Company Press Releases

Especially for "tough jobs" microdrone's md4-1000 is qualified. A highly efficient working drive- and enery-supply-system allows the microdrones md4-1000 breaking all records in terms of flight time. An endurance test in the form of a video impressively demonstrates the 70 minutes flying time, which was detected under laboratory conditions. Of course, with the help of an impartial referee. Urs Meier, a former FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) soccer referee was just the right person for this particular task.

Kick-off! At the second zero, the microdrones md4-1000 ascends in the air and hovers. Up to this point nothing special. Even after 45 minutes of hovering, no signs of fatigue could be identified: The microdrone md4-1000, which is the "flagship" of the product line of microdrones, hovers consistently in its position, tireless - no rest for the referee as he is usually accustomed. The stop watch, which is projected onto a large wall in the background, achieved the detected 70th minute as expected. The md4-1000 is still hovering calmly and reliably in its position.
 
Now the surprise: The game takes an unexpected turn. The power achieved an unexpected level. Final whistle only in the 88th minute – without half time for the superior microdrone md4-1000. Referee Urs Meier did not need to show either yellow or red cards within this match. The triumph of microdrones is impressive for all involved parties. microdrones has once again promised not too much: Full 18 minutes, the md4-1000 was into overtime and accomplished a total flight time of 88 minutes.

“To our knowledge this is the world record for a NonStop hover flight of a serial-production and electric driven MUAV of the 5 kg class," Sven Juerss, microdrones GmbH CEO, said. "Especially when you consider that our system was fully equipped for this record flight. Although GPS was not available in the film studio, we still had our whole GPS system on board fully functional. Telemetry and video link were of course also be fully operational. In addition, a high-resolution daylight camera was mounted as a payload. If you now consider the fact that md4-1000 is not only designed exclusively for long flight times, but also for highest weather resistance and maximum payload capacities, this result is even more impressive.”

SC Technologies (SCT) announced its plans to launch a comprehensive OEM preferred partner program at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Unmanned Systems Program Review in Washington, D.C. The Preferred Partner Program will offer OEM partners access to an extensive line of visual and audio technology components and customizable solutions, dedicated technical resources, and exclusive discounts.

SCT offers a broad range of manufacturing services that enable integration partners to compress time-to-market and improve supply-chain efficiency without compromising quality. The company’s full scope of capabilities includes: solution design, project and order management, manufacturing, product lifecycle management, configuration, sourcing and logistics, and warranty repair services. The company maintains strategic relationships with a broad range of manufacturers – many ISO 9001:2000 certified – all sharing SCT’s deep commitment to quality in manufacturing.

“We understand that every customer and project has a unique set of needs – from design and development to support and maintenance,” said Bill Rogers, vice president of sales. “We feel that our robust supply chain, combined with our product management, customization and technical support capabilities, offers an end-to-end value proposition that few competitors can match.”

SCT currently serves a wide range of industries requiring visual and audio technology, including: unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned weapon systems, robotics, helmet mounted systems, vehicle traffic safety systems, infrastructure security, and banking/ATM services.

SCT is a Platinum Member of AUVSI, and is a registered GSA Contract holder for government projects. To learn more about SC Technologies, visit www.sctechnologies.com or call 866.883.0492.

About SC Technologies
SC Technologies (SCT) is a specialized arm of Observint Technologies, a Carlyle Group portfolio company that owns and operates several independent, high-tech businesses in the security sector.  Over the past 20 years, Observint companies have become a trusted source for thousands of manufacturing partners, government, law enforcement, military and business professionals. SCT was formed in 2011 to focus on the company’s rapidly-growing OEM business.

AME Unmanned Air Systems, Inc., a Chandler/May company, announced that retired U.S. Air Force Col. Sean Frisbee has been named vice president of AME Unmanned Air Systems and will oversee the development, production and manufacturing of the company’s portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including the Fury® 1500 UAS, also known as “FOXBAT.” 

Col. Frisbee retired from the Air Force in January 2012 after 22 years of active duty, most recently serving as the program director for the $66 billion F-22 Program, one of the largest aircraft development and production efforts in history. 

“We are extremely honored to add a leader of Sean’s caliber to our team,” said John Purvis, president & CEO of AME. “He is a first-round draft pick and renown for delivering extraordinary results. His entrepreneurial and visionary leadership style along with his unique Air Force and intelligence background will be invaluable as AME expands its portfolio of unmanned air system solutions.”

Col. Frisbee is a nationally recognized leader in developing, procuring and sustaining military weapon systems. During his 22 years in the Air Force he commanded or led a variety of organizations including propulsion programs at an Air Force logistics center; foreign threat analysis at the air intelligence center; aircraft maintenance in an operational wing; and numerous aircraft, missile, and bomb acquisition programs at Air Force product centers. Prior to his service as F-22 program director, he spent a year in Iraq developing the strategy for rebuilding the Iraqi Air Force. 

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the AME team,” added Col. Frisbee. “I’ve worked with the defense industry my entire career and believe that companies like AME, who focus on providing top value for every defense dollar spent, are what we need in today’s fiscally constrained environment.

“AME’s latest UAS solution, the FOXBAT version of the Fury 1500, is a perfect example of an adaptable, flexible, and cost effective system. Its physical shape, open architecture and industry leading payload capacity enables rapid mission adaptation at an affordable cost. Fury’s runway independence makes it possible to launch and operate from the ground, sea, or air, and has proven to have the longest endurance of any aircraft in its class, logging more than 300 hours of flight time, including multiple flights in excess of 14 hours duration.”

Col. Frisbee has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from West Virginia University and Master of Science Degrees from Embry Riddle University and Air University. He is also a graduate of the Air Force’s prestigious School of Advanced Air & Space Studies and a 2006 National Defense Fellow at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

About AME Unmanned Air Systems, Inc.
AME Unmanned Air Systems is one of the world's leading producers of Unmanned Aerial Systems, having provided more than 1,500 aircraft to multiple customers worldwide, including tactical systems addressing urgent needs in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a full spectrum design, engineering, integration, and manufacturing company, AME UAS is capable of providing everything from engineering and sub-system support through complete systems, including the Fury®, a long endurance and runway independent UAS, the SkyShark Gimbal™ - a low cost, rapidly customizable High Definition EO/IR turret system, and SharkFin® — the premier UAS Mission Management and UAS control software capability in the field today.

About Chandler/May, Inc.
Chandler/May is a System Integration and Tactical Product Development company that has delivered hundreds of C2 shelters, rugged computing systems, and I/O solutions to the Defense and Aerospace Markets. These military systems designed and built by Chandler/May include the development and production of tactical ground control shelters, custom C2 systems on air defense control platforms, portable ground control stations, submarine tactical equipment test stations, UAV flight and payload computers, and field-rugged system simulators and trainers. www.chandlermay.com

Bluefin Robotics received ISO 9001:2008 Certification for the design, development, manufacturing, operation, and servicing of their autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and related products. The certification was granted by the International Organization for Standardization, TÜV SÜD America Inc, a non-governmental organization that is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards.
 
“The ISO certification is a culmination of the cultural changes and operational improvements which show our commitment to meet and exceed customers’ satisfaction and will help us better position ourselves for more wins and sustainable growth,” said Dr. Bachir Kharraja, director of Quality at Bluefin Robotics

To receive the certification, Bluefin underwent a major transformation that included the development of a quality management system (QMS). Implementation of the QMS has translated into successful program execution, market expansion, and business growth fueled by new design wins, improved infrastructure and robust processes.

“ISO certification was a critical step in preparing the company for full-rate production for current key programs,” said David P. Kelly, president and CEO of Bluefin Robotics. “It is imperative for all companies to adhere to well-established standards of quality to be successful and satisfy customer needs. It was especially important for Bluefin as we manage and grow the company as a world leader in subsea technology.”

About Bluefin Robotics
Bluefin Robotics designs, develops, manufactures, operates and services autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) systems and related technology. Founded in 1997, the company has grown to become a world leader in AUV products designed for defense, commercial, and scientific customers worldwide. Bluefin Robotics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Battelle. For more information, visit www.bluefinrobotics.com.

