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Defence Minister Peter MacKay checks out TruView

Akoostix was very pleased to have the opportunity to demonstrate TruView to Canada’s Minister of Defence, Peter MacKay, as he announced funding for Akoostix and the Canadian Navy Memorial Trust (CNMT). The demonstration was provided by Leading Seaman (LS) Patrick Murray from the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre’s (ADAC) Research Department. ADAC has been supporting Akoostix in the test and evaluation of TruView through the government’s Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP) program. ADAC now owns TruView and has been using it to process data from Canadian ships, submarines, and sonobuoys at speeds ranging between 8 and 100 times real time.

Commenting on TruView, Minister MacKay said, “It probably would have saved a lot of lives, I dare say. It has application across our entire navy fleet, and I’m suspect that some of our allies will be very interested in this technology.” For more on the news release.

LS Patrick Murray demonstrates TruView to Canada's Minister of Defence, Peter MacKay.

LS Patrick Murray demonstrates TruView to Canada’s Minister of Defence, Peter MacKay, while Akoostix’s President, Joe Hood, looks on.

 

Published by on Mar 4th, 2013 Posted in Press

Software Tools for Analysis and Research Support – Contract Award

A diverse team of experts led by Akoostix was selected again as Defence Research and Development Canada – Atlantic’s industrial partner to provide support for their Software Tools for Analysis and Research (STAR). The potential total contract value is $750,000 (HST excluded) over three years. Work under this standing offer will involve specialized sonar software development, data analysis, algorithm development, and sea trial support for the wide variety of applications developed using the STAR software suite.

STAR is used primarily for analysis and refinement of prototype algorithms and trials data analysis but also contributes a wealth of capability to all levels of our R&D process in the form of software libraries. For example, STAR software modules are used to perform the core signal processing in Adeos.

The Chronicle Herald produced a related article that summarizes Akoostix’s recent accomplishments and aspirations.

Published by on Jan 4th, 2013 Posted in Contract Award, Press

TruView delivered to ADAC

Major Aaron Novecosky, CO Acoustic Data Analysis Centre (ADAC), accepted delivery of TruView from Akoostix President, Joe Hood on 10 Dec 2012. Initial delivery was accomplished within 20 days of contract award.

Akoostix is very pleased to announce successful delivery of its first TruView system to the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre (ADAC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. TruView will undergo testing by ADAC under the Canadian Innovation Commercialization program under which it was selected as an innovative solution to providing low-cost high-value sonar/acoustic processing for the Royal Canadian Navy. TruView is intended for use as a Level 2 post-analysis system, reprocessing data from advanced towed arrays and other acoustic systems. More information on TruView and this contract can be found in a previous post.

Published by on Dec 12th, 2012 Posted in Update

First TruView purchased for ADAC

Akoostix is very pleased to announce award of a contract from the Canadian government to deliver one TruView Rapid Processing and Analysis (RPA) system to the Acoustic Data Analysis Centre (ADAC)  for testing under the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP). This opportunity was first announced in Feb 2012.

TruView - server and laptop version

TruView is a compact portable system that packs a big punch! It can be delivered in a Pelican case that can be transported as easily as any suitcase. It will also run on a laptop with reduced performance.

TruView will initially be configured for towed-array processing at 8-times real time or better. TruView provides storage for several days of processed data that can be recalled for analysis in an instant. If testing is successful, TruView may also be configured for post-analysis of other sonar/acoustic data. Our long-term goal is to meet ADAC’s requirement for digital and analogue preview processing of all sonar data using a single architecture. This approach promises to provide significant value and cost savings to Canada.

TruView is built using a combination of software libraries developed by Akoostix for DRDC and Akoostix-owned software developed with the support of the NRC-IRAP program. This cost-effective system development approach enables technically-sound strategic investment and  cost reduction, especially for collaborative customers, such as the Canadian government, who get a return on their initial investment.

Akoostix continues to extend the Adeos framework upon which TruView was built, targeting additional applications from sonobuoy processing to monitoring of marine mammals in both Canadian and international markets.

