Tekever News

Ponte de Sor: AR5´s new home

2015-12-14T05:39:00.001-08:00

It’s official: we’re opening a new facility in Portugal! In Ponte de Sor, a city near the Spanish border, we’re building a state-of-the-art factory where we’ll develop and manufacture our larger UAS platforms, like the AR5 Life Ray. We’re thrilled to be able to have such an important tool at our disposal, especially as it is located inside a perfectly fitted airfield that will allow us to test and perfect our systems.

We’ll also be making a huge social and economic impact of a region that has been heavily affected by unemployment, and from which people have to leave to find suitable jobs. We’ll start welcoming new members of the team at the end of the year, and we expect to start having the facility operational within the first months of 2016.

MORE: Making Smartwatches our business

2015-12-14T05:37:00.001-08:00

MORE has made another breakthrough by allowing our costumers to run it on Smartwatches, both on IOS and Android platforms.
This new milestone is helping us to offer our customers a wider set of options, and its another step towards having a technology that runs on almost every device.
MORE (Model Once Run Everywhere) was our first technology platform, and it allowed us to grow by creating new products and services, and entering new markets with a revolutionary approach. Today, MORE powers systems so diverse as Lisbon’s ePark, Santander’s Mobile Apps, Euromedic’s VIDACare, or our own MOBIZY offering. With MORE, we have the privilege, and the responsibility, of touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world, and we’ll continue to work hard to offer them the best possible experience.

GAMALINK in Space!

2015-07-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

TEKEVER and the Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites (SECM) – a major global player in the micro-satellite market - signed a contract focused on using GAMALINK as an enabling technology for SECM’s ambitious strategy for the global microsatellite market. GAMALINK is a communication system designed to provide the infrastructure for creating an internet-like networking environment in space. The first GAMALINK-enabled satellite mission will be launched in September 2015, creating a major landmark for TEKEVER, but also marking a step forward in the space market. Congrats team!

TEKEVER, ViaSat Enter Strategic Alliance to Expand the Civilian Use of Drones with Advanced Satellite Communications

2015-06-22T02:58:00.005-07:00

Strategic alliance announced at the Paris Air Show

Maritime Monitoring and Critical Infrastructure Surveillance to be the First Planned Missions for Demonstration

PARIS, June 18, 2015 - The TEKEVER Group<http://www.tekever.com>, a leading Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) manufacturer, and ViaSat<http://www.viasat.com>, an innovator in broadband and communication technologies and services, have announced a strategic alliance to expand the civilian use of drones with advanced satellite communications. This joint collaboration will bring ViaSat’s communication technologies onto TEKEVER’s drone platforms to push the boundaries of UAS range in civilian Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) applications. Research and development (R&D) activities will combine TEKEVER platforms and ViaSat hardware to develop communication systems for current and next-generation civilian drone applications.

“ViaSat is on the forefront of satellite communication technologies and we’re proud to join them in a quest to innovate the civilian UAS market with forward-thinking long-range applications,” said Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER Group chief operating officer, during the 2015 Paris Air Show. “This partnership will increase our capability to deliver more effective solutions for multiple mission profiles, including maritime surveillance, emergency response and monitoring of critical infrastructures.”

“TEKEVER is delivering state of the art unmanned systems to both the military and civilian markets. Joining them will allow us to adapt our technology to new types of applications that we believe will change the future of civilian BLOS UAS applications, ” said Stefano Vaccaro, managing director of ViaSat Antenna Systems Division, Switzerland. “This has a significant worldwide market potential that aligns with the strategic roadmap of both companies.”

ViaSat technologies will include satellite communication products that are robust and can be integrated with Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems driving the use of drones in “unsegregated” or civilian airspace. The products that will be developed through the TEKEVER and ViaSat strategic alliance will expand the range of civilian service applications for drone usage through enabling smaller platforms and longer missions.

The first use cases that will be demonstrated include: maritime monitoring and critical infrastructure surveillance.

About TEKEVER

TEKEVER is a technological group based out of Portugal that develops innovative technologies for the Enterprise, Aerospace, Defense and Security Markets. TEKEVER contributes to the modernization and evolution of these markets, by developing and delivering advanced technology and products that improve the quality of communication, information, and execution capabilities in organizations. In the UAV sector, TEKEVER is a leading OEM platforms manufacturer and systems provider. The technology and products created in the Aerospace and Defense area have already resulted in three spin-offs<http://www.tekever.com/en/group/structure/> and several successful product lines<http://www.tekever.com/en/divisions/asds/products/>. For more information please visit TEKEVER atwww.tekever.com<http://www.tekever.com>, or follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

About ViaSat

ViaSat engineers creative ways to connect people to new communication applications with networking systems and services that enable a fast, cost-efficient, secure, and high-performance connection to virtually any location. The Company offers Exede® high-speed internet<http://www.exede.com> and broadband services in North America; worldwide mobile satellite services, including global tracking and messaging as well as high-speed in-flight internet; satellite broadband networking systems; Wi-Fi and other hotspot operations, support, and management systems; network-centric military communication systems for the U.S. and allied governments; cybersecurity; and communication system design. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs more than 3,400 people worldwide in the areas of technology development, customer service, and network operations. For more information, please visit ViaSat at www.viasat.com<http://www.viasat.com>, or follow the Company on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/ViaSat>, Twitter<https://twitter.com/ViaSatInc>, LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/viasat> and YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/user/ViaSatInc>.

