Author: Stuart Catchpole

TECOSIM’s Engineering Expertise in the Space Sector

As humanity’s ambitions reach for the stars, the demands on space hardware have never been more critical. From pioneering interplanetary missions to advancing satellite technologies, the space sector requires unparalleled precision and innovation. TECOSIM is at the forefront of this exciting field, providing advanced engineering solutions to support every stage of space hardware development.

Engineering Excellence for Space Exploration

The space sector is characterised by its complex challenges. Hardware must perform reliably under extreme conditions, from high-stress environments to severe thermal fluctuations. TECOSIM’s team of seasoned engineers brings specialised expertise to ensure that space hardware meets these rigorous demands with precision and efficiency.

TECOSIM’s Role in Supporting Europe’s Pioneering Space Ambitions

A standout example of TECOSIM’s impact in the space sector is our collaborative work with a leading European space programme. A flagship rocket has been developed representing a major leap in space technology, designed to enhance Europe’s access to space with increased payload capacity and reduced launch costs.

TECOSIM’s Contribution:

• Structural Analysis Our engineers conducted extensive structural analysis to ensure the rocket’s integrity under the high stresses of launch and space travel.
• Optimisation We employed advanced simulation techniques to optimise the rocket’s design, improving performance and reducing material usage.
• Failure Analysis Through rigorous CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) simulations, we identified and mitigated potential failure points, ensuring a reliable and safe launch vehicle.

Our work with the European Space Agency exemplifies our commitment to supporting significant advancements in space technology and enhancing Europe’s space capabilities.

From Concept to Reality: Comprehensive Support from TECOSIM

Early Integration of CAE

The success of space projects hinges on early and thorough planning. By integrating CAE from the beginning, TECOSIM helps you:

• Identify Loading Scenarios Assess the forces and environmental conditions your hardware will encounter.
• Determine Optimum Load Paths Optimise structural load paths for improved performance.
• Conduct Static and Dynamic Analysis Evaluate how designs perform under various operational stresses.
• Detect Potential Failures Address possible failure points early to avoid costly issues later.

Strength and Durability Analysis

Once initial designs are established, TECOSIM continues to provide value through:

• Virtual Validation Testing and refining designs in a virtual environment to minimise risks during physical testing.
• Structural Optimisation Adjusting designs to achieve a balance between safety and performance.

Efficiency and Cost Savings

TECOSIM’s CAE approach not only accelerates development but also reduces costs. By minimising the need for extensive physical testing and redesign, we help save time and resources. Our methods lead to lower material costs and fewer failures, making projects more cost-effective.

Enhancing Existing Systems

Beyond new designs, TECOSIM excels in:

• Optimising Existing Hardware Improving current systems to meet new performance standards.
• Diagnosing Long-Standing Issues Identifying and resolving persistent problems in existing systems.
• Testing for New Applications Evaluating existing machinery for new uses to extend its utility and lifespan.

Partnering for Future Success

TECOSIM’s work with a European Space Programme underscores our capability and commitment to advancing space technology. By leveraging CAE early in the development process, you benefit from enhanced design reliability, performance optimisation, and cost efficiency.

As the space sector continues to evolve, TECOSIM remains dedicated to supporting this dynamic field with engineering excellence. For more information on how TECOSIM can assist with your space projects, visit TECOSIM and discover how our expertise can support you from ground to orbit.

The space industry is entering a transformative era, with satellite communications playing a critical role in everything from global connectivity to national security. As Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations become more prevalent, the fast-moving nature of these systems introduces unique challenges for both the networks and the applications that depend on them.

To meet these challenges Calnex Network Emulators provide organisations with a way to simulate dynamic network impairments — such as doppler shifts and signal degradation caused by weather or fast-moving objects — in controlled and repeatable environments which is key to network and application resilience. This ensures that both the networks or the applications relying on them can withstand real-world conditions: lunar missions, military TDMA networks, or commercial satellite systems.

For more information, visit our website.

Guardtech Group’s complex cleanroom facility construction brand celebrating their role as facilitators of groundbreaking Life Science and R&D innovation

THE GUARDTECH GROUP’S large-scale cleanroom construction business Cleanroom Solutions are facilitators of greatness.

