Aerospace • Space • Ground Transport • DEfence • Security

“Conventional industrial robots are often dedicated to a single function. But with cobotics, it’s more like having a Swiss Army knife” Jean-Philippe Jahier, director of Innovation and Industrialisation of New Technologies with Thales Alenia Space

06 Arctic Security Melting ice is opening up new opportunities and challenges

10 Front line thinking Innovative command and control software offers the best defence

28 creativity In Flight Airline entertainment systems are stepping up their game 01

Innovations #4 • July 2015 “Our mission is to manage complex systems – and the planet is an incredibly complex system. Our industry has a special role to play in finding solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues”

o paraphrase the Just look at the air transport sector. systems – and the planet is an French philosopher People say it causes more air pollution incredibly complex system. That’s CONTENTS Auguste Comte, you than any other means of transport. why we believe our industry has need to understand And yet traffic volumes are predicted a special role to play in finding 02 10 the present in order to rise significantly, from the 3.4 billion solutions to some of the most 28 to anticipate the future trips recorded last year. Everybody in pressing environmental issues. Tand you need to anticipate the future the air transport sector is working to Our mission is to manage complex in order to act today – but how hard it solve the equation, proposing more systems - and planet is an incredibly is to apply his maxim in real life! Never fuel-efficient engines, lighter onboard complex system. Our industry in the history of humankind have we equipment, smoother traffic flows The new Thales Foundation will help known so much about the world and and optimised flight paths. All these us play this role a little better. Focusing how it works; yet despite all our innovations and many more will be on science education and classroom science, it has never seemed more needed to make air transport innovation on the one hand, and difficult to predict the future. sustainable; and only then will it be disaster preparedness on the other, the In an era of globalisation, possible to meet growing demand Foundation is moving us closer to the urbanisation and changing lifestyles, safely, efficiently and responsibly. elusive goals of Auguste Comte. the need to upgrade our infrastructure How would we even measure Science helps us understand change » 02 Cryptography » 18 Robots unchained » 22 Defence » 24 A lighter is more pressing than ever before. the impact of climate change without and prepare for the consequences — for all Collaborative robots (aka of the realm touch in business At the same time, climate change has satellite technology? How would we and that makes the world a little safer Our networked lives are “cobots”) – mobile, adaptable From reconnaissance to air A new “Light Footprint potentially devastating consequences achieve sustainable mobility in our every day. increasingly in need of protection multi-purpose robots capable defence and precision strikes, Strategy”, inspired by military for our environment, our economies growing cities without innovative as more of our data is transmitted of performing any task – could the Rafale “omnirole” fighter thinking, is challenging how Marko Erman and society at large. Thankfully, in urban transport systems that are safe, and stored digitally. Cryptography mean big productivity gains can conduct several different businesses operate from Chief technical officer, Thales is the key to our security. on the factory floor. missions in the same sortie. the ground up. the space of just a few years, efficient and environmentally friendly? governments, cities, businesses Technology has its detractors and » 06 Breaking the ice » 28 Above the clouds and citizens themselves have come yet, without technology, we would be Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has In-flight entertainment is to recognise climate change as one powerless to act. Technology is not an shrunk to its lowest winter extent 06 undergoing a burst of innovation since satellite records began – as it keeps pace with the giant of the principal challenges they face. end in itself, of course. It needs to what does this mean for security leaps being made in consumer Can we find a model of economic serve the interests of people and in the region? tech – and passengers are development that meets the needs of improve our ability to predict change enjoying the results. the human race and is environmentally and choose the best course of action. » 10 The best defence New and increasingly » 32 On the move sustainable? If the political will exists, Thales has always seen technology sophisticated command and Recent developments in and above all if we continue to as an enabler of human endeavour. control software will bolster smartphone and cloud technology innovate, I believe we can. Our mission is to manage complex the military airpower of NATO are helping public transport countries at a time of increasing systems around the world international tension. improve passenger experience throughout their entire journey. Innovation by the numbers » 14 Weather or not The science of climatology has » 34 The human taken centre stage in recent equation years and weather satellites are In the wake of large scale 40Today’s in-flight % playing a vital role in improving incidents, technology is proving entertainment our understanding of how the systems to be a vital ally in disaster relief weigh 40% world’s climate is changing. 15% efforts around the world. 67% Thales’s Seltrac less than the CBTC solution equipment reduces metro that was Thales has reduced its CO2 emissions network energy being installed by 67% between 2007 and 2014. consumption 10 years ago. Editorial director Keith Ryan Creative director Nick Dixon Publishing director Ian Gerrard Head of production Karen Gardner Account manager Tina Franz Finance director Rachel Stanhope by up to 15%. Published by Caspian Media Ltd for Thales. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the policies of Thales. Caspian Media Ltd and Thales accept no responsibility for views expressed by contributors. Caspian Media Telephone 020 7045 7500 Email [email protected] Web www.caspianmedia.com 02 INNOVATIONS: Cryptography 03

Cryptography for all

You could be forgiven for thinking that cryptography is the preserve of spies and governments. Indeed for many years this would have been true, but no longer. Today, as we leave more and more of our data online, our networked lives are increasingly in need of protection. “It is the mathematical Dr Stuart Clark equivalent of putting a “In the past, spying was possible only for Attackers can obtain the cipher text and may message in a agencies that had access to transmission cables even know the encryption method but, without locked box. and highly sophistication equipment, as well as the key, they will not be able to break the code The difficulty is special authorisation. It was an isolated endeavour. and read the plaintext. Today, transferring information has become It is the mathematical equivalent of putting in transmitting ubiquitous,” says Dietmar Hilke, director of Business a message in a locked box. The difficulty is in the key securely” Development and Cyber Security with Thales in transmitting the key securely. Eric Garrido, head Eric Garrido, head of Germany. “I can go into any wireless lounge and of the Communications & Security cryptographic the Communications & Security cryptographic ‘sniff’ for transmissions using off-the-shelf team at Thales specialises in the design and team at Thales equipment. I can do man-in-the-middle attacks and evaluation of cryptographic systems. harvest PINs, credit card information and banking “Even if you have a good mathematical details. And I can do it with standard hardware and solution, we have to be sure that they are securely open source software that I can find on the net. implemented,” says Garrido. “Bad hardware or The threat has moved from a highly sophisticated software is like locking the door but leaving a group of people to almost anyone.” window open.” According to Hilke, our increasingly PayTV is a case in point: digital lives have led to a change in what broadcasters send encrypted content he calls the threat vector. And it’s not just to subscribers and give users individual transmission of data that is vulnerable – In Brief keys. The broadcast is the same but The transfer computer malware is being used to harvest 1 of information each key is different. This technology more and more valuable information from has now become originated in the early 1990s but it’s ubiquitous as unsuspecting parties. Cloud computing is technology now in need of updating. This was the being used to store ever more data on has evolved subject of a recent collaboration in recent years. third-party servers, trusting our private between Thales and Swiss digital Guaranteeing information to other people’s systems. media company Nagra. 2 privacy is The more connected we are, the more now the number “All the old protocols were too one priority, vulnerable we become. which means theoretical to be practical. There is “Securing information in transmission cryptography is a big gap between theory and practice. more important is no longer enough. Increased social than ever. The goal was to make them realistic interaction online means that we need in practice,” says David Pointcheval, Cryptography end-to-end cryptography,” says Hilke. 3has to adapt head of the crypto team at École Cryptography relies on taking and change in normale supérieure, Paris, who order to stay information, known as plaintext, and ahead of the worked on the collaboration. encrypting it so that it is rendered growth in The cost of hardware and software potential unintelligible. Encryption uses a cipher, threats that are development is the main limitation when which is a mathematical algorithm, and arising around designing practical decryption systems. the world. a “key” or secret piece of information. For example, the set top box needed to 04 INNOVATIONS: Cryptography 05

“In the past, spying was possible only for agencies that had access to transmission cables and highly sophistication equipment, as well as special authorisation” Dietmar Hilke, director of Business Development and Cyber Security with Thales

