Read all back issues online www.ust-media.com UST 58 : OCT/NOV 2024 UK £15, USA $30, EUROPE €22 Quantum delights Testing driverless sensing systems Rugged and ready Advancements and standards for GCSs Intelligent auto WeRide’s Robobus offers a safe, smooth ride ANNIVERSARY ISSUE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
Electric power for UAVs More power. More products. Acutronic designs, builds and delivers a full range of UAV power systems. • Alternators • Starter-alternators • Voltage regulators • Starters The power of experience. With decades of engineering and manufacturing experience, Acutronic builds power systems trusted by customers globally for their high power density and efficient design. Proudly made in the U.S.A. We solve your power systems integration challenges. acutronic.com Scan to view technical data More power. More products. Acutronic designs, builds and delivers a full range of UAV power systems. • Alternators • Starter-alternators • Voltage regulators • Starters The power of experience. With decades of engineering and manufacturing experience, Acutronic builds power systems trusted by customers globally for their high power density and efficient design. Proudly made in the U.S.A. We solve your power systems integration challenges. acutronic.com Scan to view technical data power_210x297mm.indd 1 12/10/22 8:41 AM More power. More products. Acutronic designs, builds and delivers a full range of UAV power systems. • Alternators • Starter-alternators • Voltage regulators • Starters The power of experience. With decades of engineering and manufacturing experience, Acutronic builds power systems trusted by customers globally for their high power density and efficient design. Proudly made in the U.S.A. We solve your power systems integration challenges. acutronic.com Scan to view technical data More power. More products. Acutronic designs, builds and delivers a full range of UAV power systems. • Alternators • Starter-alternators • Voltage regulators • Starters The power of experience. With decades of engineering and manufacturing experience, Acutronic builds power systems trusted by customers globally for their high power density and efficient design. Proudly made in the U.S.A. We solve your power systems integration challenges. acutronic.com Scan to view technical data More power. More products. Acutronic designs, builds and delivers a full range of UAV power systems. • Alternators • Starter-alternators • Voltage regulators • Starters The power of experience. With decades of engineering and manufacturing experience, Acutronic builds power systems trusted by customers globally for their high power density and efficient design. Proudly made in the U.S.A. We solve your power systems integration challenges. acutronic.com Scan to view technical data power_210x297mm.indd 1 12/10/22 8:41 AM More power. More products. Acutronic designs, builds and delivers a full range of UAV power systems. • Alternators • Starter-alternators • Voltage regulators • Starters The power of experience. With decades of engineering and manufacturing experience, Acutronic builds power systems trusted by customers globally for their high power density and efficient design. Proudly made in the U.S.A. We solve your power systems integration challenges. acutronic.com Scan to view technical data po
3 October/November 2024 | Contents Uncrewed Systems Technology | October/November 2024 24 38 64 04 Intro AI is advancing military technology, with robots for surveillance and land mine detection, while counter-UAV ventures are progressing and sensors are delving deeper into the solar system 06 Platform one: Mission-critical info A linear servo actuator for safety-critical UAV applications, a test cell that gives accurate data on performance before a flight, an accelerometer able to function at lower temperatures, monitoring invasive plant species, spotting explosives in the sea, finding faults in hulls and unearthing land mines in war zones 20 In conversation: Ronald Broberg Dark Wolf Solutions’ penetration tester discusses cybersecurity and the lessons to be learned at his Hack our Drone workshop 24 Dossier: WeRide Robotics Robobus Robobus, an autonomous transport vehicle boasting SAE Level 4 intelligence, has been shuttling passengers around 30 cities worldwide, most recently in Paris for the French Open 38 Focus: Simulation and testing Quantum computing and accurate virtual realities are helping to test the performance of driverless vehicle sensors 48 Digest: Orthodrone Pivot This multicopter technology embodies the radical concept of stabilising the entire fuselage while the propulsion system moves around it to compensate for wind coming from any direction 56 Show report: Eurosatory 2024 Top military tech at Europe’s biggest expo for land and airland forces 64 Engine dossier: Wave J-1 A pulsejet engine that has been designed with UAVs in mind, producing thrust up to 53 lb of force 74 Insight: Space vehicles Spotlighting the key projects that are boldly going where no UAV has gone before, including Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons 82 Focus: Ground control stations With demand growing for quality, resilience, interoperability and capability with swarms, we consider all the facets of GCS design 92 In operation: Maritime Robotics How a Norwegian developer and manufacturer made headlines for setting up the world’s first uncrewed freight route in the Fjords 100 Show report: CUAV Expo 2024 A selection of innovations, from platforms to sensors, on show 108 Digest: Zero USV Oceanus12 One company making strides in advanced oceangoing autonomous vessels is navigating any regulatory obstacles 114 PS: Powerplant options for BVLOS UAVs The choice seems to be twofold: engine-driven generator or fuel-cell system. Each one has its pros and cons 48 74
