Specialist Design Through Innovation & Technology

Transcription

1 Enterprise Control Systems Ltd Specialist Design Through Innovation & Technology

2 1. COMPANY OVERVIEW ECS Technology Park For more than two decades, Enterprise Control Systems Ltd has used ground-breaking technological expertise in surveillance and RF jamming disciplines to develop innovative system solutions to counter the latest and ever-increasing security threats. Applications have been developed to meet the needs of the British Armed forces, police authorities across the UK and specialist security teams including those covering the Beijing Olympics in At its headquarters in Northamptonshire, ECS first designed digital COFDM Microwave links in the late 1990s. Today, it produces fully proven, fourth generation equipment and a growing portfolio of link systems to carry video, data and telemetry signals for use in situation awareness, along with a range of RF Inhibitors to counter Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) threats used by terrorists. Constantly moving forward, ECS opened its own Technology Park in 2007 to operate alongside its existing engineering and production departments, including a state of the art EMC Chamber for rigorous testing of all its products, enabling expansion of its entire operation. Recently delivered UK Police Helicopter with ECS COFDM Uplink and Downlink Microwave System Founded by Managing Director Colin Bullock in 1988, the company has put growth and development at the forefront of its operation, increasing steadily in size over the past 20 years to its current operation. The team combines some of the most experienced individuals in the business with a graduate training programme that ensures a constant input of new young designers and engineers keen to be among the best in the surveillance and security technology sector. Two of the keys to the success of ECS, have been the ability to design all products in-house with emphasis on long-term reliability and proven processes that allow maximum control of quality throughout the design. A third of the company s 80-strong workforce is dedicated to product development, which has meant that ECS consistently produces leading designs in its chosen fields. In April 2007, ECS was awarded the Queen s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Section. The Award was made in recognition of the company s work in COFDM links; the encrypted communication system that is used in police helicopters across the country, and in military and surveillance aircraft around the world. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and support, ECS offers a no quibble warranty. This is clearly defined and superbly provisioned by an installation and support team structured to provide dedicated support within the factory and in the field. ECS is also able to offer a range of services to support significant events and carry out system design and installation on a turnkey basis. With well-built foundations in our home country, ECS has now established a network of international representatives who are able to assist with before- and after-sales service and would be happy to discuss individual requirements and tailor-made solutions worldwide: said Martin Deery International Sales Manager at ECS. Colin Bullock, Managing Director, said: The growth of the company is in part down to the strength of individuals within the company and the focus to attention of meeting and, in many occasions, exceeding customer expectations. 2 3

3 2. PRODUCTS RF Inhibitors ECS has designed and manufactured a wide range of RF inhibitors (jammers) and is able to offer the latest technology solutions as countermeasures against remotely controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs ). The range includes ultra portable units to cover cell phone networks and full band portable and vehicle mounted systems. The latter includes covert antenna configurations that can be discreetly mounted in vehicles for mobile deployment. Applications include protection of VIP and military personnel, and counter improvised explosive device operations. Situation Awareness Enterprise Control Systems Ltd has been at the forefront of the design of microwave downlinks for fixed and rotary wing airborne platforms since the first concept demonstrator back in the early 90s. In 2001, the company was awarded a contract for the first digital COFDM microwave link for a European police force. In 2007, the company was awarded the prestigious Queen s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation section for its secure COFDM microwave systems. ECS has an excellent worldwide reputation for the supply of COFDM microwave links and is the preferred supplier for secure COFDM Microwave Downlinks and Uplinks to a number of international helicopter providers. Situation Awareness has become a key tool in the preparation and implementation of engagement and, as such, acts as a force multiplier in many situations, be it military or for the police. In many respects, Situation Awareness complements the challenges associated with Force Protection by providing another capability to counter the threats imposed by terrorist activity. Oslo Police EC135 Helicopter with ECS COFDM Uplink/Downlink FALCON Vehicle Jammer The KESTREL Family KESTREL Manpack The entry level is a lightweight manpack jammer with an operational life of four hours from a single rechargeable battery. The KESTREL manpack has four programmable threat fills covering a wide frequency band and variants include tri-band GSM mobile phones and Wireless LAN. A combination of fills, in a dual configuration, makes the KESTREL ideal as a carry-forward for counter IED tasks. The KESTREL RF Inhibitor can also be configured as a plug-in modular system for vehicle installations that connects to a vehicleborne power amplifier and specialised antenna ground plane. To support the Kestrel family of equipment, ECS can provide a complete Integrated Logistics Support package that includes first to fourth line support, workshop automatic test equipment and a full range of Train the Trainer courses. Each ILS package can be tailored to meet specific customer requirements. In addition, the company can provide up-to-date threat analysis and software defined fill support that is both secure and reliable. To complement the KESTREL Family of RF Inhibitors, ECS also produces a range of vehicle-installed jammers, which include FALCON and GRIFFIN for Force Protection (FP) of military, paramilitary and other government organisations. Griffin Force Protection Vehicle Jammer An essential element of any RF Inhibitor design is the performance of the antenna system. ECS s EMC chamber enables its engineering team to design and meticulously test different antenna configurations in order to provide the best practicable performance against known RCIED threats. In this way, the company has funded the development of an advanced ground plane antenna system for military and commercial vehicles. This focus and attention to detail has resulted in a significant improvement in system performance. Having successfully developed a Full Motion Video (FMV) secure microwave link, the company has taken the challenge to develop not only a High Definition (HD) broadcast-quality microwave link using high grade encryption, but also raising the bar further by offering true end-to-end data networking. This capability provides the user, be it from an airborne platform, ground vehicle or a securely deployed ground location, real-time imagery and data that can aid significantly the intelligence gathering process. The COFDM system includes the capability to uplink tactical information such as real-time video, JPEG files, camera telemetry, such as Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) and data to the source. COFDM High Definition Video, Data and Audio Microwave Downlink System Specialised Antenna Design 5