you can command the turbines is working on new enciphering methods so that they will be destroyed. that even quantum computers would find Think about how much investment difficult, if not impossible, to break. is needed to damage the ship in Another goal is to develop so-called that way, and compare it with a “fully homomorphic encryption” – what Hilke ship-to-ship missile,” says Hilke. means by end-to-end encryption. It would It is a frightening comparison. guarantee privacy by keeping data encrypted He estimates that, for the price of even as it was being processed by a remote an armoured tank, up to a thousand server. Pointcheval says it is exactly what is people a year can be employed needed to make cloud computing safe. to launch cyber attacks: “It brings At the moment, even if you encrypt it from the abstract theft of data for transmission, it must be decrypted information into the realm of before it can be evaluated. Every time you creating real damage,” says Hilke. return to the plaintext, the data becomes vulnerable. In the wake of the Edward Standards of security Snowden leaks, which revealed the degree Cryptography is more important to which personal data was being accessed than ever and it is an ever-changing by certain government agencies, privacy has game.The current gold standard leapt to the fore for digital media companies. perform decryption for PayTV subscribers is known as RSA encryption. Described by MIT Guaranteeing privacy is now the number one must be both simple and cheap to produce. academics Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard priority and homomorphic encryption is the As a consequence, the quality of the Adleman in 1977, it is like sending an open lock Holy Grail. mathematical decryption can suffer, making to the person wanting to send an encrypted “With a homomorphic system, it is the systems easier to hack by non-subscribers. 34% message. The sender of the lock keeps the key Encryption: by the numbers possible to manipulate data in a fully Another consideration is that the larger to open the message when it is sent back. encrypted way. You send the cloud encrypted of business and IT The 2015 Global Encryption • nearly half believe that a system becomes, the bigger a target it managers use The algorithm multiplies two large and Key Management Trends encryption removes the information. It will do any computation that becomes for hackers. Numerous websites prime numbers together to produce an Study, based on independent need to disclose a breach; you wish and send you back the answer, still and apps brag that they can help hack specific encryption extensively, even larger number. Factorising the result research by the Ponemon • more than half identified key fully encrypted. Since you are the only one social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and according to a recent is easy if you have the prime number key Institute in the United States management as a major pain who knows the key, you are the only one who Instagram, putting all of our privacy at risk. global study but almost impossible without. and sponsored by Thales, point, due to lack of corporate can read the answer. The cloud never sees Then there is the escalation in the “At the moment, we don’t know how to revealed that the use of encryption ownership, fragmented systems the unencrypted input or the output. It hacking of military and government targets. designed to regulate industrial hardware by factor numbers that are larger than 600 digits continues to grow in response and inadequate tools; sounds like magic but with such functionality, On 12 January 2015, the US Central processing input from the machines to keep efficiently. It could take dozens of years even to consumer concerns, privacy • more than half view you could do a google search that even google compliance regulations and hardware security modules Command’s social media accounts were them within correct operating parameters. with the most powerful computers,” says wouldn’t know what you are searching for. ongoing cyber attacks. as an important part of a key hacked by alleged Islamists. Although the Stuxnet inserted random commands to the Pointcheval. Does this solve the problem? You can get answers without the person you According to the survey of management strategy; US military’s Twitter account is hardly going machinery while supplying normal looking Is our data completely secure if we use are querying ever knowing what you are more than 4,700 business and • the number one perceived to be as encrypted as its classified servers, settings to the users. It targeted the PLCs this system? IT managers in the US, UK, threat is employee error; and searching for,” says Pointcheval. breaches like this point to a dangerous future. used in Iran’s nuclear centrifuges, reportedly Sadly, not. Although factorising such vast Germany, France, Australia, Japan, • the top three reasons for Of course as soon as these systems are “One thing is stealing information, but destroying a fifth of them by making them numbers is almost impossible at the moment, Brazil, Russia, India and Mexico: deploying encryption are perfected – meaning that Internet users can once I can do that, I can then manipulate that spin beyond their design limits. This is only scientists and engineers are working to build compliance with data protection do anything with guaranteed anonymity – information and create real physical damage the beginning according to Hilke. quantum computers that perform calculations • 34% use encryption extensively; mandates, to address specific there will inevitable be a dialogue about the to systems,” says Hilke. “Imagine attacking a warship. You are in a fundamentally different way. • 36% have an enterprise-wide security threats and to reduce needs of national security agencies to In 2010, the Stuxnet programme was not going to get into the maximum security “If a quantum computer comes along encryption strategy; the scope of compliance audits. intercept communications to keep us safe. All uncovered. It attacked specific types of weapons management system, but you may in the next few years, then all the keys are in all, cryptography is set to become more and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), get into the engine control system where broken,” says Pointcheval. As a result, Thales more important to all of us as time goes by. 06 INNOVATIONS: arctic security 07 0 -40 c Breaking the ice With winter temperatures New research shows that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has below -40°C, shrunk to its lowest winter extent since satellite records the Arctic is began more than 35 years ago. What’s going on in the one of the Arctic – and what does it mean for security in the region? harshest environments John Coutts on earth

With winter temperatures below Nils Wang, Commandant of the –40°C, the Arctic is one of the Royal Danish Defence College and harshest environments on earth In Brief one of Denmark’s leading Arctic and one of the most vulnerable: security analysts. “We are already Retreating rising global temperatures and 1 ice in the Arctic seeing increased maritime activity the race to secure the region’s is redrawing the in the area and this will grow in the polar map, untapped resources means this making valuable coming decade.” icy wilderness is under pressure resources more accessible to as never before. many nations. New Arctic economy At the heart of the Arctic With this Easier navigation of the two great question is the accelerating retreat 2 increased polar seaways – the Northeast interest comes of sea ice – the thick blanket of growing Passage (NEP) and the Northwest frozen seawater that cloaks the concerns over Passage (NWP) – is a potential security across Arctic Ocean. This reaches its the region. game changer. The increasing greatest extent at the end of the availability of these routes has This will winter months. In 2015, however, 3 require the potential to transform the the maximum area of winter ice “smart defence”, movement of global freight, with existing was 130,000 square kilometres, equipment re- shrinking sailing distances between less than its previous record low. used and data Europe and Asian markets. shared between It’s also getting thinner. countries hoping In summer, the NEP provides “What’s changing is that the to maintain their a link between the Atlantic and territorial claims. amount of multi-year ice – the ice Pacific oceans with a route that that survives the summer melt – is skirts Norway and the north going down at a rate that is much greater than coast of Russia. The attraction is clear: the overall reduction of sea ice extent,” explains this distance between Yokohama in Japan Dr Stefan Hendricks, an expert in ice physics and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, for with the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and example, is just over 7,000 nautical miles Marine Research. “Ice cover is becoming more via the NEP. The conventional Suez Canal seasonal, which means there are more regions route is 4,000 miles longer. which are ice-free in summer.” The NWP, the other major polar shortcut, While the wider environmental skirts the north coasts of both Canada and ramifications of these changes are only the United States, offering an alternative to beginning to be understood, the geopolitical the Panama Canal. Again, distance savings implications are already clear. Melting ice is can be significant. The trip between Canada’s redrawing the polar map and opening up west coast and Finland, for example, is around previously inaccessible areas. 1,000 nautical miles shorter via the Arctic. “The retreating ice makes the Arctic and all Ships taking the polar option continue to its resources accessible,” says Rear Admiral face formidable challenges, though. Traversing 08 INNOVATIONS: arctic security 09

“All the Arctic states are trying to increase their capabilities to oversee what is going on up there. What’s missing at the moment is a complete real-time overview” Rear Admiral Nils Wang, Commandant of the Royal Danish Defence College

the Arctic depends on icebreaker support; Points North going on up there,” says Rear Admiral Wang. in the case of the NEP, that means calling on The Arctic is the focus of a “What’s missing at the moment is a Russian assistance (Russia maintains the number of territorial disputes. complete real-time overview.” Northern Sea Route – the central stretch of These include conflicting claims Maintaining peace and stability in the to the extended continental shelf, the wider NEP). Having an ice-capable vessel region will increasingly hinge on the ability a situation which has culminated also helps: even in near-open water, chunks in Canada, Denmark and Russia to monitor land and maritime frontiers. In of ice – known as growlers and bergy bits – all laying claim to the North Pole. addition, defence forces need tools to provide are an ever-present hazard. And with the The legal status of the Northwest early warning of airspace incursions, as well exception of the Northern Sea Route, Passage is also contested. Long as sonar capabilities to detect unauthorised term, there are concerns that the maritime infrastructure such as search and submarine activity. retreating ice will ignite fresh rescue facilities is thin on the ground. territorial wrangling as the Then there’s the requirement to ensure the While a major shift in container traffic scramble for resources intensifies. safety of civilian and military ships and aircraft away from the lower latitude Panama and Despite territorial tensions, the operating in the region. To get the most out of Suez routes is some way off, destinational Arctic states collaborate effectively scarce search and rescue capabilities, and to in a number of policy areas. shipping within the region is already deploy resources effectively when things go Non-military matters of regional significant. Research carried out on behalf interest are dealt with by the Arctic wrong, governments need better real-time of the Arctic Council, published in 2009, Council, an intergovernmental visibility of sea, sky and coast. counted some 6,000 ships and numbers forum that brings together Canada, There’s also a need to monitor Who goes there? Maritime and coastal the answer. The likelihood that tracking data), radar feeds techniques that combine are expected to rise in the coming years. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, economic activity in the Arctic, particularly Russia, Sweden and the United security depends on the a vessel is engaged in unlawful and meteorological reports. By analytics and machine Moves to exploit the region’s abundant oil and gas exploration, fishing and shipping. States. The Arctic’s indigenous rapid identification of activity – such as illegal fishing building models of suspicious learning, it’s possible to natural resources are one reason for this. peoples are also represented. Governments need to be sure that suspect ships. But trying or piracy – is linked not only to behaviour, it’s possible to detect new and emerging The Arctic is rich in hydrocarbons: 13 per cent Formed in 1996, the Arctic companies stick to the rules, that quotas to pinpoint a rogue vessel its identity, but also to its generate an automatic alert for patterns of illicit behaviour of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30 per cent Council is increasingly influential are respected and that pollution and among hundreds of legitimate current position, speed, any ship meeting the relevant that might otherwise go ones can be like looking for direction, previous journeys conditions within the area unnoticed. This means of undiscovered natural gas could lie in the on the world stage. At the council’s environmental impacts are kept in check. meeting at Kiruna in northern a needle in a haystack. and even the weather. This under observation. new models can be region, according to the US Geological Survey. Sweden in 2013, members agreed Big data techniques being information can be gathered Thales’ approach goes a created and existing ones The region is also a treasure trove of to grant permanent observer status Building the picture developed by Thales could be from sources such as AIS (ship step further: by applying continuously refined. mineral wealth. Greenland, for example, to China, India, Japan, Singapore, Tackling these complex and interconnected possesses deposits of copper, iron, zinc, South Korea and Italy – underlining challenges will increasingly depend on the gold, molybdenum, uranium and rare earth the growing international interest in deployment of modern intelligence, number of hurdles. Logistics is one of them: out of infrastructure that is already in place types of data – such as infrared from satellites, the region’s natural resources and elements. Extraction and transportation surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) coastlines are long, remote and sparsely will be critical. radar returns, imagery captured by drones, its potential as a shipping shortcut. will become easier as the ice retreats. systems. These need to be capable of populated; north of 83°30’N, the land stops “This is about smart defence,” stresses sonar from ships and AIS data – and then to The Arctic – land of the midnight sun – is offering both strategic and tactical and there is only ice. This makes it difficult to Essig. “The key will be to re-use existing convert this into actionable information. Data increasingly popular with tourists and demand There’s also the question of dealing with visualisations – in short, allowing operators support ground-based infrastructure such as equipment and to share data across countries.” fusion of this sort is already part of Thales’ for polar voyages is rising. Cruise ship arrivals illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. to zoom in on what’s happening. radar stations and transmitters. New technologies will help to fill in gaps command and control systems used by the at Greenland ports and harbours, for example, The potential for flare ups should not be “You need a layered surveillance suite Communication is another challenge. in the surveillance picture. Unmanned aerial armed forces and in urban security systems. more than doubled between 2003 and 2008. underestimated: the “Icelandic Cod Wars” – that provides an overall view of what’s going The enormous distances involved rule out vehicles – better known as drones – could “These not only allow operators to Shrinking ice cover could have the effect of the dispute between the UK and Iceland over on, and then the ability to drill down to get a extensive hardwired networks. Satellite play a vital role here, eliminating intelligence visualise what’s happening, but also help luring cruise vessels ever further north. fishing rights – triggered naval clashes in the detailed picture of a specific area of interest coverage is patchy. And high frequency blind spots and providing a real-time eye in them to decide what action is needed via Increasing competition for scarce North Atlantic as recently as 1976. by inserting airborne and shipborne radio for long-distance communications the sky to assist in reconnaissance decision support systems,” says Essig. marine resources also raises new questions. surveillance power,” says Wang. “These is vulnerable to ionospheric interference operations over the horizon. “These capabilities are vital in harsh and Pressure on Arctic and near-Arctic fishing Emerging security needs capabilities are necessary whether you are at higher latitudes. As well as mastering the sensor complex environments. Thales’ expertise in grounds, for example, could increase as fish For governments in the region, escalating monitoring an oil spill, conducting a search None of these problems are technology needed to capture data, Thales ISR and our presence in the region means stocks further south are depleted. The situation activity in the Arctic presents new security and rescue operation or if there is military insurmountable says Marc Essig, Thales’ is also a leader in the technology needed we are ideally placed to provide systems, is complicated by national differences in fishing challenges: “All the Arctic states are trying to activity you want to have a closer look at.” country director for the Nordic and Baltic to make sense of it all. Thales’ surveillance equipment and support to meet the unique regulations and by marine boundary disputes. increase their capabilities to oversee what is Delivering polar ISR means overcoming a states. And the ability to get the most solutions are designed to assimilate different challenges posed by the Arctic environment.” 10 INNOVATIONS: Air Command and Control Systems 11

