Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund
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14 Jul 22. USN Tests V-BAT 118 on Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor. U.S. contractors with Shield AI conducted a test flight of a V-BAT 118 unmanned aerial system aboard Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), July 13. Unmanned and remotely operated systems extend the capability of interconnected manned platform censors to enhance capacity across the multinational force. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug 4 in and around Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Source: UAS VISION/divds)
14 Jul 22. Farnborough Airshow: Blaze Unveils the Spider VTOL – an Enhanced performance, Single motor, Single prop, Fixed-Wing VTOL Mini UAV. Utilizing a single, nose-mounted motor and propeller solution for vertical takeoff and landing as well as for horizontal flight, Blaze’s Spider VTOL is an ideal solution for tactical, covert, “over-the-hill” or extended range real-time intelligence
Farnborough International Airshow, UK, July 2022, Hall 3, Stand 3521
IMCO Group’s Blaze, a leading provider of affordable, innovative, reliable, multi-mission unmanned/remotely controlled solutions for air, land, and naval applications, will participate at the Farnborough International Airshow and unveil the Spider VTOL: A Mini electrical fixed-wing VTOL UAV utilizing a single motor and a single propeller.
Unlike traditional fixed-wing VTOL UAVs that have dedicated motors, propellors and structural parts for performing takeoff and landing that severely hinder their overall performance, the Spider VTOL utilizes a single nose-mounted electrical motor and propeller for both vertical takeoff and landing as well as for horizontal flight. These capabilities enable the Spider VTOL to uniquely perform point takeoffs and landings in small areas with scarce space, such as a forest clearing or a small ship, and to operate in harsh wind and weather conditions without compromising performance.
Lightweight and highly transportable, the Spider VTOL’s full operational cycle, from deployment, through launch and mission execution, to recovery and packing, can be performed by a single operator. Its innovative flying wing design and belly-mounted payload configuration contribute to its high performance, assuring high operational availability of up to 3 hours, high survivability, and fast redeployment time. The Spider VTOL can be equipped with various advanced payloads, providing covert real-time day/night Intelligence for wide variety of open areas and urban scenarios such as military, law enforcement, low-intensity conflict, security, peacekeeping, search and rescue missions, disaster management and civil applications.
BLAZE’s CEO, Mr. Itai Toren: “Ideal for covert, enhanced performance, over-the-hill ISR missions for tactical forces, border security, strategic infrastructure protection and maritime operation, the easily deployable Spider VTOL can be operated by a single operator, vertically takeoff and land on any terrain using its innovative single motor, single prop takeoff and landing mechanism, enabling it to be launched from a small boat or an armored fighting vehicle (AFV), and operate in harsh environments and GPS denied zones. It is a groundbreaking tool that enhances forces’ situational awareness and tactical terrain dominance, and we are excited to present it for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow.”
11 Jul 22. East Tech 2022: Saif Seas delivers rescue and surveillance USV to Indian Navy. Kolkata-based Saif Seas has delivered “50 pieces” of its “remote-operated buoy” to the Indian Navy and will be delivering 50 more by the end of 2022, Taher Calcuttawala, co-founder and chief operating officer of the company, told Janes at East Tech 2022, held in Kolkata by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command on 7 and 8 July.
The battery-operated unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is designed for rescue but can be customised for various other missions by fitting it with “HD cameras, robotic probes, or weaponry”, Calcuttawala said.
While the USV was initially designed to rescue one person, the system has been enhanced and tested to have the capability of rescuing “at least three people” weighing up to 300 kg, Calcuttawala added.
He told Janes that Saif Seas is in talks with the Indian Army to supply the USV for surveillance purposes and hopes that a deal will be established soon. (Source: Janes)
11 Jul 22. East Tech 2022: EndureAir Systems showcases electric Vibhram UAV. Noida-based EndureAir Systems, a developer of aerial robotic solutions, displayed an electric version of its Vibhram unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at East Tech 2022, an event held in Kolkata by the Indian Army’s Eastern Command on 7 and 8 July.
According to EndureAir, Vibhram is a multi-purpose UAV developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The gasoline-powered version of Vibhram was also displayed earlier this year at the North Tech Symposium conducted by the Indian Army’s Northern Command.
Apoorv Avasthy, senior manager of operations at EndureAir Systems, told Janes that the electric version of Vibhram, named E-Vibhram, is a production-ready platform that has been supplied to the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for tests.
He said the UAV is listed as capable of carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions as well as various logistics and humanitarian aid operations. (Source: Janes)
11 Jul 22. US Navy Demos MCM Equipment Prototype on MQ-8C.
The U.S. Navy recently demonstrated a mine countermeasure (MCM) prototype technology aboard the MQ-8C Fire Scout UAS at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, proving a capability that could allow the warfighter to rapidly detect and respond to threats.
The objective of the demonstration was to gather performance data for both the MQ-8C Fire Scout and Single-system Multi-mission Airborne Mine Detection (SMAMD) System to inform future MCM integration efforts.
“The team successfully demonstrated that the prototype SMAMD System effectively operates as designed aboard the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter in relevant real world environments,” said Capt. Thomas Lansley, Fire Scout program director. “This cutting-edge technology could really enhance Fire Scout’s capability going forward.”
