-- BNs Security & Defence Division Delivers Two UAV Command & Control Vehicles To University of Southamptons Autonomous Systems Research Group
Alton, UK. 2 July 2015: BN Security & Defence, our specialist solutions division, has delivered two custom-built, feature-packed UAV Command and Control (CC) vehicles to the Autonomous Systems Research Group (ASRG) at the University of Southampton.
The strategic research group is funded by agencies across Europe to undertake work in autonomous systems, sensing, computing, communications and platforms that provide world class, cost-effective capabilities for scientists and business. The two new vehicles will play a central role in the Universitys engagement, providing essential command and control facilities for a range of international UAV missions - sub-sea, surface, land, air and space - including pollution monitoring, weather prediction and civil unmanned aviation.
Impressive capability in a compact footprint Designed, project-managed and custom-built by the BN Security & Defence team in Hampshire, the vehicles deliver impressive technical capability within a compact footprint. Based on a high--oofed long-wheel-base Mercedes Sprinter chassis, each vehicle has been expertly converted to provide space-efficiency and excellent ergonomics for a team of operators on the move.
The technology specified and deployed by BN Security & Defence includes specialist systems integrated with a range of Commercial Off-the-Shelf products for maximum operational performance and minimal weight load.
Each vehicle features a roof-mounted Ka band satellite dish with a pneumatically actuated 10 metre communications mast to enable secure, agile field communications and telemetry to their UAV and drones. Marine type radar systems and high quality long-range cameras enable efficient UAV system control and tracking. Smart operational features In addition to a 10kw generator and inverter system for lighting, power and air-conditioning, the vehicles include smart features to improve the working environment such as desks with inset video displays and control panels; overhead storage and cabinets, secure helium gas and fuel storage facilities; rear workshop space for repair and storage; a sliding seat system to comfortably get the team onsite and an external side awning to provide an observation point where students can follow a mission via a large externally-mounted flat screen and listen into the main control area via the integrated communication system.
Research missions by their very nature generate vast amounts of data for analysis and recording. Whilst the information gathered can be streamed via the satellite communications system, rack-mounted NAS drives inside each vehicle enable large amounts of data to be stored and analyzed efficiently on location.
Expert design & custom-builtThe technical furniture and desks within each vehicle - all expertly designed and built by BN Security and Defences partner Custom Consoles - provide four command and control positions to run a typical mission: primary radar and visual contact; avionics control, management and system health; payload operations to monitor the UAV sensors as well as cameras for imagery, with a position for airspace and virtual radar monitoring. The front driver and passenger seats can rotate and provide desk space to accommodate additional mission support. All positions have headsets to enable communication with each other as well as with the safety pilot who is typically positioned outside the vehicle, watching and landing the UAV units. Following a detailed tender process,the award of this prestigious contract to BN Security & Defence was an easy decision for the selection board.
"Their understanding of the situational awareness sector, proven craftsmanship and top quality customised vehicle design, made BN Security & Defence the natural solution partner for this project and they have exceeded our expectations," said Professor James Scanlan, ASRGs Director. "From the outset, the team engaged with us to understand our special operational requirements and worked closely with us to specify the appropriate technology and workflow we needed to perform. With these new vehicles we are confident of our ability to conduct cutting-edge earth science research and achieve a global top five reputation for cross-disciplinary excellence."
"Were delighted to have played a key role in the delivery of this project and to see the vehicles actively deployed in ground-breaking research," said Tom Haye, Managing Director BN Security & Defence. "t s a great example of how our specialist team can successfully take a concept through design to delivery and add real value tot he process with our experience and approach to innovation."
Royal Television Society DroneFest, 8 July Following recent deployments focused on maritime incident response and unmanned cargo aircraft use in remote and island regions, one of the ASRG vehicles will be showcased at the upcoming Royal Television Society Thames Valley s Drone Fest at Pincents Manor Hotel onWednesday 8 July, 18.30 hrs. For further details about this event visit www.rts.org.uk
For further information and press enquiries about BN S&D and this project, please contact:
Tom Haye, MD BN Security &Defence
T: +44 (0) 1420 592 100 | E: tom@bsnd.co.uk
Melanie O Brien, MJO CommunicationsLtd
T: +44 (0) 7851 375 247 | E: mel@mjocommunications.co.uk
-ends-
About BN Security & Defence
BN Security & Defence provides bespoke cutting-edge technology solutions to meet policing and security, cyber, situational awareness and critical communications requirements. We integrate software and hardware into fixed and mobile systems to bring the digital edge to your operations. Our solutions help tackle the problems of responding to civil unrest, criminal, terrorist and cyber threats, natu
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
12/05/2026
CVP, one of Europe's leading suppliers of professional video and broadcast solutions, has appointed Randy Koeman as Sales Manager, Netherlands, marking anot...
12/05/2026
Taiwan Television has expanded its HD content ingest workflow capabilities by investing in the PlayBox Neo Suite - a leading multi-channel multi-server UHD/HD/S...
12/05/2026
Jigsaw24 is strengthening its media team with the appointment of Tom Laker as Client Director and Ashish Chauhan as Project Manager. These strategic hires bring...
12/05/2026
Broadcast playout leader showcases hybrid IP infrastructure and workflow automation with Videoland deployment as regional benchmark...
12/05/2026
dzjinius, the all-in-one production management platform for the media and entertainment industry, will showcase its centralised approach to production workflows...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
-- BNs Security & Defence Division Delivers Two UAV Command & Control Vehicles To University of Southamptons Autonomous Systems Research Group 
