TECHPORT Underwater Taxonomy. Video 1 di 3

Introduction to Drass Event

Opening Remarks by Martina Nencioni

• Martina Nencioni introduces herself as part of the Defense commercial team at Drass and thanks attendees for joining the event focused on underwater technology management through proprietary software, Techport.

Acknowledgments

• Nencioni expresses gratitude to various authorities present, including military officials and representatives from universities and companies, aiming to streamline acknowledgments throughout the day.

Event Structure Overview

• The event will consist of three panels:

• An introductory session by Drass Management.

• A panel on Underwater Situation Awareness starting at 11 AM.

• A second VIP panel at 1:30 PM for authorities to provide feedback on morning presentations.

Techport Overview

Introduction of Key Speakers

• Engineers Sergio Carpet (CEO) and Marco Bellomo (Technical Director) are invited to present an overview of Techport.

Focus on Specialist Approach

• The speakers emphasize that this event is tailored for specialists in underwater technology, contrasting with previous events aimed at general awareness about underwater exploration.

Challenges in Underwater Exploration

Importance of Underwater Knowledge

• The speakers highlight that while 70% of Earth's surface is covered by oceans, much remains unknown beneath the surface. They stress the need for actionable methodologies to enhance understanding and intervention capabilities in underwater environments.

Comparison with Space Exploration

• They draw parallels between challenges in underwater exploration and those faced during space exploration since the 1960s, noting increased competition among multiple actors rather than just two nations.

Complexities in Underwater Operations

Diverse Interests and Stakeholders

• The discussion points out a greater complexity due to numerous stakeholders involved—defense, transportation, mining, agriculture, cultural heritage, tourism—each with distinct requirements impacting operations.

Technological Adaptation Challenges

• Emphasis is placed on how technologies must adapt when applied underwater; existing technologies may require significant modifications to function effectively in marine environments.

Conclusion: Need for Rapid Action

Urgency in Addressing Underwater Issues

Interoperability Challenges in Underwater Technology

The Issue of Interoperability

• There is no guarantee that different technologies developed alongside each other will be interoperable, leading to isolated systems or "microworlds" that cannot support one another.

• Small companies developing communication systems for specific applications face challenges when trying to create compatible products, resulting in a lack of future viability and creating a chaotic environment akin to Babel.

• The integration of various systems becomes increasingly complex, with existing difficulties magnifying as underwater activities expand beyond traditional uses into industrial, agricultural, tourism, and mining sectors.

Historical Context and Current Approaches

• The speaker draws parallels with the GSM network development where major industry players collaborated on protocols before product development; current practices often neglect this collaborative approach.

• An analogy is made about developing technology without prior agreement on standards—comparing it to building a GSM network without coordinating between manufacturers.

Stakeholder Dynamics

• There is an absence of a dominant national stakeholder in underwater technology; even perceived leaders like France and Germany lack comprehensive vision despite their power.

• A limited timeframe exists for achieving technological goals; inadequate funding leads to slower progress compared to competitors who are more agile.

Collaborative Solutions

• Emphasis is placed on the need for cooperation among small enterprises, leveraging their unique capabilities while ensuring intellectual property remains with them.

• A cooperative system should foster shared success rather than competition between large and small entities; creativity from smaller firms must be encouraged for overall advancement.

Methodology and Technological Mapping

• The speaker outlines a methodology that involves collaboration with partners to achieve complex objectives effectively.

• Definitions of technology versus product are clarified; understanding the complexity involved in producing even simple items like pencils requires mastery over multiple technologies.

Technological Niches and Project Management

Understanding Technological Maturity

• The discussion begins with associating technological niches with their maturity levels, indicating the heights of these sectors.

• This perspective allows managers to evaluate areas of excellence and gaps in knowledge within various technological fields.

Importance of Projects in Technology Knowledge

• Projects arise from specific requirements, typically functional and high-level, which enhance technological understanding.

• Funding is essential for project execution; thus, projects must align with financial resources to achieve their objectives.

Mapping Technologies to Products

• Institutions managing funds can elevate technological knowledge through targeted projects that connect with specific goals and missions.

• Ultimately, projects should be functional and aimed at commercializing technologies effectively.

Analyzing Equipment Needs

• A thorough analysis is required to determine which products or equipment are influenced by the technologies being developed.

• Understanding the integration of various technologies is crucial for creating underwater vehicles or similar complex systems.

