Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund
http: www.britbots.com/fund
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21 Dec 17. India advances import of 22 non-weaponised Guardian UAVs. India is advancing the import of 22 non-weaponised General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) Guardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Indian Navy (IN) under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. Responding to a question in parliament, India’s Minister of State for Defence, Subhash Bhamre, said on 20 December that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi was awaiting a response from the US Office of Defence Cooperation to its 14 November request for information (RFI) for the UAVs. He said the acquisition was being “progressed” under the ‘Buy (Global)’ category of the MoD’s Defence Procurement Procedure-2016, pointing out that no transfer of technology is envisaged in the purchase. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
22 Dec 17. Russia Developing New-Generation Drones for Security Services. Russia is developing new-generation drones and robotics control systems for its special services, Federal Security Service or FSB secret police—one of the successors of the Soviet-era KGB— (FSB) Chief Alexander Bortnikov told Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
“Efforts continue to put into operation the latest armament systems and technical means developed by departmental specialists and unrivalled in the world. Work is underway to develop promising drones and systems for control of ground-and air-based robotic complexes, and also armoured transport and fighting vehicles with the enhanced cross-country capacity, speed and protection,” the FSB chief said.
The FSB pays increased attention to strengthening the scientific-technical and combat potential of security services, which is a guarantee of its effective work, Bortnikov said.
“Modern technology has considerably expanded the possibilities of special services, border units, aviation and forensic provision for detective and investigative activity,” the FSB chief said. (Source: UAS VISION/TASS)
21 Dec 17. Elbit Systems Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), the Seagull™ participated in a recent joint exercise between the Israeli Navy and the British Royal Navy (“RN”) in Haifa Bay. During the exercise the USV performed a Mine Counter Measure (MCM) mission, scanning and charting a secure path for HMS Ocean, the RN helicopter carrier. Once encountering Mine-Like-Objects, the Seagull alerted HMS Ocean to avoid them, thus securing its safe route. The Seagull performed the mission while being remotely operated from a Mission Control Station onshore. Additionally, the Seagull took part in a tactical maneuvering exercise and sailed in formation with the Navy vessels and British RN’s carrier. In addition to MCM capabilities, the Seagull features switchable, modular mission payload suites and can perform Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions, Electronic Warfare (EW), Maritime Security (MS), Hydrography and other missions using the same vessel, mission control system and data links. Seagull offers navies a true force multiplier delivering enhanced performance to naval operations, reducing risk to human life and dramatically cutting procurement and operating costs.
21 Dec 17. Wankel Engine Opens Doors to New Target Groups. 3W-International exhibited the new 3W-180 SRE hybrid Wankel engine at this year’s Xponential early in the summer of 2017. After half a year, CEO Karsten Schudt draws a positive balance relative to the new engine.
The 3W-180 SRE hybrid is unique in the drive technology for UASs. The engine features 180 ccm and a short-engine mass of 6.8 kg. Its high-power version achieves 38.5 hp at 7500 rpm (rated power is 28 hp at 6000 rpm). A 5.66 hp/kg power-to-mass ratio with a consumption of 340 g/kW at full load results from this. The hybrid system, which feeds in 15 kW for a time (e.g. 30 s to 60 s) independently of the storage system’s capacity, is unique. This additional power