For the first time, NATO will have a ACCS, which involved writing ThalesRaytheonSystems, a joint venture they will be able to do so much quicker. 1,500 personnel sitting at workstations, “Before ACCS was developed, the first unified Air Command and Control System 14 million lines of computer code, has between Thales of France and Raytheon They will also be able to conduct much most often in bunkers across Europe. notice the French air force may receive of an (ACCS) in Europe, enabling its members been described as the most complex of the US, and the first-ever transatlantic larger operations: ACCS is capable of “There is a complex conglomeration of incursion by an aircraft in eastern Europe to manage all types of air operations, software project ever attempted. It company created in the defence field. handling many more aircraft than the data coming from terrestrial and airborne would be via telephone,” says duMont. both inside and outside NATO countries. integrates defence activities that include “After 9/11, people understood that legacy systems it is replacing.” radars. In some cases they are the world’s Similar efficiency gains have been made in Following successful tests of ACCS air mission planning and tasking, air policing our airspace and achieving air The scale of the programme is most advanced 3D long-range radars, while planning and executing operations. Previously, last year at two sites in Belgium and mission control, airspace surveillance, sovereignty are very important. With unprecedented: stretching from Norway at the other end of the spectrum are details of a mission may have taken officers Italy, the system developed by airspace management and air force ACCS, every citizen in Europe can be sure in the north to Turkey in the east, ACCS will 50-year-old systems dating from the Soviet days to put together before being faxed to ThalesRaytheonSystems will be rolled management. Missile defences will their airspace is protected and have a cover an area of more than 10 million square era,” says Steve duMont, vice-president of operational units. With ACCS, planning and out to 15 locations across Europe over be added to ACCS by the end of 2016, reasonable assurance that they are kilometres and link 300 sensor sites, NATO business for ThalesRaytheonSystems. execution are part of the same system and the next three years. The first site, integrating the detection and interception protected from similar events. We have connected to more than 40 different types information is transmitted in real time. in Italy, went live this year, over the of fast moving ballistic missiles and slower developed a system that works 24/7, one of radar installation. A paradigm shift “You can execute a plan within an hour Easter weekend. Many existing NATO cruise missiles with aircraft operations. that increases the efficiency of the aircraft In addition, ACCS will encompass around ACCS represents a big leap forward, even simply by clicking a button,” explains Antoine and national air defence systems will “Before ACCS, each country had its own ready to scramble; countries owe this to 550 external systems that have 6,500 for air forces with the most up-to-date Ollivier, director of the Competence Centre be replaced by ACCS. Some centres system. Now NATO members will have a their citizens. physical interfaces between them. The systems. It relies on digital rather than responsible for providing the resources used will be run by NATO organisations, others single system and that is a revolution in air “Air forces have to plan, task and massive amount of real-time data generated voice communications, leading to faster, to develop ACCS. “In the past, when NATO will remain under national responsibility. operations,” says Philippe Duhamel, CEO of conduct these operations; with ACCS by these devices will be channelled to some more accurate command and control. carried out operations, the very different The best defence European airspace will be better defended than ever before thanks to sophisticated command and control software, which will bolster the military airpower of NATO countries at a time of increasing international tension.

John Lamb In Brief NATO is 1 implementing a unified Air Command and Control System (ACCS) in Europe. The system 2 integrates everything from air mission planning to airspace surveillance and air force management. ACCS is a 3 single system that can be used to control all resources in theatre, including planes, fuel and even the personnel. 12 INNOVATIONS: Air Command and Control Systems 13

“You can execute a plan within an hour simply by clicking on a button. In the past, when NATO carried out operations, the very different systems limited what you could do together. With ACCS, the level of interoperability is extremely high” Antoine Ollivier, Thales

caused by its utilisation by these two types of system,” observes Lionel Eloy, technical director of ThalesRaytheonSystems’ operations in France.The CAOCs are designed to support a concept called the OODA loop (observe-orient-decide- NATO act) which involves continuously commanders observing and reacting to events are studying faster than an enemy, confusing an the possibility opponent and disrupting their plans. of establishing a “The grand vision of ACCS was a single system “Generally, the dynamic training school designed to control the entire air battle using reassessment of the OODA loop is not to serve all the continuous or automatic and requires manual nations involved all the resources – planes, weapons systems, intervention. It will be much smoother in ACCS personnel – available” because when something happens and you Steve duMont, vice-president of NATO business for ThalesRaytheonSystems have to modify your original plan, you have one database that mission planning will write to and systems limited what you could do together. Savings will also accrue from the open mission control will read.” With ACCS, the level of interoperability is standards used in developing ACCS. They will Deployable versions of the two ACCS extremely high.” allow customers to choose which supplier components have also been developed to , That interoperability means that European they use, mixing and matching equipment help NATO members operate outside Europe. 6 500 air defences will be much more resilient in from different sources. Several suppliers A key aspect of the development of ACCS ACCS will future. Not only will one part of the system be worked on the £1bn project in addition to is the Franco/American joint venture. also encompass able to take over if another is damaged, but it lead contractor ThalesRaytheonSystems. “Working on two sides of the ‘pond’ is not around 550 will be possible to orchestrate the defences easy but we could not have developed ACCS external systems of one country from another, if necessary. The system at work without the French and US collaboration,” The degree of integration possible with ACCS consists of two closely integrated notes Duhamel. To ensure balance, each that have a single system using standards such as elements. At the sharp end is a real-time partner has equal numbers of board members 6,500 physical NATO’s Link 16 for interfacing real-time mission execution system known as ARS, and the leadership of the company rotates interfaces data to aircraft, weapons and other systems which combines the Air Control Centre (ACC), between French and American CEOs. between them is likely to have a big impact on costs. Recognised Air Picture (RAP) Production Initially, Thales was responsible for real “From a cost perspective, it is what Centre (RPC) and Sensor Fusion Post (SFP). time elements of the project while Raytheon NATO refers to as smart defence; pooling ARS links posts gathering sensor data with took on the non-real-time aspects of ACCS. funds and resources to achieve a common systems that create the operational picture But the two partners combined their efforts Looking to the future Duhamel. “We have developed a very large techniques with more recent agile operational pool,” says duMont. “You have of what is happening in the battlespace in in France in 2010 to complete the work. With the main development phase of ACCS system, we have successfully organised a methodologies which involve breaking work a single system maintained by a single order to direct NATO aircraft. “The grand vision of ACCS was a single drawing to a close, ThalesRaytheonSystems is Franco-American collaboration and managed into small modules, constantly reviewing service with a common spares pool and Combined Air Operations Centres system designed to control the entire air battle now focusing on contracts to install so-called our internal organisation very effectively.” progress and testing code. sites for operational training.” (CAOCs), on the other hand, deal with using all the resources – planes, weapons replication sites and to help the ACCS nations Since the contract was awarded in 1999, “ACCS has a long history, and the A standard system also has the benefit of non-real-time activities such as planning, systems, personnel – available. The move to the new system. The partnership the company has had to contend with many programme has faced and overcome many reducing the burden of training operators by tasking aircraft and monitoring missions. ThalesRaytheonSystems collaboration gave will be adding new capabilities such as difficulties from changing specifications to challenges. The great news is that all of this is enabling them to use the system in different The effectiveness of ACCS is greatly aided us the ability to achieve this by drawing on the Integrated Air and Missile Defence to protect fast developing technology. Managing the behind us: ACCS is now entering operations countries without the need for extra by the fact that both ARS and CAOCs share technical depth of two of the largest defence against ballistic missiles. There is also the work of the up to 800 engineers assigned to for NATO at a time when it is most needed instruction. NATO commanders are studying a common database. companies on the planet and to reach back into prospect of sales of ACCS derivatives outside the project has also been challenging. by the alliance,” concludes duMont. “And the possibility of establishing a training “We succeeded in managing the their significant domain expertise in the area of NATO; in the Middle East, for example. ThalesRaytheonSystems adopted a mix ThalesRaytheonSystems is very proud to school to serve all the nations involved. diverging constraints on the database, air and missile defence” duMont says. “Our achievements are threefold,” says of classical software development be part of this important programme.” 14 INNOVATIONS: weather satellites 15

