects of the collaboration will see the provision of:
- Training resources across the defence enterprise and in particular supporting the Digital Foundry, the visionary hub formed within Defence Digital that harnesses emerging technology to tackle some of the country’s most pressing defence challenges.
- A tailored programme of attachments for senior leaders responsible for driving the UK MOD’s digital transformation.
The agreement – the first of its kind globally – was announced at the AWS re:Invent 2022 conference, with the work taking place as part of a wider UK government programme with AWS to boost digital skills.
Laurence Lee, Second Permanent Secretary at the MOD, said: “It is crucial we keep Defence personnel at the forefront of digital skills as we’re faced with emerging threats in an ever-changing battlespace. The speed of digital change cannot be underestimated, and the Digital Skills for Defence programme will help us match global competitors. This agreement with AWS exemplifies our focus on harnessing cutting-edge ways of working within Defence, drawing on the expertise of the public and private sectors, and we’re excited at the new opportunities for skills development this presents.”
Charles Forte, Chief Information Officer at the MOD, said: “Today marks a key milestone in our delivery of our Digital Skills for Defence programme and the development of digital skills across UK Defence. Amazon’s agreement to build upon and scale up our work within the Digital Skills for Defence programme is a crucial priority that will help us realise digital transformation across Defence. It serves as an important symbol of how we must deepen our work with the tech sector to realise our objectives. We are grateful for this commitment and look forward to developing this partnership with AWS and other companies and organisations across the sector. The MoU will enable deeper collaboration between AWS and Defence Digital on skills development, outlining plans for equipping defence leaders and military and civilian personnel with game-changing technical skills to sustain military and business advantage.”
Chris Hayman, Director Public Sector UK & Ireland at AWS, said: “We are proud to be the first company to sign an MoU of this nature with the UK Ministry of Defence. We are fully committed to supporting the Government’s skills agenda across the whole of the public sector, and this agreement reflects our determination to support the defence community in their development of a world-leading skills environment. To better help defence organisations with their digital transformations, a clear understanding across Government and amongst senior military leaders about the benefits of emerging technology, such as cloud, to deliver critical missions is needed. We are excited to be working with MOD to help upskill senior officials and military leaders in their understanding of cloud and associated technologies, such as quantum technology and artificial intelligence.”
Digital Skills for Defence aims to deliver a critical digital skills capability uplift, for Defence Leaders, Digital Professionals and the whole Military and Civilian workforce. This is fundamental in building and retaining operational and business advantage, keeping up with and ahead of the competition. This ambition goes beyond education but looks to transform our learning culture and the way we work collaboratively across Defence. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
30 Nov 22. British Army tests Rafael’s Footprint navigation system. The tests were conducted to assess the capabilities of the system to operate in GPS-denied locations. Soldiers from the British Army have carried out a series of extensive trials with the Footprint navigation system, developed by Israeli company Rafael. Announced by Rafael in a media release, the tests were conducted to assess the system’s capabilities in Global Positioning System (GPS)-denied environments.
The recently conducted test series fall under different initiatives of the UK Ministry of Defence, including Army Warfighting Experiment, Future Capability Group, and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory efforts.
As part of the test, the British ground troops operated the Footprint system in simulated modern mission scenarios. They were executed between and inside the buildings, in open areas, and in basements.
During the entire mission, Rafael’s navigation system was connected to a civilian team awareness kit system that permitted the forces to stand in different locations to perform the required tasks.
The company reported that the system was successful in providing accurate pictures of all the locations where the troops were deployed.
The pictures were used by the commanders to obtain a detailed understanding of the operational situation.
Soldiers were also able to use the system for navigating and self-positioning during the missions, where GPS access was unavailable.
Rafael Multi-Domain Warfare Directorate head Shmuel Olansky said: “We are proud to see how UK soldiers could use Footprint to complete their mission and demonstrate precisely how this solution provides a crucial edge in modern battlespace.
“Footprint will allow higher command to better direct its troops and help prevent cases of friendly fire in complex spaces.”
