Delkia
The company
Delkia is a specialist engineering and technology company, delivering critical systems and safety-related solutions for the Aerospace, Clean Energy, and Maritime sectors. Established within the nuclear industry around 2013, Delkia has since broadened its expertise, particularly in maritime and aerospace engineering.
Headquartered in Cumbria, the company has grown from a small team to a workforce of approximately 60 employees and an equal number of contractors. Delkia's mission is to enable a safer, more resilient world through the provision of innovative engineering and technological solutions.
Image: Fluid dynamics abstract render. Credit: Canva
The problem
Delkia’s Research, Technology, and Innovation team encountered a challenge within their flagship project, Project Bumblebee. The project required the development of a dynamic vehicle control model for a submarine. The control system needed to determine necessary actions, such as thrust and fin actuation, based on the submarine's current state and predefined goal.
To simulate the submarine-ocean interactions under control, the team initially relied on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). While CFD simulations are highly detailed, they are also computationally expensive, which can lead to delays and inefficiencies.
The complexity of the data presented another layer of difficulty. Ben Carroll; Research, Technology and Innovation Engineer at Delkia, explained, "We had a data set that required us to map backwards from desired outputs to the necessary inputs—a process that proved more complex than initially anticipated." The team made several attempts to solve the problem internally. They explored options such as contracting out the work or hiring additional personnel. However, despite these efforts, they soon realised that external expertise was needed to overcome this technical hurdle.
Ben further elaborated, "We had a go at it... but I couldn’t manage it on my own. We looked into hiring someone with relevant experience, but the complexity of the problem led us to seek assistance from the National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD)."
Image: Ben Carroll visiting the Catalyst
The solution
Delkia collaborated with NICD on the project, led by Senior Data Scientist Dr. Matt Edwards. Dr. Jacek Cala also made significant contributions, providing expert insights and advanced training in project management, version control, dependency management, model evaluation, and large dataset handling.
Initially, the goal was to solve the inversion problem, where the team needed to determine the necessary inputs to achieve specific outputs in the simulation. However, during their collaboration with NICD, the project pivoted. Ben noted, "Instead of focusing narrowly on the initial problem, NICD helped us reorient our goals. We discovered a more suitable approach that focused on creating the dynamic model we needed."
NICD provided Delkia with a structured approach to tackling the problem. This allowed the team to explore various methods under expert guidance.
The team explored traditional data-driven machine learning methods, but these proved unsuitable for the unique challenges of submarine control systems. NICD then guided the team towards data-driven system and control methods, which allowed the separation of the system model and control model development. The focus was placed on developing a system model that accurately described the updating of submarine states based on previous states and actions. This approach, while different from traditional methods, provided a robust foundation for the project.
Implementation
The implementation phase involved a series of skill sessions with NICD, where Delkia’s team was guided through the practical application of different modeling techniques. "The project was well-paced," said Ben. "NICD allowed us to learn at our own pace, but there was always an element of pressure to keep things moving forward." The project was structured into sprints, with weekly skills sessions that provided both immediate feedback and resources for further learning.
During the implementation, NICD leveraged their expertise in fitting models to data, supporting Delkia in applying these techniques to an unfamiliar class of models. By utilising open-source Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) simulation data, NICD helped Delkia create a system model that was not only theoretically sound but also practical for their specific needs.
Image credit: Canva
The result
Although the initial goal of solving the inversion problem was not fully achieved, the Data Skills Project delivered far more than expected. Delkia successfully developed a dynamic model that met the core needs of Project Bumblebee. "We didn’t technically achieve the initial aim, but we got more out of it than we could have expected. We achieved something better in the end,” Ben reflected. “We’ve gone from not knowing how to proceed to having a clear solution and a method to produce further similar solutions.”
The project structure was particularly effective. “I really liked the Sprint card system, that worked well. Matt was very prompt in providing feedback,” said Ben. “Any questions I had were quickly addressed, often the same day or early the next. Matt and Jacek were an absolute pleasure to work with. I really have nothing but positive things to say”.
Delkia successfully developed a system model that demonstrated accuracy in initial tests using AUV simulation data. The ongoing testing against CFD simulation data will further validate the model's effectiveness in real-world scenarios. This marks a sizeable step forward in creating a more efficient and accurate control system for the project.
The project also resulted in considerable time savings and positioned Delkia to continue developing their first product offering. "It’s provided a key component in our first product offering for the company," said Ben.
While the product will take a few more years to mature into something saleable, Ben is confident that the foundations laid through this project will lead to a robust and market-ready solution that will enhance Delkia’s offerings.
Business impact
The project had a lasting impact on the business. "The work with NICD has very much gotten us unstuck," Ben shared. This has enabled Delkia to claim a data science capability within their R&D department.
"We're currently developing a demonstrator to showcase the tangible results of our two years of R&D, both to senior leadership and external stakeholders, so they can see that their investment has produced something substantial."
Additionally, the project has accelerated the momentum of Project Bumblebee, moving Delkia closer to their long-term goal of product development. The skills gained through this collaboration have empowered the team to tackle similar challenges in the future, potentially leading to further innovations and product offerings.
“I would absolutely recommend them (NICD) to anyone, especially businesses that can benefit from data science skills. If you think your work can’t benefit from data science skills, you've not thought about it enough!”
Ben Carroll, Research, Technology and Innovation Engineer, Delkia.
Image credit: Canva
Driving R&D success with data-driven innovation
The successful collaboration with NICD has positioned Delkia for future success. Ben highlighted the personal and professional growth he experienced, stating, "This project took me from something I was really struggling with to something I was genuinely looking forward to every week." The skills and methodologies learned during the project are now being integrated into Delkia’s processes, enhancing their capability to manage complex data-driven projects.
As a result of this project, Delkia is now better equipped to handle similar challenges independently. However, they anticipate future collaborations with NICD, particularly as new challenges arise. "We’ve gained a lot from this collaboration. If we have a data problem come up, we’ll definitely be in touch with NICD," Ben concluded.
"We've gained a lot from this collaboration, and while we might be able to apply the skills we've learned to similar projects, I know we'll need more expert insight in the future. Based on our experience with NICD, I don't see why we would go anywhere else."
Ben Carroll, Research, Technology and Innovation Engineer, Delkia.
To discover more about Delkia, visit their website.
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