13, Jun 2023
The Age of the Autonomous Enterprise is Coming, Says Research
India, June 13, 2023 – The majority of global decision makers say they plan to fully embrace the autonomous enterprise within the next 10 years, according to new research from Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ: PEGA), the low-code platform provider empowering the world’s leading enterprises to Build for Change®. The study, conducted by research firm Savanta and unveiled at PegaWorld iNspire, the company’s annual conference in Las Vegas, surveyed 600 business decision-makers worldwide on their understanding of the autonomous enterprise, their plans for implementation, and some of its drivers.
The autonomous enterprise is an organization that comprehensively applies AI and automation to engagement, servicing, and operations across the organization to operationalize agility and create a business that can become self-optimizing. The study found that 58% of respondents expect to define themselves as an autonomous enterprise within the next 10 years. With just 15% saying they feel they are already at this stage today, and 36% projecting they will reach this point five years from now, the upward curve of autonomous enterprise adoption is clear. Tellingly, three quarters (73%) of respondents said they already have some sort of plan to start becoming an autonomous enterprise. When asked what they expected their position to be 10 years from now, an overwhelming 96% said the same.
One of the leading drivers of this new age of self-optimizing technology is a growing understanding of issues caused by old, inefficient ways of using technology to solve one-off problems. These include:
No such thing as a ‘quick fix’: When asked what their primary technology investment strategy was, almost half (46%) of respondents pointed to either ‘quick fix’ technology solutions to resolve specific issues, or off-the-shelf software solutions that provide pre-packaged capabilities for specific applications. Forty percent admitted that such ‘quick fixes’ had resulted in operational inefficiencies within their organization, with more than one-third (35%) saying it has increased risk. Forty percent also cited their belief that such ‘band-aid’ solutions were quicker to implement as their rationale for using them, with 31% saying their options were limited because they must stick to an approved list of vendors. Only 4% of respondents said they do not invest in one-off, disconnected ‘band-aid’ technology solutions at all.
Increased costs: One-quarter of all respondents say they spend between 51 and 100% of their annual IT spend on maintaining solutions that are no longer fit for purpose. Forty-one percent say that investments in disconnected legacy systems have resulted in increased costs.
Where are our customers going?: More than one in three (36%) respondents say they are kept awake at night worrying that customers aren’t getting a good enough experience and that they risk losing them to a competitor. One quarter of respondents also pointed to concerns that siloed legacy technology, systems, and channels had already led to disjointed customer experiences (30%), poor customer service (26%), or loss of customers and revenue (26%).
Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed that unified platforms that connect systems and channels to automate, self-optimize, and align workflows and decisions to business strategy will be either ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ important to improve their operational efficiencies. With the vast majority (75%) also agreeing that AI will have a role to play in their business over the next five years – 40% say it will be ‘pivotal’ – the rise of the autonomous enterprise looks set to gather pace in the years ahead.
Quotes & Commentary:
“This study tells us unequivocally that the age of autonomous is not only coming – in many respects, it’s already here,” said Don Schuerman, chief technology officer, Pega. “Applying AI and automation to decisioning, operations, and servicing across the organization will create a major change in the mindset of how organizations operate and drive the rise of the autonomous enterprise in the coming years.
“In a new world that moves at the speed of AI, manual work, static decisioning, and band-aid solutions are holding back the legacy enterprises of today. The successful organizations of tomorrow will be autonomous enterprises that operationalize agility and focus, bringing people together to deliver hyper-personalized engagement, hyper-efficient operations, and seamless customer experiences. This requires a change in technology but also a change in mindset. As the speed of change increases, a self-optimizing autonomous business will be able to deliver the best-in-class experiences customers and employees demand and deserve.”
Notes
Pega surveyed 600 business decision makers worldwide on their views, understanding and plans for the autonomous enterprise. The results included responses from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany.
Resources
Read more about the Autonomous Enterprise here: https://www.pega.com/technology/autonomous-enterprise
- 0
- By Neel Achary
13, Jun 2023
AVEVA Further Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Four New Senior Roles
Mumbai, India, June 13, 2023– AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, has further strengthened its leadership team announcing four new senior executive roles as the company drives forward its new business model.
The news follows the announcement in March of the company’s new Chief Executive Officer Caspar Herzberg, who took over the top job at AVEVA from Peter Herweck, now its chairperson. Herweck officially started as CEO of parent company Schneider Electric on May 4.
