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DOD stated goal is to deploy two highly mobile brigades to support Afghan troops in 2014. The testing/field trial were conducted at Ft. Polk and the Army designed our BIB for these trials (IMO).
I see a bigger procurement than just 6-10 BIBS (100 platoons per brigade.) How many?...we will know soon.
I will take DOD a long time to embrace airships again....luckily we were too late (not tarnished) for the first go around.
It seems to me the company has stated numerous times it's business plan going forward is BIBs- DOD and Commercial. The company has made no mention of airships in last several SEC filings/ PRs.
The wars are over! I don't see a huge demand for airships!
I don't believe GSAT has totally secured their funding yet (announcement was scheduled for today??). GTC won't move forward with ground stations until all the ducks are in order at GSAT.
I'm long here, but I think we are being pumped big time- the PR is not real!. They "plan' 800 clinics (none exist today) and "DHK estimates the sale of 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000 genomic tests per year over the three-year contract, with cumulative revenue to Arrayit totaling $16.8MM U.S"....I'm surprised they didn't say $150MM. This is NOT what we are waiting for...IMO
GTC was a very profitable company before the collapse of the GSAT network. As the second generation GSAT network is rebuilt, I suspect they will be very profitable again. GSAT has leading edge technology now and is 'hopefully' fully funded for future ground stations.
GTC secured the first BIB contract($600K) and has generated approx. $1M/ per year in sat phone business. I would say they have been a very good acquisition.
As Lockheed markets their 1/3 size prototype hybrid airship to DOD, this should raise interest in the Argus 1 with similar ISR capability at a much lower cost.
Airship update...good news for industry!
Lockheed To Certify Giant Airship Next Year
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By Mary Grady, Contributing editor
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Lockheed Martin has been at work on a giant high-lift hybrid airship since at least 2005, and the company now is moving toward certification and first delivery as soon as next year. The FAA this week published a notice about the company's application to certify the LMZ1M airship, and noted that because it's a hybrid and incorporates a number of advanced features, traditional airship design criteria have proved inadequate. A new category for "hybrid transport category airships" will be created specifically for the airship. Advanced features of the vehicle include a tri-lobed envelope with displacement of 1.3 million cubic feet, four thrusters to allow thrust vectoring, and electronic fly-by-wire controls for both the aerodynamic control surfaces and the thrusters.
Other features include an air-cushion landing system that enables the aircraft to operate without a ground crew. The airship can land and take off using any flat surface, including water, with no advance preparations required. The gondola carries two crewmembers and up to eight passengers, plus a large cargo bay. The ship also can carry external loads. The LMZ1M will be deployed for tactical airlift, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, as well as "special missions not currently possible with conventional aircraft," according to Lockheed. The airship can carry up to 500 tons of payload and travel up to 6,000 nm nonstop. Lockheed says the ship can also be operated remotely and stay aloft as long as three weeks at altitudes up to 20,000 feet.
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/LockheedToCertifyGiantAirshipNextYear_208904-1.html
A GSA Contract (COTS Buying Contract)could have significant impact on revenues- eliminates potentially months of signatures/paperwork/ delay. With the gov't end of year approaching, hopefully we will see an announcement shortly!
We must be close to GSA contract. This will bump up sales by 30%
Yes, Google and Microsoft are using aerostats and mast in So. Africa and Kenya.
Nice find. It will interesting to see how many platoons get fielded with a BIB.
The difference today is that we are a revenue producing company with many DOD contracts!
Yes, there is only one reason to hire a marketing company at this time...new contracts!
$AMBS Share Price To Break Out Again Next Week As Buyout Discussions With Pfizer (PFE) Move Forward Predicts Sierra
June 15
Google may plan on using 'HAP' for Africa Internet.
http://www.techcentral.co.za/google-blimps-over-african-skies/40613/
Google blimps over African skies?
The Internet giant is said to be considering providing wireless Internet access to African countries using blimps and other large-radius wireless solutions. By Craig Wilson.
Added by Craig Wilson on 27 May 2013.
Saved under News, Top
Tags: Google, Microsoft
Google-Blimp-640
Google may be planning to use blimps, balloons and other “high-altitude platforms” over developing markets in Africa and Asia to provide wireless Internet access to areas that are currently not well served.
Reports by the Wall Street Journal and online news outlets suggest the Internet giant is considering a range of technologies, including blimps, balloons, satellites and terrestrial wireless networks to help get the next billion people online.
High-altitude platforms, or Haps, can be manned or unmanned aircraft, balloons or blimps that operate between 17km and 22km above the earth where there is usually little wind and turbulence. At this altitude, they’re also higher than commercial flights but lower than satellites, meaning lower latency times — the time it takes data to make a round trip — and less energy consumption.