ELECTRIC, HYBRID & INTERNAL COMBUSTION for PERFORMANCE ISSUE 154 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2024 Taming the beast Kalitta Top Fuel V8 insight Classic open and shut Retro valvetrain focus Force of nature Compressed Air Camaro www.highpowermedia.com UK £15, US/CN $25, EUROPE €22 THE COMMUNICATIONS HUB OF THE ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAIN Read all back issues and exclusive online-only content at www.emobility-engineering.com ISSUE 027 | SEPT/OCT 2024 UK £15 USA $30 EUROPE €22 Turning a mining Goliath green Exploring Liebherr’s electric excavator Guarding the cells Taking the heat Battery safety investigation Thermal interfaces examined 4 October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Intro | October/November 2024 The combination of AI and military action is advancing the technology of uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs) in various ways. The war in Ukraine is increasingly using UAVs, dropping robot dogs for surveillance and providing highresolution detection of land mines (see Platform One, page 6) in trials. But counter-UAV technology is also progressing. AI is enabling the first such system to use a standard machine gun to shoot down UAVs, rather than using lasers, nets or even smaller UAVs that act like steerable bullets (see Bullfrog, page 13). AI and more accurate sensors are enabling higher performance monitoring from the air, as our feature on Orthodrone highlights on page 48. Also, discover the range of uncrewed aircraft at Commercial UAV Expo USA in our show report on page 100, and the latest ground station technologies (see page 82). AI and sensors are also key to delving deeper into the solar system. The latest space tech is detailed on page 74, from the power system challenges of exploring a moon of Jupiter to using X-ray pulsars to provide navigation out in deep space. Nick Flaherty | Technology Editor Advance of AI Read all back issues online www.ust-media.com UST 58 : OCT/NOV 2024 UK £15, USA $30, EUROPE €22 Quantum delights Testing driverless sensing systems Rugged and ready Advancements and standards for GCSs Intelligent auto WeRide’s Robobus offers a safe, smooth ride ANNIVERSARY ISSUE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Deputy Editor Rory Jackson Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Production Editor Vickie Johnstone Contributor Peter Donaldson Technical Consultants Paul Weighell Ian Williams-Wynn Dr Donough Wilson Prof James Scanlan Dr David Barrett Design Andrew Metcalfe [email protected] UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to John Moss [email protected] Subscriptions Frankie Robins [email protected] Publishing Director Simon Moss [email protected] General Manager Chris Perry 2025 media pack now ‘live’ The medium Our content is accessible online and in print, enabling a global network of engineers to read it however and whenever they choose. The message Our content is 100% original, peer reviewed and exclusively written for uncrewed engineers. The means Our content, your solutions - side by side. Advertise your components or service at the point at which engineers are open to discovering them. Print & digital versions of our 2025 media kit detailing the 6 issues we’ll publish next year now available at www.ust-media.com or by emailing [email protected] / [email protected] Volume Ten | Issue Six October/November 2024 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 1934 713957 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2753-6513 Printed in Great Britain © High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. 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6 October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Mission-critical info for uncrewed systems professionals Platform one Ultra Motion has developed its first commercial linear servo actuator with a redundant architecture for safety-critical UAV applications, writes Nick Flaherty. The L-Series Linear Servo electromechanical actuators are equipped with integrated, brushless DC control electronics, CAN 2.0B and RS-485 serial communication protocols, and contactless absolute-position feedback. The actuators use a high powerdensity brushless DC (BLDC) motor with slotless windings on the stator to provide improved thermal performance over previous designs. The motor is paired with a planetary gearhead to generate high torque in a compact package. Along with the gearhead assembly, the motor transmits power through a spur geartrain to the precision ground and preloaded ballscrew. A duplexed, angular-contact bearing handles all thrust loads, and it provides zero axial backlash for improved mechanical reliability and control. The L-Series’ design lends itself to dual-redundant implementation with redundant motors, control electronics and a triplicated absolute-position sensor for voting. Users gain complete control over the redundant operation with no arbitration, voting or redundancy decisions being made by the actuator, and there is no internal communication between the redundant controllers or the triplicated sensor, so the actuators are 100% electrically isolated. This allows a host controller to use the redundant actuator in a cold standby design, to take over when required, or a load-sharing arrangement. “In the redundancy architecture there are two BLDC motors with three absolute sensors, all isolated,” said Tom Quartararo, electromechanical engineer at Ultra Motion. “There is no arbitration at the actuator up to the user. There are two optically isolated interfaces that directly control a high-side MOSFET bridge. This bridge allows the bus voltage to the motor, and with that disabled there is no power. This provides a direct hardware switch that provides protection against a CPU error. “This means you can disable the motor in software, but if for some reason there is a problem, you can also disable the servo. The three position sensors feed into the flight computer, so you know which one to trust. That guarantees there is no lock-up nor can one issue create a failure.” The CAN 2.0B and RS-485 serial protocols allow for complete control over the actuator’s position and phase currents, while also providing detailed telemetry regarding the actuator’s health and state. An optically isolated enable input is provided as a hardware disable that removes power from the motor bridge when inactive, bypassing the onboard control electronics completely. The zero axial backlash of the L-series servo design makes it suitable for swashplate and tail-rotor control or fixed-wing control surfaces in UAVs, or rudder control or accessory deployment in uncrewed ships. Control systems Servo actuator’s safety boost The L-series high-reliability servo (Image courtesy of Ultra Motion)