Sue Quense, currently AVEVA’s Senior Vice President of Americas, takes on the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer. Quense, based in Philadelphia, USA, has spent more than three decades in software sales leadership roles. She was a driving force at OSIsoft, which merged with AVEVA in 2021 to meet the expanding industrial intelligence of global enterprises and accelerate the evolution of the connected industrial economy.
Marco Mueller, a long-time technology industry leader, joins AVEVA as Chief Marketing Officer and will be based in London, UK. He was formerly Senior Vice President Global Demand Marketing at ServiceNow, a leading cloud computing platform company headquartered in California’s Silicon Valley, for two and half years. Before that, Marco spent more than a decade in marketing executive roles with SAP, a market leader in enterprise application software where he led marketing teams across the globe. He began his career as a management consultant at Accenture in the high-tech and consumer products industries.
With AVEVA’s goal to support end-to-end product innovation, the research &development(R&D) function and project delivery services will come together with the Business Units and Portfolio Management teams under the leadership of Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer.
Iju Raj, who has spent the last five years heading up AVEVA’s cloud platform, takes on the role of Executive Vice President for R&D and will report to McGreevy. Based in India, Raj will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operations of R&D, driving efficient development processes, programs, and software innovation.
Caspar Herzberg, CEO of AVEVA, said: “This is a pivotal moment in AVEVA’s 55-year heritage as a leading innovator of software and industrial sustainability. We are undergoing a portfolio-wide transition to a subscription-based business model, and I’m delighted to be adding such expertise and experience to the top table to further strengthen our growth plans.
“To accelerate access to modern solutions and meet dynamic business needs, customers can trade in their existing perpetual licenses for subscriptions spanning any mix of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises solutions across the design-operate-optimize industrial lifecycle. Sue, Marco, Rob, and Iju will be instrumental in further enhancing our leadership team and driving growth.”
Sue Quense, newly appointed Chief Commercial Officer at AVEVA, said: “This is an exciting time to be joining the executive leadership team, as we have ambitious plans. The AVEVA Flex subscription program revolutionizes the way our customers purchase and consume industrial software, enabling agility and access to our full portfolio as they navigate a rapidly changing business environment.”
Marco Mueller, Chief Marketing Officer at AVEVA, said: “Marketing is at the center of successful companies, particularly in our sphere, and a strategic partner to the business. The key story is that we help industrial teams to unify and visualize their data into a digital backbone so that they can understand how to boost efficiency, drive sustainability, and optimize supply chains by sharing information with partners, customers and suppliers, regulators. We call this industrial intelligence-as-a-service.”
Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer at AVEVA, said:“Bringing the corporate strategy, business, portfolio, delivery, and R&D together into one cohesive team makes a lot of sense as we evolve our business and drive towards an integrated portfolio and connected customer experience, enabled by our platform. We have an extraordinarily strong bench of research, development, portfolio, and domain experts – and I’m confident that the new structure will accelerate our ongoing transformation, both commercially and technically, to address our customers’ and partners’ shifting requirements.”
Iju Raj, Executive Vice President of R&D at AVEVA, said: “I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead R&D at a company with an exceptional history of innovation. It’s at the heart of what we do. We’re helping industries engineer smarter, operate better, and improve efficiency. Around the world and across the entire industrial lifecycle, we’re collaborating with business leaders to drive sustainable innovation. My key focus will be on delivering faster customer value and accelerating their cloud transformation.”
13, Jun 2023
Mayank Uniyal Appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at Novotel Hyderabad Airport
India, June 2023: Novotel Hyderabad Airport welcomes Mayank Uniyal as the Director of Sales and Marketing. Mayank brings in extensive experience of 20 years in the industry and will take on the responsibility of leading the sales and marketing strategy of the hotel.
He began his professional career with Quality Inn Residency Hotel in 2001 and since then, he has worked with reputable brands, to name a few such as Radisson, InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and many more.
Mr. Uniyal is a highly motivated and outcome-oriented professional, recognized for his talent in developing, directing, and implementing corporate objectives. He proactively identifies and resolves problems, reversing negative sales trends, controlling costs, and maximizing profits.