It’s a badge of honour for the Group’s heritage turnkey cleanroom construction company to have a long association with some of the brightest minds in Life Sciences, High-Tech Engineering and groundbreaking Research & Development programmes all over the United Kingdom.

The Guardtech Group recently launched a new campaign celebrating the amazing work their clients do from the various platforms provided by Guardtech – be that larger cleanroom facilities, smaller modulars or Cleancube shipping container cleanrooms.

Cleanroom Solutions, founded by Jan Pyrgies in 2000, was acquired by Guardtech Cleanrooms back in 2021, which then led to the birth of the Guardtech Group as the umbrella company under which Cleanroom Solutions (large-scale turnkey facilities) and Guardtech Cleanrooms (modular cleanrooms) now sit.

Pyrgies, now a non-executive Director at Guardtech, helped provide world-class facilities for a number of elite higher education institutions, including the University of Cambridge’s Graphene Centre, the University of Glasgow’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, the University of Exeter’s School of Physics and the University of Nottingham’s School of Physics & Astronomy – as well as recent Guardtech Group projects for the likes of Royal Holloway and the University of Plymouth.

All of the institutions are utilising Cleanroom Solutions facilities to conduct groundbreaking R&D work, from microwave semiconductor device fabrication and graphene-based research to other innovative electronics explorations.

And this idea of facilitating greatness – of providing a platform for brilliant minds to improve the world – is something the Guardtech Group are keen to persevere with.

“We have the most exceptional clients,” says Guardtech Group Commercial Director Mark Wheeler. “The new campaign is our way of celebrating this with the wider world.”

The ‘banner term’ for the Cleanroom Solutions leg of the campaign is HOPE – which stands for Helping Our Partners Excel.

“This is what we believe our controlled environments do,” Wheeler continues. “We provide cleanroom solutions for the UK’s brightest minds, so they can excel at what they do and, ultimately, bring new ideas, innovations and hope to people all over the world.”

Cleanroom Solutions are currently undertaking a number of major projects at home and overseas – as well as putting the finishing touches on a 1,650sqm ISO8 Aerospace project, they are developing a 775sqm Grade C&D facility for the manufacture of sterile and non-sterile biocides in the North East, delivering a 450sqm ISO7 Aerospace cleanroom in Gloucester and a 240sqm ISO7 build for diffusion bonded heat exchanger processing.

Cleanroom Solutions offer a wide range of services for clients – with attention to detail and complexity at the heart of every turnkey project.

The design process features in-depth consultation from day one, with a dynamic collaboration between the client and experienced Guardtech Group cleanroom construction specialists critical to every successful project.

From 2D & 3D modelling and computational flow dynamics (CFD) to facility Lidar Scanning, Cleanroom Solutions adopt industry-leading practice and utilise state-of-the-art technology to develop your facility the way you need it.

Cleanroom Solutions always aim to act as principal contractors wherever possible, taking responsibility to implement rigorous Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM).

The Guardtech Group’s turnkey specialists utilise Building Information Modelling (BIM) and a meticulously tailored RIBA Framework to ensure each stage gate of a project is water-tight and that every aspect of the design marries with the cleanroom installation seamlessly.

“A Cleanroom Solutions project is all about complexity and consultation,” adds Wheeler. “We don’t want to insist on what our clients must have – we want them to build a partnership with them.

“We’re here to advise and offer counsel – we want our clients to feel confident they can lean on a team with vast experience and knowhow. But part of our role as facilitators of greatness is being able to listen – because no-one knows what makes your business great better you.”

For more information on the services Cleanroom Solutions can offer, call 0330 113 0303, email sales@guardtech.com or visit www.cleanroom-solutions.co.uk.

Copyright for all belongs to Guardtech.

Credit Guardtech Group

Copyright belongs to: Theo Southee (image bought by Guardtech).

Credit: Theo Southee

Suffolk-based contamination control specialists scooped the Best Enterprising Business Gold award as well as Silver for Family Business of the Year

HAVERHILL cleanroom construction experts the Guardtech Group are celebrating again after winning two awards at the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards.

