In Tune with Times

A FORCE Report

Way back in the Sixties, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was known for the vacuum tubes used in the old radio sets that helped tune into the right frequencies. It was and continues to be one of the leading public sector undertakings in Bengaluru, the hub of India’s defence manufacturing. A pioneer then, with 65 years of experience, BEL is a leader in defence electronics.

From the days of humble vacuum tubes, BEL has now come of age, producing a range of defence electronics including radars, naval systems, electronic warfare suites, weapon systems, C4I systems among a vast portfolio of advanced electronics, chiefly for the defence forces, but not limited to them. From the earlier work benches, BEL now boasts of state-of-the-art products, systems and processes, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a range of production processes. Some of these include:

IoT Based Smart Maintenance of Heavy Vehicles

Mine Trucks/ Earth Movers/ Military Tanks used for heavy duty applications need accurate and timely smart maintenance in order to avoid huge failure and reduce repair costs. The monitored values are transferred to cloud and compared with historical data for deviation and alerts sent to take action. Cloud can further be used for networking among vehicles.

Social Network Analysis (SNA)

In the current scenario, it is very challenging to get information about reach of organised gangs, impact of unwanted activities etc. An AI-based Social Network Analysis (SNA) can help analyse various activities logged by various groups and their corresponding effects.

Autonomous Sensor Networks for Surveillance 

The project is aimed to design a framework for aerial and ground surveillance by share sensor data, modelled and distributed to the system, which can take quick actions to enhance the situational awareness at real time by combining UAV, UGV, sensor networks and cloud computing technology. This set up of Security and Surveillance can function in modes like fully autonomous, human on the loop and human in the loop.


Automated Information Extraction and Synthesis

As manual processing of large amount of information from heterogeneous sources is cumbersome, AI-based solution performs document clustering, advanced searching and relationship extraction. System automation enables to extract the required information on the flow and also synthesise with already available data. It reduces the effort to extract essential information and enables effective information relationship extraction for data fusion.

Intelligence and Reconnaissance

Conventional methods of information analysis are time consuming and complex in nature. There is a need for Automated Intelligence (INT) Cycle and effective report generation using Military Ontology concepts to corroborate enormous data received in the form of Audio, Video, Text and imagery.

Cyber Security – Malware Detection in Android 

A framework using comprehensive data flow analysis coupled with machine learning/ Deep Learning is proposed to distinguish between a benign and malicious android application.  System is complemented with the multiple approaches to detect benign-ness/ maliciousness and remove the malicious application.

Face Recognition for Security Applications

AI-based face recognition and data base for identifying persons and generate alerts. The system shall work even in conditions like partial occlusion of face, wearing spectacles/scarfs, change in facial expression etc. Provision to add photographs obtained from law enforcement agencies to the criminals’ repositories tagged for sex, age, scars, tattoos etc for future searches.

Image Based Object Movement Tracking

AI-based real time system for object tracking using CCTV camera and pattern recognition. The system works on partially occluded/ non occluded image, and is capable to track, in case of change in object size, shape, orientation and contrast. System generates trajectory of object, predicts position and tracks high speed (more than Mach >3), moderate speed, and slow speed objects. The system can be used for air, naval and ground object movement tracking.

Weather Support for Warfare & Disaster Management

The Integrated Weather Support Systems shall receive the data from various sources like Mausam Online (MOL), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other Meteorological Services and utilise this data by clustering this information using Big Data, as per the Military and Civilian use. The AI and Expert System’s concepts shall be used for analysis and predictions, tailoring predicted data to meet specific operational requirements and integrating the tailored forecast into operation planning and execution.

First Responder Robots (FRR) for Search and Rescue

Circumstances such as terrorist held building, natural calamities, stealth combat operations, deep cave searches etc., require prior view of situation without compromising rescuer life. First Responder Robots (FRR) like Surveillance ball, Mini UGV, Snake Robots, Insect-copters are very helpful in taking audio, video and image data.

• Spy Ball: A rollable and throwable surveillance ball providing 360-degree real time video coverage. The ball quickly stabilises to upright position which offers maximum viewing angle. The Spy ball can be attached to a pole or rope to scan attics/stairways/ tunnels. Applications include search and rescue in disaster sites, hostage rescue operation, etc.
• Snake Bot: A bio-mimetic robot with snake alike features providing real time video surveillance. Mobility is using synchronised motion of individual modules and not using wheels or tracks. Snake bot exhibits gaits like side-winding, slithering, pole-climbing and head-lifting. Applications include homeland security, search and rescue in disaster sites, CBRN-based applications
• Spy Roller: A semi-autonomous first responder robot which can roll through narrow passages. It has zero turn radius. The camera module can be panned and tilted for enhanced surveillance.
• Autonomous Ground Vehicle: All terrain unmanned portable robot with autonomous navigation feature using LIDAR, PTZ camera and other sensors. Enabled with high computational platform for AI-based for localisation, mapping and path planning. Applications include Battle field Patrolling, Perimeter Surveillance, Bomb Clearance, Weapon Delivery, Disaster Management.
• Insect-copters: Insect copters are palm sized Nano UAVs that can perch and climb on walls. It provides video surveillance though the gimbal camera setup. A swarm of Nano-UAVs is used for increased surveillance capability and for redundancy. Applications are in homeland security

Features Available in First Responder Robots

• Artificial Intelligence
• Autonomous navigation by Simultaneous Localization and mapping (SLAM) for GPS denied environment (Indoor environment, Border) and incorporating obstacle avoidance and path planning algorithms
• Object detection and anomaly detection using deep learning techniques for identifying instruction

Communication range capabilities which mean few hundred metres for indoor up to 30 kms for outdoor applications