Along with telecommunications, meteorology has been In Brief process their information. Among the data sent is a range of one of the principal beneficiaries of the “satellite revolution” Satellites geophysical indicators including wind velocity vectors, cloud 1 have played of the early 1970s. Having become more affordable and an increasingly top height, as well as sea surface temperature along with Weather or not capable of carrying more sophisticated payloads over the important role others. This data is then sent on to national meteorology in meteorology Weather satellites have played a central role in decades, satellites in geostationary and low Earth polar orbits since the 1970s. centres, where they are used to prepare weather forecasts. now continuously monitor the Earth, providing increasingly Space The European system includes geostationary satellites improving the accuracy of meteorological forecasts – valuable and sophisticated information to meteorologists. 2 meteorology (Meteosat) – which provide permanent observation of Europe feeds into a Modern satellites can now deliver to scientists and and Africa and are mainly used for “nowcasting” applications and thus in the protection of goods and people – range of areas, researchers imaging and atmosphere sounding data in the from security (short term weather predictions with particular focus on for decades. As climate change and global warming of goods and visible, infrared and microwave wavelengths. people to air and potentially dangerous, rapidly evolving weather phenomena) became major concerns, the science of climatology Meteorology has benefited enormously from satellites. ground transport – and polar satellites (EPS), which are closer to the Earth and systems and The effort to monitor global weather patterns and produce provide high value inputs to numerical models used for long took centre stage, with climatology satellites infrastructure forecasts is coordinated on an international level through as well as energy term predictions, but with a much lower revisit rate. and agriculture. playing a pivotal role in its progress. the World Weather Watch, a collaborative body that brings together meteorologists and scientists to exchange data Space Making a difference 3 agencies, and models in order to improve forecasts and better Thales Alenia Space has served as a prime contractor on Patrick Mauté, Thales Alenia Space governments predict potentially hazardous weather systems. and industry are the three generations of Meteosat satellites produced using satellite At the European level, the development and use of data in the since the 1970s, as well as prime contractor of the EPS meteorology satellites is led by Eumetsat, which designs fight against Ground Segment and the infrared atmospheric sounding global warming. each mission, exploits the satellites and disseminates interferometer (IASI), the flagship payload instrument their processed data to all European member states, carried on board EPS satellites. in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), In particular, the performance of Meteosat Second Generation, which develops and launches the satellites. which has been orbiting since the early 2000s, is an example of Thales’ At Eumetsat HQ in Darmstadt, Germany, terminals receive expertise and is the standard all other members of the World Weather incoming data from satellites, allowing researchers to geolocate and Watch are aiming to achieve by 2020. 16 INNOVATIONS: weather satellites 17

Studies have shown that, for every euro invested in meteorological space systems, there is an economic Clean SeaNet and Edisoft benefit of more than €10 across the economy For over ten years, Edisoft (a Thales joint venture in Portugal) has developed products and services relating Meteosat Third Generation – or In addition, Jason satellites to Earth observation via MTG – is currently in development have helped deliver exceptionally satellites, with a particular and will gather highly innovative data precise mapping of the main ocean focus on ocean observation. Edisoft has been selected by such as fast imaging multispectral currents – the Gulf Stream and the European Maritime Safety imaging, and, for the first time in EL Niño in particular – which have a Agency as service provider of geostationary orbit, atmosphere major impact on climate evolution. the CleanSeaNet programme, sounding data. This will provide These observations help scientist which provides EU member invaluable information about potentially better understand the interactions states with analysis of satellite images for monitoring and dangerous and rapid phenomena like between the oceans and our detecting illegal or accidental hurricanes and typhoons. climate, and to build models to salting out of fuel in territorial As an integral part of the low Earth predict future evolutions. waters. This is based on data orbit system, IASI (which has been The performance achieved received by the ground station included in all Eumetsat low Earth by Thales Alenia Space in space of Santa Maria (Azores) from instruments on board satellites orbit satellites since 2006) has led to a altimetry is such that they are such as RADARSAT-2, and huge breakthrough in numerical now acknowledged to be the previously Envisat and weather forecasting. Use of IASI has undisputed leader in this domain, RADARSAT-1. Sentinel 1, allowed researchers to significantly and their instruments are now the first satellite of the improve the time horizon of their deployed by all main space Copernicus system, is due to be commissioned for this forecasts. IASI is a sophisticated agencies across the world. purpose soon. infrared Michelson interferometer, More recently, Thales Alenia which provides high spectral resolution Space also announced that it has been The view from above: (far left) Satellite image of land surface temperatures from a heatwave that affected most of Spain and Portugal in 2004; (left) coloured information on the vertical structure of the selected by the Centre National d’Etudes satellite image of the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica; (below) coloured Landsat 7 image of Von Karman vortices in clouds over the Aleutian Islands. atmospheric temperature and humidity, with s Spatiales (CNES) in France to build the unprecedented accuracy. 1970 Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) an extensive initiative called the in the Earth’s gravitational field, and thus ocean Last but not least, governments, Space meteorology now plays a huge Thales Alenia Space oceanographic satellite. Copernicus programme. Thanks to this circulation, with an unprecedented level of space agencies and industry are role in the global economy. The information has served as a prime The SWOT project comprises both permanent monitoring effort, the so accuracy. Its precision was such that it could already actively preparing for the future it provides feeds into a range of areas, from contractor on the three oceanography and hydrology elements. called Copernicus “Sentinels”, will help have detected the impact of a new skyscraper fight against global warming. France will security of goods and people, air and ground For oceanography, the satellite will provide scientists measure the evolution of long on the Earth’s gravitational field. shortly host the COP21, a United Nations transport systems and infrastructure as well generations of Meteosat measurements of ocean surface and wave term climate parameters, and to understand Climate change conference. This is as energy and agricultural planning. Several satellites produced height with higher resolution than previous associated physical phenomena. intended to achieve a legally binding comprehensive economic studies have shown since the 1970s Jason satellites. This data will then be used to Once again, Thales Alenia Space is universal agreement on climate and to that, for every euro invested in meteorological analyse and understand the effects of coastal playing a vital role in the programme. develop new tools in the effort to reduce space systems, there is an economic benefit One of the main breakthroughs in circulation on marine life, ecosystems, water Some of the main achievements include: greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. of more than €10 across the economy. climatology was provided by the Jason quality and energy transfers. As a result Meanwhile, CNES is already satellites, developed for CNES, the French scientists should gain more accurate models Sentinel-1: the Copernicus flagship developing an advanced satellite to

Climate change and impact space agency, as part of a cooperative of the interactions between oceans and satellite for maritime surveillance. accurately measure CO2 content in the More recently, as concerns over climate programme with NASA. The Jason satellites the atmosphere. Sentinel-3: devoted to operational atmosphere, which is the first step towards change have grown more urgent, space fly a payload devoted to ultra-accurate Meanwhile the hydrology mission will oceanography, it flies a suite of ultra- implementing a global CO2 control and agencies and industry have undertaken Ocean altimetry, and as such have provided evaluate continental surface water, to accurate instruments suite for altimetry, compensation system. Of course Thales huge efforts to better monitor the Earth’s a wealth of information to climatology study changes in water storage in humid ocean colour monitoring and sea surface has been an active player in this project environment and understand the underlying scientists. In particular, they have reported zones, lakes and reservoirs, as well as flow temperature measurement. since its inception, running ambitious phenomena. Thales Alenia Space satellites that the mean sea level has risen over the rates in rivers. Sentinel-6: will provide the continuity R&D programmes, as well as sponsoring are at the forefront of this effort, deploying last 20 years (more than 3mm per year For its part, ESA, in collaboration of service after JASON-3. scientists involved in the research effort. cutting edge technologies and techniques to during the last decade, whereas it was with the European Commission, has GOCE satellite: launched as part of the This will be our next challenge in the help scientists understand how the earth’s estimated to be about 1.7mm per year on decided to tackle the issue of permanent ESA Earth Explorers programme and has field of climatology and environment climate is changing. average over the last century). earth environment monitoring by launching helped scientists measure local variations monitoring from space. 18 INNOVATIONS: Robots 19

In Brief Manufacturers have long dreamed Sales of 1 industrial of mobile, multi-purpose robots robots are now at record levels, capable of performing any task. with unit sales Could “cobots” be the answer? going over 200,000 in 2014 for the first time. Cobots – 2 collaborative robots – are adaptable, mobile and Robots designed to work with people. Robotics and unchained 3 cobotics are about boosting John Coutts competitiveness and facilitating growth, not about replacing working people. It’s now more than 50 years since the world’s first industrial robot clocked on for work at GM’s Ternstedt car plant in Trenton, New Jersey in the United States. Fast forward to 2015 and robots have all but conquered the global automotive industry. Sales of industrial robots are now at record levels. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), 2014 saw unit sales of robots exceed 200,000 for the first time, up more than 27 per cent on the previous year. Demand, which is greatest in China and South Korea, is being driven primarily by the automotive and electronics industries. Large industrial robots are normally bolted to the factory floor and caged to protect the workforce. These tethered giants, prized for their precision, speed and ability to repeat the same task endlessly, require a huge level of capital investment. As a consequence, they are largely confined to high-volume assembly lines. But that could all be about to change. “There are several factors that are really drawing our attention at the moment,” says Jean-Philippe Jahier, director of Innovation and Industrialisation of New Technologies with Thales Alenia Space-France. “The first is that off-the-shelf robotic components are becoming very affordable – you can acquire a robotic arm for around €60,000. The second factor is the development of cobotics: robotic systems that can work safely alongside humans.”

