BioFlyte, a biodetection company with a revolutionary new class of fieldable biological threat collection, detection, and identification solutions, today announced that it raised $6.1M in new financing led by Cottonwood Technology Fund with additional funding from existing investor Anzu Partners. BioFlyte will use this new funding to support field validation and the initial production of its BioTOF™ z200, a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive biothreat solution for critical infrastructure.

“Cottonwood focuses on hard tech innovation that can disrupt their markets. BioFlyte clearly fits that profile and brings a fast, accurate, and low-cost solution into a world that is increasingly dangerous,” said Mr. David Blivin, Managing Partner of Cottonwood Technology Fund. “The need for technologies that can quickly detect bio-hazards in all environments has never been more important and we are excited to help bring this technology to the market.”

The BioTOF z200 is a miniaturized, low-cost, and low-power bio-aerosol detection system for continuous and autonomous operation in critical infrastructure environments such as third-party command control systems and architectures. The system consists of a wall mount sensor capable of the autonomous detection and identification of airborne microbes and toxins in real-time. It incorporates matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to acquire a mass spectrum from each collected aerosol sample. The BioTOF offers high sensitivity at 100 threat particles per liter of ambient air.

“This is an exciting time for our company,” said Michael McLoughlin, Executive Chairman of BioFlyte. “This new funding will fuel field testing and validation and support our efforts to move toward full commercialization of our first-of-its-kind system.”

BioFlyte also announced that Mr. Blivin and Mrs. Jenna Abelli, Principal at Anzu Partners, will join the company’s Board of Directors.

To learn more about BioFlyte and its technology, please visit https://bioflyte.com.

SPH Engineering announces the 3rd generation of the UgCS SkyHub hardware and releases the largest update of the UgCS SkyHub software ever. The development accumulates the 5 year knowledge of supporting diverse ‘drone and sensor’ integrations for geophysical and hydrographic purposes.  

The UgCS SkyHub hardware is a unique UAV onboard computer to support the collection of data from diverse sensors. The 1st generation version of UgCS SkyHub was developed in 2017 to integrate a low-frequency GPR system with DJI M600 Pro drone. Since then its functions have been constantly improved, connectivity possibilities have been extended, support for more types of drones and sensors have been added. 

As of today the functions of UgCS SkyHub allow to maintain flights of UAVs with a mounted sensor (like a magnetometer, echo sounder, metal detector etc) and to collect data from sensors like GPR, methane detector, gamma radiation counter, etc. which don’t have an internal data logger. Data is recorded in CSV format as well as in the formats compatible with specialized software for sensor data processing (SEG-Y, NMEA-0183, etc.). The True Terrain Following mode allows to automatically keep constant elevation over surface using real-time data from radar or laser altimeter while the Grasshopper mode allows to fly between waypoints at safe altitude and make measurements. 

‘The 3d generation of UgCS SkyHub thanks to its 5x serial ports, Ethernet, Bluetooth and WiFi connections provides virtually endless capabilities for sensors integration. The 1st generation of SkyHub born back in 2017 had only 1 port for an external sensor, much less computation power and memory. Latest hardware will be our basement for integration and custom solutions for the next few years until we will not create something even more powerful and exciting,’ Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CTO at SPH Engineering, comments.

The UgCS SkyHub hardware is compatible with all popular commercial-off-the-shelf enterprise drones and platforms, including DJI M300 and M210 series as well as Pixhawk-based drones with ArduCopter and PX4 firmware like Hexadrone Tundra. Power for UgCS SkyHub is provided from the drone’s main battery. UgCS SkyHub eliminates the need to have a separate battery or power circuit for the sensors. 

To learn more watch the video, read the data sheet and join the webinar on May 5. 

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Todd Research, a global expert in threat detection X-ray equipment for safety and security, is delighted to have been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2022 for its outstanding TR15 and TR40 cabinet X-ray scanners. This prestigious award recognises Todd Research’s ongoing mission to develop innovative threat detection solutions and services, and cements its position at the forefront of the security sector.

Based in Cambridgeshire, Todd Research is proud of its 70-year history of designing, manufacturing and supplying X-ray scanners, metal detectors and blast suppression equipment across a diverse range of public and private markets. Cabinet X-ray scanners lie at the heart of its business, and the company developed the world’s first mailroom X-ray scanner in 1973. Since then, Todd’s highly skilled team has remained focused on research and development, advancing and expanding its product portfolio to cover a wide range of innovative security solutions, each designed to aid the detection of suspect materials. This forward-thinking approach, combined with precision manufacturing, has enabled the company to grow from a local operation to a global enterprise, with customers in over 80 countries.

Jason Wakefield, Sales Director at Todd Research, commented: “Being honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise is a testament to the constant endeavours of all the staff here at Todd Research. We are extremely proud to have received this accolade for our contribution to global threat detection solutions.”