7 Platform one Uncrewed Systems Technology | October/November 2024 Test cell gives pre-flight data VisionAir has developed a test cell for UAV engines that can provide accurate data on performance before a test flight, writes Nick Flaherty. “The problem is that with a static engine test you can’t really simulate any loads as dynamic thrusts,” said Ben Tschida, CEO of VisionAir. “With the propeller, you create a specific torque at a specific rpm, and you can’t change the torque. You also have losses in a propeller, particular at the tips, so you can’t really tell the precision of the tests you perform.” He explained: “So you have test data for the propeller, test data for the engines, data from the power system, but it’s impossible to test all of this on the ground in a static test. We always take a look at the full system, and there are so many inefficiencies in a full system, from the torque from the engine down to the servo, and it can be very complicated to provide the exact calculation.” “All of these uncertainties and inefficiencies led us to develop an engine test cell. We develop custom power management for all kinds of platforms, and when we provided the power electronics our customers faced challenges with the integration. “We were already testing the electronics and my background is mechatronics, so we built an engine tester that is as modular as possible to get as precise values as you can. We can also integrate a high-speed servo motor that can put out 9 kW to test the engine as a generator,” he said. The test cell uses magnetic eddycurrent generators to pro vide the simulated load on the engine or generator, and these can be air-cooled with a blower or water-cooled for higher power requirements. “We built the whole solution around a modular measurement system for automated tests, or use sliders to increase the power and voltage. The test cell is IP-based; we have an IP camera to monitor it, and run the engine or propulsion-test remotely,” he added. The test cell is mounted in a shipping container and includes a wide range of test systems. Acoustic cameras provide data on components that are creaking – for example, in the exhaust in the muffler – and infrared sensors to see how hot the gearbox or the generator gets. The test cell is modular, so with a 1275 cc engine it can be used with eddycurrent breakers for 10 kW, 20 kW or 40 kW loads. Sequencing of the electronics is used to avoid the engine stalling when pulling too much power. “We simulate the air speed that it is flying to define the air speed to cool the engine. This can determine whether a larger radiator is required for cooling or a smaller radiator can be used to save weight,” he said. “When you generate power, you take power from the engine, so how do you know how much power is left? You need a mechanical load and electrical loads, so we have a DC load to simulate loads during different parts, [such as] the operation, so, for example, a camera and the payload, and that helps to define the size of the batteries required. How much power is left after those loads and propulsion defines how high you can fly.” See the simulation and test focus on page 38 of this issue for more simulation discussion. Data Engine test cell (Image courtesy of VisionAir)
8 TDK Tronics has developed a singleaxis accelerometer with an industrial temperature range for uncrewed systems, writes Nick Flaherty. The AXO314 builds on the previous 315 for avionics, but with a range of -40 C to 85 C, rather than -55 C to 105 C, opening up more applications, said Pierre Gazull, product marketing manager at TDK. “This is aimed at new kinds of applications for us, such as the surveying and mapping equipment market, as that can be done in the air, under the sea or on the ground with more relaxed requirements compared to pure avionics. The more accurate the positioning is on the vehicle, the more accurate you will get on the final survey data,” he explained. The accelerometer uses an interdigitated capacitive structure to measure up to +/- 14 g with a composite bias repeatability of 1 mg. It features a 24-bit SPI digital output enabled by a high-precision, sigma-delta, low noise, analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). It is hermetically sealed in a 28-pin ceramic, surface-mount, J-lead package. “Our sensors are shipped factorycalibrated individually. The end-customers can overwrite this and apply their own calibration profiles using free memory slots. For example, to be very precise on a smaller temperature range of -10 C to 20 C for subsea designs and get the full performance,” Gazull said. “Typically, our customers have 3D integration with a combination of six sensors, three accelerometers and three gyros. As we provide tactical-grade devices for autonomous vehicles, they take special care on the way the sensors are mounted to guarantee maximum performance at system level after assembly. They put different sensors on the PCBs and calibrate the system. “You use one gyro to measure the rotation around the axis and one accelerator to sense movement, so you need three gyros and three accelerometers to get the 3D motion sensing of the full system. For some applications there may be a hybrid where people need one very precise axis with the others more relaxed, such as land vehicles where heading accuracy is critical.” The AXO314 has the same SPI serial interface as the other devices in the family to make integration quicker and easier. “If engineers are using accelerometers and gyros from Tronics, and they know how to communicate with the accelerometer, they know how to communicate with the