TEKEVER builds up a UAV program in Azores

2015-05-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

The TEKEVER group is building up an unmanned aerial system program in the Azores islands (Portugal) to perform multiple types of near shore and maritime missions, including search and rescue, surveillance, illegal fishing, maritime patrol and pollution detection, among others. The Azores islands, because of their geography and location, are a strategic area to test and improve the usage of this type of technology to support missions that are otherwise extremely costly and complex to perform.

The program starts by having a six-month-long trial using a variety of TEKEVER platforms and sensor combinations, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the different systems for the extreme scenarios that can be found in the islands. The program is a result from the close cooperation between TEKEVER and theAzorean Government.

What about Azores? The Azores islands rise out of the ocean where three continental plates rub against one another forming mountains in the deep mid Atlantic. They are an autonomous region of Portugal, consisting of nine small volcanic islands midway between Newfoundland and Lisbon. The size of the AzoresExclusive Economic Zone is about 1 000 000 km2 with an average depth of about 3000 meters.

“Yes, it's huge! Portugal has the 3rd largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the EU and the 10th largest EEZ in the world! On the other hand, the Azores are a strategic place for aviation. The Santa Maria (Azores) air traffic control center covers the airspace above a vast area in the North Atlantic Ocean, starting in 15° west until 40° west, descending approximately to the latitude of the Cape Verde archipelago”, referred Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER COO.

The trials began in April and the company is currently studying the possibility of a permanent presence in the archipelago.

PRESS RELEASE - TEKEVER and Santos Lab sign purchase agreement

2015-04-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

TEKEVER and Santos Lab sign purchase agreement

Rio de Janeiro, 14th of April 2015

TEKEVER Group has signed a Purchase Agreement to acquire a significant interest in Santos Lab, the leading Brazilian UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) manufacturer, the Portuguese company announced at the LAAD DEFENCE & SECURITY 2015 expo today.

Both partners will join their capabilities to integrate technology, offer new products and join commercial efforts at a global level, with particular focus on the South American markets. This agreement is the next step of a global strategic partnership announced last year at the Farnborough International Airshow (UK).

The AR2 Carcará is the first product to be jointly launched from this groundbreaking partnership and is currently in operation by the Brazilian Navy. The AR2 Carcará includes a water-proof airframe designed and produced by Santos Lab that is specifically aimed at maritime and amphibious operations.

The Unmanned Air System is fitted with advanced onboard processing, communications equipment and ground control systems provided by TEKEVER, allowing the system to be fully interoperable with all other TEKEVER UAS products, and providing a new range of operational capabilities.

“TEKEVER’s participation in Santos Lab will always preserve this company as a strategic company for the Brazilian security market. We signed the purchase agreement today and we have until the end of the semester to close it. Although, from now on, both companies are going to develop UAS using the groundbreaking technologies from TEKEVER and the amazing structures from Santos Lab. This incredible cooperation will benefit the companies’ internationalization and our business strategies and add significant value to our positions in the Aerospace, Defence and Security markets”, said Ricardo Mendes, COO of TEKEVER.

“With this agreement, we have created a win-win relationship. Because of this groundbreaking partnership, AR2 Carcará is a more flexible, versatile and reliable product. And this is just the beginning”, agreed Gabriel Klabin, CEO of Santos Labs.

TEKEVER working on a INTERNET-CONNECTED DRONES solution

2015-03-03T04:25:00.002-08:00

TEKEVER and a other partners are working on a solution to delivering broadband capacity to remote places, using drones.
The UMOBILE project (“Universal, Mobile-centric and Opportunistic Communications Architecture”) aims to investigate and develop a communication and information infrastructure for underserved, rural, developing regions inline with the objectives of the Global Access to the Internet for All.
The project has been funded from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme with 3M Euros.
Find more inf. @ http://umobile-project.eu

Using (just) your brain to control a drone

2015-02-24T09:31:00.001-08:00

Imagine using a brain-to-computer interface that enables people to control drones with their minds. It’s not science fiction anymore, and project BRAINFLIGHT is making it possible!

The BRAINFLIGHT project, the result of the shared belief of four organizations – TEKEVER (Project Coordinator – Portugal), Champalimaud Foundation (Portugal), Eagle Science (Netherlands) and Technische Universität München (Germany) – that aircraft can be directly controlled by the human brain, has accomplished several important results and is paving the way for having mind controlled drones.