Rafael’s Footprint is used by troops on ground for accessing real-time, precise, self-positioning information in GPS-denies areas. It can also be used with existing communication systems. (Source: army-technology.com)
29 Nov 22. Hadean to team up with Microsoft Azure and power the digital transformation of defence. Award-winning metaverse startup, Hadean, are set to collaborate with Microsoft and power the digital transformation of the defence industrial base with scalable, interoperable, and secure cloud-based military training capabilities.
Building on an ongoing business relationship, the new relationship will see Hadean’s metaverse infrastructure integrated with Microsoft Azure to produce fit-for-purpose and robust solutions that can rapidly cut through data and deliver impactful outcomes for customers across government agencies, defence contractors and the Armed Forces.
Hadean and Microsoft have already worked seamlessly together to build, run, and deliver a cloud distributed simulation to the British Army Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP), set to be demonstrated at the I/ITSEC 2022 Innovation Center on November 30 at 11:20 AM.
With proven compatibility, Hadean will further enhance Microsoft’s value add to customers, accelerate innovation, and empower defence simulation with next-generation cloud-powered solutions for cross-domain integration, rapid data-driven decision making and improved resilience.
Hadean CEO, Craig Beddis, said: “Microsoft is a trusted partner in defence and intelligence with a track-record of delivering secure cloud services that empower system integrators and transform capabilities to meet the requirements of modern militaries. We’re excited to deepen our relationship with a new collaboration and combine our expertise to push the limit of what is possible with cloud computing, enhance Microsoft Azure and pioneer capabilities for military training and simulation.”
“Working closely with innovative technology providers is a critical way that we bring new capability to defence and intelligence missions,” said Gus MacGregor-Millar, GM, Worldwide Defence & Intelligence, Microsoft. “Having supported Hadean in its early growth years through the Microsoft for Start-Ups programme, we are pleased to collaborate further with them to help allied defence customers harness the full potential of cloud-based training and simulation solutions and realise mission impact through next-generation capabilities.”
About Hadean
Founded in 2015, Hadean powers the creator economy, providing the infrastructure and computational power required to realise the full potential of the metaverse. Our web 3.0 technology allows you to build, run and monetise immersive virtual environments and experiences, dynamically connecting audiences across the world by providing scalability, security, and interoperability. To date, Hadean have worked with organisations such as Microsoft, Minecraft, Epic Games, Sony, Gamescoin, Pixelynx, CAE, BAE Systems, Thales and Francis Crick Institute. For more, visit: hadean.com (Source: PR Newswire)
30 Nov 22. Airbus and ArianeGroup to pioneer liquid hydrogen technology.
Airbus and ArianeGroup, a joint venture equally owned by Airbus and Safran, and a world leader in space propulsion technologies, will work together to build the first liquid hydrogen refuelling facility for ZEROe aircraft at Toulouse, Blagnac airport. The station will be operational in 2025.
ArianeGroup will design, produce and support the operations of the liquid hydrogen fuelling system necessary for Airbus’ ZEROe demonstrator as it embarks on its ground and flight test campaign – due to start in the middle of this decade.
“Airbus’ choice of us as partner is a vote of confidence, recognizing half a century of expertise in liquid hydrogen for Ariane rocket propulsion,” said André-Hubert Roussel, CEO of ArianeGroup. “We are proud to be working with Airbus on these first steps towards liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft. Aviation and space are two pioneering industries. Uniting our expertise is our responsibility to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. ArianeGroup, with its unique skills and know-how in the storage, testing, and use of liquid hydrogen, enables new industrial sectors in Europe to accelerate their energy transition.”
“Many of the technologies required for a zero-emission aircraft are already available in other industries, and liquid hydrogen handling is no exception,” said Sabine Klauke, Chief Technical Officer, Airbus. “Preparing for the entry into service of a zero-emission aircraft in 2035 means that we need to mature all of the required technologies in parallel. By partnering with ArianeGroup, we will leverage well known hydrogen expertise and other relevant space technologies in the pursuit of this goal.”
ArianeGroup is the prime contractor of Ariane launch vehicles, which have been propelled by liquid hydrogen for more than 40 years.
