drone swarm

SAM IS ....
Blue Bear demonstrates simultaneous remote launch swarming technology

Blue Bear has successfully demonstrated 7 UAS simultaneously taking off with its push button ‘remote launch’ technology, which allows a remote operator, virtually anywhere in the world, to be able to command a fleet of VTOL Fixed Wing UAS to take off and transition into individual or cooperative swarming missions.

Blue Bear Ghost UAS was used as part of this demonstration and comes in both a standard fixed fuselage configuration or equipped with a plug and play modular fuselage bay. Fitted with Blue Bear’s latest generation of avionics, plug and play open architectures and SmartConnectTM technology, the fully autonomous Ghost UAS is one of the most advanced small UAS in the world.

The modular architecture allows it to be easily fitted with one of the plug and play payloads from the growing ecosystem of payloads providers working with Blue Bear.

The modular payload bay is now being adapted for medical delivery applications, and the fully autonomous remote launch functionality makes the prospect of fully autonomous drone delivery and centralised command and control a clear reality.

Ian Williams-Wynn, MD said, “Blue Bear can now retrofit its SmartConnectTM, open architectures, autopilots and other avionics to third party UAS, UGVs, USVs and UxVs to enable them to utilise the growing ecosystem of plug and play payloads, commanded by Blue Bear CenturionTM Command and Control software.

“This provides platform suppliers from air, land and maritime domains with the ability to plug their systems into any Blue Bear CenturionTM equipped system, providing the operator with a single command and control platform for all their multi-domain unmanned assets.”

www.bbsr.co.uk

26th October 2020

SAM IS ....
Students and industry collaborate to identify novel tactics in controlling unmanned air vehicles

BAE Systems has sponsored a cross-university competition bringing together four teams of university students in a game of offence and defence.

The teams from Cranfield University, The University of Manchester and University of Strathclyde were challenged to develop the most effective solution to take control over unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) in the event of a swarm attack.

The scenario was developed to protect urban spaces, airfields and airport from real and emerging threats from UAV’s. Increasingly capable UAV’s are becoming more affordable and easy to source, so there is a need to counter these systems in a robust and affordable manner using innovative solutions. Attacks could cause catastrophic damage to aircraft and infrastructure.

Professor Nick Colosimo, Principal Technologist at BAE Systems, said: “With autonomy and AI being a vital part of what we do, this challenge offered the perfect blend of exploring the art of the possible whilst testing the student’s abilities in this important field. In essence, we need to understand what swarming means as a threat and to very carefully consider where it might have appropriate uses.”

The event, held last week, highlighted the importance of using technology and applying innovative thinking in this type of scenario.

The students had to use a combination of technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, together with innovative thinking and close cooperation between UAVs to be in with a chance of winning an award. They had the opportunity to showcase their strategies in action as the four teams competed against each other in a round robin tournament.

Cranfield University is one of BAE Systems’ strategic university partners. Collaboration with universities is vital for BAE Systems in developing future technologies and also supporting the next generation of engineers by using topical and engaging projects to create excitement around engineering.

Professor Antonios Tsourdos, Head of the Centre for Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems at Cranfield University, said: “Cranfield University and BAE Systems have a long-term relationship having worked closely together on many research projects.

“The BAE Systems Swarm event is a great way of utilising the fact that we are one of few universities to have our own airport to provide students with the means to demonstrate some of the innovative ideas which might be applied to solve real-life challenges.”

 

By

Philip Ghayour

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for Business Lancashire