Shield AI on Tuesday said it has raised another $200 million in venture capital for scaling and deploying the company’s new autonomous piloting software aboard the company’s V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to enable the drones to fly in teams.

The new Series F funding will also accelerate the integration of the artificial intelligence-based Hivemind autonomous piloting software with third-party uncrewed platforms, Shield AI said.

In June, the company said it has worked with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to integrate Hivemind into Kratos’ XQ-58 Valkyrie stealthy drone to team crewed and uncrewed jets (Defense Daily, June 15). Hivemind has maneuvered an F-16 in air combat scenarios.

Flight testing of Hivemind in fighters continues, the company said, adding that it “has more autonomous maneuver flight hours of fighter jets than any company in the world.”

Shield AI has not disclosed the aircraft it is targeting for Hivemind installation, “but I will say that we are looking to integrate our AI pilot on all aircraft OEMs in the group 5 space and other select aerial platforms,” Brandon Tseng, co-founder and president of Shield AI, told Defense Daily in an email response to questions.

Shield AI VBAT unmanned aerial systems aboard a ship at sea. Shield AI photo

Group 5 UAS weigh more than 1,320 pounds and operate above 18,000 feet. V-BAT is a group 3 drone, weighing 125 pounds.

Earlier in October, Shield AI said it had recently completed testing and demonstrations of its artificial intelligence piloting software for drone swarms to permit V-BAT to operate and execute missions autonomously in GPS and communications-denied environments (Defense Daily, Oct. 9). The new software will first be used by teams of four V-BATs with the goal of doubling the number of drones annually.

V-BAT Teams will be on the battlefield in 2024, the company said.

“Except for lethal decision-making, V-BAT Teams can complete missions from start to finish without the need for an operator or pilot,” Shield AI said.

Tseng told Defense Daily that in simple terms the new funding will enable his company to “Scale, fly, sell. To add clarity to the first two steps. We are using Series F funds to scale V-BAT production to meet the increased aircraft demand required by large B-BAT Teams. In parallel, we are continuing to mature our flight testing of V-BAT Teams and optimize autonomous behaviors through our fly-fix-fly process.”

V-BAT is a program of record and Shield AI has said the UAS are deployed in 14 time zones and operate around-the-clock. The drones take off and land vertically but fly horizontally.

Marine Corps Rotational Forces, both Southeast Asia and Darwin, experiment with V-BAT systems along with other drones, communication gear, and other systems frequently as part of their testing of distributed operations, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said on a podcast with War on the Rocks that was published on October 25.

“So, they’re all doing those experimentations and they’re doing command and control,” Smith said. “How does that small command element sense [and] make sense of the battlefield—the COP, the common operating picture, and then pass that data in time that matters? Meaning seconds or milliseconds to the rest of the joint force and our partner force.”

The $200 million funding raise brings Shield AI’s valuation to $2.7 billion, the startup company said. U.S. Innovative Technology Fund led the funding round.

The infusion of funding comes as the Defense Department has said it wants to increase the use of low-cost, attritable unmanned systems significantly to help counter China’s military buildup in the Western Pacific region. The Replicator Initiative seeks to buy thousands of these systems starting as soon as 16 months from now.

“The increasing number of military conflicts we have seen over the last 18 months, unfortunately, paints a sobering view of our future defense technology needs and the important role AI will play,” Thomas Tull, technology investor and chairman of USIT, said in a statement. “Shield AI continues to be a pioneer in this sector, driving much-needed innovation by developing state-of-the-art AI pilots.”

USIT previously invested in Shield AI in a Series E funding round late last year.

The new Series F round included co-leader Riot Ventures, returning participants Disruptive, and Snowpoint, and contributions from new investors that include Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest.

A version of this story initially appeared in affiliate publication Defense Daily.

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Teledyne FLIR announced the launch of Prism ISP, an advanced image signal processing software optimized for embedded systems, enhancing imaging quality in thermal and multispectral applications. (Photo: Teledyne FLIR)

This week, Teledyne FLIR, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies, unveiled the inaugural version of its cutting-edge Prism ISP—a sophisticated Image Signal Processing software development kit (SDK) tailored for embedded systems. This SDK is designed to optimize performance in both thermal and multispectral realms.

Prism ISP is uniquely optimized to operate on low-power GPUs produced by tech giants Qualcomm and NVIDIA. The software provides an array of image enhancement functionalities, including noise reduction, super-resolution, electronic image stabilization, and more. It offers an integration of infrared (IR) and electro-optical (EO) video fusion, turbulence mitigation, and locally adaptive tone mapping.

