Trustworthy artificial intelligence: Rolls-Royce publishes pioneering bias-control AI ethics toolkit
press release
Rolls-Royce has released its breakthrough work on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and trustworthiness to help support the future health, wealth and growth of the world.
The comprehensive ethical framework and trustworthiness process is free to download from the Rolls-Royce website. Once fully implemented, businesses that follow the checks and balances within it can assure themselves that their AI projects are fair, trustworthy and ethical.
We have called this toolkit The Aletheia FrameworkTM, after the Greek goddess of trust and disclosure, and believe it will help address one of the biggest barriers to the widespread use of AI – mistrust.
Warren East, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce, who announced the breakthrough in September, said: “I hope today’s publication will become a watershed moment for artificial intelligence. As we move rapidly to a more digital world, people have a right to expect that AI is used ethically and that it is a trustworthy partner for people and society.
“The Aletheia FrameworkTM provides the foundations for that to happen, so business leaders, academics, technologists and even philosophers can now move from simply talking about the potential of AI, to unlocking its benefits for the health, wealth and growth of the world.
“It’s with that objective in mind that Rolls-Royce has decided we need to make this free for anyone to access and we will seek to build partnerships with interested organisations to support its widespread application, so that we can all build trust in AI.”
The Aletheia Framework™ is a checklist that invites organisations to consider the impacts of using artificial intelligence prior to deciding whether to proceed. It looks across a total of 32 facets of societal impact, governance and trust, and transparency and requires executives and boards to provide evidence that these have been rigorously considered.
Once the AI has been applied, the framework includes a five-step continuous automated checking process, which, if comprehensively applied, tracks the decisions the AI is making to detect bias or malfunction and allow human intervention to control and correct it.
Caroline Gorski, Group Director of R2 Data Labs, the data innovation team for Rolls-Royce, said: “Rolls-Royce is a global industrial technology leader and has used artificial intelligence for decades to analyse more than 70 trillion data points across 26 dimensions on our jet engines so we can increase the amount of time they fly and improve their sustainability.
“We’re now developing AI for quality inspections of critical components and it’s in the justification of applying artificial intelligence technologies to this activity that we have had to challenge ourselves to ensure it’s the right thing to do, and that it’s trustworthy.
“It’s that deep safety culture at the heart of our business that has created the mindset to apply safety principles to data. We can’t wait to share The Aletheia FrameworkTM with everyone and collaborate on the benefits to our world that we believe it will bring.”
With a potentially significant contribution to make in the global conversation on AI, The Aletheia FrameworkTM has been shared with experts from UNESCO, which is undertaking a global consultation on AI ethics.
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences sector at UNESCO said: “In an initial exchange, The Aletheia FrameworkTM has been shared with UNESCO, which has been working with experts from around the world to develop recommendations for human-centred AI.”
“AI will radically change our world, but it is ethics that will shape how it looks. All stakeholders, whether public or private, must work on this together.”
The Aletheia FrameworkTM has been extensively reviewed and it was during that process its potential was revealed.
Lee Glazier, Head of Service Integrity, Rolls-Royce, who led the assurance work around the use of data and built the framework, said: “During the peer review process of our work with experts in big tech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, academia and government, it became clear that no other organisation had progressed as far as we had. It was also clear that the applications for what is now The Aletheia FrameworkTM went beyond our own area of industrial use and into consumer applications, healthcare, recruitment, security – basically any use of artificial intelligence.”
The open-access publication of The Aletheia FrameworkTM is also intended to invite critique and collaboration from the global AI community to seek improvements. The decision to publish it follows a recent breakthrough in speech software for people living with motor-neurone disease (MND), motivated by a Rolls-Royce colleague who had personal experience with the disease.
The software improves the quality of life of people living with MND who cannot speak, by using AI to learn their voice, idioms, emotional inflections and phrases, so they can interact quickly with those around them. The experience of developing this software was among the AI activities that fed into the development of The Aletheia FrameworkTM.
L-39NG on evaluation flights in Hungary
press release
http://www.aero.cz/en/media/news/l-39ng-evaluation-flights-hungary/
The L-39NG visited the 59th Air Force Base of the Hungarian Defence Forces in Kecskemét, to perform the evaluation flights with representatives of the Hungarian Air Force.