Visit Todd Research to find out more

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $259,831,989.00 to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to assist in the acquisition of technical services, in support of S&T’s Counter-Unmanned System Threats (C-UST) efforts. Amentum Services, Inc., of Germantown, MD, was selected as the prime contractor, through DoD’s Fair Opportunity Proposal Request competitive process.

"S&T's C-UST effort focuses on identifying, developing, demonstrating, and assessing technologies and concepts to meet the operational priorities of DHS Components and other federal, state and local partners,” said Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for S&T. “They can then use this knowledge to acquire technologies that enhance their capabilities in protecting critical infrastructure and the American public.”

Under this contract, Amentum will perform complex research and development activities to fight off new threats from unmanned systems. The work involves researching, developing, and testing capabilities related to cyber vulnerabilities of Countering-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) technologies; radio frequency spectrum measurements to enable safe integration of C-UAS equipment into the national airspace; integrating, testing and evaluating new and emerging C-UAS and UAS technologies across various environments and terrains within the homeland; supporting the integration and deployment of prototype C-UAS systems across DHS C-UAS mission areas to obtain operational feedback; and enabling rapid operational transition to DHS Components performing C-UAS authorized missions.

Learn more about S&T’s C-UAS portfolio.

From defence-blog.com/

U.S.-based Aerovironment company will deliver more than 100 Quantix Recon unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and operational training services to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and territorial forces amid the ongoing war against Russia.

As noted by the company, the donation was presented to the Ambassador and the Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Ukraine by AeroVironment chairman, president and chief executive officer Wahid Nawabi during a face-to-face meeting last week.

“As the Ukraine military’s fight to protect their homeland and defend their nation’s freedom against Russia’s invasion intensifies, their need for solutions that can offer force protection and force multiplication capabilities continues,” said Nawabi. “This donation will provide operators with a tool that can fly undetected by enemy forces and unaffected by radio frequency jammers to deliver accurate and rapid reconnaissance of remote, inaccessible areas of the dynamically changing battlefield.

Using the actionable intelligence gathered by the Quantix Recon, operators can conduct quick mission planning and verification to help keep Ukrainian ground forces out of harm’s way. AeroVironment is honored to support the people of Ukraine,” Nawabi added.

AeroVironment’s Quantix Recon UAS is a lightweight, easily deployable, fully automated reconnaissance solution that provides on-demand actionable intelligence using high-resolution, georeferenced terrain, vegetation and infrastructure imagery. With its unique hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) design, Quantix Recon combines the VTOL advantages of a multirotor drone with the range, speed and efficiency of a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Featuring fully automated flight operation, the UAS can survey up to 1.6 square kilometers (0.6 square miles), or 20 linear kilometers (12.4 miles), per 45-minute single battery flight.

Delivery of the Quantix Recon UAS is independent of other AeroVironment tactical missile systems and UAS already being provided to Ukraine by the United States Government. The first half of the donated Quantix Recon UAS shipment is expected to be delivered this week with operational training commencing immediately.

From PEO ACWA

The last M55 rocket containing VX nerve agent was destroyed at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, April 19.

“We are celebrating two milestones today,” said Dr. Candace Coyle, BGCAPP site project manager. “First, the entire U.S. stockpile of VX nerve agent is now completely destroyed. Next, this marks the completion of the fourth of five chemical weapons destruction campaigns in Kentucky.”

“Our team safely completed the first nerve agent rocket campaign using a collective approach to meet and overcome various challenges,” said Ron Hink, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass (BPBG) project manager. “We now turn our attention to the last destruction campaign, GB rockets, which will start later this year.”

Destruction of the VX M55 rockets began at the Blue Grass Army Depot, or BGAD, July 9, 2021. Under the observation of trained operators, automated equipment disassembled nearly 18,000 rockets and drained the chemical agent. As of April 15, more than 46% of the original 523 tons of chemical agent has been destroyed. There are 277 tons of chemical agent safely stored and awaiting destruction at Blue Grass.

The agent was neutralized by mixing it with water and caustic to produce hydrolysate. After the agent was confirmed destroyed, the hydrolysate was pumped to holding tanks, safely shipped via tanker truck and further processed at Veolia Environmental Services in Texas.

The drained rocket warheads were containerized and placed in temporary storage at BGAD. Marked as secondary waste, they will be destroyed in a Static Detonation Chamber unit located on the depot.

“We garnered a great deal of proficiency and gathered a lot of information about how to safely and efficiently destroy VX rockets in the last nine months,” Coyle said. “These lessons learned will be applied to the last campaign of GB rockets to safely eliminate the remaining U.S. chemical weapons stockpile by 2023.”

Throughout chemical weapons destruction operations, the BGCAPP team worked closely with BGAD and Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) partners to destroy the chemical weapons.