The Prism ISP libraries play a pivotal role for integrators across defense, commercial, and industrial sectors. By integrating Prism ISP, developers can significantly elevate imaging quality when capturing AI data at the edge. This not only refines performance but also reduces developmental expenditures and fast-tracks product launch timelines.

For developers and perception engineers, Prism ISP seamlessly interfaces with Teledyne FLIR’s prominent thermal cores, such as Boson, Tau 2, Hadron, and Neutrino, enhancing image processing capabilities. The software’s application on low-power processors also paves the way for improved target recognition and object tracking, catering to multiple applications like ground ISR, air-to-ground operations, and counter-drone interventions.

Teledyne FLIR has also upgraded its Prism AI software. The revamped perception software facilitates more accurate object detection, classification, and tracking in both thermal and visible light spectrums. With an expanded library now inclusive of models trained on the world’s most extensive application-specific thermal image datasets, Prism AI is especially valuable in areas like ground intelligence, air-to-ground operations, and counter-drone initiatives.

Dan Walker, vice president of product management at Teledyne FLIR, commented, “Prism ISP is critical to thermal-based AI system development, offering an unprecedented performance while reducing development costs. Within our end-to-end, computational imaging ecosystem featuring Prism AI, Teledyne FLIR can now support a wider array of projects and custom development that utilize low-power, embedded processors at the edge.”

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Brendan McKittrick of Aerobloc discusses how Web3 is revolutionizing the aviation industry through decentralization. (Photo: Aerobloc)

Web3—a catalyst towards redefining and transforming various sectors or a revolution that can permeate daily aspects of our lives? Or is it neither?

To help answer this question, focusing on one sector that connects human lives on a daily basis—aviation—might provide a clearer picture. As the world takes flight into the future, the principles of decentralization are propelling the aviation sector to new heights of efficiency, collaboration, and innovation, all of which are essential to breaking constraints of legacy procedures.

Trusted Collaboration: The Backbone of Web3 in Aviation

In the past, airlines, airports, and supporting industries often operated in silos, wary of sharing sensitive data with competitors. However, web3’s decentralized architecture is changing this paradigm. Through smart contracts and even more advanced tools like AI-driven Distributed Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), competitors are finding new ways to collaborate in a trustless environment.

Web3 allows stakeholders to engage in agreements and transactions without intermediaries or centralized authorities. This shift in trust dynamics has the potential to streamline complex operations, from ticketing and baggage handling to maintenance and safety protocols. With web3, trust is no longer a question of reliance on a third party but a fundamental feature of the system itself.

Self-Organizing Systems: Breaking Free from Legacy Constraints

A prime example of this revolutionary shift can be found in Aerobloc, where legacy constraints are a thing of the past. In the aviation industry, many systems have core technologies dating back to the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. This archaic infrastructure hampers innovation and efficiency. Web3’s self-organizing systems, on the other hand, offer a clean slate for progress.

This pairing of emerging technology and streamlined procedures will create product offerings that can be as rich and diverse as the industry players choose, unburdened by the constraints of legacy systems. This newfound flexibility empowers stakeholders to reimagine the entire aviation experience, from booking a ticket to boarding a plane, creating a stress-free environment for everyone involved.

Micro-Ownership and Tokenization: Democratizing Aviation

Web3 technology introduces a concept known as tokenization. This feature allows assets to be broken down into digital tokens, paving the way for micro-ownership and democratization within the aviation sector. Passengers and investors can now own fractional shares of aircraft, airport assets, or even donate their loyalty tokens towards the carbon neutrality of their seats. This transformative shift opens doors to a more inclusive aviation industry while simultaneously reducing unit costs and transaction overhead through web3 Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) models.

Envision a future where passengers aren’t just customers but also partial owners of the airlines they choose to fly with. This newfound sense of ownership is poised to drive a deeper commitment to safety, service quality, and environmental responsibility. It also sets the stage for innovative financing models that break free from the traditional constraints of aviation investment. To put it simply, this is a transformation long overdue.