Bluefin Robotics announced that the Bluefin Spray Glider recently completed a two-month deployment conducted by the Glider Research and Operations Center (GROC) at FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI). The Spray Glider operations took place at Pully Ridge near the West Florida Shelf in approximately 60 meters water depth. It performed 3,200 dives more than100 kilometers distance. In addition to the Spray’s high quality conductivity, temperature and depth payload, the system was equipped with optical scattering and chlorophyll sensors.

“The Spray Glider is an ideal platform for ocean monitoring over large areas and in diverse environments. This mission took place in shallow water; the next one will be in waters close to a mile deep. The Spray Glider’s combination of endurance, depth-capability, reliability and payload capacity fills the exact needs of oceanographic research and monitoring,” said Fraser Dalgleish, Ph.D., Director of the Ocean Visibility and Optics Lab at HBOI. “The data acquired are providing valuable information about the large scale distribution of plankton and larval populations and the next mission will allow us to venture into much deeper waters with two Spray units to also determine background hydrocarbon levels around these deep coral reef ecosystems.”

The deployment was in support of the Florida Shelf Edge Exploration (FLOSEE-II) expedition led by HBOI. The expedition objectives were to locate and characterize coral reefs that are so deep that natural light barely reaches them. The scientists focused on coral communities and commercial fish species on these reefs. They also collected data about the effectiveness of marine managed areas for ecosystem restoration, and took samples to test for the presence of hydrocarbons.

Results of this cruise will be presented by HBOI researchers at The American Geophysical Union’s Ocean Sciences Meeting in Salt Lake City in February 2012.

About Bluefin Robotics
Bluefin Robotics designs, manufactures and operates Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems and related technology. Founded in 1997, the company has grown to become a world leader in AUV products designed for defense, commercial, and scientific applications. Bluefin Robotics is a wholly owned subsidiary of Battelle. For more information, visit www.bluefinrobotics.com.

About Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University is a research institute dedicated to exploration, innovation, conservation and education related to the oceans. Harbor Branch was founded in 1971 as a private non-profit organization. In December 2007, Harbor Branch joined Florida Atlantic University. The institute specializes in ocean engineering, at-sea operations, drug discovery and biotechnology from the oceans, coastal ecology and conservation, marine mammal research and conservation, aquaculture, and marine education. For more information, visit www.hboi.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. In commemoration of its origin, FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011. Today, the University serves more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

Schiebel's CAMCOPTER® S-100 unmanned air system (UAS) has once again successfully proven its highly efficient maritime capability, this time onboard the new Gowind class OPV (offshore patrol vessel), L'ADROIT built by DCNS and handed over to the French Navy in October 2011. Operating at the cutting edge of technology, the S-100 successfully completed a series of flights and trials onboard the L´ADROIT OPV at the beginning of November, under the command and control of the French Navy. The L'ADROIT is believed to be the first ship ever to be specifically designed to operate unmanned vehicles and has been fitted out to operate the maritime proven CAMCOPTER® S-100. Thanks to its modular system architecture, the unmanned helicopter could be easily managed.

"With the unmanned airborne system it is possible to gather information without tiring the crew and without exposing the crew towards an enemy and/or bacteriological and/or chemical hazards or also to act as communication relay." said DCNS OPV Manager Denis Menage.

During the four days of operation in the Bay of Biscay, the CAMCOPTER® carried out 11 flights and 89 deck landings using a harpoon developed by Schiebel. As part of the trials, the S-100 used its electro-optical and infrared sensors to identify exercise potential threats such as small boats. It was shown that the UAS significantly increases the capability of the ship and the missions conducted during the trials demonstrated its high potential for surveillance, harbor and costal patrol, environmental protection, intelligence gathering, drug interdiction, anti-piracy tasks, as well as supporting search & rescue operations.

"This versatile and very capable UAV can fly a complex mission as planned, without any direct interaction from the operator it is fully automatic. Its positioning systems (a combination of GPS and inertial measurement) guarantee precise navigation and stability, necessary conditions for the accurate landing on a moving platform at sea," a naval spokesman supplemented.

"We believe that embarking a tactical rotary UAS such as the CAMCOPTER® S-100 onboard such a ship will provide a step-change in its surveillance and reconnaissance capability in the future. The missions conducted during these trials aptly illustrate this enormous potential. Given the fact that many Navies seem to be focusing more on procuring smaller ships for future operations, coupled with the fact that indigenous manned helicopters are often too expensive, opens the door for UAS, such as the S-100. This potential capability gap in terms of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is where the S-100 fits in," said Neil Hunter, sales director for Schiebel and retired Naval commander.

About Schiebel:
Founded in 1951, the Vienna-based Schiebel Group of companies focuses on the development, testing and production of state-of-the-art mine detection equipment and the revolutionary CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS). Schiebel has built an international reputation for producing quality defense and humanitarian products, which are backed by exceptional after-sales service and support. Since 2010 Schiebel offers the new division composite and is able to supply high-tech customers with this high-quality carbon fiber technology. All products are quality-controlled to meet ISO 9001 standards. With headquarters
in Vienna (Austria), Schiebel now maintains production facilities in Wiener Neustadt (Austria), and Abu Dhabi (UAE), as well as offices in Washington, DC and Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

About the CAMCOPTER® S-100:
Schiebel s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) is a proven capability for military and civilian applications. The vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS needs no prepared area, supporting launch or recovery equipment. It operates day and night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 200km, both on land and at sea. The S-100 navigates via pre-programmed GPS waypoints or is operated with a pilot control unit. Missions are planned and controlled via simple point-and-click graphical user interface and high-definition payload imagery is transmitted to the control station in real-time. Using "fly-by-wire" technology controlled by a triple-redundant flight computer, the AV can complete its mission automatically. Its carbon-fiber and titanium fuselage provides capacity for a wide range of payload/endurance combinations up to a service ceiling of 18,000ft and, in the standard configuration, carries a 75lbs/34kg payload for over six hours.

Bluefin Robotics, a leader in the design and manufacturing of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) is being awarded a subcontract from General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems for engineering and manufacturing of the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV). As a critical part of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Warfare mission package, the SMCM UUV system will provide the fleet mine warfare commander and sailors with enhanced mine-hunting capability and address the Navy's need to reliably detect and identify buried mines in high-clutter environments.

The SMCM UUV system will include two Bluefin-21 UUVs in addition to launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts and support equipment. The UUV will feature Bluefin’s modular and flexible vehicle architecture, pressure-tolerant field-swappable subsea batteries, and low-noise propulsion technology. In addition, the vehicle will also include an advanced sonar payload developed by the General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Team.

“Bluefin is excited to be a part of this industry team led by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems to deliver a much needed war-fighting capability for the MCM mission package,” said David P. Kelly, president and CEO of Bluefin Robotics. “We are looking forward to leveraging proven Bluefin technologies demonstrated over the past decade and further advance the vehicle capabilities to fully satisfy the LCS mission requirements.”

The subcontract includes an option for the production of up to five low rate initial production systems (ten UUVs) as well as other options. Work will be performed in Quincy, Mass.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City Beach, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61331-11-C-0017) for the prime contract to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

About Bluefin Robotics
Bluefin Robotics manufactures and develops Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) systems and related technology. Founded in 1997, the company has grown to become a world leader in UUV products designed for defense, commercial, and scientific applications. Bluefin Robotics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Battelle. For more information, please visit www.bluefinrobotics.com.

Researchers and responders from The Texas A&M University System have received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create a visual “common ground” between operators and responders who use micro and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for search and rescue.

Following principles in how people know what other people are talking about in conversations, visual common ground will allow responders to easily express where they want the UAV to fly and what angle to examine collapsed structures using an iPad or other tablet. The responders would also be able to review imagery and video while the UAV continues its mission rather than waiting for the UAV to land. 

Response professionals from the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Disaster Preparedness and Response Division (DPR) will fly weekly at Disaster City® with researchers from the Texas Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR), speeding the development and refinement of the natural user interface.

