Category Archives: Cohort Systems Blog

Preliminary results of the conversion to Drive-By-Wire operation of a commercial off the shelf electric vehicle will be presented at the Algonquin College RE/ACTION Applied Research Showcase on December 4.  The displayed results are a working prototype: of the mechatronic actuation of the vehicle, vehicle control via software and operation of all vehicle emitters.  This work has been performed by two Algonquin College students and supervised by two Algonquin College professors and has been funded by NSERC/OCE VIP I and Cohort Systems Inc.   Anticipated next steps are conversion to tele-operation and conversion to autonomous operation.

For additional information about RE/ACTION follow this link,  https://www.algonquincollege.com/arie/appliedresearchshowcase/

Cohort will be attending The Best Defence Conference on Nov 5^th and 6^th.  This conference is one of Canada’s must-attend defence and advanced manufacturing events—bringing together Canadian and international companies to learn of Canadian defence procurement and supply chain opportunities as well as providing an intimate forum for networking between primes and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and B2B/B2G meetings.  If you are attending the conference let’s meet.  You can connect with Cohort using the conference B2B Portal.

This year The Best Defence Conference takes place at the London Convention Centre in London Ontario.

Cohort will be attending the CADSI SME Day in Ottawa.  This is an annual event sponsored by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) and its members.  The SME Day has a long standing history of educating CADSI members and bridging the gap between OEMs, governments and Canadian SMEs. This ‘s event year starts with an insightful morning program geared to informing attendees of current programs and best practices for their success, followed by a full afternoon of targeted 20-minute B2B and B2G meetings.  The SME Day takes place at the Shaw Centre Trillium Ballroom Level 4 – 55 Colonel BY Drive in Ottawa.

Cohort will be joining leaders from the automotive industry and SMEs at the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN) Partnering Forum.  This event is sponsored by the Ontario Centres of Excellence.  The Forum is an opportunity to form partnerships that have the potential to drive Ontario’s competitive advantage in the auto sector.  The forum will be at the Sheraton Centre Toronto, Osgoode Ballroom, 123 Queen St. W. Toronto, ON.

Cohort Systems will participate in the NATO STANAG 4817 Custodial Support Team (Multi-Domain Control Station) Meeting hosted by the Netherlands Aerospace Centre in Amsterdam, this Oct 1-4.  Participants from various NATO and PFP countries will be meeting to continue the development of the 4817 standard that is based upon STANAG 4586 and the recommendations from NATO NIAG SG-157 and SG-202.

Cohort Systems has received a pre-qualification notice from Public Services and Procurement Canada announcing that its Autonomous Patrol Vehicle (Autonomous Patrol Vehicle) technology has been Pre-Qualified under the Build in Canada Innovation Program.  In the next step Cohort and the Office for Small Medium enterprises will identify a ‘Testing Department’ that will evaluate the APV.

The pre-qualified innovations can be found on the following URL – https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-acq/picc-bcip/prequalifiee-prequalified-eng.html.

Cohort Systems will participate in the NATO STANAG 4817 Custodial Support Team (Multi-Domain Control Station) Meeting hosted by Northrup Grumman in El Segundo this June 18-21.  Participants from various NATO and PFP countries will be meeting to continue the development of the 4817 standard that is based upon STANAG 4586 and the recommendations from NATO NIAG SG-157 and SG-202.

Cohort has been invited to attend the Ontario-China AI and Robotics Collaboration Workshop this May 2.  The event will be held in the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre at 250 Yonge Street Toronto.  Presentations will be made by leading researchers and industry collaborators from China and Ontario. The objectives of the workshop are to discuss and identify potential collaboration opportunities in: AI and Robotics research and commercialization, and research and innovation partnerships between Ontario and China.  The sponsors for this Workshop are the Research Talent and International Collaborations Unit of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science; and the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth.

The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) is co-sponsoring the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Outlooks this April 10-12 and representatives from Cohort Systems will be attending.    The CAF Outlooks are an opportunity to learn the goals and plans of Canada’s top Military leadership.  Access is available to members of the armed forces, government employees; and members of CADSI.   This year the event will take place at the Shaw Centre (formerly Ottawa Convention Centre) located at 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario.

April 4^th Cohort will be attending the 3^rd Annual Autonomous Vehicle Summit at the Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata.  This event is presented by the Kanata North Business Association and Invest Ottawa, in partnership with the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence (CAVCOE). The one-day conference will include a series of panels, industry experts and keynote speakers with participants from industry, academia and government.