gyros. The common interface is more efficient than having heterogeneous sensors with hybrid communication interfaces, which will increase the cost and complexity of the electronics,” Gazull added. Accelerometers Platform one xx October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Bringing the temperature down A single-axis accelerometer (Image courtesy of TDK Tronics) Researchers in Switzerland have developed a combined AI and radar technology for UAVs monitoring invasive plants, writes Nick Flaherty. The system monitors invasive alien plants (invasive neophytes) that are difficult to detect and tackle. Invasive species like Japanese knotweed, which can replace native plants, or narrowleaved ragwort, which is poisonous, are becoming increasingly common. They can damage agriculture, and infrastructure such as train tracks and signals. The AI is trained to read high-resolution images taken by a UAV, identify which fields are covered in invasive alien species and mark them in blue. Sensors A consortium of research lab CSEM, the University of Zurich and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW, as well as Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and ExoLabs, is taking a new approach to monitoring these species from the air. AI is already capable of detecting certain plants or animals in highresolution images, but these are aerial photos taken from great height, where small neophytes are just a few pixels in size, making it difficult to tell them apart from native plants. Vegetation ecologists, and data and sensor specialists are working together on the neophyte radar. AI/radar combo checks plants Detecting invasive plant species via UAV (Image courtesy of CSEM)
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10 Greensea IQ is developing a commercial, undersea autonomous system that can detect explosives, writes Nick Flaherty. The Autonomous Expeditionary Maritime Response Vehicle (AEMRV) prototype was developed with the US Navy last year, and it is being extended to demonstrate a production-ready, edge-processing configuration of its EOD Workspace solution for EOD operations, called EOD Edge. EOD Edge uses Greensea’s IQNS processing platform with autonomy and automatic target recognition (ATR) components. The platform consists of an Nvidia edge processor and integrated fibre-optic gyro, aiding navigation sensors, along with Greensea’s patented navigation solution for small, underwater robots. It is designed as an upgrade for systems currently running Greensea’s defence software suite and it is used throughout its robot product line. Greensea is augmenting IQNS for this program, with advanced autonomy capabilities for acquiring, classifying and eventually neutralising subsea threats. It will provide an upgrade for the existing fleet of VideoRay Defender ROVs currently being used by the US Navy. The EverClean IQ robot can be used by marine surveyors and shipyards as part of the cloud service of the same name. “EverClean IQ has evolved from the EverClean service-reporting tool into a complete hull inspection and changedetection tool,” said Rob Howard, CGO of Greensea IQ. “This new robot makes collecting comprehensive data more efficient and and how we work in the ocean. In this case, these technologies will keep warfighters safe, provide greater reach and give them an opportunity to do more with less.” A lighter weight deployment with a smaller version, the IQNS Mini, will also be available. Greensea IQ has also developed an underwater hull-inspection robot. This combines a hull-crawling robot with multiple, integrated, ultrasonic metalthickness sensors and cameras (more details on the system below). thrusters, and ultrasonic inspections of hull-plate thickness to provide key insights for making decisions on hull repairs, monitoring changes and planning predictive maintenance. This data is then used to show the relationship between ship performance and hull condition, fouling rates, coatings performance, corrosion and hull thickness, and any hull deformation or damage. Undersea Undersea Developing EOD Edge to incorporate advanced AI features, such as target classification using sonar while in an untethered or long-range standoff configuration, significantly improves threat detection. “The concepts of autonomy and AI foster ideas of futuristic robots replacing humans and the way we work on the ocean,” said Ben Kinnaman, founder and CEO of Greensea IQ. “In reality, autonomy and AI, at almost any stage of development, can aid humans faster than current methods. EverClean IQ can now collect new data that can then be combined with data from our EverClean services or the customer’s own data for comprehensive hull inspection.” The inspection data collected on EverClean IQ can create coverage maps detailing cleaned sections, fouling ratings, images and high-quality video of points of interest, including niche areas such as sea chest or inside tunnel October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Ship inspector finds faults The edge on spotting explosives Undersea mine detection (Image courtesy of Greensea IQ)
Samsung Electronics has developed a SSD with storage of up to 2 TB for autonomous driving vehicles The 256 GB AM9C1 SSD has 50% higher power efficiency than previous Samsung SSDs, with sequential read and write speeds of up to 4,400 MB/s and 400 MB/s, respectively. The SSD is the first based on eighthgeneration vertical NAND (V-NAND) with a PCIexpress 4.0 data interface. A 2 TB version should ship in early 2025. The SSD uses a triple-level cell (TLC) flash architecture, storing up to three bits per cell. But there is a single-level cell (SLC) option called Namespace that boosts read and write speeds to 4,700 MB/s and 1,400 MB/s, respectively. This has higher reliability, but cuts density by a third. The SSD is qualified to the automotive quality standard AEC-Q100 Grade 2 for stable performance from -40 C to 105 C, working on ASPICE and ISO/SAE 21434 standard qualification. “We are collaborating with global autonomous vehicle makers and providing high-performance, high-capacity automotive products,” said Hyunduk Cho, vice-president and head of the automotive group at Samsung Electronics’ Memory Business. Memory Platform one WWW.TMOTOR.COM A SERIES MODULAR PROPULSION A next level with an upgraded cooling connguration Upgraded cooling channels temperature can be reduced by about 25% WWW.TMOTOR.COM UAV A SERIES MODULAR PROPULSION A next level with an upgraded cooling connguration A SERIES MODULAR PROPULSION Dual Inputs: PWM/CAN Thrust Up To: 2-60kg A next level with an upgraded cooling connguration SSD stores 2 TB, boosts power Solid state disk for driverless cars (Image courtesy of Samsung Electronics)