During a public presentation in Lisbon (Portugal), TEKEVER and Champalimaud teams use high-performance electroencephalogram (EEG) systems to measure brain waves noninvasively, and then use specially conceived algorithms to convert brain signals into drone commands. The “drone operator”, wearing a cap that measures brain activity, influences the drone’s path using nothing but simple thoughts. Essentially, the electricity flowing through the pilot's brain acts as an input to the drone’s control system, in order to perform, on the air, a mission with objectives previously defined by the research team.

“The project has successfully demonstrated that the use of the brain computer interface (BMI) on a simulator for the Diamond DA42 aircraft, where one pilot controlled the simulator through the BRAINLFIGHT system. We’ve also integrated the BMI the UAV ground systems and have successfully tested it in UAV simulators. We’re now taking it one step further, and performing live flight tests with the UAV.”, said Ricardo Mendes TEKEVER’s COO.

BRAINFLIGHT uses a multi-disciplinary approach of combining aeronautical systems engineering with neuro-science research. The project explores two different brain-computer interface (BCI) approaches. For this purpose, researchers have used the BCI system in a four seat, twin engine, propeller-driven aircraft simulator (the Diamond DA42). The final step in the project is the validation of the BCI approaches through control of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in real flight.

Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER’s COO, said “this is an amazing high-risk and high-payoff project, with long-term impact that has already provided excellent results and will require further technology maturation. We truly believe that BRAINFLIGHT represents the beginning of a tremendous step change in the aviation field, empowering pilots and de-risking missions, and we’re looking forward to deliver these benefits to the market with highly innovative products.”

BRAINFLIGHT is a project with significant impacts, both in mid and long terms. If BCI is adopted in the future as a method of control for aircraft (both manned and remotely piloted) then the project will potentially benefit the entire pilot community (from ultralight and general aviation to commercial aviation). Through the operant BCI approach, we believe people will be able to pilot aircraft just like they perform everyday activities like walking or running. This will mean that pilots will be able to focus on higher cognitive activities while still being able to operate such a complex system as an aircraft (akin to how professional sportsmen can focus on the tactical aspects of movement without worrying about maintaining proficiency on the basic game skills for example). Pilots will reduce their workload and physically disabled people may benefit in the medium term by becoming able to pilot aircraft. In addition, one of the obvious areas of application of this technology is advanced prosthetics, enabling people with severe physical disabilities to interact with their surroundings in an easier way. Another possibility is the application of the project results to the control of other complex systems like automobiles, boats, trains or any other system that combines physical interactions necessary for its control with a need for greater attention and focus on instruments or surroundings.

TEKEVER drone tracks lava flow at Pico do Fogo volcano capturing dazzling images

2015-01-12T03:27:00.000-08:00

. TEKEVER Group has joined forces with Cape Verdean authorities during the volcanic eruption at island of Fogo (Cape Verde) by tracking the lava flow and monitoring magma temperature;

. TEKEVER drone captured dazzling images of the powerful volcanic eruption at Pico do Fogo volcano on the island of Fogo;

The TEKEVER team flew to the Island of Fire, in Cape Verde, to monitor the lava stream of the volcano that began erupting last November. In an action to support Cape Verdean authorities, the company used drones to make the first aerial images of the damage caused by the volcano. The TEKEVER drones captured images in high definition and with thermal imaging cameras. With this information, the Cape Verdean authorities identified the lava river that flowed below the magma already solidified and was, thus far, invisible to the surface. For one week, TEKEVER conducted missions throughout the day and night, using equipment such as the AR4 Light Ray, TEKEVER’s own creation.

“It was one of our hardest missions so far. But with the images of TEKEVER, the Cape Verdean authorities had a more peaceful Christmas. For the first time, it was possible to predict the advance of lava with certainty. The mission had two main benefits. We provided the Cape Verdean authorities with key information to protect their population as well as testing our equipment in an extreme context. We are very happy to be able to help!”, said Ricardo Mendes, COO TEKEVER.

The biggest eruption of Pico do Fogo in decades has destroyed two villages. Some 1,500 people were forced to abandon their homes before the lava flow reached the villages of Portela and Bangaeira at Fogo island in the Atlantic archipelago. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the Cha das Caldeiras region at the foot of the volcano immediately after it first erupted on November 23.

This mission had no costs to the Cape Verdean authorities and was developed under the social responsibility commitments of the company.

Pioneering TEKEVER Unmanned System selected for maritime surveillance in Europe

2014-12-16T09:12:00.001-08:00

. The European Space Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency have selected the TEKEVER AR5 Life Ray Evolution for a new European maritime surveillance system composed of drones.

. The European project RAPSODY, led by the TEKEVER Group, will introduce, for the first time, unmanned aerial systems in maritime surveillance missions within Europe.