Maximizing Benefits Through Research Activities

• It’s important to map out necessary products or equipment linked to funded projects to maximize benefits across multiple product types.

• Cross-referencing data helps identify areas of excellence in technology management and research funding allocation.

Collaboration Between Institutions and Companies

Identifying Competencies in Organizations

• Recognizing which companies possess specific competencies aids collaboration efforts among institutions, universities, and businesses.

• Research funds need characterization based on their scale (e.g., 1 million vs. 100 million), as this influences development capabilities.

Addressing Perceptions of Ambition

• The speaker acknowledges potential perceptions of presumption regarding their company's role in such expansive discussions about technology development.

Scaling Models for Broader Impact

• Emphasizes the necessity of developing a scalable model that aligns industrial objectives while engaging partners effectively.

Challenges in Underwater Technology Development

Common Issues Faced

Geopolitical and Operational Insights on Underwater Warfare

Collaboration Among Ministries and Stakeholders

• The discussion highlights the collaboration between the Ministry of the Sea, the Ministry of Defense, and other national stakeholders, indicating a growing focus on maritime security.

• Emphasis is placed on how this collaborative approach can lead to significant outcomes in managing maritime challenges.

Importance of Drone Swarm Management

• The management of drone swarms is identified as a critical area where standardization, interoperability, and modularity are essential for effective operations.

• This aspect is crucial for addressing upcoming challenges in underwater warfare and broader military operations.

Introduction to Underwater Situational Awareness

• Commander Liborio Palombella introduces the concept of underwater situational awareness with a focus on coastal waters, which are vital for Italy's strategic interests.

• The agenda includes discussing underwater warfare (UW) concepts and operational requirements necessary for effective control over marine spaces.

Strategic Maritime Objectives for Italy

• Underwater warfare has gained recognition as the fifth operational domain alongside land, air, sea, and space domains; it encompasses protecting submarine infrastructure like communication cables and energy pipelines.

• The significance of underwater structures is underscored by noting that 97% of internet communications rely on over 500 submarine cables spanning more than one million kilometers.

Vulnerabilities in Submarine Infrastructure

• Recent incidents have highlighted vulnerabilities in strategic underwater infrastructures such as energy conduits and communication links; damages can have extensive local and global repercussions.

• Coastal areas present heightened risks due to accidental incidents from anchoring or fishing activities as well as deliberate hostile actions against these infrastructures.

Italy's Strategic Positioning in Energy Supply

• Italy serves as a natural hub in the Mediterranean for energy supply routes; recent geopolitical events necessitate diversifying energy sources from regions like North Africa following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• Key maritime objectives include oil platforms located primarily in northern Adriatic waters; these sites face threats that could result not only in economic loss but also severe environmental damage if attacked.

Economic Impact of Maritime Operations

• The Blue Economy contributes significantly to Italy’s economy with an estimated turnover of €100 billion and supports around 500,000 jobs; thus maintaining maritime traffic freedom is crucial for national interests.

Underwater Threats and Defense Strategies

The Need for Enhanced Underwater Defense

• There is an urgent need to address the defensive gap against underwater threats, which differ from traditional submarine threats. These include small underwater vehicles like drones and ROVs.

Challenges in Coastal Operations

• The operational context around Italy presents challenges due to shallow waters (less than 100m), where most strategic maritime targets are located, complicating defense efforts.

• The coastal environment is characterized by interference from land, heavy traffic, high background noise, and restricted navigation spaces, making it difficult to counter new underwater threats effectively.

Strategic Control of Territorial Waters

• Effective force projection relies on controlling territorial waters and exclusive economic zones to defend against potential underwater threats.

• Maritime dominance requires effective control over underwater spaces; without this control, protecting strategic maritime interests becomes impossible.

Developing Underwater Situational Awareness

• To gain control over underwater environments, continuous monitoring capabilities must be developed to identify real threats versus normal coastal traffic.

• Systems must be interoperable for effective coordination; standardization of information exchange protocols tailored to specific operational contexts is essential.

Integrated Defense Systems

• A rapid reaction capability is crucial as harmful events can have disastrous consequences. An integrated system involving various technologies and sensors needs to be established for real-time situational awareness.

• Drass has proposed a solution called "Underwater Traffic Control," which will be elaborated upon by subsequent speakers. This system aims at providing detailed near-real-time information about underwater activities.

