Modulina™ is a commercial open-architecture design of physical linear plug-and-play modules for in-the-field assembly into cylindrical vehicles. Let’s break down the terminology:
commercial: The intellectual property is for-profit licensed to customers.
open-architecture: Defined, published and fully documented standards.
physical linear modules: Parts that are arranged on top of each other, fastened and connected such they they stack together into a single file – allowing for adding, removing, swapping and upgrading modules.
plug-and-play: Assembly of modules, working perfectly without any further action, configuration or tweaking by the user.
in-the-field assembly: putting parts together during maneuvers (such as doing research out in the nature or while engaged in combat).
cylindrical vehicles: A vehicle in the shape of a hollow tube – whether airborne (amateur rocket, missile, guided bombs, etc.) or submerged (glider, underwater autonomous research vessel, torpedo, etc.)
Why are you doing this?
There are two common problems in the multiple fields of cylindrical vehicles:
- Lack of mobility for long cylindrical vehicles
- Adapting cylindrical vehicles on-the-spot to the mission.
Modularity solves both these problems. It allows for disassembly of the vehicle, easy transport and assembly in-the-field. The assembly can differ, based on what modules are preferable for the mission. Beside mobility, modularity has various other benefits:
- possibility of distributed design and manufacture.
- allows multiple vendors, for competitive pricing and prevention of vendor-lock-in.
- opportunity for smaller companies to participate in design/manufacture.
Who are you guys?
We are Modulina ehf, a small startup company, based in Reykjavik, Iceland. We focus on modular design. Our team and talents consist of international professionals, most of them engineers (aerospace, mechanical, avionics and electrical).
We do not design, develop or tests weapons. Nevertheless, our design incorporates civil and military use alike.
To whom can you sell?
Our prospective clients include defense contractors and state military entities.
Iceland is a NATO member, yet the country maintains no standing army. Modulina ehf is thus not affiliated with any state defense industry. The company is an independent private company with international clientele.
Regarding export we are albeit required to comply with Icelandic law on service and products having possible military nature and regulation nr. 361/160 on the same subject. Hence, we are dependent on the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs to allow export on a case-by-case basis, which bases permits on the receiving country/entity considering the interests of Iceland in relation to NATO, European Union and international agreements such as Arms Trade Treaty and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
Hasn’t anyone does this before?
Previous efforts of others on modular approach are not sufficient for what we are trying to solve, namely in-the-field assembly of cylindrical vehicles.
MMT by U.S. Army since 2015, is an undertaking for modular missiles. It shares many of our goals, such as:
- reducing barriers to entry
- hinder vendor lock
- distributed design and manufacturing
- multiple variants of vehicles, reusing previous components
However the MMT program is applicable only to guided missiles for U.S. military services, specifically 2.75-inch diameter. Additionally, the MMT program is focused on missile assembly at factory level, not for plug-and-play assembly by soldiers in the field.
Gavia by Teledyne Marine, is a modular autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV, or unmanned robot submarine). It also shares many of our goals:
- rapid reconfiguration
- energy source replacement
However, the Gavia system is a proprietary in-house system. Additionally, the Gavia system is only for AUV vehicles.
MOSA by U.S. Department Of Defense, is a reference framework on modular open system approach, aimed at more economical acquisitions of electronic components.
UGST by Russia, is a semi-modular torpedo, allowing for changes of interior components, such as sections of guidance, warhead, fuel tank, power plant and tail.
SeaHake mod4 by Atlas Elektronik, is a torpedo with modular battery system
How are you going to
Why a ?
Modulina™ is not dependent on:
- state budget towards defense design programs.
- political will at the given time
- resource allocation by authorities
What is included in the licensing?
Patents (locking mechanism), Standards (interfaces of moduler), 3d design, electrical layout,
Are you violating any patents?
The patents relating to
Raytheon Technologies, “Modular missile and method of assembly” (2001) US6568330B1, [EXPIRED], US20030097951A1, [EXPIRED]
U.S. Department of Navy, “Missile adaptation kit assembly” (1964) US4051414A [EXPIRED]