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06 Oct 23. Lockheed Martin to provide real-time software updates for US Navy’s Aegis platforms. US Navy has tapped Lockheed Martin to involve them in changing the integrated combat system across multiple naval platforms. Lockheed Martin will assume the role of the integrated combat system (ICS) systems engineering and software integration (SESI) agent with the US Navy, enabling the real-time updating of critical software in Aegis-capable warships.
Such platforms include Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, Ticonderoga-class guided missile destroyers, as well as amphibious assaults platforms and aircraft carriers.
GlobalData intelligence on the US Defence Market highlights that the Arleigh Burke is a class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) operated by the US Navy built around the Aegis Combat System. The older Ticonderoga-class cruisers, while slowly being phased out, are still equally valued Aegis platforms.
Commenting on the development, Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager for multi-domain combat solutions at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the strategic importance of the Integrated Combat System in modern naval operations.
He stated: “Our 21st Century Security strategy is delivering capabilities like the Integrated Combat System, a next generation of combat management system capabilities to give decision-makers the tools needed to determine a course of action and then execute their critical missions.”
Lockheed Martin supports the US Navy’s ambition of establishing a fully cohesive ICS, uniting multi-domain assets under a common architecture across the entire surface fleet. This approach is intended to streamline communication, enhance coordination, and bolster the US Navy’s readiness against present and future threats.
The ICS SESI programme, previously known as the surface combatant combat systems engineering agent role, builds on Lockheed Martin’s history of providing the Aegis weapon system to the US Navy and international navies. Additionally, Lockheed Martin currently serves as the Ship Self Defense System provider on large deck amphibious ships. (Source: naval-technology.com)
05 Oct 23. Reliable Robotics Achieves Key Milestones in Large Aircraft Automation Study for the U.S. Air Force. Reliable Robotics, a leader in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems, has made significant progress towards a working autonomy solution for the U.S. Air Force. Reliable’s automation system enables continuous autopilot engagement through all phases of aircraft operation, including taxi, takeoff and landing with a remote pilot supervising operations. Remotely operating large multi-engine Air Force jets like the KC-135 Stratotanker will enable higher aircraft utilization, more frequent deployment and almost continuous operation to fly further distances unimpeded by crew repositioning logistics. As part of an Air Force-funded contract to examine automation of large aircraft for reduced crew and uncrewed solutions, Reliable Robotics conducted detailed analyses of the applicability of its Remotely Operated Aircraft System (ROAS) to advance cargo logistics and refueling capacity.
Reliable’s most recent report reveals three positive findings related to adapting the system for large U.S. Air Force aircraft:
- The airframe examined can readily accommodate required system upgrades for remote operation with only modest adjustments for remote piloting and select refueling operations. Navigation and communications upgrades will support expected future military operating environments.
- Large remotely piloted military aircraft can gain efficiency improvements and operational flexibility equivalent to commercial operations without the need to manufacture new aircraft, providing the Air Force with significant financial advantage.
- The same levels of system reliability required under FAA certification, and designed into the ROAS architecture and hardware, can be achieved when the system is flying on these larger airframes in the U.S. National Airspace System.
“At Reliable Robotics, we are obsessed with enabling previously unimaginable capabilities for the U.S. Air Force through autonomy,” said David O’Brien, Major General (Ret.), and Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at Reliable Robotics. “Automating existing inventory at fractional costs will provide commanders unprecedented flexibility and safety in meeting acute operational demands with the smallest deployed human footprint.”
Reliable’s certification plan was formally accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this year. Once certified, the system will improve aviation safety with higher precision navigation, sophisticated flight planning capabilities and more robust flight controls with or without onboard crew. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
04 Oct 23. 3U OpenVPX™ 100G Ethernet Switch Simplifies System Integration with High-Speed Copper and Rugged Optical Connectivity and Dual-Enclave Security.
New Fabric100™ VPX3-6826 supports independent Data Plane and Control Plane switching fabrics and enables dual-domain security environments – complements the recently introduced VPX3-1262 14-core Intel Raptor Lake Hybrid Processor SBC to provide system designers with a powerful SOSA™ aligned 100G 3U processing board-set.
Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today introduced the VPX3-6826, a SOSA aligned 100G Data Plane and Control Plane Ethernet Switch for foundational next-generation rugged processing systems. Designed and optimized to provide the low-latency, high-speed Ethernet backbone required by modern fiber-distributed aerospace and defense sensor processing architectures, the new Ethernet switch maximizes connectivity and simplifies system building with both high-speed copper VPX backplane ports and field proven rugged optical ports. To enable dual-domain security environments, the VPX3-6826 supports independent Data Plane and Control Plane switching fabrics with a rich set of multi-layer L2 switching and L3 routing features. The module also offers a complete suite of Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities ideal for enabling time-sensitive and deterministic traffic on the Control Plane. Available as a conduction-cooled 3U OpenVPX Ethernet switch, the module supports up to thirty-six (36) Data Plane Ethernet ports at speeds of 10G, 25G, 40G, 50G, or 100G, and up to twelve (12) Control Plane 1G or 10G Ethernet ports.
“Our Fabric100 family delivers a complete end-to-end solution for architecting 100Gbit SOSA aligned rugged systems,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “The 3U VPX3-6826 Ethernet switch module joins the Fabric100 suite to provide the high-speed switching and support for dual-enclave security that today’s advanced sensor architectures demand.”