4 HANDY-VIEW Handy-View The Handy-view is available in both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) versions. Both versions use an integral COFDM demodulator, down-converter, battery, speakers and display to provide high quality monitoring of video and audio transmission The unit contains sophisticated decryption to the diversity operation using two separate antennas for an 6-8 db signal improvement with the addition of an external antenna and block down-converter. The ECS Handy-view is available in standard frequency bands between 1.3 and 5.3 GHz. At a weight of 2.6 kg (provisional), the Handy-view is one of the lightest professional receivers on the World Market. The Handy-view is controlled by a rotary switch and onscreen graphics. The unit will automatically set the parameters for any given input signal. Decryption is based on Destinations and is fully automatic with options for Substitution Cipher Encryption and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256 (AES is subject to export license approval). A fully weatherproof interface panel is provided to access video and audio signals with the option of headphones. The Handy-view has a removable 6.6 Ahr battery. This battery may be charged through an external d.c. connector or removed from the Handyview unit and charged through a separate a.c. docking station. The Handy-view is compatible with the full range of ECS COFDM transmission equipment. The WASP Family The WASP transceiver is the first COFDM transceiver built to a full military specification that provides a secure duplex wideband microwave bearer link from a single piece of equipment. Able to operate in a harsh environment, the WASP transceiver can transmit real-time video, data and audio as a deployed unit whilst receiving a video, data and audio at a secure monitor location. The common transceiver can be configured for many applications including Front-End, Monitor, Hybrid Relay, with the ground-based WASP system able to be configured to operate with airborne or ground vehicle platforms. A universal interface enables different cameras to be directly connected to the WASP transceiver and controlled remotely. WASP COFDM Transceiver with multi camera/data Applique Unit SNOOPY & GUARDIAN To provide concealed operations, ECS has developed two new products that provide the user with a unique capability. LOXLEY/MACRO-VIEW Loxley/Macro-view COFDM is a state of the art, extremely robust transmission technique using multiple carriers to provide high quality real time video. COFDM allows data links to operate in situations where conventional video links would fail. The Loxley/Macro-view receiver has been optimised for covert surveillance, both for ground-to-ground and air-to-ground scenarios. Designed primarily for light or dismounted use, the Loxley/Macro-view COFDM receiver can be rapidly deployed by personnel for short-term use. Loxley/Macro-view may be used in a fixed observation post or a mobile vehicle-based role. Loxley/Macro-view is compatible with a variety of display options including the Handy-view and a number of external eyepieces. Loxley has been designed to accept a clip-on battery as the unit s power source. Control of the Loxley/Macro-view unit is through on-screen menus and the single rotary switch is on the top of the Loxley/Macro-view set. Diversity and non-diversity options are available. SNOOPY COFDM Transmitter and Receiver SNOOPY is a true non-line-of-sight full motion video microwave system that provides broadcast quality video and data in rural locations. In this deployment, the COFDM receiver cannot rely on multi-path signals and therefore ECS has developed a unique modulation scheme that provides the benefits of COFDM without the need for reflective signals. Ranges of between three and five kilometres can be achieved in rolling countryside and greater ranges achieved using a separate power amplifier. GUARDIAN is the fourth generation of a bespoke COFDM transmitter developed by ECS. Small, light and ruggedised, GUARDIAN can be used as a personal body-worn transmitter with a concealed camera or microphone. Set to low power consumption, the GUARDIAN can provide front-end secure situation awareness from within buildings to a receiver deployed outside the boundary of the designated building. Guardian Low profile COFDM Transmitter 6 7