As web3 gains traction, digital wallets are becoming the standard, facilitating seamless value exchange across all digital channels. This translates into a frictionless experience for both passengers and businesses operating within the aviation sector. Whether it’s the ease of purchasing tickets, paying for in-flight services, or settling intricate contracts between airlines and airports, digital wallets are simplifying these processes. Furthermore, these digital wallets enable secure and efficient cross-border transactions, eliminating the need for costly currency conversions and complex financial intermediaries. This newfound simplicity in financial transactions promises cost savings and operational efficiency for all aviation stakeholders.

Building Trust and a Thriving Marketplace in Web3 Aviation

Within this open and collaborative community, airlines, airports, and their supporting industries are finding unprecedented opportunities to collaborate and prosper. Even in an industry historically characterized by competition, web3’s decentralized ecosystem is facilitating a newfound sense of common ground.

Automation, precision, and assurance are becoming the standard in this trusted marketplace. As a result, operational costs are shrinking, and trust is being instilled across thousands of business processes. The once burdensome and costly legacy systems are undergoing a transformation, evolving into next-generation, efficient blockchain models that benefit all stakeholders. All in all, web3 technology is reshaping the aviation industry by introducing trusted collaboration, self-organizing systems, micro-ownership, and seamless value exchange. By embracing the principles of decentralization and converging AI, blockchain, and web3 solutions, web3 adopters such as Aerobloc are set to positively impact a quintessential travel method and by extension, will positively benefit our efficiency for all transport-related services.

So, is web3 the catalyst that will redefine and transform various sectors or is it simply developing technology that may permeate aspects of our daily lives?

Well, I say yes to both.

This article is contributed by Brendan McKittrick, the co-founder and chairman of Aerobloc.

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Pratt & Whitney and Awiros launched Percept, an AI-based aircraft engine inspection tool. Pictured above, Percept is being used to scan a V2500 engine on a mobile device. (Photo: Pratt & Whitney/Raytheon)

Pratt & Whitney has launched a new advanced aircraft engine monitoring tool that incorporates artificial intelligence that can provide maintenance personnel with real-time information on parts availability.

Called Percept, the system is a computer vision product that operates on the Awiros Video Intelligence operating system. Awiros is an Indian firm founded in 2015 specializing in computer vision, deep learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. 

The cloud-based computing system allows users to snap photos and video of aircraft engines on a mobile device and automatically receive detailed parts availability information, Pratt said in a statement. 

Percept can enable faster and more cost-efficient turnaround of leased engines. Instead of an inspector having to examine an engine and check part-by-part, Percept automates engine inspections and can reduce the time it takes an inspector to perform the task by 90 percent, Pratt said.

Percept will be deployed exclusively on Pratt’s commercial engines, including the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine and the V2500.

“The Percept tool helps reduce time and effort involved in the pre-and-post lease analysis of aircraft engines,” said O Sung Kwon, Pratt’s Vice President of Customer Support. “We have been working with Awiros, an Indian Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence (AI) start-up for the past few years to mature this technology; we are excited to be shifting from technology development to now bringing an operational product to the market.” 

Awiros was selected as the winner of the RTX Innovation Challenge, an Indian competition launched in September 2019 with more than 60 Indian and global startups working in computer vision, AI, and machine learning. The teams proposed solutions to optimize and automate aircraft engine inspections with reduced human interventions. Awiros’ idea was evaluated through 2021 and is expected to be launched commercially later this year. 

“Building the Percept tool in collaboration with RTX has been one of the most exciting opportunities in the journey of Awiros as a startup,” said Vikram Gupta, founder and chief executive of Awiros. “We are proud that Percept’s high-fidelity scanning of Pratt & Whitney engines with handheld [mobile] phones, without any specialized hardware, is being commercially deployed in the aerospace industry.” 

India is the fastest-growing aviation industry in the world and a focal point for aviation technological innovation, said Ashmita Sethi, president and India country head for Pratt & Whitney.

“Percept is the result of some of India’s best and brightest minds collaborating with Pratt & Whitney to innovate a solution that delivers significant efficiencies and value to our customers,” Sethi said. 

This week, RTX shared news of the progress made by Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace on advancing hybrid-electric propulsion through the Scalable Turboelectric Powertrain Technology (STEP-Tech) demonstrator. The STEP-Tech demonstrator completed its first engine run and electrical system integration test, the company announced on June 20. It’s a modular and scalable demonstrator platform that can be used to rapidly prototype distributed propulsion concepts for high-speed eVTOL aircraft, blended wing body aircraft, and other kinds of advanced air mobility vehicles.