Today (December 27 2017) Cohort Systems Inc. signed an agreement with ESMA Trading Incorporated (Amman, Jordan), Septimius International Inc. (Paris, France) to form The ESC Partnership.  This press release follows an previous release on Aug. 15 2017.  The ESC Partnership is a limited liability business that will deliver Advanced Physical Security Solutions for the protection of critical assets such as Borders or the perimeter of: Airports, Harbours, Military Bases, Power Generation, and Refineries.  Septimius and ESMA will provide market knowledge and business opportunities in the MENA Region for the delivery, installation and training of physical security equipment and infrastructure.  Cohort Systems Inc. will be responsible for the design and integration of physical security solutions.  Anticipated solutions include the deployment of advanced mobile surveillance devices that include Cohort’s Autonomous Patrol Vehicle technologies, and Common Controller Workstations.  Significant effort had already been invested (before the agreement) developing Perimeter Security market opportunities in the MENA Region.  It is anticipated that the first contract will be secured within the next 12 months.  The Perimeter Security market is expected to grow rapidly across the MENA region after the first installation.

Cohort Systems will be on reduced hours between Dec 27 and Jan 1.  Tech Support will be available during this time period.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Cohort’s phone system will be undergoing an upgrade starting Dec. 18.  There may be disruptions starting then.  Any unanswered  calls during this time period will be routed to voice mail.  Another message will be posted on this blog once the upgrade has been completed.

On December 8 2017 Cohort Systems Inc. signed a funding agreement with the Ontario Centres of Excellence and the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada for the Drive-By-Wire Conversion for Autonomous Patrol Vehicle (APV).  Drive-By-Wire (DBW) conversion is the first conversion step required to convert an off the shelf vehicle into an autonomous vehicle.  Funds for this development are provided by the Ontario Centres of Excellence, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada, and Cohort Systems Inc.  The conversion work will be completed by the Algonquin College Applied Research & Innovation Center in Ottawa under the supervision and participation by Cohort Systems Inc.  In addition to funding Cohort will be guiding the development of platform control algorithms using Cohort’s Robot Open Control software IP.  Cohort is also providing the vehicle which is a commercial off the shelf all-electric drive vehicle favoured with end users such as: police, security, and ware house maintenance personnel.  Cohort’s business objective is to complete the conversion of the DBW APV into a fully Autonomous and Collaborative APV; and use this vehicle in technical demonstrations and pilot projects of its Robot Open Control software for Perimeter Security applications in 2018.  This technology will be deployed in the market with a commercialized APV and with 3^rd party Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) starting in 2019.

ASIS International (www.asisonline.org) is a global community of security practitioners, each of whom has a role in the protection of assets – people, property, and/or information.  Members of ASIS represent most industries in the public, and the private sectors.  The ASIS community is global and diverse.  Members include: entry-level managers to CSOs and CEOs; consultants; former law; and enforcement and former military.  Locally Cohort is associated with ASIS Chapter 140 in Ottawa Ontario.

Cohort Systems will be attending the Unmanned Canada Conference and Trade Show this Nov 1-3 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto.  Unmanned Canada is the largest Unmanned Systems event in Canada and features vendors, integrators, and end users in all unmanned domains.  Please contact Cohort via info@cohortsys.com should you wish to have a meeting with a representative from Cohort while we are attending the Unmanned Canada Conference.

Cohort Systems will be attending the Security Canada International Security Conference and Exposition at the Toronto Congress this Oct 18-19. This is an annual event organized by the Canadian Security Association (www.canasa.org).  It is the premier event for security professionals in central Canada.  Cohort will be attending to meet with suppliers, partners and end users for its family of autonomous security robots.  Please contact Cohort via info@cohortsys.com should you wish to have a meeting with a representative of Cohort while we are in Toronto.

This week Cohort Systems is attending the ASIS Conference in Dallas.  This conference is the premier event for security professionals worldwide, providing industry-leading education, countless business connections, and the latest security solutions.  Cohort will be attending to meet with suppliers, partners and end users for its family of autonomous security robots.  Please contact Cohort via info@cohortsys.com should you wish to have a meeting with a representative of Cohort while we are in Dallas.

Cohort Systems will be participating in the NATO MDCS Meeting  hosted by the Industrial Institute for Measurement and Automation (PIAP) in Warsaw Poland this Oct 2-5.  Participants from various NATO countries will be meeting to complete detailed planning for a NATO Standard development for the Multi-Domain Control Station based upon Stanag 4586 and the recommendations from NATO NIAG SG-202.

Cohort Systems will be attending the ASIS Conference in Dallas Sept 25-28 as a guest of the US Embassy in Ottawa. ASIS International (formerly known as the American Society for Industrial Security) is represented globally in more than 125 countries. This conference is the premier event for security professionals worldwide, providing industry-leading education, countless business connections, and the latest security solutions.  Cohort will be attending to meet with suppliers, partners and end users for its family of autonomous security robots.  Please contact Cohort via info@cohortsys.com should you wish to have a meeting with a representative of Cohort while we are in Dallas.