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Abu Dhabi /Â WAM
The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, on Wednesday announced that it will be displaying five defence-related research innovations at the 13th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, IDEX, in Abu Dhabi.
IDEX will be held from February 19-23 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Dr Behjat Al Yousuf, Provost of Masdar Institute, said, “The unique and dynamic Masdar Institute projects being featured at IDEX have the potential to serve many of the country’s strategic technology needs, including in the defence sector. We are confident that our talented faculty, students and researchers will continue to find innovative ways to advance our defence related technologies.”
The Masdar Institute projects being featured at IDEX are expected to exemplify the ways that technologies can reduce risk, improve intelligence gathering, or augment the abilities of human teams in defence applications. UAE national students working on these projects include Yusra Abed Al Rahman, Fatima Al Obeideli, and Houda Al Zarkani.
The projects to be featured will include two state-of-the-art platforms from URS Laboratories: The GDTS-SXM1 (Guided Drone Transportation System) and the GDMD-SXM1 (Guided Drone Mine Detection System).
Another innovative project to be featured is the SaferTrident system, a multi-purpose hybrid diver propulsion vehicle (DPV), an autonomous underwater vehicle that can be used to assist divers to do underwater mapping and localisation.
Masdar Institute is also presenting ongoing work related to developing a real-time, automated and non-destructive materials testing tool with thermal imaging technologies. The tool can test the structural integrity of a range of materials, including aluminum, steel, carbon composites and plastics, at a low-cost. This can allow for the rapid testing of aircraft or vehicle parts.
Masdar Institute will be showcasing another inspection tool being developed by its scientists that leverages infrared light and advanced processing software to locate defects in structures. This tool could make detecting defects in critical materials, like aerospace components, easier, faster and more reliable, resulting in greater safety.
In addition, Masdar Institute will introduce IDEX attendees to a dual imaging system its researchers have developed that fuses infrared and visible light. This fusion produces real-time reconstruction of a scene in greater detail, which can make imaging, monitoring and navigation more efficient.