In his new position, his primary objective will be to enhance the hotel’s sales, marketing, and revenue performance. He will be establishing corporate goals, short-term and long-term budgets, and developing business plans for the achievement of these goals. He will be managing customer operations & ensuring customer satisfaction by achieving delivery as well as service quality norms.
“We are excited to onboard Mr. Mayank Uniyal to the Novotel family.” said Sukhbir Singh, General Manager of Novotel Hyderabad Airport. “Uniyal’s experience in sales and marketing, coupled with his strong leadership skills and outcome-oriented mindset, make him an invaluable asset to our team. His presence will contribute significantly to the continuous enhancement of our renowned hospitality and further strengthen the exceptional service we are known for.”
Prior to joining Novotel Hyderabad Airport, Mr. Uniyal was Director of Sales and Marketing at Radisson Blu Plaza Hyderabad Banjara Hills, where he uplifted the GDS business mix from 3% to 4.5% through sign-up of right RFP accounts and investment in GDS marketing. He even successfully spearheaded cross selling brand program in the West cluster with top performance in the region.
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Mayank completed his schooling from Sri Aurobindo International High School, did his intermediate from Ideal Junior College and obtained his degree in Hotel Management from Anwar-ul-loom College of Hotel Management.
13, Jun 2023
Hansgrohe Group introduces a new era of luxury with AXOR Starck Nature Shower
Ever dreamt of an outdoor shower surrounded by nature? Turning this dream into reality, AXOR introduces one of its kind ‘AXOR Starck Nature Shower’ range. Celebrating the luxury of open-air showering, the unique model developed in collaboration with Philippe Starck is a beautiful amalgamation of smart technology and design, as it can be placed indoors as well as outdoors.
Available in a variety of weather-resistant finishes such as Matt Black, Brushed Bronze or other AXOR FinishPlus finishes, the range not only makes a great product for its durability, but also impresses with its colour brilliance. The timeless, iconic design built in with an extremely slim shower bar blends elegantly into a variety of settings such as the home garden, the urban terrace or even the private yacht. Furthermore, the showerhead can be mounted on individually selected materials for the back wall, from glass to stone and metal to wood. An icon in new living space, the simplicity of the design language is underlined by the consistent use of basic shapes; the cylindrical handles can be used to set the temperature, as well as set water volume and shower head selection. Built in with PowderRain technology, the shower reflects the beauty and stratification of nature.
The showerhead comes with an effective drainage system, thereby, allowing the product components to withstand the elements. Thanks to the ease of assembly and disassembly, the shower column can easily be stored indoors at temperatures below freezing. The water jet is reminiscent of a soft summer rain, whisper quiet and light as a feather. The AXOR Starck Nature Shower collection consists of a total of three design variants: Two for outdoor use, of which one comes with a hand-held shower, and one product for indoor use. The indoor and outdoor variants with hand-held shower adapt even better to individual wellness needs.
For a holistic bathroom design, AXOR Uno, AXOR One and AXOR Starck faucet collections match the minimalist design of the AXOR Starck shower columns for indoor and outdoor use.
13, Jun 2023
Association of Women in the Metal Industries Hosts Lunch & Learn
Entrepreneur and certified life coach Tracee Lynn to speak at St. Louis nonprofit’s event.
(St. Louis, Mo., June 13, 2023) – Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI) will hold a Lunch & Learn on Thurs., June 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Conflux Co-Learning’s headquarters located at 8221 Minnesota Ave. Entrepreneur and certified life coach Tracee Lynn will discuss how to overpower obstacles through persistence and resilience while writing your own success story.
Tracee Lynn will highlight how to effectively deal with setbacks, as well as find the fastest solutions to personal challenges. She will examine how to believe in yourself and your dreams even during tough times plus how to use your own failures to your advantage.
Tracee Lynn is a licensed Zumba instructor and owner of MLCA Lux Aura, a luxury collection that focuses on the personal affirmational journey. She launched Aligned Faith Coaching with her husband in 2022.
The Association of Women in the Metal Industries (AWMI) is a nonprofit business league with four cornerstones that include network, grow, educate, and mentor. For more information, visit www.awmi.org.
Conflux Co-Learning is the nation’s first co-learning space that exclusively serves manufacturers and distributors. The membership-based nonprofit organization creates content, connections, and space so manufacturing and distribution leaders can navigate and grow in a rapidly changing industry. For more information, call (314) 754-8712 or visit www.confluxcolearning.com.
