Unmanned Systems Technology 016 | Hydromea Vertex AUV | Power management systems | Unmanned Space Vehicles | Continental CD-155 turbodiesel | Swift 020 UAV | ECUs | DSEI 2017 Show report

October/November 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology 18 In conversation | Matt Moore as well as back in the ground station for the information collection and analysis. Alongside the autonomous capability, Watchkeeper-X adds de-icing and all- weather operation, and is now in the delivery phase with test acceptance flights ongoing. Thales has developed a new IR sensor with Qinetiq for Watchkeeper, using the 380 HDL sensor from FLIR. The camera is plug and play, and will be flying later this year after the integration by Thales, says Moore. Different platforms The key for the future is the ability to work across a wide range of platforms, says Moore. Thales has additional unmanned systems, from the lightweight 15 kg man-portable Spy Ranger through to the Fulmar X and the high-altitude Stratobus, all of which can work with the Watchkeeper and maritime systems. Developed by Thales Spain and starting production this year, the Fulmar X has a wingspan of 3 m and a carbon- fibre and Kevlar airframe. An all-aluminium engine boosts fuel efficiency and endurance, giving it more than eight hours on task and a range of up to 80 km. It has a modular 4 kg payload based around a 2 in (5 cm) gimbal design offering HD optical, IR optical, and combined EO/IR. Stratobus meanwhile is an r&d project to develop an autonomous stratospheric airship. It could provide observation, security, telecoms, broadcasting and navigation, and have a lifespan of about five years. The airship will measure 70-100 m long and be about 20-30 m in diameter, and would be powered by solar cells with a solar power amplification system patented by Thales and an ultra-light reversible fuel cell for energy storage. The first prototype should be rolled out within the next five years, says Moore. Autonomous operation is key to bringing all these platforms together. Autonomous Watchkeeper missions link to the AUSS systems underwater and Halcyon craft on the water, providing a link back to a Stratobus at high altitude, feeding streams of data from a wide range of sensors back to an observer on the ground. AI is operating within the different craft on the mission requirements, while smart sensors are feeding the data back through secure comms links, and AI on the ground is interpreting the data and updating the mission profile. All of this is possible in the coming years, says Moore. “Technologically speaking there’s nothing we can’t do already,” he says. Matt Moore has been head of UAS tactical planning at Thales since 2012, leading the development of the UAS tactical business. He was formerly the senior programme manager for the UK Army’s unmanned aircraft systems and head of department and operations officer for intelligence from tactical UAS platforms. He graduated from the University of Portsmouth in 1995 with a BSc in Land Management. Matt Moore Watchkeeper and Halcyon can both link to the AUSS autonomous underwater system for mine clearing and underwater pipeline inspection The autonomous Stratobus airship is intended to fly at high altitude to provide comms links