TEKEVER in Futuro Hoje - SIC Notícias

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

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 Conducts Successful Trials of the AR4 Light Ray UAS in Colombia

TEKEVER conducted an intensive one-week set of trials of the AR4 Light Ray UAS to the Colombian Armed Forces, to validate the system's powerful capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, under the extreme altitude and weather conditions of Colombia.

With very intense military activity against guerrilla forces and narcotraffic groups, the Colombian Armed Forces are everyday faced with the need to carry out ISTAR missions under extreme weather and geographic conditions. The Colombian landscape is poised with high altitude mountains that contribute to a very instable weather, prune to swift changes and speedy winds. These conditions, coupled with very dense vegetation, pose a true ambitious challenge to the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems by the Colombian Armed Forces.

The technical trials carried out by the AR4 Light Ray UAS were performed at high altitudes, around 3000 meters (about 10.000 feet) and right in the heart of the mountainous region surrounding Bogotá, demonstrating the system’s ability to perform in the most challenging scenarios and under the most demanding weather conditions.

"The trials were a complete success," said Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER Group COO. "We met and exceeded the goals we had planned for, by demonstrating the usage of the system to perform multiple types of missions in one of the most challenging environments in the world."

In partnership with the Aviation Global Group, TEKEVER's AR4 Light Ray demonstration followed a special invitation from the Colombian Armed Forces in November 2012 to see first-hand the outstanding performance of the system, after its global market launch at the 2012 Farnborough International Air Show.

The Colombian Armed Forces retrieved valuable lessons from the demonstrations, which will be instrumental for its ongoing procurement on mini-UASs that are specially designed for surveillance missions and capable of delivering true airborne superiority. 

"After these trials, we are extremely confident that our system will be successful in fulfilling the special requirements of the Colombian Armed Forces.", said Ricardo Mendes. He reinforced that this opportunity to present the AR4 Light Ray UAS to the Colombian Armed Forces represents an important step towards the reinforcement of Portuguese aeronautics in the global aerospace market. 

TEKEVER Unveils AR5 Life Ray in Portugal

TEKEVER publicly presents for the first time in Portugal the latest addition to its family of Unmanned Aerial Systems, the Tactical UAS AR5 Life Ray, at the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) Annual Convention, taking place on October 10th-12th, in Lisbon. TEKEVER sponsors the most important event for ASD, an Association that has 28 member associations in 20 countries, representing more than 2,000 companies with approximately 80,000 suppliers and bringing together the major players at the ASDS market.

Specifically designed for Maritime and Near-Shore Surveillance and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, the AR5 Life Ray is an impressive 9-meter wingspan platform, able to achieve a cruise speed of 120 km/h, carry a 90-kg payload for multiple sensors and provide satellite communications, thus delivering a new added advantage to current monitoring activities and rescue operations. 

"For centuries, Portugal has looked towards the Sea for technological, social, cultural and economic prosperity. Once, we led innovation in Maritime environments, and it gave us greatness. Now, we are working hard to really push the envelope of technology with the AR5 Life Ray UAS, and it makes a lot of sense that a great product, primarily targeted to the Maritime Market, comes from Portugal.", commented TEKEVER’s COO Ricardo Mendes. The AR5 Life Ray is scheduled to begin operational tests in 2013.

TEKEVER’s UAS at Farnborough Stars in BBC Show

The AR4 Light Ray, TEKEVER’s UAS launched into the global market at the Farnborough Air Show 2012, was presented by the BBC journalist Anita Rani, in a prime time live broadcast from Farnborough, as “the example in Farnborough of the growing importance of unmanned aerial systems”. 

In BBC’s “The One Show”, it was also displayed a segment of the video footage produced by the AR4 while in flight, showing Farnborough’s Airport, the exhibition area and the many aircraft in the airfield (http://autonomous.tekever.com/ar4/index.html). 

The attention given by the British media to the Portuguese UAS is coherent with the enormous interest the aerospace industry and aeronautics professionals have expressed in regards to this first aeronautical product from the TEKEVER Group, which surprises for its effectiveness, flexibility and total ownership cost.