RTX also announced this week that the team reached an important milestone in its hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program. A rated power test of the demonstrator’s 1MW electric motor—developed by Collins Aerospace—was completed successfully. As part of a hybrid-electric propulsion system, the 1MW motor will be combined with an efficient thermal engine developed by Pratt & Whitney.

Early last year, Pratt & Whitney was awarded a DoE project for the advancement of hydrogen propulsion technology. The company also successfully completed a test on its GTF Advantage engine configuration involving the use of 100% sustainable aviation fuel.

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EMMA, a new platform that leverages AI and ML to transform airport operations, is looking towards expansion in the U.S. EMMA made its debut at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport. (Photos: EMMA Systems)

EMMA Systems, a company backed by Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), is planning to expand its advanced AI and ML platform, EMMA, in the U.S. EMMA, short for “Environmental and Movement Monitoring for Airports,” was initially introduced at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport and has garnered interest from 70 airports worldwide.

This platform aims to revolutionize airport operations by leveraging AI and ML technologies. By effectively managing various data points, EMMA provides valuable insights into flight patterns, including taxi and turnaround times. This enables airports and stakeholders to make informed decisions, significantly reducing delays and improving overall efficiency. EMMA is also highly adaptable in order to meet the unique operational requirements of different airports.

Inefficient communication between airports, airlines, and air traffic controllers often leads to time and revenue losses, as well as suboptimal processes. EMMA addresses these challenges by improving coordination and providing greater visibility into all aspects of airport operations. As a result, it enhances efficiency, increases on-time arrivals and departures, and contributes to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions.

Flight delays have long been a persistent issue in the aviation industry. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation reveals that between January 2019 and February 2023, 5.8% of flights (equivalent to 1.6 million flights) experienced delays caused by circumstances within the airlines’ control. These delays have significant financial implications, with the annual cost estimated at $33 billion.

Due to the approaching summer travel season, U.S. airports will once again face scrutiny, particularly because of the challenges posed by outdated systems and the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. EMMA’s entry into the U.S. market presents a compelling solution to these issues. The company’s co-founders will initiate their U.S. venture in Silicon Valley, where they plan to engage with key stakeholders in aerospace, aviation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Although breaking into the U.S. aviation industry can be challenging for startups, EMMA’s co-founders view the current landscape as an opportunity for innovation. They firmly believe that the existing aviation model in the United States needs to change, and they are eager to contribute to its transformation.

As the demand for air travel continues to grow, the need for better solutions becomes increasingly pressing. EMMA’s advanced platform and its ability to optimize airport operations have the potential to reshape the industry, ensuring more efficient and reliable air travel experiences.

Below, check out our question-and-answer session with the two co-founders of EMMA Systems: Wisam Costandi, CEO, and Mohammad Hourani, COO.

Avionics International: How does EMMA leverage AI and ML to transform airport operations and the commercial aviation sector? 

WISAM: EMMA leverages AI and machine learning to optimize airport operations and enhance collaboration among stakeholders where they can communicate through a single platform. Today, the aviation industry relies on archaic, legacy systems that are vastly inefficient, and in many cases, stakeholders are not talking to each other from a systematic point of view.

When compared to other industries, aerospace and defense has one of the lowest investments in R&D, yet the aviation industry is striving for cost-efficient innovations to improve operations. Airports already have plenty of data from the various stakeholders, so the question is how to capture and use this data, and ultimately transform it into meaningful information that can be used for better decision-making and optimization.

EMMA brings seamless information and data sharing to all stakeholders, so the data is not siloed within divisions, thereby increasing efficiency in the operations while reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. Then, we add a level of intelligence and predictability through our AI so if unforeseen circumstances arise, stakeholders are notified well ahead of time.

MOHAMMAD: During the flight cycle, several procedures occur repetitively, such as landing, taxiing in, turnaround, taxiing out, and take-off. By utilizing historical data, we have the potential to forecast taxi-in times based on specific circumstances like weather conditions or peak hours. Regrettably, a substantial amount of historical data currently stored in the database remains unused.

By accurately predicting these activities, we can proactively identify disruptions or potential delays for specific flights. This valuable information can be shared with the relevant partners, enabling them to make informed decisions and improve their overall decision-making process.

Avionics: Can you provide more details about EMMA’s ability to manage data points and provide insights into flight patterns, taxi time, and turnaround time?