Technological Requirements for Monitoring Underwater Infrastructure

Introduction to Drass Technologies

• Following the discussion on control systems, the next focus will be on the necessary technologies for monitoring underwater infrastructures.

Overview of Drass Company Capabilities

• Drass consists of approximately 250 employees with three locations: Livorno (main construction site), Timisoara, and Dubai (commercial operations).

Key Development Areas in Drass

• The company focuses on three main areas: diving systems (high immersion chambers), defense systems (compact submarines), and rescue systems for operators in distress situations related to submarines.

Emerging Technologies in Underwater Traffic Management

• One area with low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is Underwater Traffic Management due to its reliance on complex technologies that require prior development before implementation can occur.

Essential Technologies Mentioned:

Technologies for Underwater Operations

Overview of Data Acquisition Technologies

• Discussion on the use of passive sonar and Point Cloud data to gather information, emphasizing the role of AI in analyzing this data.

• Introduction to navigation and control systems used in autonomous vehicles, highlighting their ability to provide real-time speed and acceleration metrics.

Communication Systems

• Explanation of underwater communication systems like USBL (Ultra Short Baseline), which offer high precision positioning with minimal error margins.

• Importance of standardizing data exchange protocols, referencing NATO's existing systems such as Janus and Cattle.

Visual Systems in Low Visibility Conditions

• Mention of visual systems that can operate even under low visibility conditions, utilizing video feeds from underwater environments.

• Exploration of how operators can leverage these technologies within operational centers to monitor surrounding areas effectively.

3D Visualization Capabilities

• Transition from 2D to 3D visualization techniques using computer graphics for better situational awareness during operations.

• The potential for monitoring conflict zones or rescue scenarios by tracking multiple assets operating underwater.

Dynamic Planning and Augmented Reality Integration

• Use of dynamic models for planning maneuvers before actual execution, aiding operators in familiarizing themselves with scenarios beforehand.

• Conceptualization of integrating augmented reality into video feeds from ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), enhancing operator situational awareness despite poor visibility.

Advancements in Holographic Technology

• Discussion on the application of previous surveys to enhance real-time video feeds with 3D models, improving operational effectiveness.

Overview of Underwater Monitoring Solutions

Introduction to the Global Picture

• The presentation addresses the need for a vessel and personnel to manage video flow, highlighting the challenges of cost and availability of staff.

• Two main ideas are proposed: utilizing autonomous vehicles for underwater monitoring and focusing on data processing rather than rendering functionalities.

Communication Challenges

• The discussion includes potential use of non-military vessels equipped with processing racks, raising questions about communication lines.

• Key issues identified include bandwidth for data transfer, security in transmission, and types of transmission mediums (e.g., satellite or HF).

Importance of Underwater Detection

• Emphasis is placed on underwater detection technologies, likening it to an "underwater Google Maps."

• Andrea Masini from FlySight introduces existing and developing technologies relevant to this context.

Technological Innovations by FlySight

Company Overview

• FlySight is a small enterprise focused on software solutions that support decision-making through data visualization and dissemination.

• Their work primarily spans aerospace, defense, and civil infrastructure security sectors.

Data Utilization Strategy

• The company aims to transform raw data into actionable insights quickly, supporting real-time operational scenarios.

• Key competencies include 3D data representation, augmented reality tools, AI-driven analysis from various sensors.

Opite Technology Applications

Versatile Functionality Across Domains

• Opite technology has broad applications across multiple domains including underwater environments as well as space, air, land, and maritime contexts.

Advanced Information Visualization

• The technology supports advanced information visualization capabilities while allowing interaction with both modern and legacy systems.

Open Architecture System Design

• A key feature is its open architecture system that can visualize any available data through external networks or distributed systems.

Integration Capabilities

Integration of Sensor Data and System Architecture

Advantages of Modular Integration

• The system allows for interfacing with both standard and proprietary data from commercially available sensors, enabling flexibility in system integration.

• This modular approach benefits end-users by avoiding closed solutions tied to a single provider, facilitating easier updates and maintenance.

• System integrators can delegate specific development tasks to specialized providers, enhancing efficiency and expertise in project execution.

Visualization Capabilities

• A video demonstration showcases the integration of diverse data captured from various sensors, highlighting its application in real-world scenarios.

• The demo illustrates how different assets operate within a defined area, emphasizing the importance of visualizing operational data for effective intervention strategies.

Risk Analysis and Mission Management

• Visualizations aid in identifying safety zones around operational vehicles, which is crucial for risk assessment during missions.