30 Nov 22. Airbus and Renault Group to advance research on electrification. Partnership to mature technologies associated with next-generation battery systems. Airbus and Renault Group, worldwide leaders in the aerospace and automotive industries, have signed a research and development agreement which aims at enhancing transversalities and synergies to accelerate both companies’ electrification roadmaps, improving their respective range of products. This partnership will help Airbus mature technologies associated with future hybrid-electric aircraft and will be detailed at the Airbus Summit taking place 30 November – 1 December.
As part of this partnership, Airbus’ and Renault Group’s engineering teams will join forces to mature technologies related to energy storage, which remains one of the main roadblocks for the development of long-range electric vehicles. The cooperation agreement will notably cover technology bricks related to energy management optimisation and battery weight improvement, and will look for the best pathways to move from current cell chemistries (advanced lithium-ion) to all solid-state designs which could double the energy density of batteries in the 2030 timeframe.
The joint work will also study the full lifecycle of future batteries, from production to recyclability, in order to prepare the industrialisation of these future battery designs while assessing their carbon footprint across their entire lifecycle.
“For the first time, two European leaders from different industries are sharing engineering knowledge to shape the future of hybrid-electric aircraft. Aviation is an extremely demanding field in terms of both safety and energy consumption, and so is the car industry. At Renault Group, our 10 years of experience in the electric vehicle value chain gives us some of the strongest feedback from the field and expertise in the performance of battery management systems. Driven by the same ambition to innovate and reduce the carbon footprint, our engineering teams are exchanging with those of Airbus to converge transversal technologies that will enable both hybrid aircraft to be operated and the vehicles of tomorrow to be developed,” said Gilles Le Borgne, EVP, Engineering, Renault Group.
“This cross-industry partnership with Renault Group will help us mature the next generation of batteries as part of Airbus’ electrification roadmap,” said Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer. “Reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a unique challenge that requires cooperation across sectors, starting today. Bringing together Renault Group’s experience in electric vehicles with our own track record in electric flight demonstrators will allow us to accelerate the development of the disruptive technologies required for future hybrid aircraft architectures in the 2030s and beyond. It will also foster the emergence of common technical and regulatory standards in support of the clean mobility solutions needed to achieve our climate targets.”
Technological trends are moving in the same direction. Airbus and Renault Group’s cooperation on electrification will play an important role in bringing change to the transport landscape, successfully contributing to the ambition of net-zero emissions by 2050, of both the automotive and the aviation sector.
30 Nov 22. Airbus reveals hydrogen-powered zero-emission engine. Airbus has revealed that it is developing a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine. The propulsion system is being considered as one of the potential solutions to equip its zero-emission aircraft that will enter service by 2035.
Airbus will start ground and flight testing this fuel cell engine architecture onboard its ZEROe demonstrator aircraft towards the middle of the decade. The A380 MSN1 flight test aircraft for new hydrogen technologies is currently being modified to carry liquid hydrogen tanks and their associated distribution systems.
“Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft,” said Glenn Llewellyn, VP Zero-Emission Aircraft, Airbus. “At scale, and if the technology targets were achieved, fuel cell engines may be able to power a one hundred passenger aircraft with a range of approximately 1,000 nautical miles. By continuing to invest in this technology we are giving ourselves additional options that will inform our decisions on the architecture of our future ZEROe aircraft, the development of which we intend to launch in the 2027-2028 timeframe.”
Airbus identified hydrogen as one of the most promising alternatives to power a zero-emission aircraft, because it emits no carbon dioxide when generated from renewable energy, with water being its most significant by-products.
There are two ways hydrogen can be used as a power source for aircraft propulsion. First via hydrogen combustion in a gas turbine, second, by using fuel cells to convert hydrogen into electricity in order to power a propeller engine. A hydrogen gas turbine can also be coupled with fuel cells instead of batteries in a hybrid-electric architecture.
Hydrogen fuel cells, especially when stacked together, increase their power output allowing scalability. In addition, an engine powered by hydrogen fuel cells produces zero NOx emissions or contrails thereby offering additional decarbonisation benefits.
