The ASTRAEA programme comprises a diverse group of partners, each with a well-defined area of responsibility. This section profiles some of the key people involved in the programme.
Andrew Lucas, AOS
Andrew is the Managing Director of AOS. He founded the company in 1997 and has been involved with the ASTRAEA programme from the early days. As an aeronautical engineer, he could see the potential of combining aircraft and autonomous systems and when he first heard about the ASTRAEA programme at the Farnborough Airshow in 2004, he was intrigued by the concept.
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Frances Watkins, BAE Systems
Frances is a new addition to the ASTRAEA team but she’s a BAE Systems veteran having just celebrated 25 years with the company. After graduating from the University of London with a degree in mathematics, her working life began in the Southeast at the Met Office, but the mountains of the Northwest beckoned and she joined BAE (Warton) in 1987.
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Jeremy Howitt, QinetiQ
While earning his Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University of Bath, Jeremy worked his summer placements at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) in Bedford. After graduating with specialties in microprocessor systems and digital control, he joined RAE full-time and stayed on through its metamorphosis from government agency into QinetiQ in 2001.
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Neil Watson, Thales
Armed with a degree in Business Studies from the University of Leicester, Neil joined GEC Marconi in 1986 to work on the Nimrod AEW, only to have the programme cancelled some six months later. Undaunted, he transferred to Marconi Underwater Systems then moved on two years later to a position at MEL, the Crawley-based defence arm of Philips. …
Sophie Armanini, Cranfield University
An MSc student in Aeronautical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, Sophie came to Cranfield last year, through Europe’s Erasmus Programme, to work on the ASTRAEA 2 project.
“It’s only a six-month assignment,” she explained, “but it’s giving me a chance to do applied research in autonomy and decision-making and to be involved in the effort to integrate UAVs in unrestricted airspace.”…
Andrew Berry, QinetiQ
After graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering from Glasgow University, Andrew began his career at DERA (Defence Evaluation & Research Agency) in the late 1990s. Initially a research scientist in the flight management & control field, he specialised in pilot-in-the-loop simulation, flight testing of advanced control laws, and reconfigurable UAV guidance & control. …
Jeremy Baxter, QinetiQ
With a PhD in robotics from Durham University, Jeremy joined QinetiQ in 1994 to specialise in artificial intelligence for AGVs (Autonomous Ground Vehicles). But within a few years his attentions shifted to UAVs and air simulations as the company’s interest in both the vehicles and the UAS industry grew.
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Peter Thomas, University of Bristol
Peter earned his PhD at Cranfield University in Aerospace Engineering and is now a Research Assistant at Bristol, working with Tom Richardson on Autonomous Air to Air Refuelling (AAAR).
During ASTRAEA 1, Peter was at Cranfield involved with the FLAVIIR project, working on demonstration technologies for low-cost, low-maintenance UAVs as part of his dissertation.
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Conrad Banks, Rolls-Royce
Conrad has worked for Rolls-Royce throughout his twenty-five year career, having started with the company as a sponsored engineering undergraduate. He initially worked in the Engine Performance department but in the last decade has been more involved in the Future Programmes arena. Today, he leads research and technology for the company’s defence sector.
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Tom Richardson, University of Bristol
Tom is a senior lecturer in flight mechanics and control in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Bristol. His research is focused on the control of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) and the ASTRAEA 2 programme has been an ideal opportunity for the University to become involved in the development of key UAV capabilities.
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Simon Jewell, BAE Systems
Simon Jewell is Chairman of ASTRAEA and was fundamental to the inception of the programme. He has worked for BAE Systems for over 25 years where he gives strategic direction and funding to develop new technologies for customers in defence and security.
Starting his career in the British Army, Simon then moved to the Air Force of Oman, gaining a first-hand understanding of the requirements of the front line. …
Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal, Programme Director
Lambert is Engineering Director Systems and Strategy at BAE Systems, Military Air & Information. A key player in developing the UK National Airspace Technology Strategy in 2001, where a need for more work on autonomous systems was identified, he was appointed Programme Director of ASTRAEA in 2006, about six months after the first phase of the programme began.
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Audrey Canning, TSB
As the TSB Monitoring Officer for the ASTRAEA programme, Audrey reviews work carried out by the ASTRAEA research teams to ensure it conforms to the technical proposal upon which the UK government grant was made. With an engineering degree from Cambridge, her own consulting company, and 30 years’ experience in the development and assessment of advanced computer-based systems used in safety-critical applications, she is perfectly suited to this role.