Rise of the cobots Cobots – collaborative robots – are a recent development. Unlike the majority of industrial robots, cobots are adaptable, mobile and designed to work with people. They’re attracting the attention of industry because they’re easy to deploy and put the power of robotics within reach of low-volume manufacturers for the first time. “Flexibility is one of the cornerstones of cobotics,” says Jahier. “Conventional industrial robots are often dedicated to a single function. But with cobotics, it’s more like having a Swiss Army knife: by changing tools, you can adapt a cobot for 20 INNOVATIONS: Robots 21

“Off-the-shelf robotic components are becoming very affordable – you can acquire a robotic arm for around €60,000” Jean-Philippe Jahier, director of Innovation and Industrialisation of New Technologies with Thales Alenia Space-France

different tasks quickly. The capability to move within the factory between A vision for robots different applications is very exciting Spotting the next big thing in robotics emphasises Bonnell. “We don’t yet and opens up new doors for us.” is an art as much as a science. What know how to make sophisticated One of the breakthroughs do investors look for? Bruno Bonnell robots work without an external power with cobots is that they learn by is head of Robolution Capital, a supply. We are still at the foetal stage imitation: “Instead of needing Paris-based private equity firm that of robotics and we need to find a way focuses on the development of robotics. to cut the umbilical cord.” specialised programmers, the As well making short work of time- Picking winners, he says, means There’s also the question of the end user is able to teach the cobot consuming tasks, cobots make light work focusing on three key criteria. extent to which robots should be allowed how to perform a given gesture,” of awkward lifting operations by offering “The first thing we look for is what to think for themselves. “I think we have explains Jahier. “This is important, an intelligent “third hand”. we call ‘hypertechnology’ – a proposal to be careful with this obsessive fight for because it empowers operators “Even if you’re assembling very fragile has to be disruptive, not simply an artificial intelligence,” cautions Bonnell. improvement of something that’s “Aside from the ethical and practical on the shop floor. It’s also socially objects, the cobotic third hand can help the already on the market,” says Bonnell. problems, it’s just much more efficient important, because the person operator by lifting and holding components Technology must also meet customer to have humans controlling robots.” using the tool is able to shape it in exactly the right place while you go to expectations – without exceptions and Where next for robots? Transport to his own usage.” fetch the missing tool,” says Jahier. with no excuses: “It has to be non- will be a major axis of development, As one of the world’s Robots capable of moving around the deceptive. For example, some of the thinks Bonnell. automatic cars we have analysed “The self-driving car will be one leading satellite and payload factory floor on their own are still a relative depend on video. My first question is: of the next key evolutions. By 2030, manufacturers, Thales Alenia rarity. But, as with autonomous cars, what if there’s fog or it’s dark? If a car the idea of driving a car yourself will Space invests continuously to mobilising robots raises new questions. How can’t work in these conditions, it’s seem ridiculous if not forbidden.” optimise production. Launched do you avoid collisions? And who’s in charge? absolutely useless.” Aviation is also likely to become earlier this year, the company’s Low travel speeds, coupled with the Robotic solutions must be easy to increasingly automated. “Leaving deploy and easy to use. That means control of aircraft exclusively to pilots “Tomorrow’s Factory” initiative cobot’s ability to learn and respond to its delivering disruptive technology with is going to be a problem. I think we’re underlines this commitment, surroundings, means the risk of collision minimum disruption. going to see much more emphasis on with an emphasis on combining is minimal. “It has to be easy to implement automatic flying, with crews providing The world’s first industrial robot was set to work in 1961 at GM’s Ternstedt car plant in Trenton, New Jersey in the without drilling, cabling or tearing emergency backup,” says Bonnell. state-of-the-art technologies, United States, and changed the automotive industry forever. “They’re capable of scouting their such as robotics and cobotics, environment and they can be programmed up your living room,” says Bonnell. The biggest change, though, could “The same principle applies in industry: be the rise of teleoperation with people with human expertise. the place where you work,” explains Jahier. to stop or move around obstacles,” points “Instead of if you have to make huge changes to controlling machines at a distance. The need for innovation in satellite needing specialised “The cobot selects the components out Jahier. And by extending existing ID your infrastructure, it won’t work.” “You can see the beginnings of production is being brought into focus by required for the job and these are given and authentication techniques, it’s possible With a track record in technology this with telepresence,” says Bonnell. major changes in the space market. One of programmers, the end to the operator a few minutes before work to ensure that only authorised users get stretching back more than 30 years, “Extending this approach allows us to these is the growing momentum behind what user is able to teach the is due to start. This is a key issue as regards to issue commands. “The robot will only Bonnell’s career included eight years routinely drive and operate machines as CEO of the computer games remotely in hazardous conditions, such is being described as the “internet in space”, cobot how to perform the efficiency of the production flow.” interact with somebody who’s already business Atari – an experience as beneath the sea or in harsh desert the idea of delivering broadband connectivity a given gesture. This Getting cobots to select components from logged in. If you want to alter the execution he says was invaluable. or polar environments. The key is on earth using satellite networks. This will is important, because the parts bin has other advantages. Using its sequence or change the operation, you “There’s a natural link between combining the performance of robots require the deployment of huge constellations it empowers operators built-in camera, a cobot can check components will have to log in again.” gaming and robotics,” observes Bonnell. with the intelligence of people.” of small satellites and will trigger demand for for damage and even measure them. Despite the productivity gains promised “The idea of projecting yourself into a different environment, and then satellite production on a scale not previously on the shop floor” “This eliminates a lot of errors – it’s by cobots, Jahier stresses that these robot manipulating it, was born seen in the space industry. Jahier envisages a number of shop floor difficult for a human operator to tell if a screw recruits will be designed to assist, rather in the gaming industry. “Shifting from building a single applications for cobotic assistance. One of is 5mm too long or too short, for example, but than replace, the existing workforce. Today, this principle communications satellite in 30 months to these is “kitting”: the painstaking job of for a cobot, it’s not a problem,” says Jahier. “You cannot imagine a factory with underpins everything rolling out a satellite every two days is a big assembling all the components needed to Cobots also know where components 1,000 robots and one person deciding from drone operation to robotic surgery.” change,” says Jahier. “If you want to address carry out a given production task. have come from. This information can be everything,” he emphasises. “Robotics Stumbling blocks the large constellation market, with satellites “Efficient kitting is important and it’s collected for quality assurance purposes and and cobotics are about boosting remain. “Energy is the in the hundreds, you have no choice but to linked to the concept of lean operations. fed directly to the back-office system to competitiveness and consolidating number one by far,” deploy robotic or cobotic assistance.” The idea is to minimise disorder near to assist in compliance and inventory control. growth – not reducing the headcount.” 22 INNOVATIONS: Rafale 23

The Rafale is the most advanced combat aircraft of its generation. 7

5 Defence of the realm 4 1 8 Since the dawn of military aviation more than electronics systems and equipment. Among a century ago, combat aircraft have been judged other things, these allow the pilot to gather and on the basis of their speed, agility and firepower. share high-resolution imagery, target guided Today, it’s not just muscle that matters, but also weapons with pinpoint accuracy and defend the flexibility and intelligence. aircraft from hostile actions. Thales also provides Changing operational requirements the electronics for some of the missiles equipped mean that combat planes must be capable of by the Rafale. performing a wide range of different tasks, from In tandem with this, the Rafale supports reconnaissance to air defence and precision pilots with an unprecedented level of “data fusion” strikes. They must also be capable of conducting – combining information from all the different several different missions in the same sortie. systems and sensors to build a comprehensive The Rafale “omnirole” fighter is designed tactical picture to assist in decision making. The 6 to meet these needs. Advanced avionics Rafale’s on-board electronics systems, equipment hold the key: from nose to tail, the aircraft and sensors are supplied by Thales and account is equipped with an array of sophisticated for about 25 per cent of the plane’s value.