“After more than a half century of chemical weapons storage in central Kentucky, the final chapter at Blue Grass Army Depot will soon begin,” said Col. Stephen Dorris, BGAD commander. “I take great pride in working with the dedicated professionals at BGCAPP and BGCA and can attest to the safety record and environmental compliance each of these organizations meet. With their effort, Team Blue Grass has successfully accomplished some truly amazing feats over the last two decades, remaining ‘Pioneers in Quality’ and ‘Army Strong.’”

“It has been an honor to support BGCAPP as they destroyed VX rockets,” said Lt. Col. Edward Williams, BGCA commander. “Completion of this campaign represents a significant milestone in the path to eliminate the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. Now that four of five munition types have been eradicated, BGCA is ready to support the fifth and final campaign.”

The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives is responsible for destroying the remaining U.S. chemical weapons stockpile in Colorado and Kentucky. The organization oversees the contract for design, construction, systemization, operation and closure of BGCAPP with BPBG and teaming partners Amentum, Battelle Memorial Institute and GP Strategies. The project also works closely with community advisory groups to keep them informed about chemical weapons destruction progress.

“I am very grateful for the dedicated staff at the Blue Grass Army Depot and their ability to reach another milestone,” said Reagan Taylor, judge-executive, Madison County, Kentucky. “Each time we reach a milestone in this process it demonstrates the hard work of everyone involved in getting this mission to completion. I am grateful for the high priority the depot takes in keeping Madison County safe and keeping this on track. I’m confident this hard work and determination will continue to the final milestones of destroying these chemical weapons and preparing for a post-Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Madison County.”

The chemical weapons stockpile at the depot originally consisted of 523 U.S. tons of chemical agent configured in 155mm projectiles containing mustard and VX nerve agent, 8-inch projectiles containing GB nerve agent, and M55 rockets containing GB and VX nerve agent.

In June 2019, the BGCAPP team began destroying the mustard stockpile using the Static Detonation Chamber, an explosive destruction technology. The mustard campaign was completed in September 2021. From January through May 2020, nearly 4,000 8-inch projectiles containing GB nerve agent were destroyed at BGCAPP. From January through May 2021, nearly 13,000 155mm projectiles containing VX nerve agent were destroyed at BGCAPP.

The stockpile sites in Colorado and Kentucky account for the last 10% of what was originally a national stockpile of more than 30,000 tons of chemical weapons. The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity destroyed the initial 90%, which was stored at seven other sites across the U.S. and on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific. Chemical weapons destruction in Colorado began in 2015. Both sites are on target to complete destruction of chemical weapons by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023, and before the congressional deadline of Dec. 31, 2023.

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), announced that it has teamed with MFE Inspection Solutions to integrate the FLIR MUVE™ C360 multi-gas detector on Boston Dynamics’ Spot^® robot and commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The integrated solutions will enable remote monitoring of chemical threats in industrial and public safety applications.

The MUVE C360 detects and classifies airborne gas or chemical hazards, allowing industrial safety officers and inspection personnel to perform their job more safely and efficiently with integrated remote sensing capabilities from both the air and ground. MUVE C360 is designed to operate on Boston Dynamics’ Spot mobile robot, which can autonomously inspect dangerous, inaccessible, or remote environments. The C360 also is compatible with common commercial UAS systems, which allows operators to fly the C360 into a scene to perform hazard assessments in real time.

“By deploying a chemical detector on drones and ground robots, industrial managers can identify dangerous situations from a safe distance, keeping operators out of harm’s way and speeding corrective measures,” said Dr. David Cullin, vice president and general manager of Unmanned and Integrated Solutions at Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We’re pleased to be teaming with MFE to provide innovative technology solutions like MUVE C360 that put distance between good people and bad things.”

“Being able to utilize the FLIR MUVE C360 on Boston Dynamics’ Spot and commonly used UAS systems for inspection make this payload one of the most versatile sensors we have in our toolbox today,” said Jason Acerbi, general manager at MFE Inspection Solutions. “Whether during day-to-day checks or an emergency response event, our clients take air quality monitoring seriously, from ground level to the tallest assets inside an oil and gas facility.”

MUVE C360 delivers continuous threat information in real-time and is fully integrated with commonly used enterprise UAS platforms, including the Teledyne FLIR SkyRanger™ which offers secure data communications for defense and homeland security applications as well as unmatched flight capabilities. In addition, Teledyne FLIR’s new MUVE C360 Partnership Program offers potential partners the opportunity to become a certified C360 integrator.

Originally published by Janes 

US-based Teal Drones has received an order for 15 Golden Eagle small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) from a NATO member country that wants to give them to Ukraine, according to Teal parent company Red Cat Holdings.