12 Fenix Insight and Ace High in the UK have developed an AI system for detecting land mines with a new UAV called IRIS, writes Nick Flaherty. The two companies worked together to develop the AI-assisted, real-time, visual-surveying Image Recognition Identification System. Ukraine is the most heavily mined country in the world today as a result of the war with Russia, with hundreds of thousands of mines, submunitions and other ordnance scattered across fields, roads and the devastated cities. IRIS uses machine-learning models and AI algorithms to accurately survey and record contaminated areas, where it detects, identifies and maps unexploded ordnance (UXO) threats littering the land in real time with a millisecond detection time. This comes from models that are trained specifically on the types of land mines used during the war. The system reduces the time that ordnance teams need to spend in high-risk areas, thereby minimising exposure to hazards. IRIS uses Lidar laser technology to create highly accurate, 3D topographical maps, and this is coupled with thermal imaging, metal detection and ground-penetrating radar. It provides data on the geographical coordinates, size, type and depth of detected ordnance with AI and analyses this to provide intelligence in real-time, including 3D models. In January, demonstrations in the field with the Kherson Military Authority, Ukrainian Army Engineers, DSNS (Ukrainian Ministry of Emergencies EOD teams) and the Ukrainian Police EOD Unit in Lviv took place in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Despite repeated air-raid warnings and other disruptions to be expected in an TM62 anti-tank mines in real-time, underscore its unprecedented reliability and accuracy in a live conflict zone. This marks a pivotal moment in advancing humanitarian efforts and we are honoured to be at the forefront of this transformative initiative.” Preparing for the aftermath of the war is crucial for the recovery of Ukraine and for world food supply. “It is vital that Ukraine is able to restore all arable land. One undiscovered anti-tank mine will destroy heavy farm machinery as easily as it destroys a tank. Children will not return to school or play in the streets until unexploded submunitions and mines are completely removed,” said Robin Horsfall, director of Ace High Drone Specialists. Land mine detection active conflict zone, the demonstration team deployed IRIS and detected TM62 anti-tank mines in live mined areas in real time. The developers say this has never been achieved before to this level of reliability and accuracy in a current conflict area. “IRIS marks a significant leap forward in supporting demining efforts in Ukraine – the most heavily mined country globally,” said David Hewitson, chief executive of Fenix Insight. “IRIS harnesses state-of-the-art AI algorithms and machine learning, allowing for faster, more accurate detection, identification and mapping of unexploded ordnance threats. “The successful field operations in the Kherson region, where IRIS detected xx October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Platform one Land mine detection in Ukraine (Image courtesy of Fenix Insight) IRIS uses AI to spot land mines
Click Bond Eliminate the Hidden Costs of Drilled Holes Crack formation Extra weight Galvanic corrosion FOD (foreign object debris) Eliminate installation holes, and you eliminate the problems and costs that go with them. Adhesive-Bonded Assembly Technology WWW.CLICKBOND.COM #NoMoreHoles Allen Control Systems (ACS) has developed an AI system to detect and shoot down UAVs, writes Nick Flaherty. The Bullfrog is an autonomous, AI-enabled, counter-UAV system that integrates with a standard M240 machine gun. It has a detection error of under 2%. The system is trained on images of UAVs and can provide an indication of whether a shot will be on target before it is fired, or whether it is not feasible to track the UAV in the air. Demonstrations in the US show the system can execute the full detect, track, identify and defeat chain autonomously. This is increasingly important as UAVs are becoming immune to jamming, shielded from directed energy defences and deployed in swarms. The combination of advanced software and machine vision paired with commodity hardware brings the cost of disabling a UAV down to around $10, compared with the economically unsustainable solution of using million-dollar missiles to defend against $1000 drones. “Our counter-UAV robotic gun system achieves what has been a near-impossibility until now – the ability to autonomously shoot UAVs out of the sky with a solution that doesn’t cost millions of dollars to procure or arm. There is now a solution to address the urgent threat of low-flying, cheap drones that have changed the battlefield,” said Steven Simoni, co-founder and CEO of ACS. North Carolina State University, US, has developed a technique for creating sensors that function in air and water, writes Nick Flaherty. Researchers used a sensitive strain sensor, sandwiched between two thin films of a highly elastic, waterproof polymer. The polymer encapsulates the sensor to keep water out, but it does not restrict the movement of the material. This gives the sensor the desired sensitivity and stretchability, and it can be connected to a small chip that transmits data wirelessly. The conductive layer, made of silver nanowires embedded below the surface of polydimethylsiloxane, was sandwiched by two layers of thermoplastic polyurethane. Periodic sharp cuts were introduced to change the direction of flow from across the sensor to along the conductive path defined by the opening cracks. The crack advancing and opening is controlled by a combination of weak/strong interfaces within the sandwich structure. The strain sensor showed a high gauge factor up to 289, a linear sensing response, a fast response time of 53 ms, and stability after 16,000 loading cycles and 20 days in an aqueous saline solution. Counter-UAV Sensors Shooting UAVs Sensing it all