Disaster City® is a 52-acre facility featuring full-scale collapsible structures that replicate community infrastructure. The site includes simulations of a strip mall, office building, industrial complex, assembly hall/theater, single-family dwelling, train derailments, three active rubble piles and a small lake.

The grant is the first direct partnering of emergency responders with university professors/researchers for UAV research. Bob McKee, DPR director and agency chief for Texas Task Force 1, serves as a principal investigator with Dr. Robin Murphy, Texas A&M University professor and CRASAR director. The partnership leverages the capabilities of top academic researchers and the preparedness and response expertise of TEEX, all existing within the A&M System.

“Being able to work directly and routinely with responders under conditions as near to a real disaster as one can get will allow the research to progress faster. This could only happen at Texas A&M,” Murphy said. “Normally we’d have to try to condense a year of work into one week of trials, and if something went wrong we’d have to wait months for another opportunity for responders or a demolished building to become available.”

McKee said, “TEEX has been actively involved in efforts to develop and adapt robots for search and rescue applications. Through working with the National Institute for Standards and Technology project to develop standard test methods for emergency response robots to collaborating with scientific researchers and commercial developers at our unique Disaster City® facility, we’re hoping to someday use small UAVs and other unmanned systems to help save lives.”

The grant will help enable emergency responders to take advantage of small “personal” UAVs being developed for the U.S. Department of Defense. Urban search and rescue operations can be more challenging than military peacekeeping operations as they can require assessment and analysis of damaged structures, hazardous areas, and other unique situations.

The idea for creating shared displays is a result of more than a decade of research on rescue robotics by Murphy, who was recently named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company magazine. She has led UAV deployments at numerous disasters starting with Hurricane Katrina. Her work with Dr. Jenny Burke (a former graduate student currently with Boeing), based on CRASAR experiences with ground robots at the World Trade Center, showed that search and rescue specialists were nine times more effective if two responders not one worked together using a shared visual display.

The team expects to have an open source tablet interface for AirRobot and Dragan UAVs within 24 months that leads to a significant, measurable improvement in team performance as well as high user acceptance.

Brock Technologies, Inc., an unmanned systems solutions provider, has teamed with Ultra Electronics Precision Air Systems, a leading aerospace and defense systems company, to integrate capable propulsion technology, the DF-70. The DF-70 is a heavy fuel, fuel injected, internal combustion engine that is capable of operating on different fuels for extended periods of time.

After a short period of successful ground-based testing, the Ultra Electronics’ DF-70 was integrated onto the Brock Technologies’ SPEAR Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for flight testing. The SPEAR UAS features an independently shifting wing and fuselage pod enabling it to be reconfigured to hold a wide variety of payloads without the need for ballast.

In early 2010, the SPEAR flew in an electric configuration for over 1 hour while carrying 14lbs of payload and drawing a nominal 375W of power. Currently, the SPEAR has been fitted with the DF-70 3HP heavy fuel engine enabling it to achieve flight times longer than any other UAS in its class.

During the maiden flight with the DF-70, the SPEAR weighed in at 28.95lbs and demonstrated cruising speeds of 36 kts and mild dashes at just over half power of 62kts.

Keith Brock, vice president of Brock Technologies, Inc. said, “Each flight we are slowly expanding the SPEAR’s flight envelope as we unleash the power of the DF-70 and work our way up to full power and full endurance. It is a good feeling to improve upon capabilities of past designs in the same class.” he adds.

During the maiden flight, the DF-70 engine utilized Jet-A fuel. However, the DF-70 is capable of utilizing other fuels such as JP-8, Diesel or Mo-Gas. Brock described the engine as a “powerful beast at full throttle with an unmatched low, quiet idle” that will give the Brock SPEAR high speed dash capability, a reduced noise signature for ISR and a potential hand launched capability reducing the logistical footprint of other systems with catapult launchers.

Brock sees real opportunities for the DF-70 equipped SPEAR in the currently small but growing numbers of civil applications such as firefighting, costal, pipeline and power line monitoring where a human observer would be at risk or too cost prohibitive for the operation. Further advantages can be seen with police observation of civil disturbances, crime scenes, and reconnaissance support in natural disasters.

The modular construction and adjustable wing position of the Brock SPEAR and low development risk also make this platform suitable for very fast configuration changes for different mass payloads. The new addition of the DF-70 to the SPEAR permit can increase in sensor payload and longer flight times, making this system a perfect match for the military and other UAS applications.

“Working with Ultra Electronics on this project has been amazing.” Brock says. “You can see the innovative approach in their product and as a result, Ultra has provided the market with a highly reliable engine. Their product’s quality and company’s support has enabled us to have nothing but success.”

For more information, contact Info@BrockTechnologies.com

Brock Technologies, Inc., an unmanned systems solutions provider, has teamed with Ultra Electronics Precision Air Systems, a leading aerospace and defense systems company, to integrate capable propulsion technology, the DF-70. The DF-70 is a heavy fuel, fuel injected, internal combustion engine that is capable of operating on different fuels for extended periods of time.

After a short period of successful ground-based testing, the Ultra Electronics’ DF-70 was integrated onto the Brock Technologies’ SPEAR Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for flight testing. The SPEAR UAS features an independently shifting wing and fuselage pod enabling it to be reconfigured to hold a wide variety of payloads without the need for ballast.

In early 2010, the SPEAR flew in an electric configuration for over 1 hour while carrying 14lbs of payload and drawing a nominal 375W of power. Currently, the SPEAR has been fitted with the DF-70 3HP heavy fuel engine enabling it to achieve flight times longer than any other UAS in its class.

During the maiden flight with the DF-70, the SPEAR weighed in at 28.95lbs and demonstrated cruising speeds of 36 kts and mild dashes at just over half power of 62kts.

Keith Brock, vice president of Brock Technologies, Inc. said, “Each flight we are slowly expanding the SPEAR’s flight envelope as we unleash the power of the DF-70 and work our way up to full power and full endurance. It is a good feeling to improve upon capabilities of past designs in the same class.” he adds.

During the maiden flight, the DF-70 engine utilized Jet-A fuel. However, the DF-70 is capable of utilizing other fuels such as JP-8, Diesel or Mo-Gas. Brock described the engine as a “powerful beast at full throttle with an unmatched low, quiet idle” that will give the Brock SPEAR high speed dash capability, a reduced noise signature for ISR and a potential hand launched capability reducing the logistical footprint of other systems with catapult launchers.

Brock sees real opportunities for the DF-70 equipped SPEAR in the currently small but growing numbers of civil applications such as firefighting, costal, pipeline and power line monitoring where a human observer would be at risk or too cost prohibitive for the operation. Further advantages can be seen with police observation of civil disturbances, crime scenes, and reconnaissance support in natural disasters.

The modular construction and adjustable wing position of the Brock SPEAR and low development risk also make this platform suitable for very fast configuration changes for different mass payloads. The new addition of the DF-70 to the SPEAR permit can increase in sensor payload and longer flight times, making this system a perfect match for the military and other UAS applications.

“Working with Ultra Electronics on this project has been amazing.” Brock says. “You can see the innovative approach in their product and as a result, Ultra has provided the market with a highly reliable engine. Their product’s quality and company’s support has enabled us to have nothing but success.”

For more information, contact Info@BrockTechnologies.com

Funding will Advance Development of Scout Micro-UAV Platform and Expand International Market Presence

Datron World Communications, Inc., a leader in the tactical and public safety communications industry, announced a significant equity investment in Aeryon Labs, a Canadian-based technology innovator of robotics for aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Under terms of the agreement, Datron will become an equity partner in Aeryon Labs while maintaining its private label status and exclusive rights to distribute the Scout through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. FMS funding allows foreign militaries access to U.S. government-sponsored assistance to purchase advanced communications technologies. The investment will also facilitate worldwide expansion and advance development of the Scout for tactical, government, public safety and commercial markets. Details of the arrangement were not announced.

