High-Performance

Sensor Payloads for Land & Air Domains

A Comprehensive Solution Provider of Autonomous Sensors & Systems

Engineering Services

Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical Engineering

Reliable in flight safety

Epsilon is a South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) certified Part 147 Design Organization, holding certificate number D684. Our engineers have applied their expertise on structural design and analysis; flight mechanics; computational, classical and empirical aerodynamics; aero-elasticity and thermodynamics regarding various aeronautical projects.

Flight- and Aerodynamics

Our engineers have many years’ combined experience in developing aerodynamic codes including panel-methods and Euler solvers. Previous work experience exposed them to wind-tunnel testing and aircraft aerodynamic design. Projects requiring aircraft design and performance analysis have been our opportunity to apply our wind-tunnel and computational aerodynamics expertise to analysis of flight controls and dynamics. This has been augmented by and contributed to our understanding of control systems.

Aeroelasticity

Our engineers have experience in the field of aeroelasticity, with extensive knowledge of:

Ground vibration testing
Structural dynamics analysis.
Unsteady aerodynamics code development
Buffeting prediction and analysis
Nonlinear aeroelasticity
Flutter flight testing
High bandwidth simultaneous data acquisition, conditioning and analysis

Structural Design, Analysis and Testing

Our experience in designing, building and test flying of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Geo-survey equipment have provided Epsilon with valuable expertise on aircraft structural design, analysis and testing, both static and flight.

Reliable in flight safety

Epsilon is a South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) certified Part 147 Design Organization, holding certificate number D684. Our engineers have applied their expertise on structural design and analysis; flight mechanics; computational, classical and empirical aerodynamics; aero-elasticity and thermodynamics regarding various aeronautical projects.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Rigorous Reliability and Performance

Epsilon has gained extensive experience designing electronic circuitry for systems in the medical, military and automotive industries. The requirement of durability and performance in specific environments is met with each project.

We have the electrical expertise required to work with most commercial, industrial and military systems, including:

  • Precision engineering measurement (temperature, airflow, velocity, pressure)
  • Embedded microprocessor design
  • Looming
  • Printed circuit board design
  • Process control systems
  • Analogue and digital circuit design
  • Testing and manufacturing

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Turning ideas into products

We design in-house through our staff of highly qualified and competent Mechanical Engineers. We use tools such as CAD and FEA software to simulate our designs in their working state. These tools provide a basis for performance validation and allow structural efficiency to be maximised.

Using our 3D printer output and building mock-ups where required enable us to be confident in the integrity and functionality of our designs.

Composite Technology

Composite Technology

Design, tooling, manufacture – under one roof

Epsilon is an accredited supplier to local industries and works in compliance with ISO9001:2008. Our in-house skills in quality control and qualification enable turnkey production

Our expertise in composite materials includes:

Product Design

We design tooling and products in-house using CAD software

Tooling, Patterns and Moulds

Tooling for composite manufacture is cheaper, lighter and stronger than that used for resin or plastic injection moulding.
Low cost of composite tooling makes multiple tooling for simultaneous production economically viable and repeatable.
Tooling designs which allow all-side tool faces – quality inside and outside

Production Processes

  • Our 4 by 2 metre autoclave has a PLC with selectable heat distribution and PID temperature regulation.

  • Initial curing takes place on the tool.

  • RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) and VART (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer) require little skilled operation and provide consistent product quality

  • At Epsilon, we manage multiple moulds for simultaneous production of different components.

  • Product cycle time for complex components can be as low as 20 minutes.

  • Aesthetic end products.

  • Composite parts have superior structural efficiency.

Supporting processes

  • Honeycomb/Pre-preg

  • Vacuum bag infusion

  • Hand lamination

  • Chpper-gunning

  • Post-curing

  • Trimming

  • Final assembly of parts

Epsilon manufactures various products in this field, which include the following:

  • Crew Cab Extensions that are mounted on various truck chassis. These Crew Cabs are used extensively on fire truck conversions but are suitable for any heavy vehicle cabin conversions.  The main structure is made from composite materials. This cab extension has passed SABS Testing.

  • Water tanks for fire trucks. These are all made from composite materials.

  • Geo-survey boom extensions on fixed wing and rotary-winged aircraft for various companies operating all over the world.

  • Handrails: Handrails for various airlines are built using a phenolic prepreg (Pre impregnated with resin material). The resin system used meets FST (Fire Smoke and Toxicity) requirements specified.

  • Various High Temperature Tooling: Tooling is constructed using resin systems able to withstand in excess of 160 deg C. These tools are used in the manufacture of aircraft interior parts.

  • X-Ray transparent Carbon Fibre Parts – such as Surgery Tables and Operating blades – are manufactured.