The CICP test report produced by ADAC will be very beneficial in providing Akoostix with feedback that will guide ongoing development, while supporting international marketing efforts. The challenge in launching new complex systems like TruView is often in achieving the first sale. The CICP program has proven to be an excellent method of achieving this strategic milestone while delivering innovative products and services that promise significant value for Canadian taxpayers.

The Chronicle Herald also did an article on this contract. Look for a picture of TruView being used under red-lighting conditions in the paper version.

Published by on Nov 22nd, 2012 Posted in Contract Award, Press

Akoostix and the Nova Scotia Government invest in employee training and productivity improvement

Akoostix’s investment in employee training and productivity was showcased at the NS Government’s announcement of support for the Aerospace and Defence Industry. The strength of Akoostix comes from the ability of our employees and so we take the job of growing their skills and retaining the best and brightest very seriously. The PIP program combined with Akoostix’s investment is helping us to grow our capability and provide leading-edge solutions.

The Nova Scotia government’s press release highlighted Akoostix’s growth and success , “Akoostix has emerged as one of Canada’s top resources for defence and underwater sonar systems.”

Joe Hood was quoted by the Chronicle Herald saying, “We’re already going to have most of what’s needed on the table and we’ll be able to offer it up at high value over a larger defence contractor.”

Joe Hood, Akoostix’s president, discussed the benefit of this program in this video clip. The full speech by the Premier, followed by Joe Hood’s discussion of Akoostix’s plans for growth, including support to renewable energy and the shipbuilding industry can be found here. Ben Bougher, Akoostix’s research analyst, also had something to say about how he benefited from the PIP program here.

Joe Hood discussing the benefit of the Productivity Investment Program with the NS Premier, Darrell Dexter. Paul Yeatman, president of Geospectrum Technologies (far left), and Catherine MacDonald, Managing Director of ADIANS (far right), also participated in the announcement.

Published by on Nov 9th, 2012 Posted in Press, Training

Akoostix presents at ECUA

We were well represented at the European Conference of Underwater Acoustics (ECUA) 2012 in Edinburgh, UK, where three papers/presentations were given that included Akoostix’s involvement:

  • Bougher, B., Hood, J., Theriault, J., and Moors, H., Generalized marine mammal detection based on improved band-limited processing
  • Theriault, J., Bougher, B., Hood, J., and Moors, H., Counting Northern Bottlenose Whales using Passive Acoustic Monitoring Techniques
  • Binder, C. and Hines, P., Applying Automatic Aural Classification to Cetacean Vocalizations (underlying research supported by Akoostix)

 

Published by on Jul 18th, 2012 Posted in Conference, Technical

Akoostix prequalifies for Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program

Akoostix is very pleased to announce that our TruView Rapid Processing and Analysis (RPA) system has been selected for the pool of pre-qualified proposals with the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP). We are confident that we will fulfil the remaining requirements: establish a test department and negotiate a contract.

CICP will give DND the opportunity to experience and evaluate the benefits of TruView, and the Adeos framework that it is built upon, firsthand.

Adeos is built using a combination of software libraries developed by Akoostix for DRDC and Akoostix-owned software developed with the support of the NRC-IRAP program. This cost-effective system development approach enables technically-sound strategic investment and  cost reduction, especially for collaborative customers, such as the Canadian government, who get a return on their initial investment.

Akoostix continues to extend Adeos’ capability and is progressing plans to develop a variety of Adeos-based systems. We are also progressing internal and funded R&D projects that will provide more and better capability for Adeos users, as part of our continuous upgrade R&D process/program.

Additional news articles related to this story:

Published by on Feb 3rd, 2012 Posted in Contract Award, Press, Update

System Test Bed Support – Contract Award

A diverse team of experts, led by Akoostix, recently was awarded a contract to provide support to Defence Research and Development Canada’s System Test Bed (STB). The potential total value is $800,000 over 2.5 years for work involving specialized sonar software development, data analysis and sea trial support for the wide variety of applications developed using the STB framework.

STB is used by DRDC in the development of sonar system prototypes. These prototypes are used to demonstrate new technological capabilities to Canadian Forces partners, such as the Royal Canadian Navy.

Published by on Nov 17th, 2011 Posted in Contract Award, Press