Unmanned Systems Technology 007 | UMEX 2016 report | Navya ARMA | Launch & recovery systems | AIE 225CS | AUVs | Electric motors | Lethal autonomous weapons

4 P rogress across most facets of engineering is all about evolution. By contrast, we are led by freedom of thought. We are discovering that once a human controller is removed from a vehicle then endless fresh, sometimes previously unimagined possibilities emerge. So inevitably our world of autonomous vehicles will cause a revolution in transportation. That will impact every facet of our lives. It might be something as simple as the end of the school run, since the children can travel to school in a driverless car, unaccompanied by an adult. It might be a parent zipping off to work in a personal helicopter – no pilot’s licence will be required when the craft flies by itself and while the algorithms organise crowded rush hour airspace. The fundamental differences will be far more significant as the whole fabric of our transportation-oriented society is altered by the forthcoming paradigm shift. We can’t predict those. At the same time our Insight article into lethal autonomous weapons warns of fundamental dangers of which we should all be fully aware as we progress down the path of artificial intelligence. That path is integral to the development of autonomous vehicles, so we have a responsibility to ensure that the metamorphosis towards which we are inextricably working is ultimately of overall net benefit to society. In that context there is a great technological adventure to explore, ultimately one that should also prove to be a rewarding human adventure. In this issue, I am sure you will find evidence of that. Ian Bamsey | Editorial Director Net benefit April/May 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Intro | April/May 2016 Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Assistant Editor Guy Richards Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Staff Writer Stewart Mitchell Contributors Peter Donaldson Rory Jackson Mark Venables Technical Consultants Wayne Ward Paul Weighell Dr Donough Wilson Design Andrew Metcalfe andrew@meticulousdesign.com UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to Simon Moss simon@ust-media.com Subscriptions Jim Cavanagh jim@ust-media.com Publishing Director Simon Moss General Manager Chris Perry Office Administrator Frankie Robins Online Publisher Caroline Rees caroline@echobluemedia.com Subscribe today @ www.ust-media.com Editorial opportunity This publication has had such an enthusiastic reception that we are expanding fast. That has opened the door for more experts to contribute to our pages. If you have a strong technical knowledge of any aspect of the field and would like to explore the possibility of writing for us, do let me know: ian@ust-media.com Launch & recovery Options for release and retrieval Electric motors Reliable, efficient propulsion www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com www.ust-media.com Navya ARMA 100% autonomous, driverless & electric UST 07 :APRIL/MAY 2016 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Volume Two | Issue Three April/May 2016 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 (0)1934 713957 Fax: +44 (0)20 8497 2102 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2056-9823 Printed in Great Britain ©High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. Nor can responsibility be accepted for the content of any advertisement. US COPIES ONLY Unmanned Systems Technology ISSN No: 2056-9823, is published by High Power Media in England and is distributed in the United States by SPP, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ. Postmaster please send address changes to: Unmanned Systems Technology, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available from High Power Media at the address above or directly from our website. Overseas copies are sent via air mail. UST SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS 1 year subscription – 15% discount: UK – £75; Europe – e 125 USA – $150; ROW – £97.50 2 year subscription – 25% discount: UK – £135; Europe – e 225 USA – $270; ROW – £175.50 Make cheques payable to High Power Media. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UK Maestro accepted. Quote card number and expiry date (also issue/start date for Maestro)