“Datron’s passion is to sell cost effective communications products that are extremely easy to use and allow operators to focus on the mission and not the technology, which could ultimately save lives,” states Art Barter, president and CEO of Datron. “Our previous private label agreement with Aeryon Labs solidified the Scout as a natural addition to our company’s product offerings. The Datron investment in Aeryon will further extend the effectiveness of our worldwide distribution network and exclusive U.S. Foreign Military Sales relationships in making Scout the preferred, small form factor Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) solution.”

Recently, Datron and Aeryon successfully completed exhaustive evaluations as part of the URBEX Trials (UK), Spartan Bear (Canada) and Empire Challenge (U.S.). The Scout has also been deployed by the Libyan National Council in their efforts to overthrow the Gadhafi regime.

“Our relationship with Datron has been invaluable to the evolution of Scout, using information from the field and requirements of real users to drive new innovations,” says Dave Kroetsch, President of Aeryon Labs. “Datron’s equity investment will help us put the Scout in the hands of more users worldwide and continue to advance product development for military and commercial applications.”

Weighing only 2.6 lbs (1.17 kg), Datron Scout has a robust design with modular assembly and battery-powered brushless motors that enable it to silently “hover and stare” and follow any point of interest. Its carbon-fiber rotor blades easily fly in altitudes up to 13,000 feet (3,962.4 meters) and 31 mph (50 kph) winds – with gusts up to 50 mph (80 kph) - making it ideal for operation in inclement weather. Controlled from a tablet-PC, the Datron Scout combines a point-and-touch interface with intelligent applications for intuitive control and mission effectiveness – from mapping of new territories to nighttime surveillance using the FLIR Tau thermal imaging camera. Tool-less assembly means an operator can launch Datron Scout into any environment within minutes. In addition to impressive aerial intelligence capabilities, the Scout has been mission-tested and field-proven in real world operations around the globe.

Datron and Aeryon Labs will continue collaboration on the design and performance of the Scout as users adopt the product and provide valuable input on enhancements required by the soldier, first responder and commercial user in the field.

About Datron World Communications, Inc.
Datron World Communications Inc. delivers communications products and systems worldwide. The company’s offerings enable governments, security forces and commercial users worldwide to establish and maintain critical voice, data and video connectivity. Known for their ease-of-use and reliability, Datron’s products and systems are currently deployed in more than 80 countries worldwide. Datron World Communications Inc. was established in 1971 and is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, visit www.dtwc.com.

About Aeryon Labs, Inc.
Aeryon Labs provides robotic solutions to real-world problems through the design and manufacture of best-in-class small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related systems. Recently proven in several military trials, including the 2011 US DoD Empire Challenge, the Scout allows police, military and civil users to easily collect real-time aerial intelligence, with a system small enough to fit in a backpack or car trunk. With expertise in robotics, control systems, and digital imaging, Aeryon Labs develops state-of-the-art products while remaining focused on end-user ease of use. For more information, visit www.aeryon.com

Kairos Autonomi and Autonomous Solutions Use Autonomous Mobility Appliqué Systems (AMAS) To Win $1.25 million As Part of Effort to Bring Robotic Capabilities to Range Clearance Efforts

Kairos Autonomi, Inc. and Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), were the key systems integrators for Team UXOD Automation, named the overall winner and awarded $1.25 million at the Robotic Range Clearance Competition (R2C2) held recently at Camp Guernsey, Wyo.

Kairos and ASI utilized Autonomous Mobility Appliqué Systems (AMAS) technology in bringing automation and unmanned systems technology to unexploded ordinance (UXO) clean-up on munitions ranges. These capabilities can improve the safety and effectiveness of the four primary range clearing tasks: 1) Vegetation Clearance, 2) Surface Clearance, 3) Geophysical Mapping, and 4) Subsurface Clearance.

Team UXOD fielded three unique vehicles that competed in all four tasks. Each vehicle employed Autonomous Solutions’ Mobius Command and Control Software as its AMAS A (Autonomy) Kit, and Kairos’ Pronto4 Robotic Appliqué Kit for the AMAS B (By-wire) Kit. Team UXOD achieved a 70% level of autonomy for the range clearance tasks. Video of the vehicles can be found at www.kairosautonomi.com/videos/R2C2_UXOD_VideoAug2011_640x480.wmv.

“We have demonstrated that Mobius and the Pronto4 are fielded, proven technologies that can be utilized for range clearance tasks,” said Troy Takach, president and CEO of Kairos Autonomi. “Our success at the R2C2 is further proof that autonomy appliqué kits and by-wire appliqué kits are the future of unmanned vehicle operation.”

Mel Torrie, president of Autonomous Solutions, said, “I have been awed by the personal sacrifice and team work that came together to make possible this monumental step forward in automating such a dangerous application. This will change the industry as we know it and it wouldn’t have been achievable without partners like John Deere and SAIC.”

The Mobius software solution commands, controls and monitors multiple unmanned systems. It includes a robust set of features — including autonomous behaviors — developed for unmanned vehicles in military, mining, agriculture, material handling and surveillance applications.

The Pronto4 system is a robotic appliqué kit that enables ground vehicles to drive themselves by receiving inputs from an autonomy kit such as Mobius. The successful use of the kits in training operations, range clearance tasks and other industries will see them increasingly used in adjacent and future markets, Takach said.

Team UXOD is making its technology and robotic vehicles available for immediate use across the United States in range clearance operations. Team UXOD is comprised of Kairos Autonomi, Autonomous Solutions, Science Applications International (SAIC), Zonge International, VKR, John Deere and WM Robots. The Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD), in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, sponsored the R2C2.

About Kairos Autonomi 
Kairos Autonomi, Inc. is the pioneer in Robotic Appliqué Kits, add-on vehicle autonomy systems that provide unmanned capabilities to current manned vehicles, rendering them optionally unmanned. With its emphasis on simplicity, cost-effectiveness, ubiquity and interoperability, Kairos has proven since 2006 that one-third unmanned by 2015 is achievable only with robotic appliqué kits.

About Autonomous Solutions
Autonomous Solutions, Inc. designs and manufactures unmanned vehicle systems, software, and components for mining, agriculture, material handling, and military customers. Autonomous Solutions has fielded hundreds of vehicles both large and small leveraging their expertise in multi-vehicle command and control, mission planning, sensor fusion, obstacle avoidance, tele-operation, and point-and-click ease of use.

Bluefin Robotics Acquires Hawkes Remotes and Expands into ROV Market

Quincy, MA, USA—14 September 2011—Bluefin Robotics, a leader in the design and manufacturing of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) announced today that the company has acquired the assets of Hawkes Remotes, Inc (HRI), a spinoff from Hawkes Ocean Technologies (HOT), that develops advanced Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). Bluefin plans to leverage their AUV autonomy and subsea vehicle experience to add hybrid capabilities to the Hawkes ROVs and offer them as an extension of their current product line to the oil and gas industry.

“We are thrilled to be working with Bluefin Robotics to take this technology to market,” said Graham Hawkes, Co-Founder and CTO of Hawkes Remotes, Inc. and President and CTO of Hawkes Ocean Technologies. “Thanks to many years of experience and an extensive track record of designing and building AUVs, they’re a perfect fit to carry on the HRI vision of combining new and existing technologies to rethink the core designs of unmanned underwater vehicles.”

Bluefin’s decision to acquire the HRI designs stems from their mission to develop highly capable platforms for subsea survey and inspection-related tasks for the oil and gas industries. The Hawkes technology and design approach stood out among the crowd because it challenges the economics of deep ocean access via a ROV. The designs offer scalable, modular solutions including a thin, armored fiber-optic tether and on-board high-energy density batteries that will reduce the total cost of ownership/operating costs while simultaneously outperforming existing ROV technology.

“When we first considered purchasing HRI’s assets, we discovered that the companies shared many of the same philosophies and innovation goals,” explains David P. Kelly, President and CEO of Bluefin Robotics. “…vehicle modularity, on-board power, very deepwater ops, an efficient and cost-effective op tempo, rapid response deployments, for example.”