14 Platform one October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology NASA is developing an undersea robot that can operate in a swarm under sea ice in Antarctica, writes Nick Flaherty. The IceNode project envisions a fleet of autonomous robots helping to determine the melt rate of ice shelves. The underwater prototype robot has been tested in the frozen Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska, by engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Engineers operated the cylindrical robot in Arctic temperatures of -45 C. It descended 100 m (330 ft) into the ocean, where its instruments gathered salinity, temperature and flow data. It was connected by a tether to a tripod that lowered it through a borehole, and the team conducted tests to determine the adjustments needed to take the robot off-tether in future. The undersea vehicles measure 2.4 m long by 25 cm in diameter with a threelegged ‘landing gear’ that springs out from one end to attach the robot to the underside of the ice. The robots do not feature any form of propulsion; instead, they position themselves autonomously with the help of software that uses information from models of ocean currents. Released from a borehole or vessel in the open ocean, the robots ride the currents on their journey beneath an ice shelf. Upon reaching the target area, the robots drop their ballast and rise to affix themselves to the bottom of the ice. Sensors measure how fast the warm, salty water is circulating up to melt the ice, and how quickly colder, fresher meltwater sinks. The IceNode fleet will operate for up to one year, continuously capturing data, including seasonal fluctuations. Then they will detach themselves from the ice, drift back to the open ocean and transmit their data via satellite. This data will help to improve computer models that predict sealevel rise and give more accurate melt rates, particularly beneath ice shelves, which can be miles long. While they do not add to sea level rise directly, ice shelves crucially slow the flow of ice sheets towards the ocean. Places where scientists want to measure melting ice are among Earth’s most inaccessible, and in particular an underwater area known as the grounding zone, where floating ice shelves, ocean and land meet. This zone is dangerous for humans and satellites can’t see into the cavities. “We’ve been pondering how to surmount these technological and logistical challenges for years, and we think we’ve found a way,” said Ian Fenty, a JPL climate scientist and IceNode’s science lead. “The goal is getting data directly at the ice-ocean melting interface beneath the ice shelf.” “These robots are a platform to bring science instruments to the hardest-toreach locations on Earth,” said Paul Glick, a JPL robotics engineer and IceNode’s principal investigator. “It is meant to be a safe, comparatively low-cost solution to a difficult problem.” Undersea robots Working swarms under sea ice Undersea monitoring of an ice shelf (Image courtesy of NASA)
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16 Dr Donough Wilson Dr Wilson is innovation lead at aviation, defence, and homeland security innovation consultants, VIVID/ futureVision. His defence innovations include the cockpit vision system that protects military aircrew from asymmetric high-energy laser attack. He was first to propose the automatic tracking and satellite download of airliner black box and cockpit voice recorder data in the event of an airliner’s unplanned excursion from its assigned flight level or track. For his ‘outstanding and practical contribution to the safer operation of aircraft’ he was awarded The Sir James Martin Award 2018/19, by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. Paul Weighell Paul has been involved with electronics, computer design and programming since 1966. He has worked in the realtime and failsafe data acquisition and automation industry using mainframes, minis, micros and cloud-based hardware on applications as diverse as defence, Siberian gas pipeline control, UK nuclear power, robotics, the Thames Barrier, Formula One and automated financial trading systems. Ian Williams-Wynn Ian has been involved with uncrewed and autonomous systems for more than 20 years. He started his career in the military, working with early prototype uncrewed systems and exploiting imagery from a range of systems from global suppliers. He has also been involved in ground-breaking research including novel power and propulsion systems, sensor technologies, communications, avionics and physical platforms. His experience covers a broad spectrum of domains from space, air, maritime and ground, and in both defence and civil applications including, more recently, connected autonomous cars. Professor James Scanlan Professor Scanlan is the director of the Strategic Research Centre in Autonomous Systems at the University of Southampton, in the UK. He also co-directs the Rolls-Royce University Technical Centre in design at Southampton. He has an interest in design research, and in particular how complex systems (especially aerospace systems) can be optimised. More recently, he established a group at Southampton that undertakes research into uncrewed aircraft systems. He produced the world’s first ‘printed aircraft’, the SULSA, which was flown by the Royal Navy in the Antarctic in 2016. He also led the team that developed the ULTRA platform, the largest UK commercial UAV, which has flown BVLOS extensively in the UK. He is