1 Spectra electronic both warm and humid conditions. TALIOS – a combined head-up/head an updated version of DAMOCLES – is an level display, lateral displays The only totally warfare suite optronic multifunction pod that employs the and a helmet-mounted sight display. Spectra is the first line of defence for the latest generation of high-resolution sensors “omnirole” Rafale aircraft, identifying, locating and and high precision line-of-sight stabilisation, aircraft in the jamming electromagnetic, infrared and 6 AESA RBE2 allowing for deep strikes with long-range The Active Electronically Scanned Array 3 laser threats. Multi-spectral sensors and world, able to missiles and bombs to air-to-air target (AESA) RBE2 antenna is a multifunction smart data fusion offer high-sensitivity operate from a identification and close air support. It radar system that provides coverage over detection. Spectra’s multiple threat includes Non-Traditional Information, long ranges. AESA RBE2 is automatic capability, including missile approach land base or an Surveillance and Reconnaissance (NTISR) and highly versatile, sorting and ranking warning and decoy dispenser, helps to aircraft carrier capabilities and the Permanent Vision tracked targets, and allowing the pilot ensure success in hostile environments. 2 system provides wide-angle vision and to track multiple targets while scanning. critical contextual information. It is the first active operational European 2 AREOS radar antenna, and provides air-to-air Thales’ Airborne REconnaissance 4 Communication and air-to-surface capabilities. Air Force, which has Observation System – AREOS – provides Smarter planes announced it will acquire rapid day/night imagery intelligence (IMINT) Navigation the Rafale omnirole combat 7 Front Sector Thales is to lead the upgrade for reconnaissance and identification in any Identification suite of the radar, electronic aircraft. A total of 24 aircraft warfare, and identification will be delivered under a weather conditions. AREOS gathers high- Secure state-of-the-art communication, Optronics (FSO) and support systems used in contract between Qatar and definition imagery at long range and across a navigation and identification capabilities Thales’ FSO includes extensive IT French fighter planes under provide enhanced imaging Dassault Aviation. Thales is a wide area, with information transmitted from capability with laser electro-optics for passive Export successes covering every operational need, including the terms of a contract to and engagement capabilities The Rafale has enjoyed member of the Rafale team air to ground via a high-capacity data link. long-range target detection for air, sea and ECCM (used to combat electronic develop a new performance under day and night a string of major with Dassault Aviation and countermeasures), IFF (identification ground targets, designation and identification, standard for the Rafale conditions. Both the Rafale international successes in Snecma (Safran). 3 DAMOCLES friend or foe) and tactical data links. all fully integrated into the aircraft. It allows combat aircraft. and the Mirage 2000D can recent months, beginning The official signing the pilot to spot enemy aircraft without being The F3 R standard, be equipped with the TALIOS with Egypt signing up to ceremony was held in the and TALIOS detected and is immune to radar jamming launched earlier this year, pod. The programme will buy 24 Rafale omnirole Qatari capital Doha in the Thales’ third-generation laser designation 5 Advanced because it operates in optical wavelengths. will play a vital part in also see the integration of combat aircraft in February presence of the Emir of the pod, DAMOCLES, provides weapons Man Machine ensuring aircraft are the European Meteor 2015. And after many State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim guidance and a full suite of sensors for 8 Modular Data continuously improved long-range air-to-air missile months of discussion, bin Hamad Al Thani, the navigation and air-to-air target identification. Interface (MMI) to keep pace with changing produced by MBDA. The India has also signed a President of the French It provides day/night recognition of targets at Thales’ powerful visualisation tools Processing Unit operational requirements. equipment and solutions Letter of Intent to purchase Republic, François Hollande, medium range, as well as long-distance provide instant situational awareness A powerful mission computer providing The upgrade will include developed by Thales include 36 “ready-to-fly” Rafale Dassault Aviation Chairman reconnaissance capability. The pod’s infrared for the pilot and support well-informed all-sensor data fusion and enabling multiple deployment of Thales’ RBE2 active and passive for the Indian Air Force. and CEO, Eric Trappier and sensor is designed to perform effectively in tactical decisions. The MMI solution includes mission reconfigurations. TALIOS next generation laser antennae, Spectra, IFF and The latest contract Thales Chairman and CEO, designation pod. This will maintenance support. comes from the Qatar Emiri Patrice Caine.

24 INNOVATIONS: Light Footprint Strategy 25

From Napoleon’s organisational and command structures to Henry Ford using his “troops” on the production line, there has always been an overlap between military and In Brief There has business thinking. Now a new “Light Footprint Strategy” 1 been a is challenging how businesses operate from the ground up. longstanding overlap in strategic thinking between military and business. The “Light 2 Footprint A lighter Strategy” offers a new and efficient approach to business in an touch in business increasingly fragmented world. Christian Doherty Richard Gleed At its best, 3a “Light Footprint Strategy” allows companies to It’s not surprising that the boardroom and the A new approach spot trouble or failure quickly military academy have looked to each other for “In the post-invasion phase, the military moved and move on. inspiration, given the pressures of commanding to a Light Footprint strategy,” explains Bouée. large numbers of people, marshalling limited “The underlying principles of Light Footprint were resources and handling an aggressive competitor. designed to help a modern organisation negotiate its The latest example of this cross fertilisation is way through the new VUCA world. Those principles what Charles-Édouard Bouée calls the “Light encompassed technology, organisation and culture.” Footprint Strategy”. Bouée’s career in management consulting has taken him from Société Générale and Technology: The strategy focuses on lighter Booz Allen Hamilton to his current role as CEO of weapons, better communications and fewer Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. Bouée, who men on the ground. Systems are more automated, now spends his time between Shanghai, Munich drones and networks came to the fore and and Paris, has developed a theory of Light Footprint intelligence and information are the most management, which he says borrows directly from valuable commodities. military developments of the past decade. “In 1995, the US Army War College in Carlisle, Organisation: It also calls for the company Pennsylvania developed a course for the generals that to be organised in a modular way, akin to small focused on the emerging global environment,” Bouée elite commando or Special Forces units – “In other explains. “The course was called VUCA – which stood words, away from all-powerful executive command for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. The structures to self-governing, interdisciplinary world wasn’t living under those conditions yet, but the modules,” says Bouée. The individual parts of the US military could see that things were changing and company are interdisciplinary and largely that they needed to be prepared.” autonomous, and coordinated by a central body. The US Army’s “shock and awe” strategy in the In addition, the light footprint company relies Iraq war in 2003 was, in part, a reaction to this new heavily on alliances with other organisations – world view. Overwhelming force was used to defeat spotting potential partners, assessing the likely disparate enemy combatants and eliminate their points of mutual interest and sharing the risk of a means of retaliation. This approach required strict venture by pooling resources where appropriate. command structure, power concentrated at the The current fight against ISIS in Syria, Iraq and top and a big in-country commitment in materiel, beyond is a perfect example: the US and its partners logistics and authority. are allying with local forces, sharing intelligence But then the situation changed. Shock and awe and recognising where partners may offer better tactics were not sustainable and the situation on the expertise and letting them proceed. Crucially ground demanded a different response – something though, the strategy does still feature heavy more targeted, faster and streamlined. And thus a investment and conventional forces in order new, modern military doctrine was born. to produce the necessary response. 26 INNOVATIONS: Light Footprint Strategy 27 1995 In 1995, the US Army War College Culture: This is where several seemingly in Carlisle, Pennsylvania contradictory factors come into play: developed a course for “Light footprint demands greater openness and transparency, connecting people and the generals that giving up on the old doctrine. If you look at the focused on the corporate world, that’s in line with companies emerging global like Uber and Airbnb,” says Bouée. environment “But at the same time, if you have an open model, then you still need to be secretive and protective of your intelligence. That’s important, functionality which allows them to change because with light footprint you’re not telling quickly – people are launching apps every day your opponent ‘I’m going to set off a drone and adding to the mix, and the developments strike at 5pm’. Under shock and awe, you could in cloud technology mean that buying what signal your intentions because it didn’t matter you need when you need it makes you more – it was just a matter of time before you would agile and responsive.” topple them, and they knew you were coming.” Now, as more start-ups grow using light footprint principles and more established For Pierre-Jean Lassalle, a former officer businesses seek to incorporate aspects of it of the French Special Forces now leading in their own operations, the opportunities are business development for defense activities growing. For Thales, this means using its at Thales Communications & Security, as well expertise to help its defence and security as controlling the flow of intelligence, the clients build a secure and successful light most important aspect of light footprint, footprint strategy. especially in terms of its corporate application, “The logistics of light footprint operations is what he calls the “matching effect”. involve more back office activity, either on “The military footprint is intended to match site or in a neighbouring country, or even in the ‘effect’ sought, and businesses could country in specialised local regional hubs learn a lot from this,” he explains. “This may “In five to ten years, I think everyone will be need to be careful in the choices you make.” ‘I want to invest in Egypt – it’s a good country, (eg via radio),” says Lassalle. “This requires a mean smaller teams carrying less equipment incorporating some elements of Light Footprint Light footprint has also helped Thales move with good prospects, it’s stable and so on. new model and expanded services. It means but it can also be applied to the ‘political Strategy in their business. It allows companies on from a classic centralised export approach I’ll invest and build a factory and make all the more electronics and communications, and footprint’.” As Lassalle explains, the risks of to mitigate risk and helps them prosper” to new markets: “It is a complex challenge money back over 30 years’. Today, that’s not is therefore more vulnerable. The industrial over-committing to a project have been Charles-Édouard Bouée, CEO, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and there are more players in the market, going to work. The country may become skills of organisations like Thales are needed demonstrated by the US military, proving that but Thales is able to take advantage of the chaotic overnight, so you need to be able to to ensure the security of such operations.” limiting your “footprint” in a volatile market managers in territories like the Middle East,” principles. As a company that has recognised footprint we have by working locally. Thales move your capex away from there quickly. However, Bouée points out that, as with can protect against overexposure to risk. he explains. “And when we talk about VUCA the importance of emerging markets, he in France or Spain or Germany may have “As a consequence, in some companies every other successful strategy, it won’t be Christian Malis, director of Prospective – it’s fair to say that, even though the world says, using a lighter footprint is bringing real a different angle to approaching a market today, 30 to 40 per cent of their capex is long before the competition works out how Stratégique et Internationale Direction is volatile, it’s not quite that bad in business. benefits in a number of ways, not least and that can help elsewhere by sharing mobile – they can dismantle the factory, to adapt it to their own ends: “Like any military Stratégie with Research and Technology It doesn’t change from one day to another through forging alliances. the information across the networks. sever the alliance and move on quickly. This is strategy, light footprint is designed to help at Thales, agrees there are several – the competition doesn’t become a “The trick is finding the right partner. It’s a good formula to have different access a very different mindset from before; you can you cope with a challenging environment,” interesting parallels with how companies challenger overnight. It takes a long time That’s not easy and can take time, especially points in markets across the world.” spot trouble or failure quickly and move on.” he says. “In five to ten years, I think everyone can be better organised. for that to happen, especially in a sector in big countries like Brazil or Nigeria, but if you Bouée has already seen this change This same approach can be applied to will be incorporating some elements of this “When we talk about small teams like defence. But we have to remain agile can strike a good alliance, it can be really taking place, and uses the example of a technology: whereas many businesses once strategy in their business. It allows companies being well trained, we’re talking about in order to respond to changing conditions.” successful. It’s also important to say that to large international company seeking out had big mainframe ERP systems, they are to mitigate risk and helps them prosper. It also agile and well structured units being Malis has played a role in helping Thales make partnerships there needs to be mutual new markets: “Back in the ‘shock and awe’ more modular in the light footprint era, says gives older businesses a way to become more deployed, especially with key account explore its own adoption of light footprint trust. The partner needs to be competent; you era 20 or 30 years ago, a leader might say, Bouée: “They can add and subtract new agile and grab new opportunities.” 28 INNOVATIONS: In-Flight Entertainment 29

The upshot of installing the best possible IFEC technology is that airlines can derive more revenue, either by selling connectivity or offering ancillary products and travel services through state- of-the-art IFEC systems IFEC

Above the clouds In-flight entertainment once amounted to little more than a magazine and, for the lucky few, a strictly scheduled movie broadcast through the tinniest of headphones. Today, in-flight entertainment is undergoing a new burst of innovation as it keeps pace with the giant leaps being made in consumer tech.