About the VPX3-6826 Ethernet Switch
The VPX3-6826 complements the simultaneously introduced VPX3-1262 14-core Intel Raptor Lake Hybrid Processor single board computer (SBC). Both modules are the latest additions to Curtiss-Wright’s new Fabric100 family of extremely high-performance SOSA aligned processing modules that brings 100Gbit Ethernet and high-performance PCIe Gen4 interconnect speeds to tomorrow’s new generation of rugged deployable computing architectures. Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 is the only embedded ecosystem that delivers uncompromised, full 100GbE connectivity across a comprehensive range of secure 3U and 6U VPX form factor plug-in cards (PIC) and systems. Designed in alignment with the SOSA Technical Standard, the VPX3-6826 delivers line-rate switching for demanding ISR and mission-critical processing applications. Fully rugged, the VPX3-6826 is validated for deployment in the harshest environments and is available with conduction-cooled L300 ruggedization and is suitable for high-reliability embedded ground, naval, airborne, and commercial/industrial applications.
The versatile, high-performance non-blocking Ethernet Switch provides up to 24 ports of Data Plane and 7 or 8 ports of Control Plane backplane copper connectivity. To simplify external connectivity, the module supports additional optional front-panel optical interfaces for the Data Plane and Control Plane on field-proven rugged optical connectors. The VPX3-6826 is a fully managed multi-layer Ethernet switch that offers an extensive range of network services, including efficient multicast packet processing and flexible quality of service (QoS) prioritization with a powerful range of security features. On-board management software provides a powerful command line interface (CLI), SNMP, and web-based options for configuration, management and monitoring.
TSN Support for Deterministic Ethernet
TSN, an emerging IEEE standard rapidly gaining widespread interest, offers real-time deterministic Ethernet that can coexist with standard Ethernet. Curtiss-Wright has incorporated TSN technology into many of its new 3U Fabric100 products including both the VPX3-6826 Ethernet Switch and VPX3-1262 SBC.
About Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 Suite of 3U and 6U OpenVPX Modules and Systems
Today, system integrators struggle to satisfy their C5ISR applications’ insatiable appetite for sharing ever-increasing volumes of information. The higher-speed interconnects required to support these performance demands pose significant integration challenges for systems integrators. What’s more, the ability to meet the industry’s goal of simplified interoperability, in other words, to quickly and effectively build systems using open standards-based building blocks and make them work well together, becomes increasingly riskier as system designers migrate to faster 16Gbaud and 25Gbaud signaling technology and faster data throughput architectures. To address this daunting problem and reduce the system design risks associated with higher-speed interconnects, Curtiss-Wright has developed Fabric100, a complete end-to-end ecosystem of high-speed rugged OpenVPX modules and system components. It is not enough to simply provide 100G connections between a system’s modules yet fail to support the ability to process all this data within the modules themselves. Recognizing that, Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 board architectures are designed to deliver full 100G performance through the entire processing chain, eliminating data bottlenecks that might otherwise compromise system performance.
For information about availability of development boards and Quick Start Kits (QSKs) to support your program needs, please contact us at , visit our website at www.curtisswrightds.com, or contact your local Curtiss-Wright sales representative.
For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com, LinkedIn, and X @CurtissWrightDS.
04 Oct 23. New Intel 13th Gen Hybrid CPU Powered 3U OpenVPX Processing Engine is First SOSA Aligned SBC to Support Time-Sensitive Networking for Deterministic Ethernet.
New Fabric100™ VPX3-1262 SBC features the 14-core Intel Raptor Lake Hybrid Processor to deliver more cores and higher performance than all previous Intel architecture based SBCs.
Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today introduced the VPX3-1262 single board computer (SBC), the latest addition to its new Fabric100™ family of extremely high-performance SOSA aligned processing engines. The rugged 3U OpenVPX module, designed to meet the 3U I/O Intensive and Payload SOSA profiles, is powered by Intel’s 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” 14-core hybrid architecture processor. The VPX3-1262 is the industry’s first SOSA aligned plug-in-card (PIC) to support Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) on 1G and 10G Ethernet ports to provide deterministic Ethernet switching for time-critical data communications and complements Curtiss-Wright’s simultaneously introduced VPX3-6826 Ethernet switch, a new Fabric100 3U OpenVPX 100G Data Plane and Control Plane switch that also supports TSN. The VPX3-1262 SBC is ideal for use in general computing, mission processing, virtualized application hosting, High Performance Embedded Computing (HPEC) systems, and multi-SBC systems for advanced processing and ISR applications.
“Our Fabric100 family delivers a complete end-to-end solution for architecting 100Gbit SOSA aligned rugged systems,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “The new 3U OpenVPX VPX3-1262 single board computer, combined with our VPX3-6826 Ethernet switch, delivers a powerful performance optimized boardset that eliminates system bottlenecks for maximum performance.”
About Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 Suite of 3U and 6U OpenVPX™ Modules and Systems
Fabric100 brings 100Gbit Ethernet and high-performance PCIe Gen4 interconnect speeds to tomorrow’s new generation of rugged deployable computing architectures. Today, system integrators struggle to satisfy their C5ISR applications’ insatiable appetite for sharing ever-increasing volumes of information. The higher-speed interconnects required to support these performance demands pose significant integration challenges for systems integrators. What’s more, the ability to meet the industry’s goal of simplified interoperability, in other words, to quickly and effectively build systems using open standards-based building blocks and make them work well together, becomes increasingly riskier as system designers migrate to faster 16Gbaud and 25Gbaud signaling technology and faster data throughput architectures. To address this daunting problem and reduce the system design risks associated with higher-speed interconnects, Curtiss-Wright has developed Fabric100, a complete end-to-end ecosystem of high-speed rugged OpenVPX modules and system components. It is not enough to simply provide 100G connections between a system’s modules yet fail to support the ability to process all this data within the modules themselves. Recognizing that, Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 board architectures are designed to deliver full 100G performance through the entire processing chain, eliminating data bottlenecks that might otherwise compromise system performance.
