Issue 40 Unmanned Systems Technology October/November 2021 ANYbotics ANYmal D l AI systems focus l Aquatic Drones Phoenix 5 l Space vehicles insight l Sky Eye Rapier X-25 l FlyingBasket FB3 l GCS focus l AUVSI Xponential 2021

19 (including remotely piloted systems), as well as the time taken for the maturation and hence operational deployment of new vehicles and components. As Galt explains, “There is no single answer to those problems, but advances in crewed-uncrewed teaming, autonomous swarms and electrification will go a long way towards devising perfect-fit solutions. I’m enthusiastic about leading Futures Lab because I just don’t see those next-generation solutions coming about without multi- organisational collaborations between big companies such as QinetiQ and agile start-ups with great new ideas.” EDP and Futures Lab EDP was founded in 2018 as part of a 10-year agreement between QinetiQ as its primary contractor and DE&S as its primary recipient, with £2.5 billion in work to be delivered through EDP over the contract period. “It was QinetiQ that then formed the AEP with Atkins and BMT, along with its network of around 200 UK-based engineering companies, ranging from large enterprises to micro-SMEs,” Galt says. “Having such a large number of supporters helps hugely with sourcing the best possible combinations of Tier 1 and 2 suppliers for accelerating QinetiQ’s key projects for DE&S.” In addition to their varying size, the suppliers include companies such as Leidos and Elbit UK, whose competencies cover an array of UAS-related subjects including AI, machine learning and other unmanned systems engineering disciplines, as well as a number of more specialist enterprises. Futures Lab in particular was founded to replace Niteworks, an organisation also set up to identify specialist technological solutions for the MoD’s future strategic concerns. However, it had become a rather cumbersome and expensive group to deal with, and its ability to select companies based on a ‘best athlete’ process had come into doubt. “Niteworks would typically only consider companies who had previously delivered solutions for the defence world,” Galt says. “Now though, the wider scientific capabilities and thinking across the high-tech industry are largely ahead of that in defence, so we’ve gotten rid of that barrier to entry.” Galt and his colleagues note that the AEP has already served as a critical resource for Futures Lab to quickly identify, pinpoint and connect with the researchers best poised to provide technical solutions for the UK’s defence forces, particularly in terms of advanced autonomy, electrification and testing services. Autonomous systems The ability of modern-day defence forces to optimise their strategic and tactical decision-making hinges on real-time, wide-area surveillance such as that enabled by swarming control of unmanned vehicles. Galt says, “Improving the war fighter’s ability to get more autonomous systems into a given environment, without interference between radars or other asymmetries between command and comms technologies, is one area of particular interest.” The latest developments in ground control software solutions aim to provide lone operators with the ability to remotely manage multiple air, land and maritime vehicles across different missions and environments. The increased agility provided by this new generation Simon Galt | In conversation QinetiQ’s range of aquatic testing facilities are set to trial a wide range of new technologies under Futures Lab (Images courtesy of QinetiQ) Unmanned Systems Technology | October/November 2021 The Modular EX-Drive will enable more efficient, sustainable and customisable traction systems for UGVs and tanks