Focus on…

Focus on...

Sense and avoid

The ability to detect and avoid other aircraft is a key requirement for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). Enhancements to the design of transponders now mean these devices can be as light as 15 g, allowing them to be used in the majority of platforms...

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Electric motors

In the uncrewed space today, electric motors are essential to a growing majority of vehicles’ propulsion, whether as VTOL rotors, starter-generators or otherwise. However, movements and happenings in electric motor r&d are marked...

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Composites

The world of composites, much like the rest of the world, is undergoing particular upheaval with respect to its relationship with uncrewed systems. Conflicts around the planet have awoken defence forces everywhere to the revolutionary...

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AI certification

The latest developments in AI are putting more focus on how to enable transparency, validation and certification of autonomous systems operating in the air, on the ground and at sea. While AI is widely seen as a ‘black box’ with a series of inputs...

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Machine tools

Across military and civilian industries, the world of uncrewed systems is growing fast, with tenders and orders for intelligent vehicles being announced more rapidly than ever. OEMs, both small and large, together with their subsystem suppliers...

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Performance monitoring

Monitoring the performance of uncrewed systems is becoming increasingly important to ensure their safe operation. Whether that be monitoring the health of UAVs making deliveries, underwater vehicles that would be difficult to recover...

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ECUs

It wasn’t so long ago that suppliers of ECUs and other control electronics solutions were in something of a tight spot. Pre-COVID ramp-ups in their customers’ production targets had filled ECU makers’ books with contracts, but the sudden freezes that happened...

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Video systems

The combination of AI and video encoding is transforming the development of uncrewed systems. Autonomous systems equipped with high-quality cameras can capture large amounts of video data; however, transmitting and storing such data...

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Motor controllers

Until around ten years ago, manufacturers of electric drones were generally stuck with using hobby-grade ESCs (electronic speed controllers) for control of their electric motors. Such low-quality components frequently suffered from issues such as poor transient...

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Lidar

Various laser technologies are competing fiercely to reduce the size, weight and cost of sensors for uncrewed systems. Lidar ranging systems are a key technology for long-range sensing for driverless vehicles and autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs)...