  • Various types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

  • Various smaller parts for the automotive industry, such as experimental engine covers, fuel tanks, body parts etc.

Systems Engineering

System Engineering

Mission driven, not product driven

System Engineering (SE) approaches development and integration in a structured way, in order to obtain appropriate engineering solutions. It originates in the defence environment where the complexity of high-tech systems demands a rigorous approach and strict adherence to specifications.

Important outputs of the SE process include the specification of systems architecture (characteristics and functions), interfaces between various subsystems, and the interface between the system and its operational environment. Aspects such as maintainability, reliability, ergonomics, life cycle costs and other engineering specialties are addressed simultaneously.

The SE process follows a top-down path during specification and the reverse for system qualification. This ensures technical integrity of a system during its projected life cycle.Epsilon applies SE principles during the development of in-house products and has gained several years’ experience as systems consultants in the development of aircraft weapon systems.

Epsilon applies the MIL-STD 499 approach:

  • User requirement analysis
  • Development of system concepts within criteria and constraints
  • Definition of the proposed system functions
  • Allocation of main system characteristics
  • System design
  • System test & evaluation
  • Design qualification
  • Production, and production qualification
  • Operational and logistic support (after-sales support)
  • De-commissioning plans after expiry of the system life time

Epsilon does intelligent, turnkey engineering. We apply a comprehensive engineering management approach, tailored and applied to any size or complexity of project.

Bomb System Integration

For over thirteen years, we have had the systems engineering responsibility during development and qualification of 12 different Mk80-series bomb systems, integrating these systems onto aircraft used by the South African Air Force, such as the now phased out Mirage F1 and Cheetah C and D models. More lately certification datapacks were compiled for integration of the current Low Drag Bomb Systems onto the newly acquired Saab Gripen and BAE Hawk aircraft.

Missile System Integration

Our track record also includes systems engineering on the integration of the Mokopa missile onto the Rooivalk Combat Support Helicopter. This culminated in the 100% successful guided launch of missiles during test-firing in December 2000. Our involvement included comprehensive modelling and simulation of the system performance for specification and testing purposes.

Certification Standard

We also wrote the certification process for integrating weapons onto aircraft for the SA Air Force’s acquisition of BAe Systems Hawk trainers and Saab Gripen aircraft, which will become a standard for other acquisition programmes.

Epsilon applies the concept of system engineering into all its product ranges and services. This ensures that final output conforms to the user requirements in all aspects of form, fit and function. This may lead to combining the principles of mechanical- and electrical/electronic engineering with composites technology to provide the client with a product unique to his requirements.

Engeneering Services

Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical Engineering

Reliable in flight safety

Epsilon is a South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) certified Part 147 Design Organization, holding certificate number D684. Our engineers have applied their expertise on structural design and analysis; flight mechanics; computational, classical and empirical aerodynamics; aero-elasticity and thermodynamics regarding various aeronautical projects.

Flight- and Aerodynamics

Our engineers have many years’ combined experience in developing aerodynamic codes including panel-methods and Euler solvers. Previous work experience exposed them to wind-tunnel testing and aircraft aerodynamic design. Projects requiring aircraft design and performance analysis have been our opportunity to apply our wind-tunnel and computational aerodynamics expertise to analysis of flight controls and dynamics. This has been augmented by and contributed to our understanding of control systems.

Aeroelasticity

Our engineers have experience in the field of aeroelasticity, with extensive knowledge of:

Ground vibration testing
Structural dynamics analysis.
Unsteady aerodynamics code development
Buffeting prediction and analysis
Nonlinear aeroelasticity
Flutter flight testing
High bandwidth simultaneous data acquisition, conditioning and analysis

Structural Design, Analysis and Testing

Our experience in designing, building and test flying of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Geo-survey equipment have provided Epsilon with valuable expertise on aircraft structural design, analysis and testing, both static and flight.

Reliable in flight safety

Epsilon is a South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) certified Part 147 Design Organization, holding certificate number D684. Our engineers have applied their expertise on structural design and analysis; flight mechanics; computational, classical and empirical aerodynamics; aero-elasticity and thermodynamics regarding various aeronautical projects.

Electrical Engeneering

Electrical Engineering

Rigorous Reliability and Performance

Epsilon has gained extensive experience designing electronic circuitry for systems in the medical, military and automotive industries. The requirement of durability and performance in specific environments is met with each project.