Brendan Scott

To understand where the in-flight entertainment and connectivity In Brief market is heading, it’s important to look at where it has been. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that in-seat systems offering on-demand video and In-flight 1 entertainment radio first emerged and a good number of years later that such features and comms became commonplace. systems have moved beyond “In-flight entertainment began as a very vertical market,” says Fred the basic Schreiner, chief technical officer, Thales InFlyt Experience. “That vertical “food and a film” model. has evolved over the past few decades with improvements in size, Innovations weight and power, and we are now adding connectivity.” 2 in technology The hardware used to meet passengers’ entertainment needs mean that passengers became more efficient with the introduction of smarter communications can enjoy a and data transmissions systems. This is partly thanks to advancements wide range of options made in technologies used by the airplanes themselves to communicate whenever over ethernet bus networks. It also has much to do with harvesting they want while in flight. features that have underpinned the boom in tablets and smartphones, from compact memory to HD displays and high-speed microprocessors. Tomorrow’s 3systems will However, physical advances are only half of the story. only improve, “The software became more modular with more open architecture and offering higher resolution and then came applications, so it developed and matured in a vertical sense. This brighter graphic was followed by the explosion of connectivity and the proliferation of tablets, user interfaces. 30 INNOVATIONS: In-Flight Entertainment

In France, the state railway operator SNCF is looking to equip its high speed TGV trains with wireless internet access “For all aspects of travel, Wi-Fi and and all of the infrastructure and technology railway operator SNCF is looking to equip its This expansion of available bandwidth is connectivity are now advances that came with that. The IFEC high speed TGV trains with wireless internet totally transforming the in-flight experience. becoming mainstream. business opportunity combines the classic access. Airlines would do well to follow suit. In addition to conventional connectivity, That is not the case in-flight entertainment vertical market with “For all other aspects of travel – from allowing passengers to surf the web and for most flights. the connected world,” says Schreiner. ground transport to the hotel – Wi-Fi and access the cloud, data-heavy services such That is one of the To ensure that Thales InFlyt Experience’s connectivity are now becoming mainstream,” as television streaming are now becoming systems are as accessible and user-friendly says Lebunetel. “That is not the case for most a reality. Thales has been making serious biggest differences as possible, in 2012 the decision was taken flights. That is one of the biggest differences in-roads in this area since acquiring LiveTV between airlines and to adopt Google’s Android operating system between airlines and all other components in 2014, now integrated as the Connectivity all other components for Thales’ own systems. Not only does this of business travel.” & TV business segment of Thales InFlyt of business travel” make them familiar to passengers, the open As far as in-flight connectivity is Experience (see box). Vincent Lebunetel, head of innovation source platform means that apps built by concerned, the US is a clear frontrunner. More Several hundred planes flown by at Carlson Wagonlit Travel airlines and software developers can easily of its flights are offering connectivity and they JetBlue, WestJet, Frontier Airlines, Virgin be integrated into Thales’ entertainment tend to provide greater bandwidth to users, Australia, United Airlines and Azul Brazilian and productivity suite. particularly on domestic routes. This is largely Airline are already equipped with LiveTV’s fully harness the potential of in-flight retail. employ processors whose circuit boards the widest pipe of bandwidth possible to because those routes tend to be shorter haul in-seat displays. Carriers such as Virgin America and Japan have a consistent footprint, making it easy meet the growing demands of passengers, A changing perspective and so use air-to-ground (ATG) technologies. According to Schreiner, the company’s Airlines offer duty free through their in-seat to replace them with faster iterations who are quickly coming to expect the very Just as the technology is evolving, so too Clearly, when passing over vast stretches streaming service is fully operational in the and Wi-Fi systems, while passengers on as and when they are released. same service available at their hotels and are people’s attitudes to flying. Now more of ocean, ATG is not an option, and today’s US, while it is being flight-trialled in Europe Lufthansa’s A321s can make purchases On the connectivity side, the coming in their homes as when they are flying at than ever, travellers want and expect their Ku-band satellite technology is slow by via Spanish airline Vueling. from their seats to be delivered to their door. years will be about ensuring access to 30,000 feet. The only way is up for air travel. journeys to be as seamless as possible. comparison and relatively expensive because LiveTV and Thales are an ideal match. In-flight retail has huge potential. Not long ago, the flight alone was considered it is shared by fewer users. Ku-band was Where LiveTV’s expertise lies in retrofitting Naturally, an airplane full of customers Going live the journey. Now it is seen as one link in the developed with the domestic user in mind and the narrowbody market, around 80 per cent shopping online via near-field and Wi-Fi In 2014, Thales acquired “We had leveraged are up and running, explains chain, explains Vincent Lebunetel, head of so is not best suited to connecting airplanes of Thales’ IFE business is line-fit, its systems signals presents inherent security challenges. LiveTV from Jet Blue. Thales’ swift broadband Mike Moeller, vice-president innovation at Carlson Wagonlit Travel. cruising at speeds of 500mph or more. installed on new, predominantly widebody In this respect, Thales is at a significant The tech firm specialises setup, which is an L-band of business development. “Today, you want to go from your office This is where Thales’ relationship with aircraft at the factory. advantage, having cemented a track record in in equipping airplanes with satellite, but the acquisition “The beauty of the in-seat screens, connectivity filled in that capability with Thales acquisition is the in London to your meeting place in New York. Inmarsat comes in. Last year, the two signed The new A350 is a case in point, merchant services that includes developing services and live television Ka-band technology and complementarity of diverse Travellers expect to be able to book all of an agreement making Thales a value-added explains Patrick Candelier, head of Airbus point of sale card payment terminals. streaming. Passengers using helped to complete our capabilities; we can now those components in one go – air is just reseller of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) cabin services marketing: “With the A350, Thales’ IFEC systems can services with the addition expand our offering to all one piece of that,” says Lebunetel. satellite bandwidth. This is the first of its we wanted to leapfrog the existing quality What does the future hold for IFEC? now access more than of in-seat displays and the markets, making us the Connectivity is of particular importance kind to offer broadband speeds of up to of service for the passenger. We worked In terms of hardware, tomorrow’s systems 100 channels of live streaming of live television smart choice for the satellite programming. shows. It was a great connected airline. to the business traveller. Whereas 49Mbps using Ka-band technology. with Thales and Panasonic to jointly develop will offer higher resolution and brighter “At a top level, match for us and “You need a lot of consumers may be content occupying “Our approach is to embrace the a fourth generation of IFE. The result of this graphic user interfaces (GUIs), with hardware the deal gave the integration scale to be successful themselves en route to two weeks of sun, technology that best fits the business complementary work is a truly improved designs hewing closely to the interiors of Thales InFlyt is going well.” in this space and that’s sea and sand, for the business traveller, model of the airline,” says William Huot- and differentiated IFE architecture that new-build aircraft. This will entail working Experience LiveTV something we didn’t productivity is essential. A recent survey Marchand, vice president of global sales means a better viewing experience for closely with seat manufacturers, as well business had established previously have,” says significant itself as a leader Moeller. “With Thales’ conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel at Thales InFlyt Experience. “For an airline the passenger and a more economical as airlines to incorporate their evolving and immediate in retrofitting weight behind us and with measured stress triggers and found that a taking regional routes, we will provide system for the airlines.” branding into the GUIs. capabilities narrowbody fleets the desire to be a leader in lack of internet connection was the second regional connectivity and for long range One of the biggest challenges will be in aircraft in the US and the this space, we can now do biggest concern for business travellers, and international routes, we have The sky’s the limit keeping up with the rapid pace of consumer connectivity,” only operator with things we would never have behind only the loss of baggage. Inmarsat’s dedicated global Ka network.” The upshot of installing the best possible tech, which sees next generation tablets says Schreiner. 350 Ka-band systems that been able to do before.” Governments have taken note: early Not only that, having options allows for IFEC technology is that airlines can derive and phones released annually. Schreiner in 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron intelligent routing. If an aircraft can hook up to more revenue, either by selling connectivity says this is where future-proofing is essential In 2014, Thales acquired LiveTV from American pledged to invest £50m in free Wi-Fi access both ATG and satellite access, it can optimise or offering ancillary products and travel in order to incorporate new technology airline Jet Blue. The tech firm specialises in across the UK’s train network from 2017 to the best connection at the lowest cost to the services through state-of-the-art IFEC without footing huge recurring costs. For equipping airplanes with in-seat screens and promote business. In France, the state end user, offering them more choice. systems. As it stands, airlines have yet to example, Thales’ existing IFEC systems connectivity services 32 INNOVATIONS: Transcity 33 On the move Of the many advantages Operators of public transport systems across • UP: back-office system that manages of the system, the world are always on the lookout for ways interoperability and supports compensation to improve passenger experience while keeping and settlement operations between transport it will remove costs under control and maintaining efficiency. agencies, processes payment transactions and the need for Recent developments in smartphone and cloud integrates with banking systems. It is modular passengers technology have added two important tools to and scalable, and can be used either in transport to have a that effort, and Thales has harnessed the latest agency data centres or hosted on the cloud, system- tech to offer operators a genuine step forward in offering resources on demand. specific travel how they collect fares and run their system. card, making The central principles of the TransCity concept Additionally, the use of Big Data and analytics in it easier for are flexibility, convenience and responsiveness. public transport systems has grown in recent cities to The system will allow passengers to pay their fares years. Some cities have introduced journey in a range of ways and will encourage users to pay mapping through the use of smart cards in order collect fares with contactless banks cards and smartphones to understand traffic flow and demand cycles. efficiently via the use of near-field communication. Many operators have already used the data from visitors. Of the many advantages of the system, gathered through their card systems to gain a it will remove the need for passengers to have a better understanding of passenger behaviour. system-specific travel card, making it easier for Plans for the future include increasing the capacity cities to collect fares efficiently from visitors. Cities for real-time analytics and working on integrating with high numbers of tourists in particular will an even wider range of data sources, to better plan benefit from TransCity by eliminating queues of services and inform customers. visitors confused as to which travel card to buy. TransCity builds on these foundations to help It will also allow operators to customise tariffs operators monitor critical periods to better easier as well as reducing the need to invest in accommodate travellers’ needs such as regulating large amounts of ticketing infrastructure in stations. train traffic or entrance-exit configuration. The use of cloud computing will also change The launch of TransCity comes at an opportune the infrastructure of fare collection. Traditional fare time. The market for ticketing technology and systems store payment information and other data solutions is growing at a rapid rate. According to a on cards. With TransCity, that data will be stored on recent estimate, the Smart Transportation market servers, meaning that access to data will be reached US$45.05bn in 2014 and is expected seamless. The system has five core areas: to reach $104.19bn by 2019 – a CAGR of 18.3 per cent between 2014 and 2019. • Collect: ticket gates and control devices process TransCity is currently being rolled out at a number transactions with different payment methods of sector conferences across the world and has such as contactless cards or tickets, bank cards, already attracted interest from ID cards, smartphones, bar codes (printed or on several cities. Bordeaux Urban mobile phone screens). Community awarded Thales a • Select: top-ups and multichannel sales options 10-year contract in December 2014 to install a new for tickets, including vending machines, post multi-media fare collection system by 2017 covering offices, call centres, mobile payments, online. its light rail, bus and ferry network, and this will • View: intelligent, pluggable, scalable monitoring include the passenger monitoring element of system to oversee the entire ticketing system, TransCity. Thales has also signed a new contract to from individual components to a national level. modernise the ticketing system for Gautrain in • Open: simple and economical small to medium South Africa, as the operator has expressed its size back-office ticketing system. desire to move to contactless bank card payment. 34 INNOVATIONS: humanitarian Technology 35