a qualified full-size aircraft pilot and also has UAV flight qualifications. Dr David Barrett Dr David Barrett’s career includes senior positions with companies such as iRobot and Walt Disney Imagineering. He has also held posts with research institutions including the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, MIT and Olin College, where he is now Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, and Principal Investigator for the Olin Intelligent Vehicle Laboratory. He also serves in an advisory capacity on the boards of several robotics companies. Uncrewed Systems Technology’s consultants October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Seven teams have competed for the title of the world’s best autonomous boat at Njord Challenge 2024 in Trondheim, Norway, writes Nick Flaherty. Navier USN from the University of South-Eastern Norway claimed first place, with Técnico Solar Boat from Portugal finishing second and AGH Solar Boat Team from Poland securing third. Students from Navier USN collaborated with Kongsberg on the sensor fusion of cameras and Lidar for their autonomous surface vehicle. The challenge provided them with an opportunity to test their project in real-world scenarios. The Navier USN design uses several GNSS satellite navigation systems coupled with cameras with various machine-learning algorithms to detect buoys and other objects. It also used Lidar a laser sensor to provide distance data. “Initially, we wanted to 3D-print the hull in ASA [acrylic styrene acrylonitrile], but it proved to be challenging,” said Lise Trehjørningen, responsible for product design. “ASA requires higher, more stable temperatures, and there was a greater risk of things going wrong, which would have put the whole project on hold. Therefore, we decided to print the hull with PLA [polylactic acid] and reinforce it with fibre glass.” The team is working on completing a new and improved hull, which is a trimaran, combining the characteristics of monohulls and catamarans, making it unique among autonomous vessels. “In the mechanical department, we have closely collaborated with the software and hardware teams to create a new boat that meets requirements. Finding a good solution that satisfies everyone’s wishes has been educational and challenging. The new hull is significantly larger than the previous one, providing us with more opportunities for component placement and the ability to install new equipment,” added Lise. Autonomous boats A hull of a boat Autonomous ship designs (Image courtesy of Kongsberg)
Platform one VersaLogic has developed a rugged, embedded computer with a highperformance Intel Xeon processor for uncrewed systems, writes Nick Flaherty. Swift uses the 9th-generation, Xeon-E 6 core processor, codenamed Coffee Lake Refresh, with up to 32 GB of errorcorrecting memory, fast onboard NVMe SSD storage and TPM 2.0 security. The error-correcting memory is essential for mission-critical and avionics applications at higher altitudes. “Swift is ideal for intensive processing, particularly in applications where there are security concerns or where limited communication bandwidth precludes sending raw data back to a data centre,” said VersaLogic’s president, Len Crane. Swift includes several built-in interfaces, including 2.5 GB Ethernet, USB 3.1, serial ports, I2C, GPIO, analogue input/output (ADC/DAC) and Mini DisplayPort output. SATA III connectivity is provided for applications requiring offboard storage capability. Onboard expansion includes one Mini PCIe slot and two M.2 slots. These expansion sites can support functions such as 5G cellular, AI accelerators, GPS, flash data storage, analogue and digital IO, additional data storage (SSD), display interfaces, wi-fi, Bluetooth and Ethernet. Modifications include conformal specifications for shock and vibration. All of the VersaLogic products are designed for high reliability and long-term availability with a 10-year typical production lifecycle. For more information, visit www.versalogic.com/ product/swift/ Processors coating, revision locks, custom labelling, customised testing and screening. The board measures 95 x 125 x 41 mm (3.7 x 4.9 x 1.6 in) for space-limited applications, and it is designed and tested for full industrial temperature operation (-40 C to 85 C). It meets MIL-STD-202H The Class of 2024 Access the directory online, or pick up a printed copy at leading uncrewed related tradeshows across the globe www.ust-media.com/ust-magazine/Co24 6 Class of 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Advanced Navigation Advanced Navigation is a world leader in AI-based robotics and navigation technologies across land, air, sea and space applications. Founded on a culture of research and discovery, Advanced Navigation’s mission is to be the catalyst of the autonomy revolution. Fields of expertise include artificial intelligence, sonar, GNSS, radio frequency systems, inertial sensors, robotics, quantum sensors and photonics. Today, Advanced Navigation is a supplier to some of the world’s largest companies, including Airbus, Boeing, Google, Tesla, NASA, Apple, and General Motors. Categories • Navigation System • IMUs, Gyros & Accelerometers • UUVs • Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Sonar/Acoustic Systems Address Level 12, 255 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Website www.advancednavigation.com Telephone +61 2 9099 3800 Email [email protected] More info: Avionics & electronics 37 Uncrewed Systems Technology | Class of 2024 Development inputs COVE COVE is where marine technology leaders develop solutions for a better and sustainable world. On the water and around the world, COVE propels the ocean economy. COVE is where ideas become solutions, technologies become ventures, and opportunities become careers. We connect people, ideas, resources and assets to propel solutions and sustainable growth for Canada’s ocean sector. A 13-acre waterfront facility in Canada’s deepest harbour provides the best space in the world to turn ideas into commercial solutions. Ocean technology