Airbus has been exploring the possibilities of fuel cell propulsion systems for aviation for some time. In October 2020, Airbus created Aerostack, a joint venture with ElringKlinger, a company with over 20 years of experience as both a fuel cell systems and component supplier. In December 2020, Airbus presented its pod-concept which included six removable fuel cell propeller propulsion systems.
29 Nov 22. BAE Systems adds Microsoft to modeling and simulation ecosystem. This new collaboration will bring Microsoft’s Azure cloud capabilities and expertise to BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art wargaming environment. BAE Systems is expanding the network of companies in its modeling and simulations ecosystem to include Microsoft. With this addition, BAE Systems’ Pioneer™ wargaming platform will use Microsoft’s Azure cloud computing enabled services to deliver more realism in the platform’s high fidelity simulations providing customers increased confidence in decision making.
“Microsoft Azure is widely regarded as a prominent provider of cloud computing services for government,” said Peder Jungck, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Intelligence Solutions. “As the cloud provider of choice for our wargaming platforms in our Pioneer ecosystem, our customers will now benefit from its advanced capabilities.”
“Microsoft is currently advancing its cloud technologies to deliver new levels of co-reasoning between humans and machines across physical and virtual worlds,” said Wes Anderson, vice president, Defense Operating Unit at Microsoft Federal. “With tight collaboration with partners like BAE Systems who have a long history of supporting the Department of Defense, we can unlock new opportunities for mission and organization leaders to transform data into action through gaming, exercising, modeling, and simulation.”
Pioneer™ is a system-of-systems that enables wargame operations across multiple domains, including land, air, sea, space, and cyber. The platform uses cutting edge, explainable artificial intelligence (AI) based on linguistic geometry, machine learning, and predictive analytics. It delivers a truly immersive environment with critical verified, validated, and accredited analytics to provide a competitive and information advantage. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
30 Nov 22. Key strategic partnership will bring Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to real world. underwater operations. Greensea Systems Inc. (Greensea) and Blue Ring Imaging (Blue Ring) have announced a new collaboration that is set to open up the floodgates for rapid Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) development to enhance Greensea pilot/operator performance in the subsea sector.
The two companies were brought together through mutual involvement in the US Navy’s PMS 408 Program of Record (MESR) and an uncomplicated shared desire to improve the man-machine teaming experience. In this case, the end user is the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) technician, but this collaboration, backboned by Greensea’s OPENSEA platform also sets up valuable future developments in the commercial marine and offshore energy sectors. Both companies bring their own expertise to the table: Greensea provides the navigation, autonomy, and command and control and Blue Ring provides an AR/VR visualization app called “OctoView” to provide enhanced situational awareness for UxS operators. It is the Greensea OPENSEA platform that makes all this possible.
OPENSEA is an open architecture platform, allowing external partners like Blue Ring to be confident that any solutions will develop quickly with separate, protected intellectual property. This means that external partners can commit to investing in their own task, industry or vehicle optimized bolt ons to OPENSEA, safe in the knowledge that they will own these bespoke aspects of the solution that they have invested significant amounts of their own company time and money to develop.
St. Petersburg, FL Headquartered Blue Ring Imaging was set up in 2019 to create situational and battlespace awareness products for UxS operators, with a specialization in subsurface and maritime vehicles. Blue Ring sprang out of founder and CEO Casey Sapp’s earlier work developing underwater multi lens, 360 3D camera systems for pioneering AR/VR content creators ranging from the military to Hollywood. Blue Ring has two products “OctoView” which is an AR/VR app connected to OPENSEA, and “OctoCam” which is an extensible multi-lens camera which integrates with UxS for enhanced situational awareness. With OctoView the company has patented key nausea mitigation controls, methodologies, and best practices so that any pilot or operator can use a head mounted display (HMD) in outdoor, rugged environments. Blue Ring’s OctoView interface serves as a middleware between the operating system on the vehicle and the 3D visualization environment which only AR/VR HMDs can provide.
In short, OctoView allows the remote operation of underwater vehicles to be vastly more intuitive, hence reducing both training time for operators and task completion times for trained and untrained operators alike.