About the VPX3-1262 SBC
Providing 25-40% more performance than Intel 9th Gen “Coffee Lake” processors and 75% more processing cores than the preceding 11th Gen “Tiger Lake” architecture, the VPX3-1262’s 14-core Raptor Lake hybrid processor increases processing efficiency by maintaining the same power requirements of the earlier devices. Intel’s first hybrid architecture embedded processor, the Raptor Lake features 14 cores and includes six (6) hyper-threading, high-performance P-cores (Performance) for complex workloads and eight (8) high-efficiency E-cores (Efficiency) offering significant power savings for less time-critical tasks. Both types of cores operate simultaneously and offer full instruction set compatibility. The processor is supported with up to 64 GB of high-speed, dual-channel DDR5 memory with ECC and up to 480 GB of onboard NVME storage for applications with demanding storage, data logging and sensor processing requirements.
System expansion and connectivity are provided by a 100G Ethernet Data Plane with RDMA/RoCEv2, PCI Express® (PCIe) Gen4 Expansion Plane, 10G Ethernet Control & Data Plane with TSN, and an XMC mezzanine site.
For information about availability of development boards and Quick Start Kits (QSKs) to support your program needs, please contact us at , visit our website at www.curtisswrightds.com, or contact your local Curtiss-Wright sales representative.
For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com, LinkedIn, and X @CurtissWrightDS.
05 Oct 23. Digital Investigations Meet Remarkable Innovation in MSAB’s Latest Major Release. MSAB (Micro Systemation AB, publ), a global leader in digital forensics, is proud to announce the highly anticipated third major release of the year, showcasing significant updates and new features across its flagship products: XRY, XAMN, and XEC. “This release solidifies MSAB’s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to law enforcement agencies, digital investigators, and forensic experts worldwide”. says Peter Heuman newly appointed CEO at MSAB, “We have a rich history of innovation, and that tradition continues with this major release”.
“Our vision is clear: empower every investigation with digital forensic solutions – for a safer world. We do this by continue to advance digital forensics technology and supporting the vital work of law enforcement agencies worldwide,” says Peter Heuman. “The latest release of XRY, XAMN, and XEC is just the beginning of what we have in store.”
Key highlights of the latest major release from MSAB:
- XRY 10.7: The latest version of XRY brings a host of new features and improvements, enhancing the efficiency of mobile data extraction and decoding. Notable additions include support for iOS 17 and Android 14 and the ability to extract OCR and content recognition from Apple Photos. Significant enhancements have been made to Full File System Extractions by adding support for selective app extractions.
- XAMN 7.7: The powerful data analysis and visualization tool has also been subject to significant upgrades. This version introduces an import function for the popular Berla iVe format, allowing forensic practitioners to easily run cases involving vehicle and mobile data within XAMN. Map and geographic data have seen a complete overhaul, with simplified artefact presentation, more flexible areas of interest, and the possibility to store offline maps in a central location. The Report builder has been improved upon further.
- XEC 7.7: MSAB’s evidence management platform continues to evolve with the release. This version allows users to manage clients running XRY Pro directly for XEC Director. Audit functionality has seen an 800% increase in the number of XAMN actions logged.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We understand the challenges they face, and our goal is to make their jobs easier,” says Bradley Sipes, Chief Product Officer at MSAB. “With XRY 10.7, XAMN 7.7, and XEC 7.7 we are not just providing software updates; we are delivering solutions that actively improve the workflows and productivity of law enforcement professionals.”
The MSAB toolkit provides secure end-to-end mobile forensics solutions that help agencies and organizations worldwide with solving cases ranging from criminal activity to exposing fraud.
“The improvements we brought to our products are multifaceted,” added Bradley Sipes. “You can select from which specific apps to extract data for Full File System extractions; it’s easier than ever to analyze machine and handwritten text in pictures; and when you run investigations involving geographic artefacts, you’ll be very happy with how straightforward it is to do it in XAMN.”
For more information about this release, please refer to the detailed release notes or visit MSAB’s website at: msab.com
05 Oct 23. JET experiments to test electronics in fusion environments.
A joint study at the Joint European Torus, investigating the impact of neutrons on electronics, will be a vital step for future fusion facilities. A joint study by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), CERN, EUROfusion, CEA-IRFM, Aix-Marseille University (AMU), CNRS and University of Rennes, at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility in Culham, Oxfordshire, will investigate the impact of neutrons on the performance of electronics exposed to fusion energy conditions.
The experiments will be a vital step in the development of shielding to protect critical and safety electronics from neutrons in future fusion facilities. Their results will also be of interest to the nuclear industry as well as the automotive, avionics and space industries.
JET uses magnetic fields to confine its plasma, a superheated gas of hydrogen isotopes, in the tokamak. Under intense heat – 150 m degrees celsius, ten times hotter than the core of the sun – and pressure, the isotopes fuse into helium, releasing energy as neutrons.
These neutrons randomly cause malfunctions or failures in electronic devices, induced by signal corruption or errors in the data or programmes stored in electronic circuits, such as memories or microprocessors.
Electronics are essential for the precise monitoring and control of plasma conditions, and the safety of tokamaks and their auxiliary systems.
Lee Packer, Senior Fellow in Nuclear Science and Technology at UKAEA, said: “JET’s final deuterium-tritium (DTE3) experiments will see unique and valuable research conducted by this collaboration in various crucial areas, particularly so in the field of neutronics, essential to understand to ensure the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the technologies needed for fusion machines.
“Understanding how electronic components react to the characteristic neutron-rich environment presented by fusion is one such example, as it can influence how those components are designed, protected and incorporated within future fusion machines. The resulting data and learnings from these experiments are expected to be applicable across the fusion sector, including ITER, DEMO and STEP, and adjacent industries that need to use electronics in extreme environments.”
Two test benches, one belonging to CERN, the other to AMU, along with a neutron spectrometer also belonging to AMU, have since been installed at JET.
The test benches will measure the Single Event Effects (SEE), which are a source of malfunctions or failures in the electronics caused by the neutrons.