The controlled environment design & build gurus clinched the Gold award for Best Enterprising Business at a glitzy Cambridge Marina event last Thursday evening, as well as Silver for Family Business of the Year – the latter a repeat of last year’s success.

Guardtech previously won the Business Innovation award at the same event two years ago with portable cleanroom shipping container solution Cleancube.

The Best Enterprising Business Award is recognition for a stunning 12 months of activity for the Group, including the most projects completed in the company’s history, the highest year of turnover and an ever-increasing schedule of international projects – from large-scale turnkey builds to Cleancube shipping container cleanroom facilities and smaller-scale Isopod cleanroom pod systems.

Commercial Director Mark Wheeler said: “These awards are a reflection of all the hard work and dedication each and every person working for each of our brands gives to the Group every day.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the team that we have assembled and are continuing to build. These awards help to demonstrate that what we are doing is working – and we will continue to strive to make this company the best organisation that it can be.

“We constantly strive for improvement – and it is a huge part of our company ethos that we appreciate, respect and do all we can to deliver for each and every client. Well done to everyone involved – onwards and upwards!”

Guardtech will now represent Cambridgeshire in the SME National Business Awards at Wembley Stadium on 6 December, while they’re also set for two more awards showpieces in the coming weeks.

First, the Group are up for Marketing Team of the Year at the London Construction Awards on 27 September – before they return to the capital for the National Building & Construction Awards on 24 October, where they’re finalists in the Innovation of the Year category with Cleancube Mobile Cleanrooms.

For more information on the Guardtech Group’s products and services, call 0330 113 0303, email sales@guardtech.com or visit www.guardtech.com.

As a leading provider of precision photochemical etching and custom metal components, Photofab is proud to hold the prestigious SC21 bronze certification. This accreditation, awarded by the UK’s aerospace, defence, security, and space trade organisation ADS Group, is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, delivery performance, and collaborative working throughout the supply chain.

What is SC21?

The SC21 (Supply Chains for the 21st Century) programme is designed to boost the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industries by establishing rigorous standards across five key pillars: continuous improvement, benchmarking, collaborative working, quality and delivery, and industry recognition.

Earning this certification requires companies to undergo thorough assessments and maintain consistently high performance, making it a highly respected mark of excellence.

A mark of distinction

For over eight years, Photofab, based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, has upheld the stringent requirements of the SC21 bronze certification, demonstrating its dedication to providing aerospace and defence customers with unparalleled products and services. This achievement underscores Photofab’s relentless pursuit of quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement – values that are woven into the fabric of the manufacturer.

“The SC21 certification is a true badge of honour in our industry,” said Nikki Crook, Photofab’s Marketing Manager. “It signifies that our customers can count on us to deliver the highest standards of precision, reliability, and customer satisfaction. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our entire team, and we are proud to be among the elite companies in the aerospace and defence sectors to hold this prestigious accreditation.”

By maintaining the SC21 bronze certification, Photofab ensures that not only do they meet, but exceed industry expectations. This accreditation provides customers with the assurance that they are partnering with a company that prioritises quality, efficiency, and collaborative working throughout the supply chain.

As Photofab continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of precision metal components, the SC21 certification remains a key differentiator, solidifying its position as a trusted and reliable partner in the aerospace and defence industries.

Submit an expression of interest for a free and confidential carbon audit as part of a UK Space Agency-funded space sustainability project. Andrew Wilson, from Glasgow Caledonian University, is working to develop a carbon baseline for the UK space sector, a vital step on the road to understanding the environmental impact of space activity. Space4Climate is supporting the project by encouraging members and the wider space community to offer to take part. Satellite Applications Catapult is also collaborating. Submit your EoI here.

Space4Climate is representing the UK space-based climate community on the next Innovate UK Global Expert Mission to California. The aim of the group tour is to develop potential for new international collaborations, gain insights to bring back to share with UK businesses and Government and to share and promote UK capabilities.

Email Climate Services Development Manager Krupa Nanda Kumar if you:

1. Know of an organisation in California that you would benefit from connecting with.
2. Have existing connections or clients in California that could be used as an informal showcase of existing UK-Californian collaboration.