In a whitepaper published by Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in 2021 utilizing Blue Ring’s software and hardware, a ROV was piloted by a variety of pilots (both experienced and inexperienced) while manipulator capture tasks using Blue Ring products (OctoCom and OctoView) were timed. Capture times in stereo VR decreased by half, for both rookie and experienced pilots.
Casey Sapp CEO Blue Ring Imaging says: “The majority of the ROVs we have been working with while developing our suite of VR and AR interfaces have run on Greensea’s OPENSEA open software and equipment architecture. OPENSEA is very well understood, respected and thoroughly tested in the underwater vehicle industry. Greensea provides the very latest, highest performing and lowest latency technologies to deal with the vehicle navigation and control, allowing us to concentrate on our competency- the abstraction layer that sits on top of it all.”
“Of equal weight to this is Greensea’s open architecture philosophy- in this regard you could say that Blue Ring and Greensea are cut from the same cloth. The two companies are in complete agreement that only open architecture can allow easy and cost-effective integration of new vehicles, equipment, and devices. This shared vision was a fundamental factor in choosing collaboration with Greensea.”
Ben Kinnaman, CEO at Greensea Systems says: “I’m delighted to add Blue Ring Imaging to the list of inspiring industry partners. What they are doing in underwater AR and VR is unique to the industry and set to be game changing. VR will change the face of underwater operations, by lowering the barriers to entry of cost and skill requirement. To better understand, protect and defend our oceans we are going to have to put a lot more vehicles out there than we currently have, and our industry is running out of skilled operators. When force multipliers like Blue Ring’s VR and AR interfaces work with a force multiplier like OPENSEA I foresee rapid forward progress toward the goal of getting enough of the vehicles we need doing the subsea jobs we need- faster and at lower cost.”
“I founded Greensea with the mission statement to create technologies that improve the relationship operators have with robots such that their work together could be more productive and efficient. I can think of no technology that puts us closer to that ideal than what Casey and the Blue Ring team are developing.” Kinnaman continues.
Initially the integration project between Greensea and Blue Ring, which has been part funded by the US Government’s SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant program, working to a scope within the PMS 408 framework, will be conducted using a VideoRay Defender ROV optimised to conduct EOD tasks.
30 Nov 22. BAE Systems will collaborate with Red 6 to explore the integration of the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality Systems (ATARS) onto the Hawk fast jet trainer aircraft. This will enable pilots to identify, engage and defeat virtual threats and co-operate with virtual wingmen whilst airborne.
BAE Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Red 6, an augmented reality technology firm at the forefront of synthetic air combat training.
The collaboration will explore ways to combine BAE Systems’ experience in delivering training to military forces alongside its expertise in helmet-mounted displays with Red 6’s breakthrough ATARS technology.
Lucy Walton, Head of Training, BAE Systems’ air sector, said: “The modern battlespace is becoming increasingly complex and contested and integrating technology such as Red 6’s augmented reality with the Hawk aircraft is is key as we prepare pilots for life in a fast jet cockpit for decades to come.
“We’re trusted by armed forces around the world to train over 450 pilots per year and it’s essential we have the right technologies and partnerships to ensure they stay ahead of the curve. We’re really excited to combine our unique insight from working alongside air forces across the globe with the truly game-changing capabilities of Red 6.”
Daniel Robinson, Founder and CEO of Red 6, said: “Readiness and lethality are critical if our war fighters are to prevail against near peer adversaries. I’m thrilled that BAE Systems recognises the radical innovation that ATARS brings to drive the change in military flight training that is so desperately needed and that together can help drive this transformational shift.”
The companies announced they will be working together at I/ITSEC 2022, one of the world’s leading training and simulation shows, in Orlando, Florida.
BAE Systems has been a leader in the fast jet augmented reality market for over 60 years. The Company developed the world’s first heads up display (HUD) for the Buccaneer in 1958 and the family of Striker Helmet Mounted Display Systems (HMDS) used on Typhoon and Gripen aircraft.
Working with Red 6 takes this capability a step further for the pilots of tomorrow, by bringing constructed adversaries, wingmen and surface threats into the training space at a fraction of the cost and emissions of the live equivalent.