The neutronics study will be conducted in real-time on a rolling basis over the seven-week period of JET’s final deuterium-tritium experiments (DTE3).
Dr Martin Dentan, CERN and CEA-IRFM Project Leader of the SEE experiments at CERN and JET, said: “The results from the JET experiments will feed into models and methods to be used in a forthcoming detailed study on the sensitivity of modern general electronics to neutron-induced SEEs.
“The results of this forthcoming detailed study will make it possible to define the shielding needed to ensure in a tokamak a neutron environment demonstrated to be equivalent to the natural terrestrial environment, for which general electronics are designed and qualified by manufacturers. This will eliminate the need for neutron qualification, which would otherwise be necessary for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics. The feasibility of this qualification is impeded by their excessive diversity and the lack of traceability of their constituents.
“The SEE experiments at JET are therefore essential for this forthcoming detailed study, which will be indispensable to ensure the reliability of critical and safety electronics in the neutron environment of future tokamaks, such as ITER and DEMO.
“Over the last thirty years, CERN (group leader Dr. Rubén Garcia Alia) and AMU (group leader Prof. Jean-Luc Autran) have developed very solid, internationally recognized expertise in the field of neutron effects on electronics and are pleased to use it to support these experiments at JET. These experiments will be followed by a detailed study in which CERN, AMU, CNRS and University of Rennes will participate and the results of which will make it possible to improve the shielding of the electronics of future tokamaks and of future particle accelerators.”
Xavier Litaudon, research director CEA and project leader for ‘Preparation of ITER Operation’ at EUROfusion, said: “JET is the largest facility before ITER and has the unique capability of working with deuterium-tritium fuel. This gave us the exciting opportunity to study how electronics will perform under the 14.1 MeV neutron load expected for future fusion devices. The experiments at JET complement initial deuterium tests at the WEST tokamak during long pulse operation, and will prove very important in the preparations for ITER, the European demonstration fusion power plant DEMO, and other future fusion devices.”
“It is a pleasure to work with excellent researchers from CERN, EUROfusion, CEA-IRFM, Aix-Marseille University, CNRS and the University of Rennes on this ground-breaking work, and to host them at Culham Campus during DTE3,” concluded UKAEA’s Lee Packer.
JET’s research findings are critical to the development of ITER, the larger and more advanced version of JET. ITER is a fusion research mega-project supported by seven members – China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the USA – based in the south of France, to further demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy.
As well as ITER, the research findings have important implications for the UK’s STEP prototype powerplant to be built at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, the European DEMO prototype fusion plant, and other national laboratory and private projects around the world.
JET has played a critical role in accelerating the development of fusion energy, which promises to be a safe, low carbon and sustainable part of the world’s future energy supply.
At the end of 2023 JET will be moving onto the next phase of its life cycle for repurposing and decommissioning, which will last until c.2040. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
05 Oct 23. Leading sustainable electronics provider In2tec Ltd has created an innovative way to bring circularity to the electronics industry. The UK based company has been developing a solution that will allow for the removal and reuse of electrical components from Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs).
According to a report by The Circularity Gap Report, the current global economy is currently just 7.2% circular (dropping from 9.1% in 2018), meaning that for the most part materials are mined, created into products, sold, and then disposed of this is a linear economy and is simply unsustainable for continued life on earth. This is a very wasteful process and yet makes up the majority of transactions.
A circular economy allows for materials to be made into products, sold and then recycled back into the manufacturing process. This reduces the raw materials used in manufacturing new products.
Circularity in the electronics industry has always been deemed to be an impossibility due to a number of issues including the complexity of the construction of conventional Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs), the limited recycling and reusability options for electrical circuitry and the difficulties in separating the components from their current position.
These issues along with many more have consistently been the excuse of electronics manufacturers for not transitioning to a more sustainable manufacturing process.
However, In2tec’s new unzippable PCBA allows manufacturers to remove components from existing electronics and use them in other technologies. Called ReUSE®, rather than using conventional solder to connect electrical components it uses a patented electrically conductive adhesive.
This then allows manufacturers to reuse electrical components through one of In2tec’s other innovations, ReCYCLE™. This low energy solution allows for the removal of components without causing and stress or damage to the materials, allowing for their reuse in other electronics products or simply for resale.
“Our solutions for the reusing of electronics products allows for manufacturers to recycle their existing components and reutilise them in future electronics, not only bringing full circularity to the electronics industry, but also minimising the usage of raw materials that are rapidly running out,” says Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador at In2tec Ltd.
Linear economies not only reduce the global materials supply, but also cause massive amounts of pollution in water, soil and air whilst also raising the earth’s temperature to unstable levels. More than 90% of materials are either wasted, lost or remain unavailable for reuse for years as they are locked into long-lasting structures such as buildings.
“The industry needs a solution that will minimise the usage of newly mined materials and reuse existing components that in most cases have been used for barely a quarter of their realistic lifespan. In2tec’s ReUSE® and ReCYCLE™ allow for manufacturers to not only reduce their costs spent on new components but also create additional revenue streams through the resale of recycled perfectly usable components.”
A number of large OEMs expressed an interest and are now engaged with In2tec to better understand the technology and the benefits it will have for introducing a circular economy to their manufacturing processes.
“The current linear economy is not just unsustainable; it simply cannot continue. Global resources are running out and for the benefit of future generations we must reuse what we currently have.
“In2tec’s ReUSE® and ReCYCLE™ solutions not only offer the electronics industry a chance at improving its impact on the planets resources but also provide an opportunity to improve the usage of components so that they can be utilised to their limits of viability,” concluded Emma.
09 Oct 23. Auterion, the company building the software-defined future for mobile robotics and powering the world’s leading drone manufacturers, has released an update to its popular all-in-one autonomy solution for drones, Skynode X. Auterion’s technology for autonomous computing empowers a diverse range of robots to perform high-risk and mundane tasks, deliver goods, and aid in life-saving missions.