• These tools not only enhance situational awareness but also assist in planning interventions by analyzing potential risks associated with operations.

Interoperability Across Domains

• The system supports interaction with various mapping standards (S57, S63, S100), allowing seamless integration into 3D environments across maritime, aerial, and land domains.

• It maintains communication capabilities across different domains while ensuring geolocation accuracy for information representation.

Data Management and Security

• Emphasizes the necessity of large system integrators to effectively implement these capabilities into final products while maintaining interoperability across multiple domains.

• Discusses secure access to cloud databases as part of the architectural framework of the technology solution being presented.

Technological Insights from Elesia

Introduction to Elesia's Technologies

Underwater Technology Innovations

Overview of Underwater Infrastructure

• The discussion highlights the importance of infrastructure in underwater technology, specifically focusing on command and control consoles and communication systems.

• The company specializes in analyzing customer requirements, designing products, prototyping, and moving to production, leveraging their experience with COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) technologies.

Product Development and Design

• The company has expanded its presence internationally with branches in Germany and the United States to explore new markets for their upcoming products.

• A paradigm shift is introduced where traditional operator consoles are being replaced by composite material consoles that significantly reduce weight from 230 kg to approximately 90 kg.

Performance Enhancements

• This reduction in weight allows for a substantial decrease in operational load; installing 25 consoles can save around 3 tons.

• High-quality materials used are certified to military standards for fire, smoke, and toxicity—critical for submarine applications.

Innovative Manufacturing Processes

• A patented metallization process enhances thermal conductivity through a zinc-copper spray coating that also dissipates heat effectively.

• This process meets various client requirements including shielding capabilities up to Tempest grade specifications.

Ergonomics and User Comfort

• Emphasis is placed on operator comfort during console design; ergonomic standards (MIL-STD-1472) guide the positioning of displays relative to operators who may work long hours.

• Various console designs have been developed including vertical and horizontal configurations tailored for different operational scenarios.

Integration Capabilities

• The company operates as a small system integrator capable of producing finished composite hardware while leaving software development to specialized firms.

• Their unique selling proposition includes lightweight, durable designs that are modular in nature.

Communication Technologies

Tactical Communication Systems

• Discussion shifts towards communication technologies essential for operations; these include tactical radios capable of creating ad-hoc networks.

• These radios can interconnect with other devices aboard vehicles or ships via satellite, supporting multiple frequency bands from S-band to C-band high frequencies.

Mission Adaptability

Communication Capabilities of Advanced Radio Technology

Overview of Communication Systems

• The advanced radio technology features three antennas, enhancing communication capabilities, particularly in urban environments. This system is well-suited for special forces that have already adopted this technology.

Field Testing and Performance

• The technology has been tested in maritime environments by the San Marco special forces during the Mare Aperto exercise, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

• Tests conducted between Piombino and Monte Argentario confirmed a data flow of 10 MB at a distance of 78.5 km, indicating robust signal penetration and extensive network potential among surface ships and subaqueous vehicles.

Infrastructure Development

• A fixed network infrastructure can be established along coastlines using panel antennas, which would support both stationary and mobile systems like drones or ships to expand the network further.

• The integration of mobile infrastructures allows for increased data exchange rates, optimizing video flows as the radio system supports HD video channels accessible from both operators and onboard drones.

Network Integration and Control

• Any operator with a radio on a drone automatically connects to a Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET), enabling command-and-control software to identify all systems for cooperative operations.

• This technological advancement is crucial in today's context where data exchange is increasing; having a robust infrastructure adaptable to various operational zones offers significant advantages.

Operational Advantages at Sea

• The maritime environment is ideal for deploying this technology due to signal reflection off water surfaces, allowing each equipped vessel to function as an independent node within the network.

• An operator console can manage multiple monitors, showcasing various patented products developed over the years that enhance operational efficiency.

Panel Antenna Functionality

• Panel antennas facilitate connections between nodes; they can be easily installed on vessels to ensure seamless communication back to command centers.

Future Implications for Military Operations

• The ambitious scenario outlined suggests that military naval forces could establish a robust network capable of supporting complex underwater operations while also managing delicate tasks effectively.

• With many special forces already utilizing this technology, any equipped vessel can control sensors aboard through handheld devices or consoles, leveraging electro-optical capabilities for enhanced operational effectiveness.

Conclusion