Category: Technology

Autonomous warfare: joint exercise between Australia, the USA and the UK

Over the next 11 days, Australia, in co-operation with the United States and the United Kingdom, will conduct joint exercises at sea and test the latest autonomous warfare technologies at its naval school HMAS Creswell. The exercise, led by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), will test and evaluate unmanned, robotic and autonomous systems in Jervis Bay, the nearby Eastern Australian Training Area and in the sky. Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2022 (AW22) is the setting for a simulated next-generation naval battlefield. The exercise will involve around 300 personnel from 40 organisations from the three countries mentioned above, and will test cutting-edge technologies to...

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Total losses in shipping at record low, but pandemic and political tensions cloud the outlook

Allianz press release on the AGCS Safety & Shipping Review 2020 study: Total losses in the shipping industry are at a record low - 41 major ships were lost worldwide in 2019. Year-on-year, they have fallen by more than 20%, compared to the average of the last decade by almost 70%, according to the "Safety & Shipping Review 2020" study by ship and industry insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS). However, the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic could jeopardise long-term safety improvements in shipping this year and beyond. Difficult operating conditions and the looming economic downturn pose major challenges for the industry.

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Port of Rotterdam plans autonomous floating fire extinguishers

The Port of Rotterdam has conducted a market survey on the use of autonomous/remote-controlled floating firefighting equipment. If the information received confirms that such vessels are a good option, this could lead to a tendering process. The Port of Rotterdam operates a fleet of patrol and civil protection vessels that are deployed by the Harbour Master's Office in day, half and full-time shifts to perform management, inspection and civil protection tasks. The fleet also includes hydrographic survey vessels and an emergency response vessel. As part of the market survey, the port is asking operators for their opinion on the possibilities for autonomous/remote-controlled floating firefighting equipment. Autonomous vessels would both reduce risk, as people could be rescued from...

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Banal airship or "airyacht"?

Airships are a German invention, Count Zeppelin and Hugo Eckener are the great names that have left their mark. Lake Constance and Friedrichshafen will forever be associated with this pioneering era. However, every grandly conceived use of this "giant technology" ended tragically, whether as a weapon of war in the First World War or as a passenger solution in Lakehurst. The USA even used airships as aircraft carriers - perhaps someone will write something about this. The commercial use never materialised either, most recently in 2002 with the insolvency of the Cargolifter company, whose hangar is now a huge adventure swimming park. Otherwise, "blimps" are a joy for paying tourist sightseeing flights (is it actually called "flight"?) or...

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Raytheon Anschütz equips Hunter class

Integrated navigation/bridge system from Raytheon Anschütz for Australian frigates BAE Systems Australia, prime contractor for the construction of the Australian Hunter class, has commissioned Raytheon Anschütz to develop an integrated navigation and bridge system for the frigate programme. For the nine Royal Australian Navy (RAN) anti-submarine warfare frigates, Raytheon Anschütz will initially be responsible for system development and requirements testing for the Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System (WINBS). Following this initial technical work, the contract will be expanded in line with the progress of the project. According to Raytheon Anschütz, WINBS is based on the SYNAPSIS integrated navigation system, which has become a world-leading navigation solution...

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