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

21 and electricity – from the back end of fuel selection and storage.” The M-EXD is effectively a family of electromechanical gearbox systems that can integrate different combinations of electric motors and fuel engines to meet different packaging, power and acceleration requirements in varying mission environments. They mount to the axles of existing vehicles to accomplish differential steering and regenerative braking. There are three versions of the M-EXD: a light (15-20 t) vehicle solution measuring 1200 x 450 x 440 mm, a medium (35-50 t) vehicle system measuring 1360 x 740 x 580 mm, and a version for heavy (65-80 t) vehicles that measures 1520 x 830 x 750 mm. Among the AEP’s range of network partners that could provide critical development to the M-EXD are major names in hybrid engineering and electrification, such as Ricardo UK and Prodrive AT, who could well offer critical parts and consultation on the M-EXD based powertrains for the next generation of British military UGVs. Testing People in the UAS world know only too well how lengthy certification and validation processes can slow the adoption of new, cutting-edge autonomous systems. The availability of testing grounds and machinery is thus critical to commercialising new uncrewed technologies. “One of the biggest benefits to Futures Lab of AEP’s network will be the ability to nail down, point by point, the exploitation path for new inventions in the uncrewed space, from raw concepts through to experimentations and trials,” Galt says. “Those latter phases will be helped in a big way by QinetiQ’s testing resources. For example, our testing range in the Hebrides hosts the biggest controlled airspace zone in Europe, and it has been a huge asset for several major autonomy trials and showcases over the past several years.” He adds that many partners in the network can expand on QinetiQ’s own testing capabilities. For example, Horiba MIRA’s proving ground in England is well-known for having trialled numerous automotive platforms over the years, including new technologies for propulsion, fuel, driver AI and more. Other companies in the network, such as Nova Systems and Copernicus Technology, have extensive experience of performing a range of fault detection, integrity testing and safety validation services for military as well as commercial vehicles. Also, advances in simulation technology are allowing better-than-ever optimisation and maturation of new platforms. Pitch Technologies’ distributed simulation systems for example are used by numerous aerospace and defence OEMs for modelling new advanced vehicles as well as testing the interoperability of different software and comms systems. “We’ve been using a lot of digital twinning in virtual environments at AEP, because it means we don’t always have to transport a new vehicle back and forth from the workshop to the proving ground in order to test it,” Galt says. “We can simulate it with close fidelity, and rely on that simulation data to propose and iterate new adjustments to our hardware and software.” Future plans In addition to advancing powertrains and AI, Galt anticipates Futures Lab facilitating new developments in the UK’s space sector later down the line, with numerous partners across the AEP offering critical material and propulsion capabilities for the commercialisation and security of potential off-world assets. Unmanned Systems Technology | October/November 2021 Simon Galt was born in Reading, in the UK, and studied Business Management at the University of Derby between 1999 and 2002. After graduating, he worked towards a professional diploma from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, subsequently becoming a full member of the body. His father and grandfather had both been engineers, so although his education was focused on business management, his specialisation in procurement has served to carry on this legacy to an extent by bridging the gap between organisations and cutting-edge technology. After achieving his CIPS qualification he led the major projects procurement team at energy utility RWE Npower, where he oversaw the acquisition of key infrastructure technologies for power stations and other heavy engineering installations that needed efficiency and environmental overhauls. He joined global defence technology and security company QinetiQ in July 2013 as its head of direct goods and services procurement, becoming the company’s director of procurement in 2015, a position he held until 2020. He also served as business services director from 2017. In February 2020 he became managing director of the Aurora Engineering Partnership, overseeing a number of key defence-related r&d projects and coordinating partnerships and procurements aimed at accomplishing the projects’ objectives. Simon Galt