By combining the Hawkes Remotes technology with their own, Bluefin will provide a superior platform capable of providing an enhanced benefit to the commercial IRM market. The acquisition will enhance Bluefin’s product line by spanning the gap between the company’s fully autonomous systems and traditional ROVs.

“Offering additional autonomous platform options is essential in meeting current market needs, so we are pleased to be integrating this technology into our portfolio,” said Kelly. “We look forward to working with the Hawkes team and our commercial customers to optimize it for today’s IRM requirements.”

As part of the acquisition, Bluefin and Hawkes Ocean Technologies entered into a strategic relationship to bring the HRI ROV technology to market, but also to continuously advance the design and development of ROV platforms and technology.

ABOUT BLUEFIN ROBOTICS
Bluefin Robotics manufactures and develops Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) systems and related technology. Founded in 1997, the company has grown to become a world leader in subsea platforms designed for defense, commercial, and scientific applications. Bluefin Robotics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Battelle. For more information, please visit www.bluefinrobotics.com.

ABOUT HAWKES OCEAN TECHNOLOGIES
Hawkes Ocean Technologies, founded in 1995 by renowned marine engineer, Graham Hawkes, is a privately-held company based in the San Francisco Bay Area that designs, builds and operates the world’s most advanced manned vehicles for ocean exploration. Hawkes Ocean Technologies is currently working with private clients, industry, science and government to advance its DeepFlight series of winged submersibles for cost effective exploration of the oceans to all depths. The Company also serves as a skunkworks to spin out new technologies and companies, including Precision Remotes, Inc., Hawkes Ocean Sports, and Hawkes Remotes, Inc. For more information, please visit www.deepflight.com.

ABOUT HAWKES REMOTES, INC.
Hawkes Remotes Inc. was founded in 2010 as a spinoff from Hawkes Ocean Technologies, with the goal of introducing a new generation of battery-powered unmanned underwater vehicles. The Company has a deep array of proprietary technologies and a 40-year heritage of innovation in marine engineering from co-founder Graham Hawkes. Hawkes has designed and developed more than sixty manned submersibles, as well as diving suits, ROVs, manipulators and other tools for ocean access and work. For more information on Hawkes Remotes, please visit www.hawkesremotes.com.

 

The Navy Unmanned Vehicles Directorate has selected Simlat to provide a high-end Unmanned Vehicles Simulation Laboratory (UVSL). Simlat will provide its renowned UAV simulator and a USV variant, both customized for maritime training and supporting comprehensive sensors and scenarios.

Simlat Ltd. announced a recent agreement to provide an unmanned vehicle maritime simulation lab by a Navy Unmanned Vehicles Directorate. As part of the collaboration between the organizations, Simlat will provide its widely used UAV training system, including integration and customization to various maritime environments, and the introduction of various radars simulation.

"The Simlat-Navy collaboration will provide Navy end-users with cutting-edge training and experimentation tools," says Roy Peshin, Simlat chief technology officer. "The Simulation Lab will be equipped with Simlat's high-fidelity simulation of a maritime arena, complete with unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The newly introduced radar simulation will further enhance user experience, rendering the simulation lab a leader in its field."

About Simlat-UAS Training
Simlat Ltd., an Israeli-based company located in Herzliya, Israel and Grand Forks, N.D., is a leading provider of next generation training solutions for unmanned vehicle systems and for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Based on extensive hand-on operational experience, Simlat is the right choice for training for every platform, payload and mission. Simlat’s turnkey training solutions include SIGINT, EO/IR and SAR sensors in various operational configurations. Simlat's systems are available as stand-alone or embedded/integrated to legacy control stations, as well as generic or customized solutions, and are in service in more than 20 countries.

To learn more about Simlat, visit www.simlat.com.

Agreement is the first critical step to establish a UAS focus in Central Oregon 

Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and Oregon State University (OSU) have signed an agreement to develop technologies related to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that will benefit OSU’s academic and research programs, particularly natural resource management. Simultaneously, the agreement would help EDCO incubate new UAS startups and bring additional UAS businesses to the region and to Oregon.

EDCO conservatively estimates the potential economic impact of recruiting UAS companies to the region to be approximately 450 employees, $28 million in payroll, and an overall economic impact of nearly $75 million within a seven-year period.

“To diversify Central Oregon’s economy, we systematically review all the industries EDCO targets,” noted Roger Lee, executive director of EDCO. “We’ve now identified the growth segment in aviation—the UAS sector—that capitalizes on our region’s natural and human resources. We see UAS, and other technology initiatives, as key steps in growing jobs and economic activity in the tri-county area and beyond. 
 
“The signing of this MOU,” Lee added “is an important step in attracting UAS testing activities. In turn, that groundwork will attract industry to either relocate or start up in Central Oregon.”

The initial goal of the partnership is to establish one or more specific projects in which OSU researchers can conduct remote-sensing and engineering experiments, and EDCO can create an initial series of UAS test flights for those experiments. Through special licenses called Certificates of Authorization (COAs), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorizes test flights. 

As a public partner, OSU benefits from the partnership by creating a test infrastructure to advance technologies such as robotics and sensor development and deploy them in ways beneficial to a number of OSU academic programs, including engineering, forestry, agriculture and other earth sciences. 

“For OSU, the ability to test in our backyard is exciting,” said Rick Spinrad, vice president for Research at OSU. Current testing for the university that measures snowpack from the air is taking place in Colorado, for example. “It could be quite beneficial and efficient to conduct these tests over the Cascades, closer to university resources, receiving real time data and working with Oregon companies,” he said. Spinrad oversees OSU’s substantial research efforts, which last year translated to over $260M in support.        
 
Last year, EDCO’s aviation recruitment committee developed strategic goals to establish Central Oregon as an R&D center for UAS research and as an incubator for UAS businesses operating in the Northwest. An important component of the plan, required by the FAA, is a public partner to initiate testing. 

“With this agreement with Oregon State University,” said Collins Hemingway, volunteer chair of EDCO’s Aviation Recruitment Committee, “our initiative gains major ground in its goal to establish a UAS industry in Central Oregon.”

According to numerous studies, the current UAS market is $5 billion and is projected to grow annually by 10%. Applications of particular benefit to the Northwest include firefighting, search and rescue, rural law enforcement, infrastructure monitoring, low-impact inventory of plant and wildlife populations, and overall resource and land management.

Currently, UAS companies face long delays in securing air space to test new technologies, which include airframes, controls, sensor packages and software. Few places in the country meet the safety protocols required for testing by the FAA. Delays of six months or more for only a few days of testing are common for some smaller UAS firms.

Because Central Oregon has large expanses of airspace that are over lightly populated rural areas and away from major airports and air traffic corridors, and because the region has a history of developing and testing experimental manned aircraft, the region believes it can obtain approval for the testing of experimental unmanned systems while meeting the FAA’s strict safety protocols.

Under the EDCO-OSU partnership, the initial series of test flights will use the COA method, but the hope is that the FAA will designate Central Oregon as one of six permanent testing areas in the nation. The proposal to create six new permanent sites is currently before Congress.

EDCO has gathered support from both public and private entities, Central Oregon’s congressional delegation, the Oregon legislature, Governor Kitzhaber, and cities and counties to establish one or more test sites in the region.

“We are all working together to make UAS testing a reality in Central Oregon,” said Collins Hemingway. “The sooner we start, the sooner we attract high-quality companies and start adding well-paying jobs.”

About Oregon State University
About Oregon State University (OSU) is one of only two U.S. universities designated a land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant institution. OSU is also Oregon’s only university to hold both the Carnegie Foundation’s top designation for research institutions and its prestigious Community Engagement classification. Its nearly 24,000 students come from all 50 states and more than 90 nations. OSU programs touch every county within Oregon, and its faculty teaches and conducts research on issues of national and global importance.

About Economic Development for Central Oregon
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is a private non-profit corporation founded 30 years ago and dedicated to building a vibrant and thriving regional economy by attracting new investment and traded-sector jobs (manufacturing, professional, headquarters and high technology businesses) through marketing, recruitment and substantive assistance to existing companies. Learn more about EDCO at www.edcoinfo.com.