The new unmanned aerial system AR5 Life Ray, developed by technological Group TEKEVER, was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to create the first European maritime surveillance system composed of drones.

The RAPSODY Project, led by TEKEVER, will test the use of unmanned aerial systems in a maritime context through real-world demonstration of two scenarios: search and rescue missions; and pollution and oil spill monitoring. The systems will operate over the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first time unmanned aerial systems will be introduced into maritime surveillance missions in Europe.

This significant two year long project is being announced this week. It is expected that the first year will be dedicated to the integration of the various sensors that will board the aircraft, developing on-board sensor algorithms to improve operational performance, as well as optimizing data transmission according to the type of missions that the system will carry out. In the second year of the project, there will be tests and demonstrations that will put the system in real scenarios and prepare it for a fully commercial use.

"The AR5 Life Ray Evolution is one of our larger platforms. With a wingspan of 4.3 meters and a payload of 50 kg, the AR5 is capable of performing 8 to 12 hours missions and has the most suitable design for the RAPSODY project. With the use of satellite communications, our system is geared to perform multiple types of long-range missions, including search and rescue, surveillance and maritime patrol and pollution detection, among others", explains Ricardo Mendes, COO of TEKEVER. "The AR5 is a clear advance in our systems, providing an excellent way to complement maritime surveillance operations, with a lower cost and greater flexibility than manned systems, as well as responding to the huge challenges posed by the European maritime space".

The RAPSODY project is the result of a consortium lead by TEKEVER, which is responsible for providing and adapting the AR5 Life Ray system. Bond Air Services (UK) is responsible for the operation of the system, while TEKEVER UK manages the creation and adaptation of the sensor platform, the development of fusion algorithms and data processing. DSI Information Technik (Germany) is responsible for assuring security on sensor data transmission.

The European Maritime Safety Agency will establish and validate operational requirements and coordinate all institutional relationships with the multiple end users of the system, including the Portuguese Navy, the Maritime Authorities of Malta and the Spanish Rescue and Safety Maritime Society.

There are many advantages in using unmanned systems for maritime surveillance. For example, a reduction of risks associated with the missions, performance which goes beyond that of human endurance, as well as less complexity and a lower cost when compared to manned systems.

About AR5 Life Ray Evolution

The AR5 Life Ray Evolution is an unmanned aerial system designed for medium and long-range maritime surveillance missions. Capable of carrying 50kg in 8 to 12 hour missions, the AR5 features a wide range of sensor options, including high-definition and infrared cameras, synthetic aperture radars, LIDAR, AIS, among others.

“Social networks are crucial in crisis scenarios management”, says European study

2014-12-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

. iSAR+ will provide instructions for an efficient use of social media in crisis situations

. European project reached an important milestone with a simulation of a crisis scenario at the Paris Subway

Social networks and mobile technology provides important information for the authorities in case of crisis scenarios and catastrophes. This is one of the conclusions of the European Research Project iSAR+ - Online and Mobile Communications for Crisis Response and Search and Rescue, funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and lead by the Portuguese technological Group TEKEVER.

The project reached an important milestone last month with a simulation of a crisis scenario at the Paris Montparnasse station during which authorities were receiving social network information provided by particular users. It’s also settled a final showcase in Kuopio (Finland) next year.

“The information gathered on social networks and evaluated by our system were crucial for a faster and more efficient reaction of the authorities. For example, people provide us geo-referenced information and some details like the number of injured people or problems to access the accident site”, said João Belfo, iSAR+ Project Leader.

TEKEVER is the Coordinator of the iSAR+ research project (http://isar.i112.eu) which aims at developing the iSAR+ Guidelines, providing instructions and recommendations for citizens and Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) agents for an effective and efficient use of social media and mobile technology in crisis situations.

The iSAR+ Platform integrates Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and functionalities that offer additional communication channels between PPDR agents and citizens and enhances high-quality situational awareness for PPDR and citizens, during and after a crisis situation.

iSAR+ is a two and a half year European project, with an overall budget of around five millions euros for the 16 participating institutions of nine European countries.

Portuguese industry steps up in Space

2014-11-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

Tekever and European Space Agency signed an agreement for the intersatellite communications link on ESA’s Proba-3 formation-flying mission.

The two satellites will accurately hold position at a distance of 150 m or more.

"This contract highlights a key technology contributionby Portuguese companies in a very advanced mission", said ESA.

PROBA-3 is the third small satellite technology development and demonstration precursor mission within ESA's GSTP (General Support Technology Program) series. The primary mission objective is to demonstrate the technologies required for formation flying of multiple spacecraft in the fields of space science, Earth Observation and surveillance. This involves the in-orbit validation of these new Formation Flying (FF) techniques and technologies through a series of precision FF maneuvers, including formation acquisition, high precision pointing, reorientation, maintenance, resizing, rotation and slew.

