For as long as I can remember, flying cars have been a staple symbol of the future in science fiction. Today though, they have become a near-reality.
A small number of well-funded start-ups are carrying out test flights of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Some of these start-ups are being backed by major aviation and automotive players, such as Boeing, Airbus and Hyundai. Companies such as Uber, meanwhile, are expecting to operate flying taxis without pilots by around 2030. Furthermore, Tesla, General Motors, Google’s Waymo, Toyota and Honda are all on the cusp of introducing self-driving cars, with real-world testing and regulatory frameworks being explored for traffic-managing the airspace above our busy cities.
The commercial sector is investing heavily in advanced technology, with critical issues, such as an ageing population and city congestion, fast-tracking the shift towards an autonomous future.
While the defence sector has long been renowned for breakthrough innovations, military autonomous systems development, in comparison, has been slow and incremental at best. This huge disparity in commercial versus military investment into research and development could have a cascading effect on the type and quality of autonomous capabilities that are later incorporated into military systems. The national security environment has been affected by rapid technological advancements driven by commercial technology on a wide scale, changing the rules of engagement.
The benefits of autonomous capabilities are undisputed. In fact, when you integrate autonomous capabilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning – as many countries are currently exploring – the opportunities become exponential.
The benefits of autonomous capabilities are undisputed
In a highly competitive market for technologists, roboticists and engineers, the commercial sector excels in attracting the brightest minds and advancing towards real-life testing, while the military sector is still trailing behind. There is a real sense of urgency in shifting towards an autonomous future – and one that the defence sector must embark on faster if it wants to stop finding derivatives and superior technology in the commercial space.
In the military domain, autonomous systems can be leveraged as force multipliers to boost combat power, provide a higher degree of tactical flexibility, increase the safety of frontline soldiers, and save on long-term costs. These benefits are already being observed and appreciated at the lower levels of autonomy with remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles. These systems have been able to enhance situational awareness capabilities, go to places that we humans cannot to complete previously unattainable missions and even lighten the physical and cognitive workloads of troops.
At the Unmanned Systems and Exhibition and Conference last year, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments launched the "Garmousha" – the first UAE-made vertical take-off and landing drone. The company is expected to unveil new autonomous capabilities at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference this week.
Future trends are steering towards inter-operability, where open architecture and modularity are key, and where autonomy with AI, cloud technologies, weaponisation and swarm capabilities are increasingly becoming integral to complex future missions. Network security, cyber resilience and electronic warfare play a critical role, too, as does human collaboration with machines to reduce sorties and ensure the best possible mission outcomes.
The most significant advantage is safety – a reduction in "boots on the ground" and, therefore, soldier casualties. Autonomous systems would replace humans for more dangerous missions, maintaining the overall strength of the force for more critical needs.
From an economic perspective, the reliability, durability, efficiency and affordability of autonomous systems outweigh the advantages of soldiers. Though systems would carry a higher initial cost, it would pale in comparison to the life-cycle cost of soldiers across training, equipment, in-service salary, health care and later veteran care.
And the use of remote-controlled unmanned systems is only the first step. Future unmanned systems will see higher levels of autonomy. Developments in AI and cognitive computing will shape the future of warfare. With advanced technology levelling the playing field, no nation can afford to lag behind in this technological arms race.
The question is not should we, but rather where do we become more autonomous?
In this context, Edge, the UAE’s advanced technology group for defence and beyond, invests extensively in autonomous capabilities coupled with other advanced technologies. It works closely with frontline operators to understand the intricate and intuitive needs of the defence industry and those that can creatively innovate to discover new technologies. Because innovation in the defence sector does not come from technology alone, but also from problem-solving and experience on the battlefield. Edge also builds on advancements made in commercial markets, combining the best of both worlds.
The company invests in a concept and then decides whether to discard it or experiment with it further. It is this very approach – moving with speed and inventing with freedom – that ultimately enables a more agile and secure future.
Faisal Al Bannai is chief executive and managing director of Edge
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
If%20you%20go
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Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Cashew%0D%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202020%0D%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Ibtissam%20Ouassif%20and%20Ammar%20Afif%0D%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%0D%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%2410m%0D%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Mashreq%2C%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5