Airbus, an EADS subsidiary, and Satair A/S, a Danish company, have entered into an agreement under which Airbus will offer the shareholders of Satair a price of DKK580 in cash per share - and the warrant holders in Satair a price of DKK378.661 per warrant. The acquisition will be effected through a public voluntary conditional tender offer, which the Board of Directors of Satair has undertaken to recommend the company’s shareholders to accept. Airbus will make the offer through a wholly owned special purpose entity, Airbus Denmark Holding ApS.

Led by an experienced management team with a proven track record, Satair is the premier independent distributor of aircraft parts and services specializing in expendables and components. Through its worldwide supply chain network and its regional sales offices, Satair provides aviation parts and innovative services to a broad customer base around the world, supporting all major aircraft families in the commercial aviation market. With 360 employees globally, Satair expects $403 million of revenues and $36 million of EBITDA in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2011, equally distributed in the United States, Asia and Europe.

Achieving a better balance between platforms and services is a key element of the EADS Vision 2020. Consistent with this strategy, this acquisition facilitates the growth of Airbus’ Material Management division and is an opportunity to develop new services through the combined entity in both the civil and governmental markets. Completion of the offer will enable Airbus to capitalize on its own commercial network together with Satair’s offering and distribution capabilities to position itself as a leading global service and support provider for airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul providers (MROs).

Satair benefits from long-standing and privileged relationships with suppliers and customers thanks to their on-time delivery record, combined with an innovative services offering. Leveraging Airbus’ industry knowledge and relationship and Satair’s highly scalable operating model, Satair will continue developing its world-renowned brand name as a standalone company within Airbus. Coordination with Airbus’ Material Management division will allow a full offering to the aviation industry.

Marwan Lahoud, EADS chief strategy and marketing officer, stated: “This acquisition perfectly fits EADS’ Vision 2020 strategy by increasing the services business and our international presence. It is also an excellent investment opportunity for Airbus, as Satair has proven resilient during the financial crisis and has been able to show a continuous profitable growth. We see an accretive transaction for our shareholders through this synergistic acquisition. Further to the recent acquisition of Vector Aerospace, EADS is actively pursuing and delivering its growth service strategy through internal and external growth. Satair is a first step towards a one-stop shop integrated offering in the material management activity, which is an essential part of EADS’ and Airbus’ services growth strategy to fulfil our vision 2020”.

Didier Lux, executive vice president of Airbus Customer Services, said: “This acquisition is a logical step towards our vision to become one of the leading companies in integrated aftermarket services for our customers. Satair is a good strategic fit for Airbus thanks to its wide product and service range, established network of suppliers and customers, strong growth and proven financial track record. Leveraging Satair’s lean operating model and diversified product range with Airbus’ own parts distribution business, its supplier and customer relationships, and global footprint will help to further improve Satair’s growth perspectives and allow Satair to position itself among the world’s leaders in this market.”

About Satair A/S
Satair A/S, which was founded in 1957, is a world-leading supplier of aircraft parts and service solutions for aircraft maintenance. Satair A/S offers various services, ranging from parts supply and distribution to a selection of tailor-made service provider solutions. In the Asia Pacific region Satair A/S also offers repair service on a broad selection of its product portfolio. Customers include all types of commercial operators and maintenance providers as well as several military operators worldwide. With approximately 360 employees worldwide, Satair A/S is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and serves its business partners globally through sales and warehousing locations in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and China.

About EADS
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2010, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of €45.8 billion and employed a workforce of nearly 122,000.

About Airbus
With 52,000 employees worldwide and revenues of approximately €30 billion in 2010, Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer whose customer focus, commercial know-how, technological leadership and manufacturing efficiency have propelled it to the forefront of the industry. Airbus’ modern and comprehensive product line comprises highly successful families of aircraft ranging from 100 to more than 500 seats. The company also continues to broaden its scope and product range by applying its expertise to the military market. Overall, more than 10,700 Airbus aircraft have been ordered by around 320 customers worldwide, and the healthy order backlog today stands at over 3,900 aircraft.

Airbus’ dedicated “Material, Logistics and Suppliers” (MLS) business unit supports the rapidly growing Airbus fleet worldwide with spare parts and innovative spares-related services. In addition to MLS’ main facility in Hamburg, Germany, a global network of material and logistics centres and warehouses worldwide ensures fastest deliveries of spares to Airbus operators. Customers also benefit from integrated solutions to maximize aircraft utilization over the aircraft lifecycle. MLS has 600 staff around the globe, a 24/7 customer order desk and fulfils more than 300,000 orders each year.

Automated Target Detection to Enhance Canadian Forces Situational Awareness Capabilities for Domestic, International Surveillance

Sentient announced that the Canadian Forces (CF) are currently conducting an operational evaluation of Kestrel’s automated target detection capabilities on board the CP-140 Aurora, Canada's primary Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. This represents the first sale of Kestrel into Canada.

The CP-140 Aurora is primarily used in coastal surveillance and sovereignty patrols. To improve the aircraft’s operational capabilities (in line with the Aurora Incremental Modernization Project) the CF Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit (MPEU) has purchased a Kestrel Land and Kestrel Maritime license for evaluation purposes.

Kestrel is plug-and-play automated target detection software that processes in real time the aerial surveillance imagery from the CP-140 Aurora aircraft’s EO/IR full motion video sensors. Automatically detecting small, moving targets such as vehicles, fishing vessels and dismounts on the ground, it will support CF commanders in their wide area surveillance tasks.

“The CP-140 Aurora’s maritime and overland surveillance missions are of vital importance in protecting Canada’s sovereignty”, stated Simon Olsen, sales manager of Sentient. “Kestrel’s unique ability to automatically detect and track small targets down to 2x2 pixels will enhance effectiveness of these missions. The software offers ISR operators/image analysts a clear understanding of the situation on the ground, assisting them in their security, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations.”

Sentient is working with MPEU to ensure that Kestrel addresses all CF requirements, providing an advanced situational awareness capability for domestic and international surveillance.

###

About Sentient
Sentient successfully develops and deploys computer vision technology for defence and civil projects. Since 1999 Sentient has been specialising in video analytics with a strong focus on the development of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision software.

Sentient is a member of the Defence Recognised Supplier Scheme and a trusted partner of the Australian Department of Defence. For more information, visit www.sentientvision.com.

About Canadian Forces Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit (MPEU)
The Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit is the CP140/A Operational Flight Test agent for the Canadian Forces. The unit is composed of highly trained, hand-picked military and civilian specialists from the Department of National Defence. For more information, visit www.airforce.forces.gc.ca.

On 1 June, Ricardo, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Ricardo plc, the leading independent provider of technology, product innovations and engineering solutions, announced the formation of a strategic business alliance with XRD Inc. (XRDi) and NW UAV to design, develop and manufacture a family of heavy-fuel engine solutions for unmanned systems.

Branded Wolverine, the new engine line combines Ricardo’s engineering expertise with XRDi’s propriety combustion technology and NW UAV’s advanced manufacturing capabilities. The result is the industry’s most capable, dependable and flexible heavy-fuel engines available.

“This partnership allows Ricardo to offer unmanned propulsion solutions from concept design to development, and prototype to production and support,” said Kent Niederhofer, president of Ricardo, Inc. “We are now in the unique position to offer a range of heavy-fuel engines, desperately needed for military and homeland security tactical unmanned systems.”

The Wolverine engine line ranges in size from three to more than 50 horsepower with the potential to significantly reduce the logistics footprint by utilizing many common parts.

XRDi’s Mechanically Compressed Direct Injection (MCDI) system is a proprietary technology that allows two-stroke engines to run on multi-fuels, greatly improving the Wolverine engines fuel-efficiency, and has been tested in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Federal Aviation Regulation Part 33 (airworthiness standards, aircraft engines).

“XRDi views the alliance with Ricardo and NW UAV as an evolutionary step forward within the marketplace, a step that promises engineering solutions and superior products which are designed and manufactured in America,” said Forrest Bowen, president of XRDi.