Farnborough 2012 sets Portugal’s entry into the world market of autonomous aerial systems, for the four public flights performed by the AR4 Light Ray, from July 9th to 13th, have attained high-performance levels, in spite of the intense rain and 25-knot wind weather conditions. 

Being the first fully autonomous UAS to perform outdoor flight demonstrations at the Farnborough International Air Show, already in its 48th edition, the AR4 Light Ray has granged the attention of clients, partners, government officials and media throughout the entire week.

Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER Group’s COO, confirms in the meantime negotiations with different organisations in several continents. 

TEKEVER Disrupts The Unmanned Aerial Systems Market !

AR4 Light Ray in Flight

TEKEVER’s presence at this year’s Farnborough Air Show will be focused on the unmanned aerial systems market. TEKEVER’s AR4 Light Ray will be the first fully autonomous UAS to be exhibited in an international Air Show, performing daily flights between July 9th and 13th.

The AR4 Light Ray is a state-of-the-art mini UAS providing advanced capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions in the most challenging conditions. Featuring a broad sensor payload portfolio, this hand-launched modular UAV platform is extremely adaptable and easy to operate, requiring minimum training and providing precise situational awareness whenever needed. Offering multiple modes of operation, from remotely controlled to fully autonomous, “the AR4 Light Ray delivers true airborne superiority, unprecedented operational readiness, reliable communications relay functions and powerful target acquisition capabilities, focused in on-board intelligence and tracking of specific static or moving elements of interest”, announced TEKEVER’s COO Ricardo Mendes. Farnborough will be the stage for the worldwide market launch of the AR4 Light Ray. TEKEVER is already in negotiations with Organizations from several European, Asian and South American countries.

At the 2012 UK Aerospace industry event, TEKEVER will have its own dedicated stand (Hall 2, Booth C6) and will be also exhibiting in the Static Display a 1:1 model of the AR5 Life Ray, a Tactical UAS that “sets new standards for unmanned systems’ performance in Maritime Surveillance and Search and Rescue operations”, said Ricardo Mendes. 

Make History With TEKEVER at Farnborough 2012

The TEKEVER Group invites you to visit its booth C6 in Hall 2 at the Farnborough Air Show, from July 9th to 15th, in the United Kingdom. 

At Farnborough, the TEKEVER Group signals the international acknowledgment of its leadership in the offer of disruptive technologies for the Aerospace, Defence and Security markets, after winning the coordination of eight European R&D projects in the Aeronautics, Security and Space expertise domains, within the FP7 context.

At Hall 2, Booth C 6, the TEKEVER Group will present state-of-the-art technologies in Tactical Communications Systems, Command and Control Systems and Autonomous Systems, entirely developed in Portugal.  

This Farnborough edition will also be a mark in the History of the TEKEVER Group, and Portugal, when, for the first time, an unmanned aircraft will perform daily flying exhibitions, between July 9th and 13th (http://www.farnborough.com/trade-aircraft/trade-flying-display-aircraft).

TEKEVER's AR4 Light Ray will be the first fully autonomous UAS to be exhibited in an international Air Show, setting a world premier and an accomplishment that will surely be remembered in the world's aeronautical market for years to come, reinforcing the Portuguese technology's positioning in the global worldwide Aerospace market.

TEKEVER Communication Systems at the RISE Final Conference

TEKEVER Communication Systems was invited to participate at the Final Roundtable of the conference signing the end of Project RISE, dedicated to the responsible research and innovation in biometrics.

TEKEVER Communication Systems contribution focused on the potential benefits (enhanced situational awareness in crises) and drawbacks (limitation to people’s rights) of many security and surveillance technologies, including the software systems used for victims’ tracking and location during emergencies, but also to monitor online content, often in a clearly invasive form. In this respect, TEKEVER Communication Systems is developing innovative research that will contribute to the delicate balance that is still to be reached.

Held at Brussels and hosted by the Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship, RISE’s final conference was attended by experts from twenty-two countries, representing industry, academia, policy makers, data protection authorities and independent think tanks.