Haps can be used to provide wireless broadband over hundreds of square kilometres. The International Telecommunication Union has allocated spectrum in the 48GHz band worldwide, and in the 28GHz and 31GHz bands for selected countries, for providing Haps services.
Google, or anyone else wanting to provide broadband using Haps, would still have to liaise with regulators in each of the countries covered to ensure compliance with local spectrum regulations and avoid causing interference for existing spectrum users.
“Getting more people online has been a longstanding goal of Google’s,” says the company’s South African spokesman, Julie Taylor. “It has been working on that in South Africa, and Africa, and will continue to do so.” Taylor says she can’t comment on when or if Africans should expect to see Google blimps in the sky.
White spaces
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Google is “deep into a multipronged effort to build and help run wireless networks in emerging markets as part of a plan to connect a billion or more new people to the Internet”.
According to the report, the company has begun talking to regulators in countries such as South Africa and Kenya about using portions of radio frequency spectrum usually reserved for analogue broadcasting television to provide Internet connectivity, particularly to outlying and underserviced areas where the low-frequency, high-propagation signals are more effective and cost efficient than those used in dense urban areas.
Google is already involved in a so-called television “white spaces” spectrum trial in Cape Town, where it is using the unused portions of broadcasting spectrum to offer broadband connectivity to 10 schools in the area.
Microsoft, meanwhile, is planning to run its own white-spaces trial in Limpopo province, South Africa, and in Kenya’s Nanyuki region. Google and Microsoft have even partnered with one another to host a conference on white spaces in Dakar, Senegal on Thursday and Friday this week.http://www.techcentral.co.za/google-blimps-over-african-skies/40613/
The Wall Street Journal’s report suggests that Google’s moves to connect more users would also allow it to “circumvent incumbent cable companies and wireless carriers”. In the US and Europe, the company has encountered opposition from some network operators that argue Google benefits unduly on the back of existing networks.
In the US, Google has even begun deploying its own fibre-optic networks in cities like Kansas, with plans to do likewise in states like Texas and Utah. It has also spoken about rolling out public wireless networks in various US cities to help get more consumers online. — (c) 2013
Monty, Yes, same initiative but the Google Blimp (and soon to launch o3b satellite networks) targets Africa and Asia and the Loon balloons targets So. America.
Isn't it interesting that Google specifically mentions WSGI in their story! and no one else. What's up with this?
You could be right, Sierra Equity says Pfizer is coming in.
Maybe, but the Google Blimp Project seems a much cheaper way to go....
Google's Next Cloud Product: Google Blimps To Bring Wireless Internet to Africa...http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewstibbe/2013/06/05/googles-next-cloud-product-google-blimps-to-bring-wireless-internet-to-africa/
Monty, I'm not the only skeptic...
Another Orlando-based firm, World Surveillance Group, sells similar equipment to the US Army and other government agencies.
However, they typically remain airborne for up to a few days at a time rather than for months, and are not as wide-ranging. One expert cautioned that Google might find it harder to control its fleet than it hoped.
"The practicalities of controlling lighter-than-air machines are well known because of the vagaries of the weather," said Prof Alan Woodward, visiting professor at the University of Surrey's department of computing.
"It's going to take a lot of effort to make these things wander in an autonomous way and I think it may take them a little longer to get right than they might believe."
Yes, I remember reading the Chairman's letter with excitement long ago ...ha, ha, we were all duped!
I don't agree with your analysis of the Google Loon Project. It's a very expensive experiment but certainly interesting. No one can control the weather, it's not possible to compensate for all the variables (no matter how much compute power you throw at it) and it's not practicable to have 1,000s of balloons floating around for 55 days. Just think of the labor involve in just retrieving them when they land in the ocean, mountain top or other. Google's investment in o3b networks is much more practicable...imo.
Google has the funds to make the same mistakes as DOD who spent $7B on HAA Airships...balloons is not the answer- communications balloons have been around for 60 years. Electric HAA planes make much more sense.
The segmented airship strat is certainly much more high tech than balloons, carry a high payload (200lbs plus)and station keep for a very long time. ...IMO.
Monty, thanks, Google is doing great science and engineering but even more 'revolutionary' is our Stratellite....
Our HAA is the Stratellite™, so named because they are designed to offer the functionality of a satellite in the stratosphere. This class of airship will consist of several models based on their size, shape and payload capability. The Stratellite is intended for use in the lower areas of the atmosphere (65,000 feet).
Stratellite™ were conceived to help solve infrastructure issues that plague many parts of the world, including the so called "last mile" (building expensive ground based infrastructure for very low density areas) issues. The Stratellite™ can bring a full range of telecommunications or broadcasting capabilities to any area of the world, accessible to people with customer premise equipment that is inexpensive and available.
http://www.o3bnetworks.com/ Google is also a major investor in o3b networks. A $1.2 Billion project to launch eight satellites this month to provide internet/ cell coverage 45 degrees from equator.