The PROBA-3 mission concept comprises two independent minisatellites in HEO (Highly-elliptical Earth Orbit) in PFF (Precise Formation Flying) formation, close to one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two satellites.

AR1@ATLAS exercise

2014-10-20T04:15:00.000-07:00

The Portuguese Police conducted an ATLAS exercise in Lisbon this month with the participation of other police forces from across Europe. For the first time, ATLAS introduced UAV as a means to enhance operational capability, tactical awareness and to co-ordinate the response to the type of critical situation faced by police forces in many life threatening situations.

The UAV used was a TEKEVER - AR1 Blue Ray. With 65km/h wind speed and raining, the AR1 completed the mission successfully.

This exercise had recreated a situation of abduction of students at a university in Lisbon by a violent terrorist group. The mini-UAV made the recognition of the place before the special forces action.

With day and night imagery to front line units in real time, the forces had the means to take the right decision at the right time.

37 international forces participated in ATLAS exercise in Lisbon.

Portuguese army uses TEKEVER UAVs in Kosovo

2014-10-20T02:47:00.002-07:00

By: BETH STEVENSON

LONDON

Source: Flightglobal.com

The Portuguese army is nearing the end of a NATO deployment in Kosovo using its indigenously-built Tekever unmanned air vehicles (UAV).

The AR4 Light Ray UAV was deployed in support of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission in April. Since then it has been used for convoy protection – flying ahead of ground vehicles to carry out reconnaissance of the route ahead – to survey potential operational areas for safety and to pre-determine force requirements for particular missions.

Portugal's army has been operating the system for three years, but this is the first NATO operation it has been utilised for.

Portuguese army

“There are possible conflict zones there – they use it to survey the areas instead of or before sending teams out,” says Ricardo Mendes, chief operating officer of the company. “The current plan is to have it there for six months until the end of October. We’ve been speaking regularly and the results are good.”

The AR4 has an endurance of 2h and is using electro-optical/infrared payloads for the surveillance missions, operated from some 7.7nm (14.2km) away. Two systems have been deployed in support of KFOR, each comprising several aircraft and ground control equipment.

“It is a matter of pride for the Portuguese forces to use a Portuguese system,” Mendes says. “This is the first real integrated NATO mission where they have used this capability. Everybody is very happy with the system.”

Portuguese army

Mendes is hopeful the operations in Kosovo will highlight the system to other forces through the joint training that is taking place, and numerous potential acquisitions are being discussed in Europe.

Meanwhile, the company introduced the enhanced AR2 Carcara UAV in collaboration with Santos Labs in July. Mendes says this has become operational with the Brazilian navy, which had also operated a previous iteration of the UAV. Training is currently “well under way”, he says, and different elements of the navy have been trained to use the system.

TEKEVER participates in anti-terrorist “bomb factory” project

2014-09-30T02:19:00.001-07:00

. TEKEVER joins European consortium to fight terrorism

. First simulation is done this week in Stockholm

TEKEVER takes fundamental role in a four-year project to develop a state of the art sensor network capable of detecting hidden explosives devices in air and water. The sensors will detect chemical traces of explosive in order to provide early warning to security services and protect vulnerable urban populations from the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), often used by terrorist organizations. After 3 years of intense development, this ground breaking system had its first full scale field test during a simulation last week in Stockholm.

The EU-funded project, Bomb Factory Detection by Networks of Advanced Sensors (BONAS), was brought about in response to the London bombings in 2005. It’s a €4 million project that brings together 14 teams from 9 countries in a four-year project.

“TEKEVER leads a key part of this project. We take the role of system integrators and are responsible for collecting sensor data in real time, fusing all the information to learn if indeed we’re detecting the presence of explosives, and ultimately sounding the alarm when the system detects a threat. At the same time, we keep the user informed and in complete control of the system through an advanced set of user-friendly interfaces. We’re responsible for pushing the alarm button and saying: Yes, we must act”, said Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER COO.

The consortium, led by the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, involves TEKEVER and a number of other European research centres and companies. The team comprises organizations from the entire value chain, from basic research to field deployment, assuring that the system not only involves the latest in detection and communication technologies, but is also built to the standards and requirements of public safety and security forces.

The concept behind BONAS is to build up a sensor network that will help to geo-locate the vicinity of a “bomb factory” by detecting traces of chemicals used in explosives production. The different sensors, deployed in sensitive locations and camouflaged, will focus on detecting particles, gases and other products that can be bought without specific authorizations and used for homemade explosive devices in the air and water.

Unmanned aircraft used by the Portuguese Police featured in UK

2014-09-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

. AR1 Light Ray, conceived by the Portuguese technological TEKEVER Group and at the service of the Public Security Police (PSP) since 2013, was featured in UAS 2014, Europe's largest event on unmanned technology (UK)

. AR1 Light Ray was used by PSP during the Champions League Final, which took place in Lisbon in May

The unmanned aerial system AR1 Light Ray, conceived by the Portuguese technological TEKEVER Group and at the service of the portuguese Public Security Police (PSP) since 2013, was introduced in the UK as a successful case of use of mini-UAS technology (Unmanned Aerial System) in security operations.