Although Red Cat did not name the buyer or respond to questions about the planned purchase, it indicated that the order is the first it has received in Europe as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. “We believe this is the first of many relationships and purchases in the region,” Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson said on 4 April.

The announcement came less than three weeks after Thompson told analysts that Teal had been “slammed” with inquiries from countries that wanted to provide “thousands” of sUAS to Ukraine to help it fight Russian forces.

“We have been working through all hours of the night” to respond to the interest in the short-range reconnaissance quadcopter, he said in mid-March. “We are working as aggressively as possible to scale our production because of this,” he added.

Kromek, a leading developer of radiation and bio-detection technology solutions for the advanced imaging and CBRN detection segments, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract worth £1.7m from an existing UK government-related customer.

The contract is for the provision of CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) detection products and services. It is to be delivered over the next four years, with revenue split equally over that period.  

Dr Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek, said:

“We are pleased to have received this new contract from this long-standing customer. It is testament to the value that they place on our products and the nature of our CBRN business where we build solid relationships and continue to receive repeat orders. Governments are becoming increasingly aware of the need to enhance their wide-area monitoring in order to be able to provide early warning of the presence of CBRN material as well as a full range of CBRN threats, and our solutions are best placed to provide them with this capability.”

Statistics from the Department of Transportation reveal that 21,539 hazardous material incidents occurred within 2021 in the United States alone. These incidences can have a detrimental effect on the environment and public health, in the long and short term. With increasing scrutiny on companies and individuals to meet stricter environmental targets, mitigating and preventing hazardous material incidents is a key step to creating a cleaner, greener future.

To protect both the environment and public health, it is first important to identify what hazardous materials are and understand how they are categorised. Following this, examining what processes are currently in place, and how these can be improved to prevent hazardous materials from endangering people, entering waterways, and contaminating soil, is the crucial step to reducing the impact of hazardous material spills. 

Health and safety professionals are the key to understanding, maintaining, and reducing the risks associated. To reduce the rate of incidents, education and awareness of hazardous materials and their impact are critical tools that should be added to any health and safety professional’s toolkit.

ION Science, a leading UK OEM for gas detection instrumentation, has partnered with Health & Safety Matters to deliver a free webinar on this topic. The webinar will cover the importance of understanding the dangers associated with hazardous material spillages, and the consequences on public health, wildlife, and the environment.

This webinar will include focus on the following areas:

• How HAZMAT spills can occur
• Current HAZMAT processes
• The health effects spills can cause
• The environmental impact of spills (including soil contamination)
• How PID technology can identify and track spills and contamination
• Live Q&A session

Register for free today and join this webinar with ION Science and Health & Safety Matters on the 20^th April 2022 at 10.30am GMT. Find out more about how you can help prevent hazardous spills and identify, detect and prevent hazardous material spills from impacting the public and the environment.

Sign up today: https://events.streamgo.live/hazardous-materials-spills-soil-contamination-20th-april-2022/register

The chemical fog of war

[BLUF: The more PMCs and foreign fighters we see in the Ukrainian conflict the greater the likelihood of a limited release of toxic industrial chemicals.]

As part of its commitment to the safe return to work for its employees, the Valuation Office Agency has implemented air purification in all of its offices to protect its staff. UK-based company MedicAir DentAir Ltd has been awarded a contract to supply the units to the VOA.

With the pandemic restrictions easing, many people are no longer testing for Covid and are not isolating if infected. "This has caused significant concerns among a number of businesses," states Dr. Connor Bryant, one of the founders of MedicAir. 

"We are seeing hospitals, schools, and companies investing in MedicAir to mitigate the risks of returning to the office, especially now that isolation rules have been eased. We are proud to be selected to protect the VOA as part of their safe return to work."

Air quality in indoor spaces goes far beyond Covid. Studies have shown that "sick building syndrome" is responsible for thousands of lost hours every year, with employees being more productive and having fewer staff absences when using air purification.   

MedicAir is a medical-grade air purifier that combines hospital-grade air filtration, activated carbon filtration, and virus-killing UVC technologies in a simple unit that is plugged in and provides instant protection with no professional installation. MedicAir is found in thousands of hospitals, schools, care homes, and businesses throughout the UK and Europe. It is a UK-based company founded by three medical professionals with the sole aim of providing affordable and safe air quality.

MedicAir is available for offices, hospitals, schools, and homes at www.medicair.co.uk.

Bryant Medical Group is a UK-based medical technology company that was established by Dr. Connor Bryant, a dentist. He has since built a company that innovates smarter technology in medicine and dentistry.

Dr. Bryant or Dr. Perkins (Clinical Lead) are available for interviews in regards to any aspect of air purification or the concerns regarding around poor indoor quality (or sick building syndrome). All media inquiries should be directed to Orlando Mollica at .