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Dale Richards, QinetiQ
Dale is a Cognitive Psychologist who specialises in Human-Computer Interaction at QinetiQ. When he began working at the company, ten years ago, he was involved with numerous systems where humans interact with GUIs but with increasing company interest in UAS, his focus sharpened.
“I have normally worked on cockpit displays, but for the last six years I’ve been concentrating on UAV Human Factors,”…
Pauli Markkanen, Rolls-Royce
After receiving his Aeronautical Engineering degree from Imperial College, Pauli joined Rolls-Royce on their graduate training scheme and worked mostly on the Joint Strike Fighter LiftSystem programme. He started as a Development Engineer during the Concept Demonstration Phase, then spent two years working with Lockheed Martin on propulsion integration at their plant in Fort Worth, Texas. …
Nick Miller, Thales
Nick has worked at Thales for over twenty years in a wide range of business-focused roles. He started as an electronics design engineer on Electronic Warfare Systems then moved to the commercial and negotiation side of the company followed by programme management, export sales and external affairs. …
Paolo Busetta, AOS
Originally a computer science graduate, Paolo’s interests soon evolved into software engineering and his subsequent quarter-century of experience encompassed both pure university research and the commercial world. His involvement with AOS began over a decade ago when the company was founded and he’s been a consultant/employee ever since.
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Mike Fielding, Thales
Mike (pictured standing) is Thales’ Chief Engineer for Civil UAS activities and has been involved in the ASTRAEA programme from initial contract award in 2006. He was team lead for all technical work performed by Thales at Crawley with a focus on Sense & Avoid. The work also involved significant effort on issues such as autonomy, communications and human factors with both a technical and regulatory aspect.
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Amanda Threlfall, BAE Systems
With a degree in mechanical engineering, Amanda initially worked at BAE Systems in manufacturing engineering then, in 2003, moved into project management. Although not directly involved in the ASTRAEA 1 programme, she monitored its progress with great interest as the various consortium partners developed their working relationship.
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Richard Bourne, Cobham
A retired Royal Navy Officer whose career embraced both ship-driving and flying helicopters, Richard joined Cobham in 1999. Initially with Cobham Aviation Services on the commercial airborne Surveillance and Surveying side, he has been part of the ASTRAEA Programme since its start in 2006 when Cobham Mission Equipment (CME) became one of the seven Phase I partners.
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Andrew Jones, Thales
An ASTRAEA veteran, Andrew brings more than 30 years’ experience in air traffic control operations to the Programme where he’s coordinator of the Regulatory aspects that affect UAS integration into UK airspace.
This involves him in several current projects including Virtual Certification, EuroCAE WG-73, the ICAO UASSG Detect and Avoid Sub Group, as well as Air Traffic Management and Airworthiness & Certification.
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Hasan Acar, AOS
With a background in product design engineering, computer science and mathematics, Hasan is perfectly suited to his role managing AOS’s participation in ASTRAEA. He oversees all aspects of the company’s input, from technical project requirements and deliverables through to attending the regular ASTRAEA Operations Board meetings. …
Harvey Wilson, Cobham Mission Equipment
As Senior Systems Engineer for Cobham/ASTRAEA II, Harvey leads a team that’s developing an autonomous engagement solution for UAV in-flight refuelling – a key component of future UAV operations where flights lasting days or even weeks will be required (e.g. for coastal and border surveillance).
A veteran of ASTRAEA I, where he developed algorithms for UAV formation flight with manned aircraft, Harvey’s current role is to refine the short distances of separation needed in formations down to the engagement required for refuelling. …
Ray Browne, OBE
Most likely, Ray Browne was the first UK government official to recognise the potential national benefits of the ASTRAEA Programme. In early 2005, when the consortium first proposed its methodology and goals in a government grant application, Ray was Deputy Director in the then Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Innovation Group and the consortium’s application landed on his desk for review.
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Gary Clayton, Cassidian Systems
Gary Clayton is one of the founder members of the ASTRAEA Programme. His initial participation, via the UAVS Trade Association, was pivotal in one of the Programme’s first challenges – establishing the consortium of companies and government agencies that would eventually become ASTRAEA.
“We started back in 2004,”…