This 100% Portuguese technology, already used in critical moments like the final of the UEFA Champions League in Lisbon, was featured in UAS 2014, Europe's largest event on unmanned technology, held in the UK in the days 9 and 10 September.

"In the opinion of PSP, the advantages of this technology undergo a better understanding, monitoring and study of the crowds. This technology gains great importance in complex police operations and surveillance of major events such as summits, high risk sports events, management of traffic flows or visits of high-level entities", said Rui Coelho de Moura, Head of Office of Research and Planning of PSP, who had the presentation of the project during the event. "One of the recent examples of the use of this equipment took place in the final of the UEFA Champions League, which took place in Lisbon in May," he added.

"We are enthusiastic of the use of unmanned technology at the service of people with goals as diverse as nature conservation, humanitarian aid or transmission of greater security to the communities," explained Ricardo Mendes, administrator of TEKEVER, "a partnership with PSP allowed the development of equipment capable of competing at the highest level in the international security market and enabled this security force of an asset capable of promoting a true aerial surveillance. "

Remember that TEKEVER Group and PSP established a technology partnership in 2013 for the development of autonomous aerial and ground systems, which unites scientific and technological knowledge of TEKEVER and the operating experience of PSP.

The AR1 Light Ray, currently used by the portuguese security force, is equipped with high definition cameras and instruments for remote viewing, featuring autonomous flight of two hours, a range exceeding 10 kilometers and high-tech communications. The device is remotely piloted, weighs about five kilograms, and has a magnitude of 1.8 meters and is manually released, landing with the aid of a parachute.

TEKEVER Group presents its new AR5 Life Ray Evolution

2014-09-02T04:45:00.000-07:00

Looks awesome, doesn't it?

The TEKEVER Group launched a new Medium Endurance, Medium Altitude RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aerial System) designed primarily for maritime operations. The gobal debut was at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), UK, last July. The Portuguese Minister of Defence, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, who visited FIA, was present at the successful presentation of the AR5 Life Ray Evolution, a system that incorporates 100% portuguese technology.

“The AR5 Evolution is one of our largest platforms, with a wingspan of 4.3 meters and a payload capacity of up to 50 kilograms in 8 to 12 hour missions. Being SATCOM enabled, the system is designed to cover wide areas and support multiple types of missions, including search and rescue, surveillance operations, maritime patrol and pollution detection”, said Ricardo Mendes, COO of TEKEVER Group.

“We are proud of our current deployed and operational capability and AR5 Evolution represents the next step forward”, he adds.

The new AR5 Life Ray Evolution is ready to be marketed, and TEKEVER is currently working with partners and users to initiate operations in 2015.

The Portuguese Minister of Defence, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, was present at the successful presentation of the AR5 Life Ray Evolution

TEKEVER and Santos Lab announce global strategic partnership

2014-09-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

TEKEVER and Santos Lab, the leading Brazilian UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) manufacturer, are announcing a global strategic partnership. Both partners will join their capabilities to integrate technology, offer new products and join commercial efforts at a global level, with particular focus on the South American markets.

The AR2 Carcará is the first product to be jointly launched from this groundbreaking partnership and maked its debut at the Farnborough International Airshow.

The AR2 Carcará includes a water-proof airframe designed and produced by Santos Lab, specifically aimed at maritime and amphibious operations. The UAS is fitted with advanced onboard, communication and ground systems provided byTEKEVER, allowing the system to be fully interoperable with all other TEKEVER UAS products, and providing a new range of operational capabilities.

“We’ve teamed up to offer great products, built upon both our capabilities and technology, at a global scale. Santos Lab has a record of coming up with impressive new product designs, and bringing them to the market successfully“, said Ricardo Mendes, COO of TEKEVER Group.

“With this partnership, we are creating a true win-win relation. By being fitted with TEKEVER’s groundbreaking onboard, communication and ground systems, our products can get additional flexibility, versatility and reliability”, declared Gabriel Klabin, CEO of Santos Labs.

TEKEVER in Futuro Hoje - SIC Notícias

2013-07-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

After a year filled with numerous successful demonstrations throughout the World, TEKEVER's unmanned aerial systems are presented to the Portuguese public in the last edition of Futuro Hoje, in the TV station SIC Notícias.

Dedicated to the new technologies and to a vision of the future of today's society, Futuro Hoje and its host Lourenço Medeiros reveal how TEKEVER's unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are being tested with the National Safety Police (PSP) and take the spotlight as a fundamental tactical support asset for public safety and security operations. The images collected by the UAS AR1 Blue Ray that are now broadcasted in this programme show a monitoring operation in the area of Parque das Nações (Lisbon) and it is quite easy to understand the added-value the AR1 Blue Ray brings to law enforcement action, through the gathering of real time images, the capacity to enable remote analysis and the empowerment of an improved situational awareness with respect to available tactical options.