The L-39NG second flight prototype with MSN 7004 landed at the Hungarian air base on Tuesday, November 17. In the following days, a mixed Czech-Hungarian crew performed totally three evaluation flights. "Our well experienced pilots flew with the L-39NG and their impression of the aircraft was very positive. The L-39NG is a good and modern training aircraft with a great potential for the future," said the Chief of the Hungarian Air Force, Major General Nandor Kilian.
Aero Vodochody test pilot David Jahoda presented the new Czech aircraft to the Hungarian side. "First, there was an introduction of the aircraft on the ground and pre-flight preparation. Then two flight instructors from the Hungarian Gripen squadron flew the aircraft in the rear cockpit for instructor and Maj. Tibor Molnar also completed a flight in the front cockpit," said factory pilot David Jahoda.
The Hungarian Air Force has historically good experience with aircraft from Aero Vodochody production. Until 2009, this Central European country had operated a squadron of L-39 Albatros (since 1993, a total of 20 L-39 aircraft and then 12 aircraft since 1998). From 2007 to 2010, they also trained their pilots on leased L-159 aircraft. Both types made a very good impression in Hungary for their flight characteristics and operational capabilities.
L-39NG is a new aircraft from production of Aero Vodochody. It offer balanced aircraft characteristics and performance while using advanced aircraft technologies, an effective and sophisticated pilot and ground personnel training concept and easy maintenance. On the other hand, acquisition and operational cost of L-39NG are very reasonable. The L-39NG is able to cover multiple training phases In September 2020, the Military Aviation Authority of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic has certified the L-39NG aircraft to the new supranational military standards, EMAR 21 and EMACC, which is recognized by all EU and NATO military authorities.
L-39NG
The L-39NG aircraft is a modern and effective light jet capable to serve in a role of light attack and/or unified, comprehensive training system for modern air forces. The L-39NG is based on the aerodynamic concept of the current L-39 with optimized features to reduce resistance and increase efficiency and utilizes the latest technologies and equipment. Power is provided by the modern FJ44-4M engine supplied with the TAP Blue engine support service to ensure unprecedented airworthiness and predictable maintenance costs. The aircraft's avionics are prepared to train future pilots of 4th and 5th generation aircraft and can be tailored to the customer's requirements. The L-39NG is equipped with five hard-points for weapons. The aircraft also features a broad range of simulation technologies, including the integration into high-tech tactical simulation centres with the goal to increase training efficiency. Strategic partner of the L-39NG project is the Czech company OMNIPOL by having 50% of share and financial contribution in the project.
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the design, manufacturing maintenance, overhaul and upgrade of military and civil aircraft and is the largest aviation manufacturer in the Czech Republic and with history since 1919 one of the oldest aerospace companies worldwide. In the field of military aircraft, Aero has been a reliable long-term partner to many of the world's air forces and it has a strong position on the market of military training and light combat aircraft.
With a track record of 11,000 aircraft produced over the last 100 years, a broad coverage of dozens of military operators and demo teams, a huge existing fleet of L-39 Albatrosses and with a brand new aircraft, the L-39NG now, Aero is maintaining its positioning as a leader in the jet training market. In the field of civil aviation, Aero collaborates with many of the world's largest manufacturers in a diverse range of projects. More recently, Aero became a full partner in several risk-sharing programmes, taking responsibility not only for the production of structures but also for development.
OMNIPOL
OMNIPOL is a Prague headquartered investment and trading group with more than eighty-five years of experience in both the domestic international markets. The company provides cutting-edge solutions for the defence and security sectors.
OMNIPOL is the owner of two very well known subsidiaries namely ERA and MESIT. They are both production companies with advanced technologies, which mainly focus on passive systems for monitoring air, land and naval targets, military communications, aircraft instruments and precision engineering production, including its own foundry together with galvanic processes. They also deal with related software products, but also cybersecurity, both for the military and civilian sectors. The entire OMNIPOL Group employs more than 1,400 professionals, of which over 200 employees are involved in research and development of new products. Read more...