Skynode X not only preserves all the foundational capabilities of the original product, it also grants access to the most advanced technology available, guaranteeing superior performance, unwavering reliability, and impeccable precision. Highlights include:
- A powerful yet lightweight design that is 30 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than its predecessor. All core components are combined into one single hardware, allowing easy integration into small or space-constrained vehicles without sacrificing performance capabilities.
- Incorporates the latest Flight Management Unit (FMU), FMUv6x, which brings upgraded performance, stability and reliability. With 2x the compute power and 2x RAM, it provides more headroom for the operation of larger vehicles requiring features like large CAN networks.
- Enhanced computer vision support. The new vision software development kit can be used to develop custom applications for Skynode X or install third-party applications that add new functionality like GPS-denied navigation, vision-guided landing on moving landing pads and obstacle detection.
“Skynode and AuterionOS drive the adoption of software-defined robotic fleets by offering the highest levels of integration.” said Lorenz Meier, CEO and Founder of Auterion. “The Skynode X updates ensure we are meeting the autonomy, reliability and flexibility that our customers need, so large retailers can utilize and scale drone delivery programs and governments can perform their missions more efficiently and safely.”
Since its first release in 2020, Skynode has enabled dozens of manufacturers to successfully develop a range of robotics systems powered by the Auterion operating system. These drones carry out a variety of tasks, including repetitive, precise or even dangerous tasks in any commercial or government setting. Current uses include search and rescue missions, cargo delivery, mapping dangerous terrain and surveillance missions.
Skynode X can be used on any size vehicle – multicopters, vertical take-off and landing aircraft, ground rovers and boats. Other features:
- Provides an all-in-one solution at relatively low cost to integrate the Auterion software platform into different types of robots – reducing the time and costs of hardware and software integration.
- Combines all core components into single hardware, making it easier to integrate than having to assemble many individual components.
- Supports large organizations to build on top of open-source foundations.
- Enables vehicle manufacturers to gain value in the open-source hardware/software ecosystem.
About Auterion
Auterion is a cutting-edge operating system for autonomous computing that empowers a diverse range of autonomous robots to perform high-risk to mundane tasks, deliver goods, and aid in life-saving missions. Our industry-leading software drives the adoption of robotic fleets for a variety of commercial and public sector industries. Join the Auterion movement and experience the power of next-generation computing. Learn more about Auterion at https://auterion.com/.
03 Oct 23. Asio Technologies, a renowned developer and manufacturer of geospatial position systems and tactical defense solutions, will present its GNSS-denied vision-based navigation solution for UAVs at the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, DC. The company announces that it has recently completed the delivery of 100 systems to a strategic defense customer. This is a follow-on order emphasizing the distinctive benefits of Asio Technologies’ unique navigation solution for defense clients and drone manufacturers.
The company’s vision-based navigation system is a cutting-edge, jam-proof navigation solution that ensures uninterrupted operations from takeoff to landing for drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). By leveraging state-of-the-art machine vision technology, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced optics, and sensor fusion capabilities, it enables accurate and autonomous GNSS-free navigation, even in environments where the GNSS signal is compromised, jammed, or simply unavailable. It is a lightweight vision-based navigation system for tactical platforms where size, weight, and power are defining parameters.
At AUSA, the company will also showcase its ORION system: a rugged and secured mobile system for dismounted forces, enabling mission planning and real-time navigation. Using Android platform, ORION (or OLAR/AMUD – as called by the IDF) enables mission planning, positioning, and enhanced situational awareness using the GIS database and Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities. ORION serves the individual soldier or commander up to the battalion level, allowing them to get real-time updates from each other regarding friendly and hostile forces, as well as additional mission-critical information. It can communicate and interface with other ASIO Technologies tactical solutions, such as the LYNX tactical handheld day/night augmented reality situation awareness system, to provide a fully integrated tactical combat suit for ground forces.
David Harel, CEO of Asio Technologies: “We are honored to present our solutions at the AUSA exhibition and seal another substantial delivery of our vision-based navigation solution to a key customer. Asio Technologies’ innovative navigation solutions provide complete autonomy for drone operations as well as ensure that infantry soldiers will have the most accurate real-time information in the palm of their hands.”
About Asio Technologies
Asio Technologies serves the defense and paramilitary markets, specializing in geospatial position systems encompassing navigation, positioning, mission planning, and mission management. Asio Technologies prides itself in holding several innovative registered patents in positioning and north finding.
With a core focus on target acquisition, augmented orientation, mission planning, and a common language for the tactical command level, Asio’s solutions are based on actual operational experience ranging from surveillance and reconnaissance to targeting and weapons guidance. Over the years, Asio has built a track record of manufacturing and supplying dozens of combat-proven innovative solutions, according to Mil-specs and ISO standards.
For more information, please visit www.navigationguard.com www.Asiotech.com
03 Oct 23. Defense Innovation Unit seeks modular test system to scale drone tech. As the Pentagon prepares to field thousands of autonomous systems in the coming years, its commercial innovation hub is seeking a modular test platform that it could use to validate payloads, sensors and other technology.
The Defense Innovation Unit wants a system that could be ready for its first flight test within seven months, reach a range of 500 nautical miles (926 kilometers), and deliver a kinetic payload, it said in a Sept. 28 notice.
“The objective is to demonstrate an aerial platform that prioritizes affordability and distributed mass production,” it said. “Multiple vehicle types may be selected for prototyping and multiple variants may be developed following a successful initial flight test. Designs that enable geographically distributed, scalable manufacturing with minimal reliance on specialized tooling and test equipment are preferred.”
