Bat sense, Antimatter Stars and Space Startups

May 6

This week we will see how echolocation will help us to develop a new range of security and monitoring devices. We also investigate some stars that might be made up of antimatter and whilst we are in space we look at several Australian Startups that are using space for their new products and services.

Bat Sense

We currently use a wide range of security systems and devices to catch burglars or to monitor patients in aged care and hospitals. These systems are complex and expensive to install and maintain. An algorithm developed at Glasgow University may be a very cheap and simple alternative.

The machine learning algorithm uses reflected echoes to produce 3D pictures of the surrounding environment. The system can run on a smartphone or laptop as it uses sounds emitted by speakers or radio waves pulsed from small antennas. All it needs is access to your device’s microphone.

The algorithm analyses and measures how long it takes for sounds and signals to bounce around a room and return to the sensor. It then can analyze the signal to calculate the shape, size and layout of the room as well as pick up the presence of objects or people. The data is then turned into a 3D image that can be displayed on a video feed. When the image changes (e.g. when a person walks into the room) an alarm or notification can be sent.

This is how bats use echolocation to navigate their way through the world. This sort of application may well find its’ way into the many electronic devices that we have in our homes and become a vital part of a home security system. It may also have applications in aged care and could also allow greater monitoring of home care patents without compromising privacy.

Stars comprised of Antimatter?

Researchers have identified 14 stars that give off the kind of gamma rays that are produced when antimatter collides with matter (antimatter is the opposite of matter just like - is the opposite of +, when antimatter and matter collide there is a complete destruction of both and a lot of energy is released, it is quite common and usually happens in ultra small quantities, experiments using antimatter are routinely conducted at CERN in Switzerland, for a longer explanation see this June 2020 newsletter).

The “antistar” candidates appear to give off the kind of gamma rays that are produced when antimatter meets matter. The speculation is that these “antistars” draw small amounts of matter that are floating nearby in space into their influence via the gravitational effect of their mass.

Current cosmological models do not allow for “antistars”. It is generally thought that in the early days of the universe an equal amount of matter and antimatter existed however over time some sort of process led to matter becoming the dominant state. The International Space Station has recently detected hints of a few anti-helium atoms hitting the station. These discoveries prove that we still have a lot to learn about our universe.

Space - The next startup frontier

Whilst we are talking about space and the things that we do and don’t know about space, a growing number of startups are developing products and services that use space in providing their products. A range of Australian startups are very active in this area. This week we will look at startups that are using the data collected from space.

Myriota

Based in Adelaide, Myriota offers low cost and long battery life Internet of Things devices that connect directly with nano-satellites.

One application is reducing the cost of maintenance for wind farms. Each tower costs approximately $5,000 to maintain. There are approximately 400,000 wind towers worldwide. Working with partner Ping Services they are able to reduce the cost of maintenance by 25% per year for a global cost saving of up to $500 million dollars per year. Ping’s devices record the condition of turbines daily. Operators can be alerted when servicing is required thus reducing cost whilst mitigating future damage.

There are also applications in Agriculture, Maritime, Transport and Logistics, Defense, Mining and Utilities.

Advanced Navigation

Advanced Navigation is a Sydney based startup that develops and manufactures navigation technologies and robotics. They have developed a range of products in Global Navigation Satellite Systems, inertial navigation (a system that uses motion and rotation sensors to continually calculate dead reckoning at sea), RF technologies, acoustics and robotics.

This satellite compass aids navigation now matter where you are on the planet.

Quasar

Quasar Satellite Technologies is another Sydney based startup that has been backed by the CSIRO. Their Phased Array Technology (developed at CSIRO) is focused on providing a ground station service for satellite operators and users.

The system will support hundreds of simultaneous satellite communication channels and different missions on a single antenna. Multiple antenna beams are used on their phased array and transmitted to multiple satellites at the same time. Their satellite tracking and prediction software allows end users to submit and schedule requests to initiate satellite contact and data downlinks.

Fireball

Fireball is a Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast based startup (not all startups are in hardship locations) that provides firefighters with real time intelligence to support them in their efforts to fight fires.

Fireball’s FEUGO Intelligence system uses a set of deep machine learning algorithms to analyze images from satellites, aircraft and sensors in real time. Geosynchronous Satellite data is used to look for infrared heat signatures indicative of fires. The system currently processes more than 2.5 million images per day.

Data is updated once per minute meaning that as soon as a heat signature is detected the system will send electronic notifications and digital maps to emergency responders on new and evolving fire events. Ground based sensors will also provide live feeds of data. Fires can quickly and easily be dealt with before they become much larger problems.

Space startups is a rapidly expanding area. I will feature a few more startups in this space in coming weeks.

Paying it Forward

If you have a start-up or know of a start-up that has a product ready for market please let me know. I would be happy to have a look and feature the startup in this newsletter. Also if any startups need introductions please get in touch and I will help where I can.

If you have any questions or comments please email me via my website craigcarlyon.com or comment below.

I would also appreciate it if you could forward this newsletter to anyone that you think might be interested.

Till next week.