General admission is $50, AWMI corporate sponsor employee admission is $45, and AWMI individual member admission is $40. Lunch will be served prior to the presentation. To register, visit
https://checkout.eventcreate.com/traceelynn-lunch-n-learn/select-buy
12, Jun 2023
University of Birmingham makes key appointments in Jain Studies
12 June 2023
The University of Birmingham has made three key academic appointments in establishing its new world-leading teaching and research portfolio in Jainism.
Revealed today the academics taking up these posts will develop teaching and research in Jainism and contemporary issues.
Dr Areti Theofilopoulou has been appointed Assistant Professor in the Ethics of Non-Violence. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Interdisciplinary Research Lab for Bioethics at the Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences. Her research examines the intersection between political philosophy and applied ethics and the ethics of personal relationships, particularly on domestic violence. She will start her new position at the University of Birmingham in September.
Dr Theofilopoulou says: “I am honoured to join the Bhagavan Dharmanath Jain Studies offering at the University of Birmingham as the Assistant Professor in the Ethics of Non-Violence. Jainism’s profound teachings on ahimsa (non-violence) and its impact on personal, social and environmental well-being align perfectly with my own academic pursuits. I am excited to engage with students and scholars alike, fostering a deeper understanding of the ethics of non-violence.”
Dr Marie-Hélène Gorisse has been announced as Dharmanath Assistant Professor in Jain Studies. She previously held a position as a Research Fellow in the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on Jainism, on the way Jain thought developed in dialogue with other South Asian religious traditions, and on the contemporary relevance of Jainism as a contributor to the study of religion, theology and global philosophy of religion.
Dr Gorisse commented: “Jainism has a lot to contribute to discussions that are shaping the world of tomorrow, especially concerning environmental sustainability and global ethics. As the Dharmanath Assistant Professor in Jain Studies, I am excited and honoured to be instrumental in ensuring there is dialogue between academics, the Jain community in Birmingham, in the UK and globally, and our students on these topical issues.”
Jinesh Sheth will join the University of Birmingham as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Jain Studies. He is currently in the final stages of completing his PhD on ‘A Critical Study of Anekāntavāda’ at the Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai.
Jinesh Sheth says: “I am so pleased to join the Bhagavan Dharmanath Jain Studies offering as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. It is a great opportunity for me to further pursue my research and engage with scholars working in the fields of philosophy, theology, religion and Jain studies. I also look forward to connecting with the wider community, fostering a deeper appreciation for Jain values and their practical application in the modern world.”
The new academic team will cover a wide range of topics, including Jainism, peace and conflict resolution, environmental ethics, ecology and animal rights across theology, religion and ethics. The team will also support the recently introduced specialist Masters Pathway in the Global Philosophy of Religion and Doctoral Research in Jain Studies.
The University announced the creation of a Jain Studies offering in December 2022 – made possible through a gift of $1.5million to the University from a group of philanthropists, including Dr Jasvant Modi, representing US donors and, Nemu Chandaria OBE, from the Institute of Jainology, representing UK donors.
Dr Jasvant Modi says: “I am truly honoured and immensely proud to witness the University of Birmingham’s momentous step in establishing a team of scholars who will contribute world-leading teaching and research in Jainism. The appointment of these three esteemed researchers signifies a profound commitment to advancing the understanding and appreciation of Jain principles and philosophies. Together, we embark on a transformative journey, fostering a deeper understanding of compassion, non-violence, and harmonious coexistence to contribute to a more empathetic and sustainable world.”
Professor Charlotte Hempel, Head of the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham, commented: “I warmly congratulate Areti, Marie-Hélène and Jinesh on their new roles and look forward to welcoming this outstanding team of scholars and educators in Jain Studies to the University of Birmingham.
“These key appointments are an exciting step forward for the development of Jain Studies at Birmingham and mean we can now expand and develop our existing research and teaching in Jainism, which will not only benefit our students but also the academic community, as well as enhance public knowledge and understanding on the topic. I am really looking forward to seeing this investment in Jainism bear fruit in the classroom and research on the existential issues we face today.”