The notice comes as the Pentagon embarks on an ambitious plan to change the way it buys high-need capabilities to counter China’s military advantage. Through the first instantiation of the effort, dubbed Replicator, the department wants to significantly scale up production of autonomous systems to deliver thousands of small, attritable platforms across multiple domains over the next 18 to 24 months.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks announced the effort in late August, saying the plan is to leverage existing programs and, at least initially, existing funding streams.
While not explicitly tied to Replicator, DIU’s solicitation emphasizes the Pentagon’s need for an open-architecture platform that can test, integrate and qualify a range of subsystems and materials without the “exquisite components” and “labor-intensive manufacturing” that slow down existing production processes.
“The Department of Defense replenishment rates for unmanned aerial delivery vehicles are neither capable of meeting surge demand nor achieving affordable mass,” the notice states. “Narrow supply chains, proprietary data and locked designs result in a lengthy timeline to transition new technology into usable capability and limit production and replenishment rates.”
A DIU spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about the effort’s links to Replicator.
Details on how the Pentagon will execute the program have, so far, been slim. The Deputy’s Innovation Steering Group, established in 2021 and co-chaired by Hicks and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady, will oversee Replicator with support from DIU Director Doug Beck.
DISG held a quarterly meeting Sept. 28, and according to Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon, Replicator was on the agenda.
“The purpose of the inaugural meeting was to ensure familiarization with the initiative across the Pentagon and military services, make clear the tasks and directions for execution, offer an opportunity to ask questions and provide input to support the future direction for Replicator,” Pahon told C4ISRNET in an Oct. 2 statement. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
03 Oct 23. Curtiss-Wright Debuts New Ultra-Compact “Snap Together” PacStar 200-Series. New small form factor modular product family features 50% SWaP reduction. Multiple PacStar 200-Series modules can deploy standalone or “snapped together” with PacStar 400-Series modules for an even broader range of tactical applications
Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division has announced a groundbreaking new range of ultra-compact tactical communications and processing modules that complement and increase the functionality and capability of its PacStar® 400-Series. The PacStar 200-Series of modules and chassis provides system designers with a size, weight and power (SWaP)-optimized alternative solution for space-constrained applications or for adding flexibility to the PacStar 400-Series. The new product family enables system designers to snap-together a wide range of configurations of PacStar 200-Series and PacStar 400-Series modules as needed, including switches, servers, and routers.
“We are very excited to introduce our new PacStar 200-Series family of size, weight and power optimized modules, which represents a major enhancement to our widely use PacStar 400-Series products,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “These ultra-compact tactical communications and processing modules provide system designers with a whole new level of flexibility when configuring trusted and assured solutions for space-constrained environments or to add new functionality to their fielded PacStar-400 systems.”
The PacStar 200-Series builds on lessons Curtiss-Wright has learned as one of the DoD’s go-to providers for deployed tactical communications solutions. That knowledge, combined with higher levels of integration and SWaP optimization, has enabled Curtiss-Wright to develop a new class of ultra-compact tactical communications and processing modules offerings architected from the ground up. These compact modules can be deployed in a standalone chassis or used to expand the capability of PacStar 400-Series products; greatly reducing the amount of SWaP – up to 50% – required to add functionality. The first members of the PacStar 200-Series product family to be introduced include three new modules:
- PacStar 251: Rugged in-theater Intel® Atom-based computing and virtualization platform
- PacStar 221: High-density Gigabit network switch for critical voice, data, and video connectivity powered by the Cisco® Embedded Services Switch (ESS) 3300
- PacStar 211: Small Router Module powered by Cisco® Embedded Services Router (ESR) 6300
PacStar 200-Series modules increase configuration options for system designers, enabling them to deploy the exact level of performance their application requires, especially when space-constraint limits are critical. System upgrades and re-configuration are simplified too, because each PacStar 200-Series module supports discrete functions. For example, a fielded PacStar 200-Series router or switch can be swapped out without having to replace both the router and switch functions at the same time, since each function resides in an independent module.
Multiple PacStar 200-Series modules can be snapped together with PacStar 400-Series modules (adaptor available in 2024). Also, a battery adapter, which hosts the batteries and a DC adapter, can be fastened to PacStar 200-Series modules. PacStar 200-Series chassis offerings include three-slot (available now), eight-slot, and ten-slot chassis that feature the same mounts, packaging, and transport used by PacStar 400-Series Chassis (contact your account manager for details). This enables PacStar 200-Series chassis to be “mixed-and-matched” with other Curtiss-Wright technologies (PacStar 400-Series and OpenVPX) via a modular PacStar Smart Chassis.
Each PacStar 200-Series module integrates seamlessly with other PacStar 200-Series and PacStar 400-Series standard modules, providing the best in small size, flexible power, and environmental ruggedness. Curtiss-Wright also offers a wide array of PacStar system packaging options, including briefcase, transit case, rackmount, vehicle-mount, and backpack transport options.
Product sheets for the PacStar 211, PacStar 221, PacStar 251 modules are available for download.
Curtiss-Wright’s PacStar products are manufactured in its Portland, Oregon facility.
02 Oct 23. Revolutionizing Defense Capability with Natilus Blended-Wing-Body Aircraft. Technological innovation is key to increasing efficiency and lowering costs to operate across countless industries that enable our way of life. There are two industries that are critical to modern society but continue to lag behind the technology curve: aviation and defense.
Natilus is developing a family of next-generation, blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft that significantly enhance aerodynamic efficiency and payload carrying capacity for the commercial freight sector. This will bring a step-function optimization to companies that currently rely on outdated and inefficient modes of transport. It will commoditize air freight.
Natilus is also poised to capitalize on the growing threat in the Indo-Pacific region and evolving defense requirements, from aerial refueling to strategic airlift, with the added value of autonomous capabilities. Natilus and a leading defense tech company have partnered to pursue and bid on the United States Air Force Next Generation Air-refueling System (tanker) contract valued at $40B; a proof point on the extensibility of our platform for air cargo – and beyond.