The trip dates are October 26^th -November 2^nd. Email Krupa on k.nandakumar@reading.ac.uk

The Space Enterprise Community (SEC) platform has been designed to help address this challenge and support the UK Space Ecosystem to connect and thrive, offering users a selection of tools, resources and groups that connect stakeholders from different communities to enable collaboration while providing support and real-time updates on the latest news, events and opportunities.

You can find out more and sign up here to be a part of this fantastic community.

Article by Lewis Huxtable, IJYI

You may not have heard of NLP, but I guarantee you if you’re reading this article, then you’ve heard of its uses.

NLP, like every other chapter in this series, is a Subset of Artificial intelligence. Machines (Computers) use mathematical functions and algorithms, combined with vector databases to analyse two key components.

The first being Syntax. Syntax pertains to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-structured sentences in a language. For example, syntax involves analysing the grammatical structure of a sentence, ensuring that it adheres to the grammatical rules of the language, such as a subject-verb agreement and proper word order.

The second key component for analysis is Semantics. Semantics is concerned with the understanding of meaning of words and how they create meaning when combined in sentences. For example, in the sentence “The panda eats shoots and leaves” semantics helps distinguish whether the panda eats plants (shoots and leaves) or is involved in a violent act (shoots) and then departs (leaves), could you imagine!?

NLP has a wide range of applications and is part of everyday life for most of us. NLP powers search engines like google, NLP powers chatbots that you interact with when trying to find out information from an ecommerce site. NLP is used with voice operated GPS systems and is playing a growing role in streamlining business operations as part of automation software (you can find out more about automating your business from my other article here; https://www.ijyi.com/resources-hub/posts/stop-wasting-time-and-start-automating-solving-enterprise-issues-with-automation-tech/ )

Most famously, its very likely you would have interacted with an NLP system if you’ve decided to join the ChatGPT craze. Although ChatGPT is classed as an LLM, ChatGPT uses NLP technologies to communicate with its users and help translate their requests.

It is worth noting that NLP technologies, like human speech, are not perfect. Risks like biased training, misinterpretation and hallucinations are just as prevalent with NLP as they are with any other form of artificial intelligence so if you would like to include NLP in your business model or even a home project, its worth contacting a specialist or doing a lot of research.

As always you can contact myself at https://www.ijyi.com or find me on X @Sci_Soft_Sports, and come back next newsletter for our next instalment of Artificial Intelligence and Its Six Subsets

By Hayden Close, Tiago Silva and Freya Goodsir (Cefas)

Globally historic wrecks from WWII are reaching the end of their structural lives and starting to release oil from their ballast or cargo tanks. In a project funded by Defra’s Earth Observational Centre of Excellence (EOCOE), Cefas’s Earth Observation Team have developed a tool to help assess the impact of these wrecks.

Leaks from wrecks leave a surface sheen that can be observed by satellite (either visible or Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)). The team has developed a tool that searches ESA Sentinel 1 and 2 satellite images looking for the distinctive pattern of releases from a known wreck site.  The tool developed in Google Colaboratory using Jupyter notebooks and python extracts the tracks of the oil plume indicating the frequency of release, the magnitude of release and the potential landfall of the oil.  This forms the basis of a risk based management approach in prioritising the high risk vessels in the “sunken fleet” and forming the evidence base for management options e.g. through oil removal (via hot tapping) or allowing natural dispersion.

In a recent workshop, colleagues from MOD, MCA and Defra learnt how to use the scripts to create their own maps of leaks from wrecks such as the War Mehtar (North Sea), HMS Royal Oak (Scapa Flow) and HMS Repulse (Far East) and is available on GitHub.

Figure 1 – Example showing the GIS output for HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow, Shetlands analysed for a 3 month period between June and September 2023

The image above is from ESA sentinel 1 ( ie Synthetic Aperture Radar) and the main feature image is from ESA Sentinel 2 – visible. The red dot is the position of the wreck (in this HMS Repulse).

Photocentric has entered into a partnership with The European Space Agency to develop CosmicMaker, an LCD-based 3D printer tailored for use in space stations. CosmicMaker can print both plastic and ceramic parts and will be used to produce complex Silicon Carbide (SiC) parts in space.