The Wolverine engines, currently under consideration for several military programs, meet the U.S. Army’s “One Fuel Forward” initiative and will be manufactured by NW UAV, one of the largest UAV engine manufacturers in the United States.

“A robust series of heavy fuel engines is a tool our warfighters have asked for several decades,” said Chris Harris, President of NW UAV. “This alliance combines the skills needed to build fuel efficient, purpose-built engines, for the small engine market. NW UAV is excited to be part of this innovative teaming approach.”

“There’s no question that increased surveillance time in theater saves lives,” said Dr. Ron Storm, director of military business development at Ricardo. “This partnership brings together the industry’s predominate heavy-fuel engine leaders to provide immediate, market ready solutions to the unmanned systems industry.”

Ricardo is already accepting orders for the Wolverine engine and anticipates announcing its first order within the next several weeks.

Ricardo first launched the Wolverine family of engines in May 2010, with the unveiling of the Wolverine3 a 3.1 horsepower engine. Less than six months later, Ricardo announced the Wolverine3 successfully powered a small tactical UAV in October 2010 at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nevada National Security Site.

About Ricardo
With technical centers and offices throughout Europe, the United States and Asia, Ricardo provides strategic consulting and engineering expertise to customers in the world’s major automakers and suppliers, as well as manufacturers in the military, commercial, off-highway and clean-energy sectors. The company also serves in advisory roles to governmental and independent agencies. Ricardo’s U.S. operation, Ricardo, Inc., is headquartered in Van Buren Township, Mich. For more information, visit www.ricardo.com.
 
About NW UAV Propulsion systems
NW UAV Propulsion Systems is one of the largest UAV Propulsion Systems manufacturers in the United States. NW UAV has been building systems for the aerospace industry since 2005 and has proven to be a reliable and capable supplier of land, sea or air – if it can be designed, NW UAV can build it.  Visit NW UAV’s family of companies at: www.nwuav.com, www.rpadvancedmobilesystems.com and www.nwrapidmfg.com.

About XRDi
XRD Inc. (XRDi) is a technology-driven company with technical capabilities in the field of multi-fuel engine and development. XRDi is one of a very few companies in the world devoted to the development of technologies to create robust, lightweight, efficient, emission friendly, lightweight, multi-fuel engines for today’s market. For more information visit www.xrdi.com.

Subsea 7, a global leader in seabed-to-surface engineering, construction and services, today announced that it has completed the design and build of the first commercial AIV, a technology which has the potential to revolutionize Life-of-Field projects.

Subsea 7 has an ambitious plan to develop a series of Autonomous Inspection Vehicles (AIV), initially capable of general visual inspection, through to fully capable work-class sized intervention vehicles. A combined project team comprising hardware developers and operational personnel from Subsea 7 and Seebyte, a Scottish-based software developer for the autonomous robotics market, has been working together to deliver the first vehicle.

The design and build of the vehicle is complete and successful progress through in-water trialling and commissioning phase is underway. Following completion of extensive in-water testing and capability development, the first commercial AIV is expected to be available in late 2011.

Through the development process, many technical challenges have been overcome, the shape of the vehicle has changed from the original design concept due to the significant work done using the latest Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling to optimize the vehicle’s shape with regard to stability and maneuverability, while conserving the onboard power resources.

The vehicle is fully autonomous and can operate for a 24-hour period on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries, which are housed in pressure vessels within the hull. These batteries have been specifically designed for the vehicle and provide a more cost-effective solution to pressure tolerant batteries, with a lower capital cost and much improved cycle lives.

The sensor package has been developed to cover the requirements of general visual inspection; it comprises the latest sonar technology coupled with high quality video cameras and low power LED lighting.

A significant software integration and development project has been running in parallel with the hardware development and this too has used the most advanced techniques to manage, debug and control the development.

During OTC 2010, a significant amount of interest was generated in the AIV and once again, at OTC 2011, program managers will be available at Subsea 7’s booth, #2824 in the Reliant Centre, to enable visitors to understand the technology and provide further information on the commercialization program.

Neil Milne, Subsea 7’s vice president of Life-of-Field Services, commented: “We are delighted with the success of the commercialization program to date for what represents a significant technological advance in the area of subsea remote inspection and intervention. With the arrival of the AIV, subsea structures such as manifolds, wellheads and risers will be able to be inspected by this tether-less technology, significantly increasing flexibility and efficiencies throughout the life-of-field cycle. Following completion of extensive trials and further development over the coming months, we look forward to bringing the first commercial AIV into operations towards the end of 2011.”

Centreville, VA, January 27, 2011 – Adaptive Methods, developer of advanced sensor systems, announced the release of their fishing net penetrator called NET PEN.  The NET PEN provides the means for an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) to cut through nets and continue on its mission.

Adaptive Methods’ internal-mounted NET PEN is adaptable to a wide range of vehicle sizes. It is intended to mount within a UUVs nosecone without affecting existing equipment (e.g., forward-looking sonar arrays), and integrates with existing UUV power and propulsion systems to detect, deploy, penetrate, and retract, upon contact with a net. External hull-mounted NET PEN is also available, which will ensure unencumbered net penetration, for UUVs with larger protruding surfaces such as masts, snorkels, etc.

Adaptive Methods can design, prototype, integrate, test, and manufacture NET PEN to address virtually any production-UUV net-mitigation deficiency, or to meet any new or developing program requirement.

Adaptive Methods, Inc. (www.adaptivemethods.com) is a developer of advanced sensor systems and sensor processing and computing architecture products for surveillance, security and military combat systems based in Centreville, VA.

CONTACT:  Fernando Aunon
Telephone:  (703) 968-8040
Email:  netpen@adaptivemethods.com

See video on Net Pen:  Net Pen

 

(Calgary, Alberta, Canada, November 29, 2010) — NovAtel Inc., the world’s leading original equipment manufacturer of precise global positioning technology, was presented last Friday with the 2010 Alberta Export Award for Advancing Technologies, an award which recognizes companies who "have effectively harnessed the powers of intellectual property and value-added know-how". The award was given out as part of the Alberta Export Awards competition, which celebrates excellence and innovative approaches to exporting by Alberta-based companies.

Mr. Ritter, CEO and President of NovAtel commented, "All NovAtel employees share in this award, as it is a direct result of each individual's skill, dedication and professionalism. The result of our collective effort is the export and promotion of GNSS products that truly set the standard in our industry."

All of the 2010 winners are profiled in the December edition of Alberta Venture magazine which can be found online at www.albertaventure.com.

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About NovAtel

NovAtel Inc. is a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) components and subsystems, including GNSS receivers, antennas, enclosures and firmware. An ISO certified company, NovAtel’s products are developed for efficient, rapid integration into our customers’ precise positioning applications. These applications include surveying, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping, precision agriculture machine guidance, port automation, mining, marine and defense industries. NovAtel’s reference receivers are at the core of national aviation ground networks in the USA, Japan, Europe, China and India. The NovAtel Inc. 1120 – 68th Avenue N.E. Calgary, AB., Canada T2E 8S5 Tel: (403) 295-4900 Fax: (403) 295-4901

Company maintains its leadership position through significant R&D investment focusing on the modernized Global Positioning System (GPS), the revitalized Russian GLONASS and the emerging European Galileo satellite systems, as well as the integration of additional complementary technologies such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). NovAtel Inc. is based in Calgary, Canada and is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden. For more information, visit: www.novatel.com.

VP MARKETING:	Gordon Dale (403) 730-4161
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS:	Lori Winkler (403) 730-4677

Themis has recently completed the training and qualifying of internal pilots for an undisclosed Asian customer. The course that provided the trainees with all the tools necessary in order to safely operate a tactical UAV was the first step in Themis complete UAV training and instruction curriculum.

Over the last 3 years Themis has been developing a revolutionary training and instruction approach that perceives the operating of UAVs as a core profession. Based on this assumption Themis trains and instructs all UAV crew members, from IPs to maintenance staff, in a platform agnostic approach, converting them to the final platform only at the end of the curriculum.