The team conducted operations from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) utilizing drifting, tethered, and moored mines throughout beach zone to deep waters. They gathered data day and night, across all water depths and in mild to difficult weather conditions.
The demonstration also proved the reliable and repeatable high performance of the MQ-8C Fire Scout. The air vehicle handled the dual podded system with ease, being the first MCM capability flown on the MQ-8C as well as the heaviest payload carried to date. Fire Scout successfully operated in restricted and unrestricted air space alongside other aircraft platforms.
The SMAMD System, developed by BAE Systems under a Future Naval Capability (FNC) Program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is an airborne optical sensor suite that, in a single pass, detects and localizes mines and obstacles on land and at sea. With a low false-alarm rate, SMAMD provides real-time detection sent via data link enabling warfighters to respond much quicker to threats than the current MCM technologies allow as post-mission analysis is required.
MQ-8C Fire Scout gathers performance data during a mine countermeasure (MCM) prototype technology demonstration in May 2022 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. – U.S. Navy photo
This effort, led by ONR, included support from multiple organizations across the Navy and industry including the MQ-8 Fire Scout program office, the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Aircraft Prototype Systems Division (APSD), Webster Outlying Field (WOLF), the Digital Analytics Infrastructure and Technology Advancement Group Prototyping, Instrumentation and Experimentation Department, and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Four (UX-24).
ONR and PMA-266 engaged NAWCAD AIRWorks to manage the demonstration taking advantage of AIRWorks’ project execution expertise and ability to connect warfare center resources.
“The AIRWorks SMAMD Team was proud to be a part of demonstrating a future naval capability which provides real-time threat detection to the warfighter,” said AIRWorks’ project lead Kristina Hewitt-Thompson. “Through this effort, we were able to assist in risk reduction and provide critical data for future integration.”
Throughout the project, the team facilitated execution of a complex demonstration including airworthiness and cyber certifications, design, fabrication and hardware integration along with flying qualities testing prior to the final demonstration at Eglin, she said. They assured close coordination between the U.S. Air Force, ONR, NAVAIR, NAVSEA and other stakeholder organizations to successfully achieve their objectives in less than 24 months and at a reduced cost. (Source: UAS VISION)
12 Jul 22. Brazilian Navy Activates its 1st Squadron of Remotely Piloted Aircraft. Naval Aviation began the 5th phase of its 106-year history, to be completed on August 23, by activating the 1st Squadron of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (QE-1), on July 5, 2022, being named as the first Commander Frigate Captain Fabio Bernardo Nunes.
The military ceremony took place at the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Base and was attended by the Navy Commander, Fleet Admiral Almir Garnier Santos, the Naval Operations Commander, Fleet Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, the General Director of Navy Material, Fleet Admiral José Augusto Vieira da Cunha de Menezes, Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Arthur Fernando Bettega Correa, Naval Air Force Commander, Rear Admiral José Augusto Augusto José da Silva Fonseca Junior, in addition to civil and military authorities and former Commanders of the Naval Air Force.
In his words, AE Garnier highlighted the importance of activating the newest Naval Aviation Military Organization as “Today is a historic day for the Brazilian Navy and the importance is related to the fact that reveals our future” and completed “And so are the unmanned aerial vehicles whose cornerstone the Navy is laying today, the result of an effort made by generations that preceded us”.
AE Garnier highlighted the importance of EsqdQE-1 to develop doctrines, train and qualify the MB to use in the future other types of SARP-E, more capable and necessary, for the protection of the Blue Amazon.
Shortly after the ceremony, a demonstration was held for the Navy Commander, with the launch and recall of the RQ-1 ScanEagle N-8001.
The Navy Commander can also follow, from inside the control module, a demonstration of the capabilities of the RQ-1 ScanEagle, during the demonstration flight in the area close to the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Complex.
Officially activated on July 5, 2022, Harpia was chosen, one of the largest birds of prey in the world, found in Brazil in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest region, to represent the QE-1, which today has 37 military personnel, being ten officers (eight pilots trained at the manufacturer) and 27 enlisted men, all from the different fixed and rotary wing squadrons.
The QE-1 has six Embedded Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (SARP-E), designated RQ-1 ScanEagle with registration numbers N-8001 to N-8006, two launchers (one on-board and one on land) and two recoil systems. The Esquadrão Harpia shares the “ALFA” hangar of Esquadrão HA-1, located at the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Base (BAeNSPA).
By the end of this year, the necessary systems will be installed on the Frigate Independência (F 44) and on the Amazon Ocean Patrol Vessel (P 120), with the first embarked operation expected to take place in December 2022. (Source: ASD Network)
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The British Robotics Seed Fund is the first SEIS-qualifying investment fund specialising in UK-based robotics businesses. The focus of the fund is to deliver superior returns to investors by making targeted investments in a mixed basket of the most innovative and disruptive businesses that are exploiting the new generation of robotics technologies in defence and other sector applications.
Automation and robotisation are beginning to drive significant productivity improvements in the global economy heralding a new industrial revolution. The fund allows investors to benefit from this exciting opportunity, whilst also delivering the extremely attractive tax reliefs offered by the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). For many private investors, the amount of specialist knowledge required to assess investments in robotics is not practical and hence investing through a fund structure makes good sense.
The fund appoints expert mentors to work with each investee company to further maximise the chance of success for investors. Further details are available on request.
www.britbots.com/fund
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