MOHAMMAD: EMMA has robust capabilities when it comes to managing data points and offering insights into flight patterns, taxi time, and turnaround time. Here are some details:

• Data Management: EMMA is designed to seamlessly integrate with multiple data sources from various airport stakeholders, including ATC (Air Traffic Control), airlines, airports, ground handlers, and other relevant entities. Upon receiving data, EMMA performs thorough validation processes to ensure data accuracy and reliability. Subsequently, it utilizes this validated data to predict the key timestamps throughout the flight cycle. This integration with diverse data sources empowers EMMA to provide comprehensive and reliable insights into flight operations.
• Flight Patterns: By analyzing historical flight data, EMMA can identify patterns in flight routes and timings. It can detect if there is any potential disruption or delays on a certain flight.
• Taxi Time: EMMA leverages historical taxiing data, considering factors like airport layout, taxiway congestion, and prevailing weather conditions, to provide accurate predictions of taxi times. It considers many variables to anticipate potential delays or bottlenecks during taxiing operations.
• Turnaround Time: EMMA examines historical data related to aircraft turnaround, including ground handling processes, servicing, refueling, and cargo handling. As a result, it can identify areas for improvement and suggest measures to minimize turnaround time, leading to more efficient operations.
• Insights and Reporting: EMMA utilizes advanced analytics and algorithms to generate insights and KPI reports based on the analyzed data. These insights help airlines and airport authorities make informed decisions about resource allocation, operational improvements, and contingency planning.

Overall, EMMA’s data management capabilities, combined with its ability to provide insights into flight patterns, taxi time, and turnaround time, offer significant advantages in optimizing operational efficiency and facilitating proactive decision-making within the aviation industry.

WISAM: While 80% of the world has never flown, this percentage is decreasing. In the coming years, there will be a tremendous growth in aviation as air travel becomes more accessible to the world. The amazing post-Covid recovery is accelerating this trend. This means we need innovative, data-driven solutions quickly to ensure the industry’s growth is sustainable.

Avionics: What specific features and capabilities does EMMA offer that make it a groundbreaking platform for airport operations?

WISAM: There is a clear lack of innovation in the aviation sector. With legacy players acting as gatekeepers to innovation, coupled with the slow sales cycle in the industry, it is difficult for start-ups to grow and innovate in this vertical. There is a lot of investment in R&D required and the ROI is not always immediately realized in the short-term. Fortunately for us, we have some of the newest and most progressive airports in our region looking to deploy advanced solutions, starting with our first deployment at Hamad International Airport (HIA). Our versatile technology stack allowed us to rapidly deploy our information-sharing platform giving graphical visibility to the operations. We realized the potential of what we built, and we were able to continue our product development thanks to a grant from the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation, that allowed us to develop the AI aspects as well the messaging tool and the collaborative decision-making. QSTP’s Tech Venture Fund provides seed funding and follow-on capital to start-ups like ours that they see as having a high potential for global growth.

Beyond our technology, our deployments are turnkey. We work with airports on a gap analysis, concept of operations (ConOps), and of course their technology platforms.  Our holistic approach ensures that all the stakeholders are on the same page.  We understand that deploying a new tech platform without having all the players trained and on board is a waste.

MOHAMMAD: At EMMA, our approach is distinct from other legacy solution providers as we strive to develop innovative, agile, and affordable solutions tailored for airports and airlines.

We prioritize the following key aspects:

1. Data Sharing: EMMA serves as the single source of information, ensuring consistent and reliable data sharing among all stakeholders involved.
2. Predictability: By harnessing the power of data, EMMA leverages predictive analytics to anticipate key timestamps and potential delays, empowering proactive decision-making.
3. Configurability: Recognizing the unique characteristics of each airport, EMMA offers full configurability, allowing for flexibility and adaptation to diverse airport requirements rather than relying on rigid customization.
4. Communication: EMMA facilitates seamless communication and messaging among stakeholders, eliminating the need for outdated means of communication. This ensures efficient collaboration and coordination.
5. Data Privacy: We prioritize the confidentiality of airline data. EMMA incorporates role-based permissions, enabling precise control over data-sharing and ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive information.

Can you elaborate on EMMA’s configurability and how it adapts to the varying operations of different airports?

WISAM: Each airport is unique with its own operating procedures and IT systems, making flexibility a key element of the EMMA platform. On the backend, our integration bridge allows us to connect and bring in a wide array of data sources.  On the front end, it’s also highly configurable giving the users access to the data they require as per the standard operating procedures.  Beyond that, we need to abide by each country’s local and civil aviation regulations.