"Because we don't dedicate the training to a specific platform we allow the crews to easily adapt to new platforms and technologies" says Amit Noam , Themis VP for Instruction and Operations, " we believe that a platform agnostic training approach will be the basis of the international regulation and certification standard, and we're preparing our customers to fit the standard from the first day."

According to Noam, the recent course engulfed only the first building block of the training, and additional instruction is expected to occur during 2011.

 

Edinburgh, Scotland, 8th December 2010 - SeeByte, the global leader in creating smart software technology for unmanned systems, is pleased to have been awarded an $8,973,290 modification to previously awarded contract (N00174-09-D-0001) to exercise option two for Common Operator Interface command and control software for Navy explosive ordnance disposal teams. The software application is used for mission planning, equipment data transfer, mission execution tracking, post mission analysis, and data reporting by Navy explosive ordnance disposal mobile units, mobile diving and salvage units, and research and development activities. Work will be performed in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Centre, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity.

# # #

ABOUT SEEBYTE

Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, SeeByte has been creating the most advanced awareness control systems for the latest generation of unmanned systems, including autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles since 2001. These technologies have been successfully integrated into land, air and sea solutions for the military and security, offshore and subsea, and renewable energy sectors. These integrations have earned a remarkable number of world-first technologies that showcase the unique capabilities and SeeByte’s innovative drive.

For more information, contact:

Ioseba Tena, +44 (0) 131 447 4200

ioseba.tena@seebyte.com

www.seebyte.com

 

COLUMBUS, MS--(Marketwire - September 30, 2010) - Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that its "Orion" unmanned aircraft system has been competitively selected by the US Air Force Research Laboratory for the first phase of the Medium Altitude Global ISR and Communications (MAGIC) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) contract. MAGIC is a new start under the Department of Defense's Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program to demonstrate 5-day endurance flying at 20,000 ft with 1,000 lbs payload.

"Selection of Orion for the JCTD program is confirmation that MAGIC's game-changing capability is demanded by our warfighter and affirms Aurora's efforts in accelerating delivery of this affordable, extremely long endurance ISR capability. With quick-paced innovation in aircraft sensors, Orion is designed to provide a flexible and modular platform for high-priority DoD payloads. This selection is a great honor for Aurora," said Aurora CEO John Langford. "Both Predator and Global Hawk began as similar programs, and have matured to where they are operational systems supporting the US military around the world; Aurora will build on and learn from these programs."

Orion has been under development at Aurora's Columbus, Mississippi plant since 2006. The all-composite aircraft has a wingspan of 132 feet and is powered by twin diesel engines.

In addition to the work to be performed in Columbus, MS, Aurora's facilities in Bridgeport, WV, Manassas, VA, and Cambridge, MA are all expected to be involved in the MAGIC JCTD.

About Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences designs and builds robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA and operates production plants in Bridgeport, WV and Columbus, MS and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA. To view recent press releases and more about Aurora please visit our web site at www.aurora.aero.

Fischer Connectors, a trusted partner of Future Soldier Programs around the world, announces new secure interconnect solutions specially designed for Defense Forces: Fischer UltiMate^TM Military Connectors Line. First within this line, the new Fischer LandForce^TM Series offers compact, rugged, lightweight circular connectors for an improved protection of Future Soldiers, vehicles and other land-based equipments.

Major features of the new Fischer LandForce^TM Series include miniature, ultralight and rugged design, extremely robust keying, high shock and vibration resistance, excellent shielding, and ultimate sealing level IP68/69K even unmated with Fischer’s new facilitated cable assembly solutions.

Fischer LandForce^TM Series is complete with EMC 360° high performance shielding tested according to IEC norm 60512-23-3, four extremely robust mechanical codings allowing an easy mating even in the dark, and a wide range of configurations including multipole contacts from 2 to 19 poles. The plug is available in two body sizes with push-pull locking or emergency release system. Additional body styles, sizes and contact configurations will follow shortly.

Thanks to its new one-piece plug body design associated with cable assembly containing highly performing epoxy potting, Fischer has achieved a new industry benchmark. Fischer LandForce^TM Series are Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, Radiological (NBCR) ready, with IP68/69K sealing level even unmated, tested according to IEC norm 60529. Easy cleaning on the field is then also possible.

Made of special high resistant aluminium, Fischer LandForce^TM Series are 50% lighter than typical metal connectors. With its extremely rugged design for harsh and demanding environments, as well as vibration and corrosion resistance, this new line of connectors is immune to even the toughest elements including fog, salt spray (5% 35°C, MIL STD-202 Method101A), sand, and moisture. Its long lifetime usage is guaranteed for 10,000 mating cycles.

Fischer Connectors provides complete, easy to assemble, turnkey solutions — connectors, cabling and overmolding — all from one supplier. Cable assembly solutions are available in both straight and right angle overmolding to accommodate devices conveniently on the future warrior’s uniform.

 

For more than 50 years, Fischer Connectors has been designing, manufacturing and distributing high performance connectors and cable assembly solutions. Known for their reliability, precision, and resistance to demanding environments, its products are commonly used by military forces worldwide. Primary design and manufacturing facilities are located in Switzerland, with subsidiaries and distributors located worldwide. For more information, log on to www.fischerconnectors.com

 

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Fisher Connectors
1735 Founders Parkway
Alpharetta, GA  30009
Tel:  678.393.5400
Fax: 678.393.5401
mail@fischerconnectors.ch
www.fischerconnectors.com

Contacts:
Richard Bickford
National Sales Manager
Direct: 678.393.5430
richard.bickford@fischerconnectors.com

Contacts:
Elizabeth Rubbo
Marketing Communications Manager
Tel: 678.393.5400
elizabeth.rubbo@fischerconnectors.com

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SeeByte Expands Naval Outreach with Sale of SeeTrack Military to Royal Netherlands Navy

Edinburgh, Scotland, April 20th 2010 - SeeByte, the global leader in creating smart software for unmanned underwater vehicles, is proud to announce the sale of their SeeTrack Military system to the Royal Netherlands Navy. Having worked successfully with SeeByte’s SeeTrack Military software for many years now, this sale reconfirms the Royal Netherlands Navy’s confidence in the technology.

“This is another exciting sale for the SeeByte team. SeeTrack Military’s utilisation throughout the world’s largest naval fleets is further testament to the adaptability and vast capability this system offers to its users. We attribute the success of this system to our ability to work in a collaborative nature with our clients to ensure their needs are met,” remarked Dr. Ioseba Tena, SeeByte Sales Manager.

Lt Gert Vlaming of the Royal Netherlands Navy commented, “Throughout the product implementation SeeByte came through as a great partner. We believe that the Royal Netherlands Navy’s mine countermeasures programme will greatly benefit from SeeTrack Military’s advanced software technology. We are currently seeking to integrate SeeTrack Military with divers and other systems due to the fact that it allows all platforms to be viewed in a single, integrated system. We are very pleased with the collaboration and look forward to future ventures.”

SeeTrack Military has become the de facto standard smart technology for the worldwide defence market. Showcased in a multitude of military situations, this product is currently used by Navy teams to identify man-made underwater objects, search and recovery missions and to enhance the capabilities of their remote vehicles, marine mammals and divers. As a result, our customers are saving time, money and valuable man-hours while reducing unnecessary risk for the human operators who eventually have to interface with the underwater objects.

# # #

ABOUT SEEBYTE
Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, SeeByte has been creating the most advanced awareness control systems for the latest generation of unmanned systems, including autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles since 2001. These technologies have been successfully integrated into land, air and sea solutions for the military and security, offshore and subsea, and renewable energy sectors. These integrations have earned a remarkable number of world-first technologies that showcase the unique capabilities and SeeByte’s innovative drive.

SeeByte has since established a global network to service its expanding customer market in San Diego, California and appointing representatives in Houston, Texas, Japan and New Zealand.

For more information, contact:
Ioseba Tena, +44 (0) 131 447 4200
ioseba.tena@seebyte.com
www.seebyte.com