29 Nov 22. Dassault Systèmes and Samsung Heavy Industries Cooperate to Establish a Smart Digital Shipyard.
- MoU to create a “smart yard” will leverage virtual twin technologies to support the digital transformation of Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard and its business ambitions
- MoU aims to improve shipyard production capacity and efficiency through model-based manufacturing, operations simulation and optimization
Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) (Paris:DSY) today announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with Samsung Heavy Industries, a global leader in the high-tech shipbuilding sector, to create a “smart yard” based on new digital transformation technology with the aim to establish a fully digital shipyard and a competitive edge.
The smart yard is designed to optimize the shipyard operations’ scheduling and execution as well as streamline and automate the flow of information required for construction, to accelerate production and assembly operations. Samsung Heavy Industries can better meet the booming demand for liquefied natural gas carriers by improving its capacity to produce them and shortening their delivery time.
By introducing model-based systems engineering, Samsung Heavy Industries can design more sophisticated and sustainable vessels requiring more automation, new systems and propulsions, and higher safety and control. MBSE, which is already a standard product development method in the transportation and mobility, aerospace, and high-tech industries, will enable Samsung Heavy Industries to strengthen its competitiveness in the ship development process and accelerate this process thanks to full traceability from concept to production.
“Automation systems are proven to greatly affect business efficiency across all industries. A smart yard in the shipbuilding industry will also help reduce construction costs and improve the quality of ships,” said Jung Nam Lee, DT Director, Samsung Heavy Industries. “We plan to accelerate innovation in shipbuilding.”
The cooperation with the Smart SHI team of Samsung Heavy Industries will allow Dassault Systèmes to organize a consultative group for digital transformation to define and validate new processes and tools required to achieve the smart yard. This will involve Dassault Systèmes’ core technologies and experts from its local office and global headquarters.
Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform-based smart yard will support a unique digital thread integrating various data sources and real-time operations information. Connecting the virtual twins of ships and the virtual twin of the shipyard, automating and standardizing business processes with artificial intelligence, and optimizing planning and operations within the shipyard and with the supply chain will enable smart innovations for both production methods and production execution.
“It is essential for Korea’s shipbuilding to accelerate its transformation with new and advanced technologies that allow it to keep its leadership in productivity and quality for complex vessels, and we are proud to support SHI in this journey,” said François-Xavier Dumez, Vice President, Marine & Offshore Industry, Dassault Systèmes. “Through our cooperation with Samsung Heavy Industries, we’re given an opportunity to introduce and implement our outstanding marine industry solution experiences, and achieve a new paradigm in the shipbuilding industry in Korea.” (Source: News Now/ BUSINESS WIRE)
28 Nov 22. Rolls-Royce (RR.L) said it has successfully run an aircraft engine on hydrogen, a world aviation first that marks a major step towards proving the gas could be key to decarbonising air travel.
The ground test, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A regional aircraft engine, used green hydrogen created by wind and tidal power, the British company said on Monday.
Rolls and its testing programme partner easyJet (EZJ.L) are seeking to prove that hydrogen can safely and efficiently deliver power for civil aero engines.
They said they were already planning a second set of tests, with a longer-term ambition to carry out flight tests.
Hydrogen is one of a number of competing technologies that could help the aviation industry achieve its goal of becoming net zero by 2050.
Planemaker Airbus is working with French-U.S. engine maker CFM International to test hydrogen propulsion technology.
It said in February it planned to fit a specially adapted version of a current generation engine near the back of an A380 superjumbo test plane.
The aircraft manufacturer however told the European Union in 2021 that most airliners will rely on traditional jet engines until at least 2050.
A switch to hydrogen-powered engines would require a complete redesign of airframes and infrastructure at airports.
Eric Schulz, chief executive of SHZ Consulting, said in July that the changes in design are so massive it would take more than one generation of aircraft to get there.
Other technologies backed by companies such as Rolls-Royce include electric engines, which would be initially suitable for short flights, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Engines that are already in service can use a mixture of SAF and conventional fuels, but it is only currently produced in miniscule levels.
It could eventually be produced by combining carbon captured from the air with green hydrogen, but the process is energy intensive and not yet available on a large scale. (Source: Reuters)
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Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
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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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