EuroStar SLX and SL+ receives approval for MTOW 525 kg from the French Civil Aviation Authority
https://www.evektor.cz/en/news/eurostar-slx-and-sl-receives-approval-mtow-525-kg-french-civil-aviation-authority#.X9ewFLN7lPY
press release
Evektor-Aerotechnik announces receiving French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) approval for its innovated “EuroStar SLX” and “EuroStar SL+” aircraft models with increased MTOW to 525 kg. DGAC has approved “EuroStar SLX / SL+” according to the latest aviation regulations for ULM aircraft in France published by the authority in 2019.
With MTOW enhanced to 525 kg whiles keeping low empty weight “EuroStar SLX / SL+” offer one of the highest useful load among advanced ultralight aircraft on the market French. This together with range of 1300 km by “EuroStar SL+”, outstanding flight characteristics of training aircraft, state of the art Garmin G3X or Dynon SkyView Glass Cockpit and reliability proven by 20+ year of operation make “EuroStar SLX / SL+” popular aircraft for pilot touring, leisure flying and training in ultralight aircraft flight schools.
The first DGAC approved EuroStar SL+ with MTOW 525 kg was handed over to its owner in France by Evektor-Aerotechnik´s authorized distributor for “EV-97 Eurostar” product line in France and Belgium - the company Avianor from Lille on October 24. The aircraft, based at LFQO Lille-Marcq airport, is equipped with modern Garmin G3X Touch Flight Display, G3X Autopilot with GMC305 control panel, Garmin GTR 225 radio, Ballistic recovery system, 100 hp Rotax 912ULS and DUC Swirl 3-L propeller.
Evektor-Aerotechnik has under manufacturing other three EuroStar SL+ / SLX aircraft for France, which are scheduled to be delivered yet in November. The owner of the first 525 kg MTOW “EuroStar SLX” is pilot traning organization Aeroclub Saint Junien based at Aerodrome Maryse Bastié in the Haute-Vienne region. Aeroclub Saint Junien is going to operate “EuroStar SLX” for traning of ULM pilots.
Evektor-Aerotechnik supplies its two seat EASA certified, Light Sport Aircraft and ultralight aircraft to private pilots and flight training organizations in 50 countries globally. Fleet of “EV-97 Eurostar” in France has over 130 aircraft, making it one of the biggest ULM aircraft fleets in France. Read more...
UPS To Support Distribution Of Approved Vaccine As Part Of Operation Warp Speed
- Deployments began after federal mandate to distribute vaccine within 24 hours of emergency use authorization.
- UPS to help transport the initial Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses to support vaccinations of healthcare workers.
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced its involvement and full support of distribution efforts for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine as part of Operation Warp Speed. Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s vaccine, approved through a U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization (EUA), is the first to be deployed in a months-long global race to develop safe vaccines to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Vaccine distribution is a key part of moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” says Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS. “We have dedicated and hardworking people around the world who have been trained to store, handle, transport and deliver vaccines. We’re pleased to support our healthcare partners with smart, efficient logistics for these vaccines that will protect communities and save lives.”
UPS will move the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine within the first days to states designated by Pfizer, Inc. based on orders received by Operation Warp Speed and CDC officials.
“This is the moment of truth we’ve been waiting for at UPS,” says Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Healthcare. “We have spent months strategizing with Operation Warp Speed officials and our healthcare customers on efficient vaccine logistics, and the time has arrived to put the plan into action.”
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines will originate from storage sites in Michigan and Wisconsin. The vaccines will be transported to UPS Worldport facilities in Louisville, where they will be expedited Next Day Air to select destinations, including hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities, to inoculate healthcare workers.
“This is undoubtedly a historic feat not only for vaccine development but also expedient deployment,” says Mike McDermott, President, Pfizer Global Supply. “We know that agile, world-class logistics is critical to get our products where they are needed, and we’re happy to partner with UPS in this historic effort to save lives and create healthier communities right now and well into the future.”
About UPS Healthcare
UPS Healthcare operates 128 facilities in 32 countries which are regulated under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). UPS Healthcare services include: inventory management, temperature-controlled packaging and shipping, storage and fulfillment of medical devices, labs and clinical trial logistics. UPS Healthcare’s global infrastructure, its newest UPS Premier visibility service, its track and trace technology, and its global quality system are well-suited to meet today’s complex logistics demands for the pharmaceutical, medical device and laboratory diagnostic industries. Visit ups.com/healthcare. Read more...