12, Jun 2023
The Mobile Workforce Collaborative™ Brings New Service Options to Global Mobility Leaders
12, Jun 2023
Insights into Redox-Independent Cellular Stress Response
Researchers identify the regulatory pathway that governs a type of redox-independent stress response involving NRF2
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master transcription factor with a role in regulating oxidative stress response. It can be activated via redox-dependent and independent pathways. Regulatory mechanisms of the redox-dependent pathway are known; however, the same cannot be said for the redox-independent pathway. Now, researchers from Juntendo University have unraveled the roles of phase-separated liquid droplets, p62 bodies, in redox-independent NRF2 activation and the significance of phosphorylation in this process.
Cellular stress, or oxidative stress, occurs when there is a buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which interferes with cellular mechanisms and can even cause damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA. Owing to their destructive nature, all cells have robust mechanisms in place to remove ROS and reduce oxidative stress. One such mechanism is the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated stress response, where NRF2 is a master transcription factor that aids in reducing oxidative stress.
Much is known about the redox-dependent activation of NRF2 and its subsequent role in stress response. In this pathway, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) senses oxidative stress in the cell through oxidation of its specific cysteine residues. This oxidation causes conformational changes in KEAP1, which, in turn, loses the ability to suppress NRF2. As a result, NRF2 is stabilized and induces a series of genes encoding anti-oxidative proteins that reduce and remove oxidative stress caused by ROS.
NRF2 can also be activated in a redox-independent manner. This activation involves p62 protein, which undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation to form p62 bodies when it binds to ubiquitinated proteins upon defective proteostasis. However, the precise mechanism of NRF2 regulation through p62 bodies had hitherto remained largely unknown.
Now, researchers in Japan have found how p62 bodies control redox-independent NRF2 activation. They conducted a study that was conceived by Professor Masaaki Komatsu and Associate Professor Yoshinobu Ichimura from Juntendo University School of Medicine and Dr. Nobuo N. Noda from Hokkaido University. “We have reported in a previous study that phosphorylation of p62 inhibits the binding of KEAP1 to NRF2 competitively, thereby disabling the NRF2-repressive function of KEAP1. However, the regulatory mechanism and the physiological functions in vivo remain largely unclear. This is important as the accumulation of phosphorylated p62 has been found to cause many intractable diseases,” explains Prof. Komatsu when asked about the team’s motivation for pursuing the research. Their findings are all set to be published in The EMBO Journal.
Using advanced techniques like high-speed atomic force microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and fluorescence loss in photobleaching, the team conducted experiments that included those performed outside a living organism (in vitro) and those using cells and mice (in vivo) to thoroughly profile protein-protein interactions, cellular localization of specific components, and the effects of LLPS-induced p62 phosphorylation, during redox-independent NRF2 activation.
Summarizing the main findings of their study, Dr. Ichimura explains, “We found that ULK1, a protein kinase, translocates to p62 bodies and then phosphorylates p62 within the bodies. The resulting phosphorylated p62 bodies retain KEAP1 within them, which drives the activation of NRF2.”
KEAP1 usually cycles in and out of p62 bodies; however, phosphorylated p62 tightly binds to KEAP1, which causes KEAP1 to be retained and sequestered within the p62 body. This leads to activation of even more NRF2. The p62 bodies are degraded by autophagy, and this may contribute to shutdown of this pathway. The current study extends the scope of the antioxidative stress response and provides new insights into the role of phase separation in the process.
The importance of this redox-independent NRF2 activation was tested using phosphomimetic p62 knock-in mouse models where hyperactivation of NRF2 by extensive phosphorylation resulted in hyperkeratosis—a growth defect causing the outer layer of the stomach and esophageal lining to thicken, which in turn caused stunted growth due to malnutrition.
Prof. Komatsu is confident that his team has laid the foundation for future work to probe deeper into the mechanism and regulation of redox-independent stress responses. He concludes, “Whether redox-dependent or independent, NRF2 activation is an important biological defense system. Understanding its regulatory mechanisms is crucial as its persistent activation leads to inordinate defense responses, like excessive keratinization. Our study is the first scientific validation of the physiological significance for redox-independent NRF2 activation. In the case of redox-independent stress responses, activation of NRF2 is very likely regulated by phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, and autophagic degradation of p62 bodies. p62 bodies have been found to accumulate in affected cells in patients with liver disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Thus, research such as ours will be useful in elucidating the pathogenesis of and developing improved therapies for FA-, NRF2-, and autophagy-related diseases.”