MOHAMMAD: EMMA’s configurability lies in its ability to adapt and accommodate the varying operations and requirements of different airports. Here are some specifics on how we achieve this:

1. Customizable Parameters: EMMA provides customizable parameters that enable airports to define and adjust various operational variables according to their ConOps or other specific needs. By tailoring these parameters, airports can fine-tune EMMA to align with their unique operations.
2. Modular Architecture: EMMA is built with a modular (Microservices) architecture, allowing for the addition or removal of specific functionalities as per the airport’s requirements. This modular design ensures that EMMA can be scaled, configured, and extended with ease, accommodating the evolving operational needs of airports.
3. Integration Capabilities: EMMA is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems and data sources at airports. It can integrate with various information systems, such as airline systems, ground handling systems, and airport databases, enabling efficient data exchange and ensuring compatibility with the airport’s existing infrastructure.
4. Configurable Reporting and Analytics: EMMA provides configurable reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing airports to define and generate reports specific to their operational metrics and key performance indicators. This flexibility enables airports to obtain valuable insights tailored to their unique operations and requirements.

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IFS, a provider of cloud-based enterprise applications, and Lockheed Martin have collaborated to form a strategic alliance aimed at assisting aerospace and defense entities in optimizing the benefits derived from their enterprise software investments. Their joint efforts also focus on updating equipment maintenance and support procedures while ensuring the readiness of assets for missions. (Photo: IFS)

IFS and Lockheed Martin recently announced a new partnership designed to strengthen their position in the marketplace by capitalizing on each of the organizations’ strengths. This partnership — one of several collaborations between the two companies — will promote various products and services that will assist aerospace and defense groups in modernizing both equipment and supporting technological infrastructure.

As a developer of cloud enterprise software for companies that manufacture, distribute, and maintain goods, IFS is positioned well to partner with Lockheed Martin. With a team of over 5,500 employees located across 80 countries, the company has used technology to innovate and reimagine the software producers and distributors need to keep operations running smoothly.

Lockheed’s role under the agreement is to use IFS software at Lockheed’s Innovation Demonstration Center at its Training and Logistics Solutions facility near Orlando, Florida. Furthermore, the two companies will coordinate bid processes for customer opportunities while sharing technology plans to better align their products for customers.

“At Lockheed Martin, we develop highly-tailored solutions to help our customers achieve their critical missions,” said Reeves Valentine, vice president of land and maritime solutions, at Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems division. “Delivering digital tools with intuitive interfaces, streamlined workflows, and AI-powered features keeps our military ahead of evolving threats. This partnership with IFS combines both companies’ efforts to ensure our customers have the most innovative defense capabilities.”

The companies have collaborated in the past to support mutual goals. In May 2021, the United States Navy selected Lockheed Martin and IFS’ Naval Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (N-MRO) solution to streamline various platforms into one modernized logistics information system. That system, called Total Asset Readiness, utilized artificial intelligence (AI), digital-twin capabilities, and predictive analytics to help the U.S. Navy manage the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of over 3,000 assets ranging from aircraft to ships to land-based machinery. 

The intuitive nature of the Total Asset Readiness interface was designed to help streamline workflows and save time. IFS was responsible for providing the program that powered the system, demonstrating the relevance to defense primes like Lockheed. Moving forward, both IFS and Lockheed believe the complementary nature of their products and services will allow them to further enhance the technological infrastructure of defense organizations and other customers.

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BlueHalo announced last week that it has acquired Verus Technology Group, a company that develops counter-UAS technologies. (Photo: BlueHalo)

BlueHalo continues to beef up its stable of capabilities that defend against uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) with the recent acquisition of Verus Technology Group.

Verus, a developer of technologies to counter unmanned aerial systems, was founded in 2014. The company uses radio frequency (RF) and digital signal processing in counter-UAS products like SkyView, which provides passive RF-based detection, identification, tracking and telemetry extraction of small unmanned aircraft systems, according to the company.  Available in both fixed-site and mobile configurations, SkyView has military applications and can be used to defend critical commercial infrastructure.  

“Verus has consistently demonstrated their ability to deliver critical, innovative c-UAS solutions to the most demanding customers across the DoD, IC and civilian markets.” (Photo: Verus)

Buying Verus adds to BlueHalo’s artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled, RF-based Titan c-UAS solution, as well as the company’s Locust directed energy c-UAS solution and ARGUS Perimeter Security system. 