Unlike traditional tube-and-wing aircraft, which have a distinct cylindrical fuselage and wings, the BWB design integrates the body and wings seamlessly and offers at least a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions. The combination of aerodynamic efficiencies and expanded operational use cases strategically positions the Natilus BWB for both the commercial and defense sector.
Aerodynamic Efficiency:
The blended-wing-body design significantly reduces drag, making these aircraft more aerodynamically efficient than their conventional counterparts. This reduction in drag translates into decreased fuel consumption of at least 40% and lower operational costs, a critical factor for the military’s budget-conscious operations and need to extend range and capabilities into the Indo-Pacific region.
Increased Cargo Capacity:
One of the standout features of Natilus’ BWB aircraft is the patent-pending, diamond-shaped cargo bay. This configuration can accommodate approximately two and a half times as much cargo as traditional aircraft, making them invaluable for transporting fuel, equipment, and other supplies efficiently. This extra capacity can streamline military logistics and deployment efforts.
Autonomous Capability:
In partnership with a leading defense technology company, Natilus’ BWB aircraft are not only efficient and capacious but also equipped with cutting-edge autonomous capabilities. This means that these aircraft can operate optionally piloted or without a human crew, extending range and allowing for operations in a contested environment. Autonomous BWB aircraft can be deployed for missions where human pilots’ safety might be at risk, or they can be operated remotely, providing unmatched flexibility in mission execution and scalability.
Blended-Wing-Body Defense Applications
Aerial Refueling Missions:
Natilus’ autonomous BWB aircraft can serve as highly efficient tanker aircraft, providing fuel to fighter jets, unmanned aircraft, and other military planes while eliminating the need for a human crew in high-risk refueling scenarios. Their enhanced fuel efficiency and larger fuel capacity make them ideal for this role, ensuring that missions can be executed with precision and endurance.
Cargo Transportation:
Autonomous BWB aircraft offer the same advantages in cargo transportation, with the added benefit of reduced human risk. These aircraft can efficiently transport equipment and supplies with the volume-centric, diamond-shaped cargo bay, ensuring timely deliveries in both conventional and low-infrastructure operational theaters. Where available, Natilus aircraft are also designed to seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure and operations much like a traditional airplane.
Drone Swarm Deployment:
With its increased payload capacity, a Natilus BWB aircraft is ideally suited for safely carrying and deploying smaller UAVs (uncrewed aerial vehicles) to swarm a contested area. Its larger cargo area means more drones can be launched in one flight to create a larger swarm. With autonomous capabilities, Natilus is the more effective and safe option.
Humanitarian Missions:
The capabilities of Natilus’ BWB aircraft extend to humanitarian missions as well. In disaster-stricken regions, where access may be limited and conditions hazardous, autonomous aircraft can be deployed for aid and relief delivery, enhancing the USAF’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to crises worldwide. With the ability to take off and land on shorter runways, this further allows Natilus aircraft to get where others cannot.
Natilus‘ groundbreaking Blended-Wing-Body aircraft, with unrivaled aerodynamic efficiency, increased cargo capacity, and autonomous capabilities, are ready to enhance today’s missions and open doors to new capabilities that will usher in a new era of military aviation. As technology continues to evolve, innovations like the Natilus BWB design will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness, sustainability, and air superiority of the United States in the 21st century and beyond. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Oct 23. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has expanded its HGuide industrial navigation portfolio with the addition of a new Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), the HGuide i400. This new IMU is specifically designed for a wide array of defense, industrial and autonomous applications across air, land and sea vehicles and related equipment.
The HGuide i400 IMU, boasting a Gyro Bias Repeatability of under one degree per hour, sets a new standard for compact precision. Measuring just 28mm x 25mm, it delivers unparalleled performance without compromising on size or weight when compared to existing units.
“In the current industry landscape, there are no comparable products that match the performance level, size and affordability of the HGuide i400 IMU,” said Matt Picchetti, Honeywell Aerospace’s vice president and general manager of Navigation & Sensors. “Across our HGuide product line, Honeywell technologies support everything from 3D mapping and autonomous vehicles to a multitude of industrial applications that demand precise real-time positioning and attitude data.”
IMUs consist of gyroscopes for measuring rotational motion and accelerometers for lateral motion assessment. With Honeywell’s cutting-edge sensor fusion technology, even the slightest shifts in position and attitude become measurable and recordable. Rooted in extensive aerospace navigation expertise, Honeywell offers a suite of high-performance IMUs and inertial navigation systems.
Honeywell will showcase the HGuide i400, along with the rest of the HGuide product line, at its booth (E25.37) at the INTERGEO trade show in Berlin Oct. 10-12.
02 Oct 23. IperionX, GKN Aerospace collaborate on sustainable titanium manufacturing. IperionX Limited has entered into an agreement with GKN Aerospace to supply titanium plate test components manufactured using the former’s titanium technologies.
GKN Aerospace’s titanium plate components will be manufactured using IperionX’s advanced titanium angular powder and powder metallurgy techniques.
Employing its patented Hydrogen Sintering and Phase Transformation (HSPT) technologies, IperionX will enhance the microstructure of titanium, resulting in strength and fatigue properties comparable to wrought titanium alloys.
As a renowned ‘Tier-1’ aerospace supplier, GKN Aerospace plays a pivotal role in the aviation industry, servicing more than 90 per cent of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers, the ASX-listed company said in a press release.
IperionX said GKN Aerospace is celebrated for its innovative smart aerospace systems and components across civil aerospace, space, and military sectors.
In particular, titanium, an indispensable material in aerospace systems, is expertly manufactured by GKN Aerospace, contributing to renowned aircraft such as the Airbus A320/A330, Boeing B777/B787, Lockheed Martin F-16 and F-35 Lightning, and the Ariane 6 rocket engine.