In his new book, Digital Humanitarians: How Big Data that conventional search and rescue operations were is Changing the Face of Humanitarian Action, Patrick Meier limited. Into the breach stepped the Humanitarian explores how technology can be a game changer across the In Brief UAV Network, an organisation supported by Meier and The human equation The use of world’s disaster zones. A leading expert on humanitarian others working in the field. Working closely with the Disaster relief is no longer limited to food, water, medication and evacuation. 1 technology technology and innovation, Meier runs iRevolutions, an in humanitarian Australian Defence Force and the local authorities, In the wake of large scale incidents, technology is proving to be a vital ally, efforts is on the NGO devoted to bringing together tech pioneers to tackle rise around the the UAV team set up its multi-rotor UAVs to fly over as expert and author Patrick Meier explains in his latest book. humanitarian crises. world, making the affected areas. a significant “Within 24 hours of the first tremors in Nepal, the UN Meier explains that the drones weren’t simply difference. Christian Doherty asked us to initiate AIDR and MicroMappers so that we reporting basic data back to base. Far from it, in fact. While basics could immediately begin gathering tweets related to the 2 such as “Oblique imagery [captured from UAVs] has been destruction,” writes Meier. “This early activation meant contact with identified as more useful, though the multi-angle disaster victims The recent earthquake in Nepal engendered a typically generous technology or innovation to support humanitarian responses across we had the opportunity to put together live crisis maps and evacuation imagery also adds a new dimension of complexity, response from the international community: calls for donations led the world”. of the most affected areas and then feed these to several efforts are as we experienced first-hand during the World Bank’s fundamental, to an outpouring of help from across the world, while teams from “New technology has the power to transform our response to relief agencies before they had even arrived in Nepal. technology can UAV response to Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu,” he wrote military and civilian organisations converged on the country to offer humanitarian crises,” said Justine Greening, the former secretary This meant that responders had a good picture of the go even farther. on his blog in the wake of the mission. immediate assistance. state for international development in the UK, when the initiative was areas that had received the worst of the damage before Technology Typically, in the wake of an earthquake or typhoon The use of technology in the rescue efforts was little remarked launched. “We are already trialling the use of mobile phone apps, text they had even touched down in Kathmandu.” 3 firms are or other natural disaster, local authorities (often in getting behind upon but was vital in assessing damage and co-ordinating the response. alerts and GPS technology in humanitarian crises. The more focused The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly NGOs to offer collaboration with international bodies like the Red And people are beginning to understand its potential on a large scale. and effective our response to disasters, the more quickly people can known as UAVs or drones) in the crisis relief effort may their support and Cross or UN) will carry out a detailed assessment of new approaches In 2013, the UK government announced a new fund “to back rebuild their homes and their lives and the further our money will surprise some: their reputation as a major leap forward to their work on the damage caused. mobile, text and other innovative technologies which can be used stretch.” Recent disasters have shown how technology is already at in defence and intelligence operations is by now well the frontlines. “The ultimate goal of these assessments is to to help those hit by humanitarian crises – such as earthquakes, floods the forefront of rapid response. known, but recent developments have seen their measure the impact of disasters on the society, or drought”. The initiative was created with the US government and Indeed, the Nepali earthquake demonstrated quite what impact deployment in a number of disaster zones recently. For example, economy and environment of the affected country or region,” was intended to “scale up existing projects and processes that use technology could deliver in a disaster zone. the cyclone in Vanuatu in March 2015 caused such devastation writes Meier. 36 INNOVATIONS: humanitarian Technology 37

“...we had the opportunity to put together live crisis maps of the most affected areas and then feed these to several relief agencies before they had even arrived in Nepal” Patrick Meier, author of Digital Humanitarians

“This includes assessing the damage caused to building infrastructure, for example. These assessment surveys are generally carried out in person – that is, on foot and/or by driving around an affected area. This is a very time-consuming process with very variable results in terms of data quality.” In addition, most of the assessments are done at ground level – meaning that the data gathered is only partial and cannot give a full view of the damage caused and potential hazards. To that end, Meier and his colleague Jorge Fernandez Galaretta have been exploring the use of 3D “point clouds” (3D models derived from high resolution aerial imagery) to help authorities assess disaster damage. Thales Foundation: making a difference Multiple software solutions like Pix4D and The Thales Foundation, capacity to learn about education and PhotoScan can already be used to construct established in 2015, was science. The Foundation qualification, that detailed point clouds from high-resolution created as an incubator also focuses on disaster represents a great 2D aerial imagery (both nadir and oblique). The use of technology in the rescue efforts was little remarked upon for innovative projects preparedness to help amount of skill and “These exceed standard LiDAR point but was vital in assessing damage and co-ordinating the response. to support education anticipate natural innovation to draw upon. clouds in terms of detail, especially at façades, And people are beginning to understand its potential on a large scale efforts around the world disasters and The Foundation is based and to offer help during environmental on three core principles: and provide a rich geometric environment that humanitarian crises. emergencies and • Social innovation: favours the identification of more subtle Microsoft collaborated with others in the source project, promoted by IBM as a destruction? According to Meier, it’s only The Foundation to help humanitarian helping to develop damage features, such as inclined walls, that technology industry to deploy TV White strategic part of disaster response efforts our imagination holding us back. Recalling supports programmes organisations respond and implement new otherwise would not be visible, and that in Space radios in the Philippines to enable in developing regions”. the famous Ford quote, “If I had asked related to science effectively in emergency products, services, combination with detailed façade and roof Internet connectivity for affected citizens. How far can technology – drones, people what they wanted, they would have teaching and classroom situations. Various skills models or methods innovation around the and technologies, from that meet social imagery have not been studied yet.” The company also played a key role bespoke software packages and the like – said faster horses”, Meier believes the world, and has already IT engineering to satellite needs and create There is still work to be done on this type in the deployment of three emergency.lu really go in helping co-ordinate better technology already exists, it just needs launched a series of imaging, are incredibly new relationships of approach. More research is needed to connectivity kits with Skype low responses in the midst of chaos and imagination to use it. initiatives from Cambodia useful to these efforts. and interactions extract damage indicators automatically from bandwidth, enabling communications “It isn’t perfect, but we don’t to Haiti and Mali. Each And since 74 per cent within the community. point clouds, and combine those with spectral for 5,000 humanitarian aid workers. need perfection in disaster response, one endeavours to of Thales employees • Collective intelligence: encourage children’s are engineers or have combining the and pattern indicators of damage, as well as There is also talk of developing we need good enough,” he writes. interest, curiosity and an equivalent level of expertise of community coupling that with a rounded engineering handheld sensors to drop onto “So when we as humanitarian UAV organisations and understanding of the significance of affected areas for locals to pick up teams go into the next post-disaster Thales employees. connected or occluded damage indicators and record air quality, temperature deployment and ask what help they • International in order to understand the overall structural and so on, in real time. need, they may say ‘faster horses’ replicability: potentially serving as a model integrity of a building. But the signs so far Then there is IBM, which developed because they’re not (yet) familiar for similar projects are extremely hopeful. Sahana, a free, open source disaster with what’s really possible with in other cities and Meanwhile, several large technology management system that can be used the imagery processing solutions other countries. firms have augmented the work of NGOs to track everything from victim available today.” Find out more about by setting up their own disaster response identification to refugee camps, relief the Thales Foundation at foundation.thalesgroup. teams. Microsoft, for example, has been organisations and donations of relief To find out more about Patrick Meier, com especially active in this area. In the wake goods. According to the company, iRevolutions and his book Digital of Philippines Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, Sahana is “an active and evolving open Humanitarians, visit: irevolution.net. 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