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

20 In conversation | Simon Galt of autonomous vehicle command and control is founded on an open architecture that can be tailored, scaled and upgraded. This provides the end-user with the freedom to select, integrate and operate the most appropriate mix of mission-specific hardware (vehicles and payloads) without the need to change the core software. It also greatly simplifies the integration of third-party applications. Such advances are increasing the potential for the MoD’s unmanned systems to smoothly integrate and exploit a wide range of technologies from across the AEP network. Perhaps the most obvious examples here are the EO/IR and radar payloads developed by network members Thales UK, Lockheed Martin UK and BAE Systems. On a broader level, however, Galt notes that comms and air-to-air visibility are among the largest bottlenecks to scaling up the use of unmanned fleets in defence operations. To that end, Futures Lab might draw upon members such as Kinected Solutions or General Dynamics Missions Systems UK. Their tactical data link r&d could improve the fidelity and speed of outgoing commands from army GCSs, or of incoming surveillance data from UAVs, not to mention vehicle-to-vehicle broadcasts of positions and headings that could enable autonomous assets to spread their formations out more intelligently, thereby covering more ground collectively per flight. The prospect of a fully integrated autonomous vehicle command and control capability also increases the scope for trials and adoption of less conventional technologies. For example, AEP network member Cervus Defence & Security previously worked with Wingman AI to develop and test a voice control system for UGVs similar to that developed by Russia’s Ministry of Defence. Theoretically, this could enable hands-free control of uncrewed vehicles by soldiers in need of real-time intelligence data during live operations. In a similar way, the potential benefits from data analytics companies partnering with AEP could be considerable. For example, Rowden Technologies specialises in defence-focused machine learning systems for improving human- machine interfacing and real-time analyses of UAV survey data for tactical decision-making. “We recently saw an exercise that effectively brought five different uncrewed platform types together, with different payloads, avionics and operating capabilities,” Galt recounts. “They were tasked with flying BVLOS and cooperatively performing a series of tasks, which amounted to sending back a huge body of data to a single recipient as a collaborative autonomous group. “That showed to me that drone swarming will really benefit from having more companies inputting their r&d into projects such as these. I know Blue Bear Technologies have also made huge strides in collaborative autonomy to accomplish complex goals – I believe they carried out a 2-week trial with more than 220 sorties. Their agility has really been key to producing the kinds of well-made, robust UAVs that the UK’s MoD is after.” Hybridisation The MoD has a stated ambition to become carbon-neutral by 2050, not just to reduce the risk to global stability that climate change poses, but because relying on conventional fuels constrains the mobility of manned as well as unmanned vehicles. Replacing crewed units with uncrewed systems can go a long way towards reducing defence organisations’ fuel consumption and hence their dependence on it, given that uncrewed systems do not need a person and a cockpit. Regardless of vehicle type, however, developing more fuel-efficient powertrains is key to enabling longer endurances, ranges and survivability. “To that end, we have developed the Modular EX-Drive [M-EXD] in partnership with BAE Systems, which will enable much more reliable power and propulsion systems on light UGVs and full-scale main battle tanks,” Galt says. “Hybrid-electric drives such as this are a critical step in the change towards full carbon neutrality. It will reduce fuel consumption by 10-20% per vehicle while paving the way for full electrification, and it also decouples the front end of powertrains – that is, traction October/November 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology Environmental test chambers, proving grounds and segregated airspaces are among the many trial facilities that Futures Lab’s collaborative autonomous vehicle projects will be run through