Exploring the application of 100% Portuguese technology at the service of Public Safety and Security in Portugal, the TV programme Futuro Hoje highlights how TEKEVER's unmanned aerial systems already deliver advantages to the PSP daily operations, for the benefit of the citizens' safety and security.

You may watch the AR1 Blue Ray at Futuro Hoje, in

http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/programas/futurohoje/2013/07/09/aparelhos-nao-tripulados-permitem-sobrevoar-zonas-comandados-a-distancia.

TEKEVER and the Portuguese Navy Sign A Scientific and Industrial Collaboration Protocol

2013-06-27T10:51:00.002-07:00

The TEKEVER Group and the Portuguese Navy signed on June 24th, at the Naval School, two Protocols that establish the principles of their mutual scientific and industrial collaboration for the development of joint activities in the domains of autonomous aerial systems, communications systems and of the management of complex systems.

Strengthening an already long-term partnership between TEKEVER and the Portuguese Navy, the Protocols now signed translate the development of studies and research activities, the exchange of knowledge and technological and operational know-how and also the implementation of operational activities for the validation and testing of systems, with the ultimate goal of modernising the Portuguese Navy's operational assets and enhancing its readiness level.

At the ceremony, Rear-Admiral Edgar Bastos Ribeiro, Commander of the Naval School, underlined the relevance for the Portuguese Navy, and for the Naval School in particular, of this opportunity to contribute significantly to the national innovation effort. On its turn, TEKEVER's CEO, Eng. Pedro Sinogas, highlighted the Company's proud to have the Portuguese Navy as a privileged partner in the endeavour to develop synergies that are able to consolidate both entities' leading positions in the scope of the Economy of the Sea.

TEKEVER and National Safety Police – A Technological Partnership at the Service of Security

2013-06-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

The TEKEVER Group and the National Safety Police established a technological partnership that combines TEKEVER's autonomous air and land unmanned systems with the Police's high degree of

knowledge and expertise in security operations. This collaboration has enabled to complement the current capacities of the Portuguese Security Forces with an active that is able to promote true airborne superiority.

"The work developed in close cooperation with the Police has made really clear for TEKEVER that our systems are instrumental for the integration of the most advanced information and reconnaissance capabilities in security operations", explains Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER's Chief Operations Officer.

"The union of TEKEVER's technology, 100% Portuguese, and the Police's know-how, namely that of the Police's Special Unit, has been consolidating the reinforcement of the national response to the increasing demands of national security missions, including surveillance and monitoring of large areas, urban environments, large events and crowds, enabling a better awareness and understanding of available tactical options for complex law enforcement operations.", says the Sub-Commissioner João Moura.

Capable of providing a real-time high-definition image, the AR1 Blue Ray UAS presents electro-optic and infrared sensors that ensure a large operational coverage of day and night environments. "The great advantages of the AR1 Blue Ray UAS come from its capacity to film and display in real time what is unfolding on the terrain, in full HD and with a panoply of cameras that are easily attached to the aircraft. The recording also enables a posteriori detailed approach for a better public safety service, contributing to the overall improvement of the Police's options in the field, acting in execution but also in prevention. And the fact that the AR1 Blue Ray operators are always safe is extremely important. Also the sentiment of security generated by this drone in each citizen is a major benefit that the Police certainly take into account. Therefore, we do see the AR1 Blue Ray UAS as a true manifestation of the technology at the service of the citizen, enriching the Police's set of useful analysis tools and, considering current security challenges, becoming increasingly more indispensable.", highlights the Sub-Commissioner João Moura.

Indeed "TEKEVER has been training several agents to operate with the AR1 Blue Ray UAS, in order to support the National Safety Police and place the Portuguese technology at the Service of Portuguese citizens' safety and security." concluded Ricardo Mendes.

TEKEVER Awarded Two More Innovative Projects by EDA

2013-05-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

TEKEVER ASDS has just been awarded two more research and development projects by the European Defence Agency (EDA), reinforcing its status as the leading Portuguese company involved with EDA projects.

The new projects are the Soldier Portable Energy Reserve PACK (SPER-PACK) and the uLtralight weigh bulletproof VESTs (LIVEST), both funded under EDA's Combat Equipment for Dismounted Soldier (CEDS) programme. Led by TEKEVER, SPER-PACK will assess different technologies for energy generation, storage and management considering the operational environment and the user profiles, in order to propose a preliminary design of a flexible, plug 'n' play power supply system for the dismounted soldier. The SPER-PACK design will also anticipate the integration of different technologies at or before mission time, being capable of supporting multiple and unanticipated energy generation, harvesting and storage solutions, supported by a powerful and smart power management subsystem. The SPER-PACK Consortium is comprised of TEKEVER, FOI, CEA and Sagem.