I expect big pharma financing this week
yes, I'm and aero engine/comm pilot by training and sold products into DOD and aerospace. WSGI was a customer long ago and that's how I became involved. I've also been involved from pre-Internet (competed against Steve Chase/ AOL) to many, many Web developments. I'm currently co-owner of a Web based wholesale distribution company. Our products are manufactured in China to our specifications.
Reminds me of all the high altitude airships that DOD has funded over the years-that didn't work. Maybe, Google will see the value of a segmented airship like the Stratellite and fund development...?
I think the recent advances in PV and/or fuel cells makes the strat a reality now.
Henn, wouldn't it be great if Google could fund the Strat!
"he search firm is not the first to pursue such an idea. An Arizona-based firm, Space Data, already provides blimp-based radio repeaters to the US Air Force to allow it to extend communications coverage.
Project Loon balloon Project Loon balloons are made of plastic just 3mm (0.1in) thick
Another Orlando-based firm, World Surveillance Group, sells similar equipment to the US Army and other government agencies."
Mad, I totally disagree. Nice simple design (which is the preference today in high tech Web design). I'm in the business, I've been doing e-commerce for fifteen years.
Nil, we should find out shortly why a private person recently funded us with a short term loan without collateral...maybe the 4th Brigade will be buying 50 to 100 BIBS for deployment...?
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, may have a new edge when they deploy this summer to Afghanistan....the BIB!
http://www.army.mil/article/97910/
FORT POLK, La. (March 7, 2013) -- When they deploy to Afghanistan this summer to assist in the drawdown of U.S. forces, the Soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, will have a new edge.
The unit will be the first to use an on-the-move communications network that stays connected over vast distances, providing information throughout the brigade down to the lowest echelons. That capability will be critical as U.S. troops work closely with the Afghan forces, take down fixed infrastructure and become increasingly mobile and dispersed in their operations, leaders said.
"This is much needed in Afghanistan," said Brig. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, deputy commanding general for support, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). Like their counterparts in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, or BCT, the Division's 3rd BCT will also be deploying as a Security Forces Advise and Assist Team, or SFAAT, with the new network later this year.
"Imagine you're a Soldier and you need information on a given area, or you want to see where units are located to your left and right," Piatt said. "You don't want to have to come back to headquarters; you don't want to have to force a transmission over a radio net just to get that. You want to have that information readily available. (This network) allows us to do that on the move, and allows us to do it dismounted as well."
Known as Capability Set 13, or CS 13, the package will allow the 10th Mountain units to utilize advanced satellite-based systems -- augmented by data radios, handheld devices and the latest mission command software -- to transmit voice/chat communications and situational awareness data throughout the SFAAT. On patrol inside mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles configured with components of CS 13, leaders will be able to exchange information and execute mission command using mobile communications technologies, rather than having to remain in a fixed location to access the network.
The Army targeted the two brigades as the first to receive CS 13 capability because they require advanced communications to carry out their advise-and-assist mission in Operation Enduring Freedom. While the Afghan forces will be taking a lead in operations, the SFAAT units will have the network capabilities to support with situational awareness and needs such as calls for air support, artillery support and other reach-back communications.
After several months of new equipment training to familiarize Soldiers with CS 13, the 4th BCT is now immersed in intensive final preparations for deployment. The prep includes a several weeks-long Joint Readiness Training Center rotation where they will use the gear in realistic operational scenarios based on the SFAAT mission.
The 10th Mountain brigades are also receiving lessons-learned and recommended tactics, techniques and procedures, known as TTPs, for using the equipment that were developed during the Army's Network Integration Evaluation, or NIE, process.
The semi-annual field exercises involve 3,800 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, who use networked equipment as they execute mission threads in the rough terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The NIEs were used to integrate the CS 13 network and validate its performance prior to fielding. They also produced voluminous Soldier feedback that was incorporated into vehicle designs, handheld device configurations, software features and other elements of the capability set.
Capt. Joseph Perry, a company commander with 2/1 AD who has participated in several NIEs, said he looks forward to seeing how the SFAAT teams will ultimately use the network in theater.
"I'm really curious to see what their feedback is," he said. "I'd like to see the circle complete."
The brigades' deployment with CS 13 will be the culmination of a total Army effort to quickly field the capabilities, spanning dozens of commands and locations and requiring constant coordination among network and vehicle project managers, production facilities, brigade staffs and fielding and training professionals. Along with the sophistication of the equipment, the fielding effort was unique because it marked the first time the Army delivered a complete package of network technologies that was integrated up front, rather than providing each system independently.