Verus products are in use by the U.S. Defense Department, intelligence agencies, the Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command. They also provide technologies to international civil and commercial customers.

“Verus has consistently demonstrated their ability to deliver critical, innovative c-UAS solutions to the most demanding customers across the DoD, IC and civilian markets,” said BlueHalo Chief Executive Jonathan Moneymaker.

“Combining SkyView and the team’s proven ability to innovate at mission speed alongside BlueHalo’s Titan system positions BlueHalo as the #1 c-UAS provider in the market. We are incredibly excited to bring Verus into BlueHalo and provide an integrated, superior set of solutions offering a protective ring around our customers as we seek to neutralize the ongoing c-UAS threat.”

David Wodlinger, a Managing Partner at Arlington Capital Partners, said “Drone technology continues to proliferate, allowing bad actors to acquire greater capability at a lower cost.  The U.S., and the world more broadly, are not yet adequately prepared for the threat that drones pose to our critical infrastructure and national security.  Within BlueHalo, we plan to invest an increasing amount of resources into bringing to market the best c-UAS solutions to address these emerging threats.”

John Abbey, CEO and Founder of Verus, said joining BlueHalo will allow the company to deliver an expanded set of capabilities and resources to new and existing customers.

Henry Albers, a Vice President at Arlington Capital Partners, which acted as a financial advisor for the acquisition deal, said BlueHalo was tracking Verus for years before the purchase. 

“The Company has developed into the clear leader for passive RF detect solutions in the c-UAS market,” Albers said. “With access to BlueHalo’s extensive corporate infrastructure and resources, we believe the Company is well positioned to continue its impressive growth trajectory.”

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In a new partnership, Qatar Airways Cargo will use advanced technologies from FLYR Labs to forecast capacity and optimize services. (Photo: Qatar Airways Cargo)

A new strategic commercial partnership between Qatar Airways Cargo and FLYR Labs was announced this week. Qatar Airways Cargo launched its “The Next Generation” initiative last year which includes digital transformations and new products to meet the current needs of the air cargo industry. 

The strategic partnership with FLYR Labs will serve to advance The Next Generation initiative. Qatar will leverage FLYR Labs’ advanced technologies—such as deep learning—to forecast cargo capacity and demand. Qatar Airways Cargo will also be able to optimize its commercial decision making with artificial intelligence technologies from FLYR.

FLYR has developed a cloud-native decision intelligence platform that uses deep learning technology to address the complexities of the air cargo industry through AI-based automated revenue management. The platform, called the “Revenue Operating System,” processes the context behind airline data to help commercial organizations to make more informed decisions.

Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, commented that the partnership will provide crucial insights for unlocking new opportunities. “We are resolutely committed to remaining at the forefront of our industry by embracing the latest technologies, and our partnership with FLYR is the most recent example of this,” Halleux remarked in the press release.

Last month, Halleux commented on the success of The Next Generation initiative: “Launching The Next Generation has allowed us to bring an entirely new perspective to everyone involved in the air cargo value chain.”

Alex Mans, founder and CEO of FLYR, also commented on the collaboration with Qatar Airways Cargo, saying, “We jointly believe that FLYR’s advanced AI technology will drive the industry forward, accelerated by this partnership, to unlock exceptional results and bring renewed sophistication to forecasting and revenue maximization at the heart of commercial operations.”

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Dr. Yemaya Bordain will serve as the president of U.S. operations for Daedalean, the Swiss developer of artificial intelligence software for aircraft systems. (Photo courtesy of Daedalean)

Daedalean, a Switzerland-based developer of artificial intelligence and machine learning software for avionics systems, has launched its first operations outside of Europe with a new office in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Yemaya Bordain will serve as president of Daedalean’s Americas business after spending the last seven years as an aerospace engineer and global sales director at Intel.

The launch of Daedalean’s first American office joins their existing Zurich and Latvia locations. According to emailed statements provided to Avionics International, the Phoenix office will focus on business development activity for U.S.-based partners and customers while manufacturing and engineering activities will continue at their headquarters in Switzerland.

“Daedalean is leading the charge in creating a world where we’ll be keeping up with the Jetsons as we skip over traffic jams in autonomous and situationally-aware aircraft,” Bordain said in a statement. “I am so thrilled to be joining their pioneering team. It is an exciting challenge to play a key role in achieving this future.”