This collaboration with GKN Aerospace is an extension of the testing and validation of IperionX’s 100 per cent recycled titanium powder, derived from GKN’s scrap titanium feedstocks.
The latest partnership zeroes in on the production of high-performance titanium plate components, which are set to undergo rigorous testing by GKN Aerospace.
Furthermore, this collaboration paves the way for potential future joint ventures between GKN Aerospace and IperionX, including projects associated with the US Department of Defence.
IperionX said it offers an extensive range of high-performance titanium powder and products, customisable to meet the demanding requirements of aerospace, defence, space, hydrogen, automotive, and consumer electronics sectors.
These advanced manufacturing capabilities encompass traditional titanium plate, bar, and rod products, as well as high-performance ‘near-net shape’ titanium components, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and sustainability.
With limited domestic primary titanium metal production capacity in the United States, the country currently relies on importing over 95 per cent of its primary titanium metal, primarily from foreign sources.
IperionX said it aims to revolutionize this paradigm by reshoring titanium mineral and metal production in the US, reducing dependence on foreign imports, and bolstering the supply chain with cost-effective and sustainable titanium products.
Taso Arima, CEO of IperionX, said GKN Aerospace is at the forefront of sustainable practices and the meticulous production of titanium components for the aerospace, space, and military sectors.
“We are very proud to be working with GKN Aerospace to commercialise our market-leading high-performance and sustainable titanium products,” he noted. (Source: Google/https://www.australianmanufacturing.com.au/)
29 Sep 23. In2tec Ltd brings circularity to the electronics industry, having developed the solution for the removal and reuse of electronic components from Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs).
According to The Circularity Gap Report, the current global economy is just 7.2% circular (dropping from 9.1% in 2018), meaning that for the most part, materials are mined, created into products, sold, and then disposed of. This very wasteful way of life has sadly been the norm for decades.
Circularity in the electronics industry was historically deemed an impossibility due to multiple challenges, including the complexity of the construction of conventional PCBAs and the limited repair, recycling, and reusability options. The process to separate the components from a substrate is costly, and the stress caused to de-soldered components leads to their questionable viability.
These issues and associated costs have consistently been at the heart of the global ewaste problem and why the outcome to-date is to bury or burn it!
In2tec’s sustainable electronics solution; ReUSE® and ReCYCLE™, is a closed-loop process allowing manufacturers to remove components from existing electronics at the end of their useful life and reuse them.
ReUSE® is a suite of patented inks, adhesives, materials, and process and utilises proprietary design techniques to manufacture PCBAs. ReCYCLE™ is the ultra-low energy process for unzipping PCBAs back to the original bill of materials (BoM). The components are returned without causing stress or damage, allowing for their reuse in other products or for resale in the growing second-life market.
“Our technology allows manufacturers to easily repair and extend the life of products or reuse them in manufacture. We’re bringing full circularity to the electronics industry and minimising the use of raw materials and minerals that are rapidly running out,” says Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador at In2tec Ltd.
Linear economies cause devastating pollution to our water, soil, and air while raising the earth’s temperature to unstable levels. More than 90% of materials are either lost or remain unavailable for reuse. The Global Electronics Council reported that within the 57Mt of ewaste generated in 2021, over $60bn of valuable components were wasted!
“The electronics industry needed a solution to minimise waste by reusing existing components that in most cases have been used for barely a quarter of their viable lifespan.” Emma continues.
In2tec’s solution means that ewaste becomes a value chain, not a cost chain. Manufacturers reduce the costs spent on components and WEEE charges and creates additional revenue streams through the resale of valuable components and materials by OEM’s and Recyclers.
A number of large OEMs are engaged with In2tec to better understand the technology and the benefits it will have for introducing a circular economy to their manufacturing processes. The closed-loop process brings financial gain to OEMs, and with over 70% of the CO2 in a PCBA coming from first-life components it also dramatically cuts their CO2 emissions in manufacture and disassembly.
“The current linear economy isn’t just unsustainable; we can’t let it continue. Global resources are running out and for the benefit of future generations we need to reuse what we already mined. The electronics industry must address its impact on the planets resources, and having a solution that provides value means we’re seeing OEMs take an interest in ReUSE® and ReCYCLE™” concluded Emma.
29 Sep 23. BAE Systems to supply US Army with jam-resistant navigation tech. BAE Systems will provide the U.S. Army high-tech, embeddable computer cards used for secure navigation on foot and aboard armored vehicles in a contract worth $318m.
The five-year contract for M-code GPS modules and related engineering support, announced Sept. 29, gives the service’s positioning, navigation and timing experts direct access to the company’s wares, according to the Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, or PEO IEW&S.
The cards were previously procured through “various external contracts” and the Defense Logistics Agency, which ran up costs and complicated the buying process, the office said.
M-code is meant to be a stronger, more secure source of situational awareness — where a soldier is, where a soldier is headed and at what pace. It touts increased resistance to jamming and spoofing, a critical consideration for the U.S. as it prepares for potential fighting against Russia and China. Both wield significant electronic warfare arsenals that can make traversal and coordination more difficult.
Michael Trzeciak, a project manager at PEO IEW&S, said the BAE Systems arrangement “made sense” because of compatibility with existing equipment, namely Dismounted Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Systems, DAPS, and Mounted Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Systems, MAPS.
The Army in April tapped TRX Systems for the former. Collins Aerospace, part of RTX, was selected last year for the latter.
BAE Systems is the seventh largest defense contractor in the world when ranked by defense-related revenue. The company brought in $25.2 bn in 2022 and $25.7bn in 2021, according to Defense News’ “Top 100″ analysis. (Source: Defense News)
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Oxley Group Ltd
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.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
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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