Quaze Technologies and Rheinmetall Canada to develop DSTOW into an operational product

Canadian power transfer specialist Quaze Technologies has signed a contract with Rheinmetall Canada to progress the innovative Drone Swarm Tactical OverWatch (DSTOW) capability from the concept stage to product development, Quaze announced on 23 May 2024.

Mounted on the Rheinmetall Mission Master CXT uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV), the DSTOW capability will see Quaze integrate its wide-surface wireless power transfer technology “to make truly autonomous drone operations a reality”, the company asserted.

Quaze and Rheinmetall Canada first jointly presented the DSTOW capability at the DSEI exhibition in London in September 2023, but are now developing it into a fully operational product.

Quaze’s Surface Power technology, with its magnetic resonance capabilities, can be used to wirelessly charge any robotic system in the land, air and sea domains. Placing the technology on a UGV additionally means that a power transfer source can be forward deployed without putting any troops in harm’s way and obviates the need for an electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicle to return all the way to its pilot to be recharged.

“The latest iteration of DSTOW provides an unparalleled autonomous operational solution,” Quaze stated in a press release. “The ability to charge multiple drones simultaneously and wirelessly is set to mark a significant leap in operational efficiency and endurance.

“With the ability to cater to diverse power needs simultaneously and without the need for precise alignment, its application beyond drone operations to remove human intervention from recharging all robots on the battlefield could be shaped by DSTOW,” the company added.

Alain Tremblay, vice president of business development and innovation at Rheinmetall Canada, was quoted as saying, “We are delighted to sign this contract with Quaze Technologies to continue developing a pioneering technology and bring a product to market that delivers autonomous and continuous drone operations. It is a ground-breaking technology that will revolutionise the deployment of drones and both parties are committed to unlocking its true potential.”

Xavier Bidaut, CEO of Quaze Technologies, added, “This contract is a significant milestone for us at Quaze and we are proud to have the opportunity to continue building upon our successful collaboration with Rheinmetall Canada. Developing the capability to access energy, agnostic of vehicle or platform, and removing the requirement to return to the pilot to recharge, means the potential autonomous applications in defence are vast – and DSTOW is leading the way.”