The ISS annually replenishes 3,200 kg of its 13,000 kg spare parts inventory on board the station, costing $45-65 million only in the orbital launch and delivery of parts. But only 3.4% (450 kg) of available spares are used annually, highlighting the inefficiency of being dependent on the Earth’s supply chain. Our project sets out to achieve a breakthrough in SiC printing in space, fabricating complex, near-net-shape SiC parts in a microgravity environment, and on-board space stations.

CosmicMaker’s SiC components will address critical applications that other printers cannot, such as thermal management parts, radiation shielding, electronic components, astronaut equipment, structural parts, docking mechanisms in lunar applications, particularly within NASA and ESA’s Artemis Programme. This emerging in-space infrastructure and economy development is projected to grow the space industry to a trillion dollars by the end of the decade.

Insert Image: Director, Rowley Cory-Wright, Hexcam

Main Featured Image: Hexcam. StirlingX, a GALLOS company, is providing HexCam with the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) ‘SPARROW HAWK’ fixed-wing drone that will be conducting BVLOS flights along the corridor

Article by Hexcam

Standfirst: Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights present huge opportunities for large scale infrastructure projects such as offshore wind and powerline upgrades, says Rowley Cory-Wright, director of HexCam.

HexCam, a Norfolk-based commercial drone operator, is part of a collaborative partnership that’s on a mission to make large area construction surveys safer and quicker for major infrastructure project developers.

The company is one of just six in the UK to be selected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a “sandbox” trial that aims to make Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights an “everyday reality”.

The CAA project will enable HexCam to control drones remotely from its base at Felthorpe Airfield, near Norwich, and carry out BVLOS survey and mapping flights along the 60km long onshore construction corridor of RWE’s Norfolk Offshore Wind Projects.

HexCam has been providing aerial video, survey and mapping services to J. Murphy & Sons as well as directly to Vattenfall (who have now sold the projects to RWE) for the past three years. It’s currently carrying out monthly ‘construction progress’ survey and mapping missions along the western third of the cable corridor between the sub station site at Necton and the River Wensum crossing at Elsing.

The speed at which it’s able to complete these surveys will be significantly enhanced by its participation in the CAA BVLOS sandbox project. As part of the project, HexCam is working with its project partners to fly a fixed-wing drone, which can travel further and for much longer than a standard ‘quadcopter’ drone.

StirlingX, a GALLOS company, is providing HexCam with the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) ‘SPARROW HAWK’ fixed-wing drone that will be conducting BVLOS flights along the corridor. The first short-range test flights have already been completed and these will be extended in the coming months as HexCam gains CAA approval of its new Operating Safety Case (OSC) covering the new drone’s planned longer range survey work.

“Under standard CAA permissions, we used to be limited to flying out to just 500 metres from where we were positioned. We’d then have to pack everything down, relocate further along the construction corridor, set up and do it all again,” said director Rowley Cory-Wright.

With its current enhanced CAA permissions, HexCam is already able to fly its drones out to 2,500 metres as well as use a dual-pilot system that allows control to be passed between two pilots – delivering huge time savings and efficiency gains as the team ‘leap-frog’ along long linear routes.

“We can now complete mapping of the western third of the corridor in about six hours, from only seven take-off and landing sites,” said Rowley.

A ‘Visual Observer’ (VO) located between and in direct 2-way radio contact with the 2 pilots helps to maintain the required direct visual contact with the drone but, as part of the sandbox project, HexCam is now testing Electronic Conspicuity (EC) devices, which sit on the drone and communicate its location to other airspace users.

As well as StirlingX, HexCam has also partnered with Global Drone Training to ensure its team is fully qualified to conduct BVLOS flights, while Norwich Airport’s Air Traffic Control team is overseeing the airspace integration and helping to test and prove the reliability of Electronic Conspicuity measures.

“Our ultimate goal is to fly the SPARROW HAWK fixed wing drone from Felthorpe along the 60km long corridor, carry out a survey, then fly back and land here,” said Rowley.

“It’s about making survey work quicker, safer and less obtrusive for land owners.”

For more information, visit hexcam.co.uk/bvlostrial, call 01603 327676 or email hello@hexcam.co.uk