5 3. CUSTOMER SUPPORT With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and support, ECS offers a no quibble warranty. This is clearly defined and superbly provisioned by an installation and support team structured to provide dedicated support within the factory and in the field. ECS is also able to offer a range of services to support significant events and carry out system design and installation on a turnkey basis. Customer Support provides a very important function in the support of deployed equipment from a pre-sale survey to a full maintenance and training support package. Mast installations by ECS accredited Riggers Qualified engineers with excellent field support knowledge, both military and civil, can provide a range of tailored services to meet specific customer support requirements. ECS Rigging Engineers from Customer Support hold the appropriate rigging accreditation and insurance for climbing masts. Beijing Police Helicopter Turnkey System Solutions ECS has a team of highly experienced microwave communication engineers and is able to offer planning and implementation of both fixed and portable microwave networks. This would include studies of system planning to decide on the viability of use, path analysis, system design, integration of any OEM equipment, manufacture installation and commissioning. Turnkey system solutions successfully completed in the past have included major fixed link networks and multiple vehicle systems fully equipped for riot police operations, as well as providing Beijing Police with COFDM Downlink systems for the 2008 Olympic Games. The company has also provided a range of commercial and military vehicle installations and antenna designs for its range of RF Inhibitors for overseas customers including coalition forces and the UN. Pre-sales All customers are encouraged to discuss their requirements for installation, user and maintenance training and additional maintenance support. A member of the Customer Support team can provide a presales survey of a fixed location or vehicle to discuss with the customer the best options for installation in order to achieve the best operational performance. ECS can provide customers with COFDM base station path predictions for airborne platforms at various heights and ranges plus path prediction for fixed point-to-point COFDM microwave links. Customer Support can provide technical data that will be necessary for frequency allocation from a state frequency management agency such as OFCOM in the United Kingdom. Sample of ECS Path Predictions for a COFDM Downlink Beijing Olympics Enterprise Control Systems (ECS) played its part in the 2008 Olympic Games by providing Beijing Police with COFDM Downlink systems. Beijing Police approached Agusta, a world-leading manufacturer of helicopters, who were appointed by Beijing Police to provide two helicopters. ECS has a strong relationship with Agusta, working closely with them over many years, and has previously provided analogue equipment to China, so were the obvious choice for the provision of digital downlink equipment. Beijing Police visited the ECS factory in the UK to discuss their requirements and, as a result, ECS provided custom-made equipment in the form of a digital base station, vehicle receiving equipment and COFDM downlinks for the new helicopters. The equipment enabled Beijing Police to upload pictures from vehicles so that the picture could then be re-broadcast simultaneously along with the image from the gyro stabilised camera mounted on the helicopter. This real-time picture provided instant situational awareness - an effective force multiplier. EMC Chamber 8 9

6 Installation Following equipment delivery, ECS Customer Support can undertake the installation in a fixed location or vehicle as agreed with the customer during the pre-sale installation survey. On completion of the installation the customer support engineer will undertake setting-to-work and commissioning of the system equipment. After-sales support ECS can provide extended warranty and maintenance support packages for all its products. Customer Support manages all maintenance support contracts, offering frequent visits to customer sites to ensure the proper operation of installed equipment. Service Level Agreements (SLA) for maintenance support are tailored to specific customer requirements that may include a 24-hour 365 days per year call out with different response levels when a fault does occur. Training A range of training courses are available that include user and maintenance training. Specific training courses such as Train the Trainer are also available. Training can be done at Enterprise Control Systems Limited or at the customer s facilities in the UK or overseas. ECS provides specific user manuals with all equipment and Customer Support can provide, where necessary, a Systems Handbook that details all aspects of the system and how the individual equipments are interconnected. FALCON RF Inhibitor in an armoured vehicle Griffin installed in a Land Cruiser 10 11

7 Registered Head Office Enterprise Control Systems Limited 31 The High Street Wappenham Northants NN12 8SN United Kingdom Tel: +44(0) Enterprise Control Systems Limited ECS Technology Park Wappenham Northants NN12 8WJ United Kingdom