b'Partner News Autumn 2021 37CorporateAI with our expertise in trajectory predictioninvest a lot in our scientists and engineers to algorithms for flight management systems, itdevelop and maintain their skills in the latest is possible to predict air traffic with a greatertechnologies. We cover the membership fees degree of certainty, and thus anticipateof staff if they belong to a professional bodyLike the rest of industry, we the decisions that will need to be made;and encourage all our engineers to achievein Thales want to see talented, improving factors such as cutting down onchartered engineer status. Our engineeringcommercially astute and aircraft circling waiting to land, burning fuel,graduate programme is accredited by the aircraft waiting on taxiways. IET, IoP, RAES and IMechE and is designed toinnovative engineers at the develop graduate engineers to a point whereheart of what we do.Where do you see the immediate futurethey can achieve professional registration at of AI, drones and roboticswhere canthe end of this four-year programme.technology help society?In your career with Thales, what The response to the Covid-19 has alreadyhave been some of the most iconic given us indications of the direction of travel.programmes or achievements you have Early into the pandemic, Thales and partnerswitnessed?mobilised in civilian airspace to bring beyond visual line of sight capabilities to drones2021 has seen the launch of Carrier Strike delivering PPE and medical equipment fromGroup 21, with HMS Queen Elizabeth leading the Scottish mainland to a remote hospitalthe Royal Navys biggest global deployment on the Island of Mull. It proved a success andin a generation. Were very proud to have massively cut down what it used to take todesigned the ship and to be part of the deliver by road and ferry. A technology-ledAircraft Carrier Alliance that built it. The bounce back from Covid is going to involvedeployment is a wonderful demonstration novel technologies such as quantum, artificialof British engineering skills. In space, do intelligence, clean tech, data analytics,people know we built more than half of connectivity, cybersecurity and autonomy.the pressurised volume of the International Space Station? Were now going to play a Although in all cases humans will havekey role in the building of the habitat and to responsibility for the consequences ofrefuelling modules for the Gateway space autonomous decision making, we will have tostation as part of the Artemis mission to learn the trust the benefits of technology.land the first woman on the Moon. Right now, our lasers are being used on NASAs Where can engineering and techPerseverance Rover search for life mission companies play their part in theon Mars. road out of Covid?Were the eyes and ears of the UK A change of mind-set: Were a globalDreadnought Class submarine and we company of 80,000 employees in 68were the first to fly a UAS in civil airspace. countries and we can leverage thatUltimately, engineers want to make a international pedigree around exports, butdifference and I feel incredibly lucky to we also need to be agile in our solutions andwork on such iconic projects, alongside be prepared to partner in our thinkingbesuch inspirational people, in such a that with other companies, academia andfantastic industry.SMEs. We need a healthy supply chain across the regions. For example, weve invested in a world-leading centre for autonomous technology in Turnchapel, Plymouthbut the real catalyst for success will be building a strong and vibrant ecosystem of SMEs, universities and specialists to work alongside usthe South-West has a strong part to play in making the UK an autonomy superpower.How important are bodies such as the IET? How important or useful is professional registration for engineers?It is important to us that our systems are trusted to be safe and secure. This is why we'