companies, post-secondary researchers, and marine-based service businesses come to the COVE facility for programming and short- and long-term tenancies. We provide: • 550,000 sq ft of protected wharf frontage in Halifax Harbour along the Atlantic Ocean • 49 ft depth at wharf face • 2,850 feet of docks & 2 finger piers • 26,000 sq ft of office & workshop space • 6,500 square feet of shop and lab space • Approximately 60 ocean tech companies on-site Categories • Financial support • Business Development Services • On-shore and Off-shore Infrastructure • Marine Terminal and Facility Address 27 Parker St., Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Canada B2Y 4T5 Website www.coveocean.com Telephone +1 902 334 2683 Email [email protected] More info: 43 Uncrewed Systems Technology | Class of 2024 Tekever TEKEVER’s UAS Systems fits every mission and are futureproofed. Through the ability to upgrade individual components, it’s possible to improve the total system without a complete redesign. It’s not about technology, it’s about your mission. TEKEVER UAS intelligence is fully proven and has been crucial in the most demanding scenarios. TEKEVER systems are easy to assemble and operate by design. We can provide them as a service, or give our customers full autonomy on their operation and maintenance through intensive training courses. TEKEVER UAS are built around intelligence. Combining complex systems, as drones that fly 20 hours, with satellite communication, powerful sensors, a cross-platform Ground Control Station and an AI/ML-powered data-centre to assure the right person gets the right information at the right moment. Categories • UAVs Address Heden Rossio Largo do Duque de Cadaval, 17 Fracção I, 1200160, Lisboa, Portugal Website www.tekever.com Telephone +351 21 330 4300 Email [email protected] More info: Platforms 57 Uncrewed Systems Technology | Class of 2024 maxon international ltd. maxon is the worldwide leading provider of high-precision drive systems. Our micromotors move everything that has to be rotated with high precision and reliability. At maxon, we develop and build electric drives that pack some real power. Our DC motors are leading the industry worldwide. They are used wherever the requirements are high and engineers cannot afford compromises. From the ocean floor to Mars! They are installed in insulin pumps and surgical power tools. You can find them in humanoid robots and in high-precision industrial applications, in tattoo machines, passenger aircraft, camera lenses, race cars, aquatic systems and cardiac pumps. For more than 60 years, we have focused on customer-specific solutions, quality, and innovation. Categories • Electric Motors • Motor Controllers • Propellers • Advanced Materials • Connectors • Electric Motors • Engines Address Brünigstrasse 2206072, Sachseln, Switzerland Website www.maxongroup.com Telephone +41 (41) 666 15 00 Email [email protected] More info: Powertrain 81 Uncrewed Systems Technology | Class of 2024 Futaba Corporation of America Futaba, a world leading manufacturer of radio control and servo products for over six decades, continues to enhance and adapt its product portfolio to meet the evolving demands of the diverse markets it serves. Futaba produces a wide variety of ruggedized servo actuators with varying specifications to meet many challenging applications operating in challenging environments. Wireless RF transmitter/ receiver systems are fully designed and engineered in-house, leveraging Futaba’s years of RF development experience to provide the most secure and reliable wireless communication link available. To further meet our customers’ demands, Futaba can develop semi-custom products from existing OTS parts and fully customized parts from scratch. With the introduction of the FMT05 Ground Control Station, integrating Panasonic’s Toughbook platform, Futaba provides next-level control sophistication and ruggedness for UAV applications. Contact Futaba to discuss all of your company’s radio control and actuator needs. Categories • Servo Actuators • Ground Control Stations • Radio Links & Telemetry Address 5401 Trillium Blvd, Suite A225 Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 Website www.futabairc.com Telephone +1 815 701 3650 Email [email protected] More info: Mission & application systems 89 Uncrewed Systems Technology | Class of 2024 No more holes. For more than 35 years, Click Bond has been a leader in the design and manufacture of adhesive-bonded assembly solutions for the aerospace, defense, marine, UAV, advanced air mobility, automotive, and industrial sectors. Adhesive bonding requires no installation holes, no welding, and no hot work. Fewer holes mean greater structural integrity. The adhesive bondline creates a powerful barrier between the fastener and substrate, preventing galvanic corrosion. Our fasteners are lightweight and easy to install. Click Bond’s 5,000+ products include structural hardware and systems installation fasteners, such as sleeves, mounts, studs, and standoffs. Our rivetless nutplates require no installation holes, so they install 80% faster than standard nutplates, saving time and labor. Our global reputation is rooted in providing advanced designs and solutions that achieve unmatched value over our customers’ product lifecycles. The future is adhesive bonding. The future is here. Stop welding. Stop drilling. Start bonding. Categories • Cable Harnesses • Maintenance • Fasteners • Bonds & Seals • Connectors • Composites • Advanced Materials Address 2151 Lockheed Way Carson City, NV 89706-0713 USA Website www.clickbond.com Telephone +1 775 885 8000 Email [email protected] More info: Structural & anatomical systems Click Bond Class of 2024 www.ust-media.com Navigate the world of uncrewed systems with our engineer-focused supplier directory Avionics & electronics Development inputs Platforms Powertrain Mission & application systems Structural & anatomical systems Computing at high altitudes The Xeon-E Swift embedded board (Image courtesy of Versalogic)
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