Advocacy / Member News
Tiny drones scout for dangers on the battlefield as part of next-generation command system for armoured vehicles
Tiny drones scout for dangers on the battlefield as part of next-generation command system for armoured vehicles
Ottawa, CA: Kongsberg Gallium, an Ottawa-based situational awareness and geospatial visualization software company and systems integrator, announced the release today of a new version of its vehicle Integrated Command System (ICS) platform that now allows armoured vehicle commanders to scout surrounding battlefield terrain with lightweight flying drones.
The Integrated Command System is a software system in use within NATO that links all of the sensors and systems in an armoured fighting vehicle using the open Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard. The ICS platform provides vehicle commanders with battlefield situational awareness, immediate threats, and the condition of the vehicle, and provides a way to control and interact with all of the sensors and systems on the vehicle. Kongsberg Gallium has recently added integration for the ProxDynamics PD-100 Black Hornet drone. In a scenario seemingly drawn straight from science fiction, the system employs tiny flying drones which can be carried in the pocket of a soldier’s fatigues, and quickly and easily deployed through a hatch. Video and positional data from the drones are transmitted directly to the ICS display in the vehicle.
The integration of the ProxDynamics PD-100 system allows vehicle commanders to scout ahead of the vehicle for potential threats, ambushes or obstacles without risking the vehicle and crew.
Kongsberg Gallium and ProxDynamics will be demonstrating the technology at the CANSEC defence trade show in Ottawa on May 27th and 28th. The system may be deployed in NATO fighting vehicles as early as 2016.
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About Kongsberg Gallium: Based in Ottawa, Canada, Kongsberg Gallium (http://www.kongsberggallium.com) develops leading situational awareness and Command and Control software solutions that allow users of geospatial information to architect high performance, real-time, mission critical applications. The Company provides a complete range of customized solutions for customers worldwide, leveraging over twenty-five years of experience and world class in-house software components. Kongsberg Gallium is a subsidiary of Kongsberg Defence Systems.
About ProxDynamics: Based in Norway, the Prox Dynamics core mission is to develop, produce and sell the world’s smallest and most advanced “nano” unmanned aircraft systems (NUAS). They create innovative solutions to complex problems based on modern microelectronics, new sensor technology, creative mechanical design and efficient low-cost production techniques. May 2012 saw the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS become the world’s first operational NUAS with its deployed with UK Forces in Afghanistan. As the world’s largest NUAS Company, Prox Dynamics today is uniquely set up to meet the rapidly increasing need for small “Cargo Pocket” sized flying soldier sensors.
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The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) is the national industry voice of more than 650 Canadian defence, security and cybersecurity companies that produce world-class goods, services and technologies made across Canada and sought the world over. The industries contribute to the employment of more than 78,000 Canadians and generate $12.6 billion in annual revenues, roughly half of which come from exports. To learn more, visit defenceandsecurity.ca and follow us on Twitter at @CadsiCanada .
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