The LIVEST Project will investigate the feasibility of developing a Smart Wearable Textile & Body Armour System based on a soft body armour, enabled through the use of 3D textile structures, especially conceived to reduce weight and increase comfort, and the combination of 3D fabric with current ballistic woven fabric, aiming to reduce trauma cause by high energy impact of bullets and to improve the armour's ballistic protection performance. The Project will also address the integration of wearable electronics for 3D structure and vest monitoring. The LIVEST Consortium is led by AITEX and composed of CITEVE, Paul Boyé Technologies and TEKEVER.

With SPER-PACK and LIVEST, TEKEVER reinforces its position as the Portuguese company with the largest participation in the European Defence Agency's innovation programmes.

TEKEVER at the 2013 Edition of the Fórum do Mar

2013-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

TEKEVER is attending the new edition of the Fórum do Mar at Exponor, dedicated to the newest scientific, technological and economic initiatives in marine resources' sustainable exploration.

At the event's opening, the Secretary of State of the Sea, Manuel Pinto de Abreu, visited TEKEVER's booth to know more about the company's investment effort in autonomous unmanned aerial systems and communications systems for the maritime safety and security domains.

On display, the AR4 Light Ray UAS is a clear example of TEKEVER's unique contribution to the areas of marine environment monitoring, critical offshore infrastructures' inspection and maritime surveillance, from coastal to maritime patrolling to ship traffic control, fishery inspection and search and rescue operations.

At the Fórum do Mar, TEKEVER benefits from the opportunity to network with numerous Portuguese and international experts in maritime affairs, present to discuss the upcoming EU programming funds and its challenges and opportunities for the development and internationalisation of the economy of the Sea.

AR1 Blue Ray at SEGUREX 2013 – Technology At The Service Of Security

2013-05-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

With the Technology at the Service of Security slogan, the TEKEVER Group presents its unmanned aerial and ground systems portfolio for safety and security operations at the SEGUREX 2013 exhibition, which is taking place at FIL, in Lisbon, from May 7th to 11th.

"TEKEVER's UAS systems are a real added-value to the Portuguese safety and security forces' current capacity, enabling the integration of an asset that delivers true air superiority to those forces' performance in the field.", explained Ricardo Mendes, the TEKEVER Group COO. Ricardo Mendes spoke at the opening of SEGUREX 2013 during the visit of the Portuguese Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Miguel Macedo, to the exhibition area of the Public Safety Police (PSP), where the AR1 Blue Ray is on display.

To signal this event, and in close coordination with the PSP, the AR1 Blue Ray performed a monitoring mission at the Parque das Nações site, accompanying the arrival of Dr. Miguel Macedo and its staff to the site to preside the event's opening. An excerpt of the video footage may be viewed at http://autonomous.tekever.com/ar1.

The AR1 Blue Ray has been at the centre of the strategic partnership between the TEKEVER Group and PSP, namely its Special Unit, with the ambition to provide this Unit with a UAS empowered with the most advanced information and reconnaissance capabilities for safety and security operations, including surveillance and monitoring of wide areas or crowds, as well as search and patrolling of areas and perimeters. Able to deliver high-definition imagery in real time, the AR1 Blue Ray comprises electro-optic and infrared sensors that ensure a broad operational coverage in day and night environments. "TEKEVER has been promoting the training of several police officers with the AR1 Blue Ray, to support PSP's missions and to have state-of-the-art Portuguese technology at the service of citizens' safety in Portugal.", concluded Ricardo Mendes.

The scope of the TEKEVER – PSP strategic partnership also includes the development of autonomous land systems, specifically designed for reconnaissance missions in urban environments. Hence, the LR1 SPYBOT is a small robot extremely robust that collects image and audio information and transmits in real time up to a 250-meter distance (outdoor environment), ensuring the situational awareness of the operational site. This equipment is also in display at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Pavilion, at SEGUREX.

TEKEVER at the NATO Study on Information Exploitation

2013-04-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

TEKEVER ASDS is partnering with thirty NATO industrial experts in the new NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) study group that aims to explore novel approaches for processing, exploiting and disseminating imagery data.

Following previous work in this domain, TEKEVER ASDS will be addressing the challenges raised by the increasing amount of data being collected by NATO forces via satellites and drone platforms, which is overwhelming the NATO forces' ability to process, exploit and distribute the actionable, analytical results to the Joint Coalition forces.

At the NIAG Study Group 178 (NIAG SG178) kick-off meeting, partners agreed to dedicate the next twelve-month effort to the overall goal of identifying state-of-the art technology that is capable of extracting additional information from collected video feeds and make it ready for analysts to evaluate its relevance, so that machines handle data and humans take decisions.