12, Jun 2023
Innovative Study Maps Grip Force as an Effective Stress Indicator for Safer Driving
12 June 2023
ARIEL, Israel — Researchers at Ariel University’s Department of Industrial Engineering & Management have made a breakthrough in stress measurement during driving tasks. The team has released a comprehensive study detailing the use of grip force on the steering wheel as a non-intrusive measure of driver stress, potentially paving the way for enhanced road safety systems.
The study’s aim was to map the various parameters affecting the relationship between grip force and stress during driving tasks. This innovative stress index, according to previous findings from the same team, requires a short time window of two to five seconds, making it an effective and user-friendly method.
“Reducing drivers’ stress can potentially increase road safety. State-of-the-art physiological stress indices are intrusive and limited by long time lags. Our approach of measuring grip force offers a transparent solution to the user and operates within a brief time window,” said Prof. Shraga Shoval one of the authors of the study.
The research involved two stressors: the driving mode and the distance from the vehicle to a crossing pedestrian. Thirty-nine participants performed driving tasks during either remote driving or simulated driving, with a pedestrian dummy unexpectedly crossing the road at two distances. The researchers then measured the grip force on the steering wheel and the skin conductance response.
The findings from the study will help in the development of car safety systems that incorporate continuous measurements of stress. They provide a comprehensive guide for researchers and professionals to use grip force for the purpose of measuring stress in a non-intrusive manner and with relatively short latencies.
The study was funded by the Israeli Innovation Authority through the Andromeda consortium.
12, Jun 2023
UK Nuclear Fusion company announces space rocket US Partnership
A British nuclear fusion company has joined forces with a leading American company to use AI to design a hyper-fast space rocket capable of reaching Saturn’s moons in just two years.
Oxfordshire based Pulsar Fusion have announced a partnership with Princeton Satellite Systems in a move which could drastically reduce the mission time to Saturn’s moon Titan.
The two leading British and American companies will use AI machine learning simulations to create a deep space rocket engine with a 500,000 mph potential – also making Mars reachable in just 30 days.
The move comes just days after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed a UK / US defence sharing deal in Washington.
A picture containing clothing, footwear, person, suit Description automatically generated.
Announcing the partnership Pulsar Fusion’s founder and CEO Richard Dinan said: “This is a hugely significant step for Pulsar. By pooling our own research and resources with those of Princeton Satellite Systems, Pulsar has gained access to behavioural data from the world record holding fusion reactor (PRFC-2) coupled with recent advancements in machine learning, this will supercharge the development of our nuclear fusion rocket systems.
“Fusion Propulsion is free from many of the vast infrastructure requirements presented in the development of terrestrial fusion energy for power stations on Earth.
“Space is the ideal place to do fusion in terms of it being a vacuum and the extremely cold temperatures.
“Unlike a fusion power station, fusion propulsion doesn’t require a giant steam turbine and fuels can be sourced externally rather than needing to be created on site.
“Humanity has a huge need for faster propulsion in our growing space economy and fusion offers 1000 x the power of conventional ion thrusters currently used in orbit. In short, if humans can achieve fusion for energy, then fusion propulsion in Space is inevitable.
“Our view is that fusion propulsion will be demonstrated in space decades before we can harness fusion for energy on Earth. “
The Science
The collaboration will see the two companies using AI machine learning to study data from the World record holding PFRC-2 reactor, in order to better understand the behaviour of plasma under electromagnetic heating and confinement, when configured as an aneutronic propulsion system.
In an exciting World first, the two companies will use data from plasma shots conducted at the Reversed Configuration reactor, the PFRC-2, which was developed in partnership with Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPL), and the most advanced machine learning technologies to analyse the behaviour of super-hot fusion plasma in a rocket engine configuration.
The research a transatlantic partnership that looks to uncover how a nuclear fusion Plasma will behave as it is exits a rocket engine emitting exhaust particles at hundreds of km per second.
Pulsar is developing simulations based on gas puffing data from the PFRC-2 to attempt to create predictive simulations of ion and electron behaviour in an FRC plasma.
Predictive simulations are needed for closed loop control systems, a key component of a future PFRC reactor. The PFRC-2 is located at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and supported in part by PSS.
Once developed the new technology could reduce the journey time to Mars to only 30 days and make Saturn’s moon Titan reachable within two years.
