A Dubai company has test-fired a 3D-printed space rocket engine that uses an artificial intelligence model.
LEAP 71 fired the engine for 3.5 seconds, producing 500kg of thrust and roughly 20,000 horsepower.
It is the first liquid rocket engine to be developed in the UAE and uses computational modelling developed by the organisation.
The test, carried out at the Airborne Engineering site in Wescott, UK, on June 14, marks a significant step forward for the artificial intelligence-based engineering industry in the Emirates.
Lin Kayser, co-founder of LEAP 71, told The National that the data collected will help train and improve their computational models.
"The goal is to be able to autogenerate engines across a range of thrust/propellant ranges, so each engine can be customised," he said.
The artificial intelligence model, called Noyron, involves an algorithm that can generate rocket engines, including software codes that command the engine how much thrust and propellent it needs to have.
It then powers the engine without any human intervention.
In this test, it powered the rocket using cryogenic liquid oxygen and kerosene fuels.
"We chose them (the fuels) because they are 'hard' propellants to use – so many start-up companies try to get by with simpler fuels," explained Mr Kayser.
"Liquid oxygen is not easy to handle because it is cryogenic. It can, for example, freeze kerosene in the cooling channels and then the rocket explodes.
The computational model is market-ready and can be used to produce functional rocket engines
Lin Kayser,
co-founder of LEAP71
"We wanted a challenging combination that is quite common in larger rockets, like the SpaceX Falcon 9, but unusual for smaller chambers like ours. Smaller chambers are very hard to cool because you have little surface area."
Mr Kayser said Noyron is close to market-ready, but they will carry out more tests on engines that different companies are developing.
"From our side, the computational model is market-ready and can be used to produce functional rocket engines. This is what the test showed," he said.
LEAP 71 has a partnership with Europe's The Exploration Company, which is developing and manufacturing a reusable space capsule called Nyx.
It marks a big win for the start-up as it looks to sell its AI model to more players in the space industry.
"Our customers, like the Exploration Company, will bring engines based on our AI model to the market," said Mr Kayser.
"The engines will not be manufactured and sold by LEAP 71, as we are focused on the computational model side. But without real-life feedback, we cannot perfect our AI."
The company hopes its AI model could help revolutionise the way spacecraft systems are developed, including helping to reduce costs and speed up the construction of those technologies.
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7.30pm: Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Loxley, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.
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2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
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Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
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Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
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Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
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Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The%20specs
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
