ITEC 2018 Advanced Engineering Conference
Airbus Defence and Space UK Defence Solutions Centre
Spearheading Innovation in Defence
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Abstract Title:
„Leveraging cross-sector innovation techniques, collaboration
and visualisation within an MBSE framework, for optimised
defence export capabilities‟
Afzal Ali
Expert - Systems Engineering and Simulation AIRBUS
Head of Visualisation - UKDSC
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Background
• The UK Defence Solutions Centre (UKDSC) is an organisation stood up in 2015, to look at UK Defence Export growth providing UK prosperity and skills.
• We have been working on a number of areas for UK Defence Innovation, focusing on innovation, collaboration and exploitation of research, science and technology.
• Within this construct, we have been using a systems engineering approach:
• understand the market baseline develop solution options visualisation stimulate innovation challenges simulation engagement & communication collaboration exploitation develop UK defence export capabilities
• Talk will cover cross-sector innovation and collaboration
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Defence Growth Partnership (DGP)
Context
• The Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) has been
established to maintain and grow the UK‟s long-term
position and competiveness in defence exports. It has three
goals:
• Grow the UK’s global market share, through
increased defence exports
• Foster greater collaboration and innovation across
the defence sector
• Improve competitiveness through the whole value
chain
• DGP represents a commitment from both government and
industry to the UK defence sector
• It enjoys cross-government support and the membership of
15 major defence companies
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“teamUK”
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Cross-Sector & Innovation
• Working with Defence Stakeholders to define future operational needs
• Look outwards (defence, security, aerospace) into non-traditional defence
supply chains
• Cross sector – from fashion, petrochemical, automotive, manufacturing, design,
retail, creative sector……
• To foster eco-systems and provide cross-sector benefits through sharing
requirements and ideas increasing collaboration
• Created a “teamUK” approach – inclusive and collaborative
• Underwater Autonomy – Robotics in harsh environments
• Closing the gap between ROV and UxV‟s
• Collaborating with UK creative sector, developing highly immersive synthetic
environments; re-use techniques in design and development
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High Value Design (HVD) & Advanced Engineering (AE)
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Airbus MBSE example – Digital Mock Up (DMU)
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HVD: Aerospace and Automotive
Use of game technologies, VR, AR, MR for collaboration in the design process and high end visualisation - marketing and customer engagement
All image taken from PiXYZ – used with permission
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Visualisation in the design process
Systems
Architecture/
MBSE
CAD/
CATIA
Game technology
visualisation tools
Engineering
visualisation &
collaboration tools
Cross-sector
collaboration Deliver innovation
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UKDSC Cross-Sector Innovation Framework
Cross Sector Innovation Framework (CSIF) - process
UK Defence Need
<high level req>
Adjacent industrial
sectors
Freedom of
manoeuvre
Increased use of
autonomous
systems
Technology
roadmaps
Capability
development
0-5yrs
Requirements
coherence
Areas to focus
R&T roadmaps 5-
15yrs
Innovation
challenges
Stimulate cross-
sector benefits
collaboration
Increase success
Co-investment
Demonstrate
commitment
Technology
maturation
Mature capability
Capability
development
Go-to market plan
UK prosperity
UK defence &
cross sector
export growth
Demonstrate value
UK Defence &
Cross sector
benefits
Innovation benefits
realisation
Create capabilities
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Requirements
Architectural
framework modelling
Synthetic
Environment use-
case modelling
Lightweight
OA/CONOPS
experimentation
Concept visualisation
Identification of
emergent technology
requirements
Requirements
generation
Stimulate UK MOD
innovation challenges
AI & rules Platform
dynamics
Comms
EM
modelling
Sensors Effectors TTPs Doctrine
CGF models and/or mathematical abstractions
Visualisation
So what? – UKDSC use of MBSE for visualisation
Market Intelligence Cell
(MIC)
DGP
CoI‟s
DIT/DSO
„other‟ e.g.
OSINT
FUSION
MBSE (with M&S)
„model/system -
definitions‟
„deliver capability‟
„emergent
technologies/Innovations
Identify areas of co-
investment
„articulate
requirements‟
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UKDSC use of MBSE - post Ex Unmanned Warrior
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Develop areas for coherence and future needs:
Road-Mapping Themes to 2025
A.1 Sensors Bridging the ROV to AUV gap
Faster acquisition rates
Low power high accuracy GPS-less navigation
A.2 Power & Comms Extended range and operation
Propulsion
Battery technologies and management
Subsea-subsea and subsea-surface comms
Subsea power and comms networks
A.3 Deployment Platform friendly LARS
Swarm launch and recovery
Subsea repowering
A.4 Operations Ways of working
Human/machine interfaces
Autonomous operations and AI
Underwater, surface and air integration
Long term support
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Future Operational Context
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ICElab – Innovation & Collaborative Engagement Laboratory
• An exploitation platform for UKDSC innovation and capability development.
To provide an environment that promotes:
• Innovation • Bringing a diverse range of users/stakeholders together to foster a defence
export focused eco-system and stimulate innovative thinking.
• Collaboration • Enable an environment in which individuals and organisations can openly
collaborate and work on innovative ideas and develop new concepts.
• Engagement • Provide opportunities to present, demonstrate and engage with senior
stakeholders. Enable networking with potential innovation collaborators and potential research/innovation exploitation stakeholders from a diverse range of domains.
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2020V example – Persistent Aerial Surveillance; novel ISR
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Modelling, Simulation, Innovation….. Concept Demonstrator?
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2020V example – Glyndwr innovations
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ffenders
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Thank you for your attention!
20
© 2
013 A
irbus D
efe
nce a
nd S
pace –
All
rights
reserv
ed.
The r
epro
ductio
n,
dis
trib
ution a
nd u
tiliz
atio
n o
f th
is d
ocum
ent
as w
ell
as t
he c
om
munic
atio
n o
f its c
onte
nts
to
oth
ers
without
exp
ress a
uth
ori
zatio
n i
s p
rohib
ited
. O
ffenders
will
be h
eld
lia
ble
for
the p
aym
ent
of
dam
ag
es.
All
rights
rese
rved i
n t
he e
vent
of
the g
rant
of
a p
ate
nt,
utilit
y
model
or
desig
n.
Afzal Ali Expert – Systems Engineering (Synthetic Environments & Simulation)
Engineering Operations
Airbus (Defence and Space)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07817620717
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Afzal Ali Head of Visualisation
UK Defence Solutions Centre
Email: [email protected]
Spearheading Innovation in Defence