[España] Los aeropuertos de la red de Aena registran un 84,1% menos de tráfico que en noviembre del 2019
- Se operaron 72.906 movimientos de aeronaves y se transportaron 77.289 toneladas de carga en toda la red
- El descenso continúa debido a las restricciones a la movilidad nacional e internacional por la propagación de la COVID-19
De la cifra total de pasajeros registrada en noviembre, 2.885.813 correspondieron a pasajeros comerciales, de los que 1.725.038 viajaron en vuelos nacionales, un 73,3% menos que en noviembre de 2019, y 1.160.775 lo hicieron en rutas internacionales, un 90,2% menos. El descenso del tráfico de pasajeros ha continuado este mes debido a las restricciones a la movilidad tanto en España como en el resto del mundo provocadas por la propagación de la COVID-19.
Tráfico por aeropuertos
El Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas registró en noviembre el mayor número de pasajeros de la red con 697.692, lo que representa un descenso del 85,4% con respecto al mismo mes de 2019. Le siguió el Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, con 341.502 (-90,7%); Gran Canaria, con 305.070 (-74,4%); Palma de Mallorca, con 198.580 (-80,2%); Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna, con 189.058 (-59,8%); Málaga-Costa del Sol, con 157.089 (-86,6%); y Tenerife Sur, con 151.486 (-84,6%).
En cuanto al número de operaciones, el aeropuerto que registró un mayor número de movimientos en noviembre fue Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, con un total de 10.001 (-70,5%); seguido de Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, con 5.324 (-78,7%); Gran Canaria, con 5.127 (-52,6%); Palma de Mallorca, con 3.478 (-60,5%); Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna, con 3.739 (-38,9%); Málaga-Costa del Sol, con 3.164 (-64,9%); César Manrique-Lanzarote, con 2.325 (-51,8%); y Valencia, con 2.052 (-64,9%).
Además, los aeropuertos que tuvieron principalmente actividad no comercial y que contabilizaron un mayor número de movimientos en noviembre fueron Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, con 4.324 operaciones (+39,6%); Sabadell, con 4.105 (-6%); y Jerez, con 3.154 (-16,7%).
En lo que a mercancías se refiere, en el mes de noviembre se transportaron 77.289 toneladas de carga en toda la red, un 25,1% menos respecto al mismo mes de 2019, debido a que una parte muy importante de la carga habitual se traslada en aviones comerciales de pasajeros.
Los cuatro aeropuertos que registraron mayor tráfico de mercancías fueron Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, con 39.757 toneladas (-25,3%); Zaragoza, 15.270 toneladas (-27%); Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, con 10.189 (-36,8%), y Vitoria, con 6.478 toneladas (+14,3%).
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FAA: Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers May Receive Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, with Appropriate Precaution
WASHINGTON — Following the Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Pfizer, Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine, the FAA has determined that pilots may receive the vaccine under the conditions of their FAA-issued airman medical certification. FAA Air Traffic Controllers, who are subject to FAA medical clearance, may also receive the vaccine.
To maintain the highest level of safety in the National Airspace System, the agency will require aviation professionals with medical certifications or medical clearances to observe a period of 48 hours following the administration of this vaccine before conducting safety-sensitive aviation duties, such as flying or controlling air traffic.
Because the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart for maximum effectiveness, this waiting period applies after each dose.
The FAA anticipates taking no additional measures to ensure safety after the initial window for side effects closes. However, the agency’s medical professionals will continuously monitor the initial distribution of the novel vaccine and documented clinical results and will adjust these recommendations as needed.
The FAA will evaluate vaccines from other manufacturers as they receive FDA authorization in the coming weeks and months and will advise pilots and air traffic controllers of any waiting periods required for those vaccines.
The FAA applies similar brief waiting periods after administration of other vaccines, including those for tuberculosis and typhoid.
The FAA encourages Americans to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as authorized by FDA. This policy announcement pertains to a specialized group of FAA-certificated professionals who perform safety-sensitive aviation duties.
