NATS - National Aerospace Technology Strategy > ATVPs and AINs > INFOAir ATVP (Information Networks For Operations in the Air)
print friendly pageINFOAir ATVP (Information Networks For Operations in the Air)
"To achieve an improvement in the safe, secure and efficient conduct of civil and military air operations through the effective management of relevant information"
The aerospace industry is recognised as one of the leading sectors in technology development, acting as a stimulus for growth and generating a substantial balance of trade surplus. This makes aerospace one of the 's most competitive sectors.
As part of the National Aerospace Technology Strategy (NATS), the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AeIGT) initiative is to realise the vision that "by 2022 the UK will offer a global aerospace industry in the worlds most innovative and productive location, leading to a sustainable growth for all its stakeholders". Instrumental to this is the formation of six Advanced Technology Validation Programmes (ATVPs), believed to have the most direct impact on these objectives.
In the airspace, the management of the ever-expanding flow of information has become vital and turning this increasingly information rich environment into useable knowledge is acknowledged as the key to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of future air operations. Hence, the AeIGT has established the 'Information Networks for Operations in the Air' (INFOAir) ATVP. INFOAir will address how new and existing advanced technologies for the management of information will support safer, quicker and more efficient air operations in both the civil and military domains. Technologies will focus on robust information capture, sharing, analysis and interpretation, leading to demonstrations in relevant environments.
Research Themes
The research themes have been identified as:
- Knowledge & Information Management,
- Bandwidth Optimisation,
- Sensor Technologies,
- Remote Control,
- Security
- Deployment
In addressing this consideration will need to be given to: the effective exploitation of information, common data models, information exchange mechanisms, architectural frameworks (that allow effective integration of current and future systems) and the evaluation of emergent technologies and products.
Benefits
The programme will engage industry, research agencies, MoD and academia working closely with the other ATVP's to exploit fully the emerging technologies and ensure they are pulled through from the science base and embedded in the supply chain. This is to be achieved by developing facilities and demonstration of capability at the leading edge of the global aerospace industry.
The benefits of under taking the programme are:
- Improve capability and technology
- Position industry in the global market
- Meet users aspirations
- De-risk technology insertion
- Create Regional areas of excellence
The programme will be focussed on the development, test and demonstration of products leading to a true network enabled capability.
industry has the capability to harness and deliver on this investment by working together with the Government and the Regional Bodies to take the aerospace industry to a higher plain. This can be done with confidence and create a strong world position across the supply chain. In addition multiple cross-sectoral benefits and high gearing levels can be achieved through exploitation of developed capabilities into other areas. The nominated industry lead company for this programme is Thales.
Status
The programme is currently in the scoping stage with industry working closely with the MoD to identify technology research themes to align and support the projected future capability requirements for the air battlespace. The research programme is expected to commence from 2007.