Bordain’s previous experience includes co-architecting the “first Intel-based commercially-available offering in safety-critical avionics,” according to her personal website. She also managed partnerships between Intel and some of the aerospace industry’s largest electronics suppliers including Lockheed-Martin Corporation, Collins Aerospace, Indra Sistemas, and Mercury Systems.

Bordain joins co-founders of Daedalean Luuk van Dijk—left—and Anna Chernova right to lead the U.S. operations of the company. (Photo courtesy of Daedalean)

Her experience at Intel adds to the list of engineers running Daedalean that have worked at some of the largest Silicon Valley-based companies. Dr. Luuk van Dijk, one of the company’s two co-founders, previously worked on senior software engineering projects at Google Zürich and SpaceX. Anna Chernova, the other co-founder and a pilot, also previously worked as a qualitative analyst for Google.

Over the last year, Daedalean has been focused on its ongoing collaboration with Florida-based avionics manufacturer Avidyne to develop the PilotEye cockpit vision system. PilotEye is being developed by the two companies to leverage the use of Daedalean’s neural network to replicate the decision-making, hazard avoidance, and situational awareness skills of a human pilot.

“As far as we know, this will be the world’s first certified system for civil aviation with a non-trivial safety case that has a machine-learned component for AI assistance to a human pilot,” Chernova said, commenting on the opening of their first U.S. office. “It’s more than yet another instrument: it can see and interpret the visual scene beyond human vision and capability.”

The Avidyne-Daedalean PilotEye system onboard a test aircraft (Photo courtesy of Daedalean)

Avidyne submitted a supplemental type certification/technical standard order (STC/TSO) application to the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for PilotEye in December last year. So far, while still working on obtaining certification for the system, they have received an Issue Paper for the system from the FAA and a Certification Review Item from EASA.

In May, the FAA’s Aviation Research division jointly with Daedalean published a 137-page technical report “Neural Network Based Runway Landing Guidance for General Aviation Autoland,” outlining how the W-shaped Learning Assurance process can meet FAA intent for certification and development processes, as well as inform future policy.

Outside of their work with Avidyne, Daedalean completed a series of flight tests with Eve earlier this year to evaluate the use of their autonomous flight control software on future electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Since its founding in 2016, Daedalean has disclosed $72 million in financing and currently has a team of more than 90 people with expertise in “machine learning and computer vision, aviation-grade software engineering, flight testing, safety assessment, and certification,” according to their website.

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Autonomous flight technology developer Merlin Labs on Wednesday said that company has raised $105 million in new funding as it continues to build out its three phased—crawl, walk, run—approach to introducing autonomy to large and small aircraft.

The Series B funding round was driven by investments from Snowpoint Ventures and Baille Gifford, and includes “major participation” from existing investor GV. In 2021, Merlin raised $25 million in a Series A round led by venture capital firm GV and First Round Capital.

Merlin, which is based in Boston, primarily plans to use the new funding to boost its staffing, particularly for software and avionics engineers, and expand testing. The company also will continue to build out its air charter Part 135 freight capability in New Zealand.

One of Merlin’s engineers works on their autonomous system at their hangar in Mojave, California. (Photo, courtesy of Merlin)

Merlin is aiming to employ its artificial intelligence technology so that large aircraft can fly with reduced crew and small aircraft require no crew. Last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand awarded its first certification basis for an autonomous flight system to Merlin.

The company says its AI technology integrates into existing flight decks to augment current flights and power future autonomous flights. Ultimately, their goal with their autonomous system is to establish its ability to perform all the duties of a human pilot using a “sense, think, act” control loop. Their system uses GPS/INS, air data, and attitude and heading reference system (ADHRS) to update the system with a three-dimensional position of the aircraft and its attitude at all times.

The company also said it has entered a partnership with the Air Force to bring autonomy to the service’s C-130J transport aircraft with the goal being enhancing safety and providing operational flexibility. Under their “Other Transaction Agreement” contract with the Air Force, Merlin plans to enable autonomy in the cockpit by introducing software and hardware to accompany the pilots.

A U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft. (Photo: U.S. Air Force.)

Merlin is flying with its technology on a surrogate aircraft in Mojave, Calif.

On its website, Merlin says it has flown more than 400 autonomous missions and accumulated more than 800 hours of flight time on five models of aircraft.

This article was first published by Defense Daily, a sister publication to Avionics International, it has been edited.

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