For more information, please visit the Medical Certification page at faa.gov.
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Modular nuclear reactors promise cost-competitive hydrogen production
press release
NuScale Power Releases Updated Evaluation for 77 MWe Module Clean Hydrogen Production
12/09/2020
25 percent increase in NuScale Power Module™ power output leads to boost in cost-competitive clean hydrogen production
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NuScale Power today announced updated evaluations for the technical feasibility and economics of producing hydrogen using heat and electricity from a NuScale Power Module™ (NPM) as a result of the recent announcement that an NPM can generate an additional 25 percent more power per module for a total of 250 MWt (or 77 MWe) per module. The hydrogen study was originally conducted in 2014 with the Idaho National Laboratory and has been updated with new production and economic parameters.
The updated analysis found that with the 25 percent increase in power output of an NPM, one 250 MWt NuScale module is capable of producing 2,053 kg/hour of hydrogen, or nearly 50 metric tons per day, an increase from 1,667 kg/hour of hydrogen or 40 metric tons per day for a 200 MWt NuScale module. Moreover, as a result of the lower levelized cost of electricity from the increased power output, hydrogen produced by a NuScale high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) system is forecasted to be cost competitive with high capacity factor renewable hydrogen cost estimates while also providing continuous, controlled hydrogen production.
“The ability of our NPM to now produce even more clean hydrogen, in a smaller footprint, is yet another example of how NuScale’s technology can help decarbonize various sectors of the economy while providing additional revenue streams for customers,” said Dr. José Reyes, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of NuScale Power. “Coupled with our proven design, unparalleled safety, and load following capabilities, this analysis further demonstrates that NuScale’s design is the gold standard in helping meet the demand for innovative solutions to challenging global energy needs.”
In the analysis, energy from a single NPM in the form of superheated steam and electricity are directly routed to a HTSE system operating at 850°C. Only 2 percent of the electrical output (~1.8 MWe) of the NPM is used to increase the process steam temperature from 300°C at the NPM outlet to 850°C for the electrolyzer. NuScale’s innovative multi-module power plant design means that a NuScale plant could produce reliable clean electricity for the grid while allocating one or more modules to economically produce hydrogen when electricity demand is low.
According to a recent report from LucidCatalyst, in order for the world to meet the Paris goals of keeping warming between 1.5–2°C, sufficient, low-cost, clean hydrogen production is needed to replace oil and gas in shipping, aviation, and industry. Over 95% of the world's hydrogen is currently produced using fossil fuels, with the most common method being steam methane reforming from natural gas. Renewables cannot produce all of this hydrogen alone, and advanced modular reactors will be required to produce enough clean hydrogen to displace the 100 million barrels of oil that are currently consumed around the world each day. Using a single NPM to produce 50 tons of hydrogen per day would avoid about 460 tons of CO2 emissions per day, or 168,000 tons of CO2 per year, as compared to producing hydrogen from natural gas. Additionally, NuScale’s ability to produce clean hydrogen is perfectly suited to assist in decarbonizing transportation, since a single NPM can produce enough hydrogen to power 38,000 fuel cell vehicles or 1,500 long-haul fuel cell trucks at average annual fuel usage rates in the United States.
About NuScale Power
NuScale Power has developed a new modular light water reactor nuclear power plant to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, and other process heat applications. This groundbreaking small modular reactor (SMR) design features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale Power Module™ capable of generating 77 MW of electricity using a safer, smaller, and scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology. NuScale's scalable design—a power plant can house up to four, six, or 12 individual power modules—offers the benefits of carbon-free energy and reduces the financial commitments associated with gigawatt-sized nuclear facilities. The majority investor in NuScale is Fluor Corporation, a global engineering, procurement, and construction company with a 60-year history in commercial nuclear power.
NuScale is headquartered in Portland, OR and has offices in Corvallis, OR; Rockville, MD; Charlotte, NC; Richland, WA; and London, UK. Follow us on Twitter: @NuScale_Power, Facebook: NuScale Power, LLC, LinkedIn: NuScale-Power, and Instagram: nuscale_power. Visit NuScale’s website.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201209005943/en/
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