"This is the way the Army needs to conduct business for this type of fielding," said Lt. Col. Bill Venable, the Army's system of systems integration "trail boss" assigned to 4/10. "Synchronizing equipment deliveries, vehicle touches, training and other elements makes sense for communications systems that are integrated across the BCT, and helps reduce the burden on the unit operating in a time-constrained environment."
World Surveillance Group and Lighter Than Air Systems Deliver Second Blimp in a Box Aerostat System to Department of Defense
BiB Systems Delivered to U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Polk, LA
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL--(Marketwired - May 1, 2013) - World Surveillance Group Inc. (OTCQB: WSGI), a developer of lighter-than-air aerostats and unmanned aerial vehicles ("UAS"), today announced that, with the support of its wholly owned subsidiary Lighter Than Air Systems Corp. ("LTAS"), the operational team has delivered the second Blimp in a Box™ ("BiB") aerostat system to the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD"). The delivery included not only demonstrations and testing of the BiB but also additional training sessions for soldiers at the Fort Polk, LA base as the systems are prepared for future military exercises. Formal DoD acceptance of the BiB system was issued following completion of the testing, training and a complete inventory accounting.
WSGI's and LTAS' operations were in cooperation with WSGI's wholly owned subsidiary Global Telesat Corp., who was awarded the contract from the DoD for a set of BiB systems in January 2013. The contract award included on-location support for technical fact gathering, installation and training for the BiB systems. The BiB is a self-contained mobile tactical aerostat system that can be towed from the back of a standard vehicle and is designed to provide semi-persistent, mobile intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ("ISR") at the platoon level. Each BiB system can provide mobile ISR for days, weeks or months with the aerostat system only requiring a fifteen minute recovery and re-launch and a helium top-off every 24-36 hours.
WSGI President and CEO Glenn D. Estrella stated, "We are proud to have completed the scheduled delivery for the initial set of our BiB systems to the DoD under the terms of the contract and look forward to working closely with our customer as the BiB systems become involved in military exercises. We intend on utilizing all our resources to support our customer as we continue to advance the BiB tactical aerostat system."
For additional information please visit www.wsgi.com
Hor4013, Yes, most don't understand (IMO) that a reporting OTC/ NASDAQ company has a much better chance for appreciation than a company with nearly 900M OS. I still see this as a 10X plus investment. I bought today!
Management is making a smart decision for long term appreciation!
BBB, yes, GSAT (and indirectly GTC)is poised to take off. FCC ATC ruling would be huge and FAA NextGen is a major revenue opportunity. Both will require GROUND STATIONS build-out both in USA and World. Note: It will be interesting if GOOGLE partners with GSAT to provide Internet to Africa!
GSAT ATC (terrestrial) advances...
Ruckus Wireless and Globalstar Complete First Testing of Unused RF Spectrum to Address Growing Wi-Fi Traffic Jam
The Combination of Terrestrial Low Power Service (TLPS) with Smart Wi-Fi Shows up to 5X Distance and up to 4X Capacity Increase Over Traditional Wi-Fi with No Impact on Surrounding Public Wi-Fi Networks
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ruckus-wireless-globalstar-complete-first-130000029.html
Follow the money- our recent funding for an unsecured loan will only last a short time...time for funding announcement IMO.
Jrod24, Yes, this should be a good fit for WSGI, LTAS and GTC/ GSAT. We have all the pieces to make it happen. Personally, I think Google must be talking to GSAT.
Google would make a great sponsor for the development of the Strat!
look for a small trade (48,000 at ask) in about 18 min.
IAI Develops Electric Tethered Observation Platform for Homeland Security
Posted on May 31, 2013 by The Editor
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is developing a line of Hovering Air Vehicles (HAV’s).
The first system in this line is the – Electric Tethered Observation Platform (ETOP). The HAV’s are designed for both military and civilian applications.
The Electric Tethered Observation Platform (ETOP) is a purely electric-powered, tethered airborne platform utilized for observation and other applications, which can be deployed from a static or moving ground vehicle or station. Under most circumstances, a HAV must carry an energy source, which can be extremely heavy, but the ETOP provides an innovative solution to this problem by simply leaving its energy source on the ground.
The platform is generated by electric-powered propellers, which can hover at a predetermined altitude above ground for long periods of time. Hovering time is limited only by the ground platform’s energy Storage capability.
The ETOP can carry a payload of up to 20Kg at a maximum altitude of 100m and does not need an operator.
http://www.uasvision.com/2013/05/31/iai-develops-electric-tethered-observation-platform-for-homeland-security/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09c5624a08-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_799756aeb7-09c5624a08-271164549
Yes, GSAT stock is up 100% in four weeks, it seems the market likes the opportunities at hand. This bodes well for GTC and it's potential ground station funding!...IMO