We have the electrical expertise required to work with most commercial, industrial and military systems, including:

  • Precision engineering measurement (temperature, airflow, velocity, pressure)
  • Embedded microprocessor design
  • Looming
  • Printed circuit board design
  • Process control systems
  • Analogue and digital circuit design
  • Testing and manufacturing

Mechanical Engeneering

Mechanical Engineering

Turning ideas into products

We design in-house through our staff of highly qualified and competent Mechanical Engineers. We use tools such as CAD and FEA software to simulate our designs in their working state. These tools provide a basis for performance validation and allow structural efficiency to be maximised.

Using our 3D printer output and building mock-ups where required enable us to be confident in the integrity and functionality of our designs.

Composite Technology

Composite Technology

Design, tooling, manufacture – under one roof

Epsilon is an accredited supplier to local industries and works in compliance with ISO9001:2008. Our in-house skills in quality control and qualification enable turnkey production

Our expertise in composite materials includes:

Product Design

We design tooling and products in-house using CAD software

Tooling, Patterns and Moulds

Tooling for composite manufacture is cheaper, lighter and stronger than that used for resin or plastic injection moulding.
Low cost of composite tooling makes multiple tooling for simultaneous production economically viable and repeatable.
Tooling designs which allow all-side tool faces – quality inside and outside

Production Processes

  • Our 4 by 2 metre autoclave has a PLC with selectable heat distribution and PID temperature regulation.

  • Initial curing takes place on the tool.

  • RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) and VART (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer) require little skilled operation and provide consistent product quality

  • At Epsilon, we manage multiple moulds for simultaneous production of different components.

  • Product cycle time for complex components can be as low as 20 minutes.

  • Aesthetic end products.

  • Composite parts have superior structural efficiency.

Supporting processes

  • Honeycomb/Pre-preg

  • Vacuum bag infusion

  • Hand lamination

  • Chpper-gunning

  • Post-curing

  • Trimming

  • Final assembly of parts

Epsilon manufactures various products in this field, which include the following:

  • Crew Cab Extensions that are mounted on various truck chassis. These Crew Cabs are used extensively on fire truck conversions but are suitable for any heavy vehicle cabin conversions.  The main structure is made from composite materials. This cab extension has passed SABS Testing.

  • Water tanks for fire trucks. These are all made from composite materials.

  • Geo-survey boom extensions on fixed wing and rotary-winged aircraft for various companies operating all over the world.

  • Handrails: Handrails for various airlines are built using a phenolic prepreg (Pre impregnated with resin material). The resin system used meets FST (Fire Smoke and Toxicity) requirements specified.

  • Various High Temperature Tooling: Tooling is constructed using resin systems able to withstand in excess of 160 deg C. These tools are used in the manufacture of aircraft interior parts.

  • X-Ray transparent Carbon Fibre Parts – such as Surgery Tables and Operating blades – are manufactured.

  • Various types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

  • Various smaller parts for the automotive industry, such as experimental engine covers, fuel tanks, body parts etc.

Systems Engeneering

System Engineering

Mission driven, not product driven

System Engineering (SE) approaches development and integration in a structured way, in order to obtain appropriate engineering solutions. It originates in the defence environment where the complexity of high-tech systems demands a rigorous approach and strict adherence to specifications.

Important outputs of the SE process include the specification of systems architecture (characteristics and functions), interfaces between various subsystems, and the interface between the system and its operational environment. Aspects such as maintainability, reliability, ergonomics, life cycle costs and other engineering specialties are addressed simultaneously.

The SE process follows a top-down path during specification and the reverse for system qualification. This ensures technical integrity of a system during its projected life cycle.Epsilon applies SE principles during the development of in-house products and has gained several years’ experience as systems consultants in the development of aircraft weapon systems.

Epsilon applies the MIL-STD 499 approach:

  • User requirement analysis
  • Development of system concepts within criteria and constraints
  • Definition of the proposed system functions
  • Allocation of main system characteristics
  • System design
  • System test & evaluation
  • Design qualification
  • Production, and production qualification
  • Operational and logistic support (after-sales support)
  • De-commissioning plans after expiry of the system life time

Epsilon does intelligent, turnkey engineering. We apply a comprehensive engineering management approach, tailored and applied to any size or complexity of project.

Bomb System Integration

For over thirteen years, we have had the systems engineering responsibility during development and qualification of 12 different Mk80-series bomb systems, integrating these systems onto aircraft used by the South African Air Force, such as the now phased out Mirage F1 and Cheetah C and D models. More lately certification datapacks were compiled for integration of the current Low Drag Bomb Systems onto the newly acquired Saab Gripen and BAE Hawk aircraft.

Missile System Integration

Our track record also includes systems engineering on the integration of the Mokopa missile onto the Rooivalk Combat Support Helicopter. This culminated in the 100% successful guided launch of missiles during test-firing in December 2000. Our involvement included comprehensive modelling and simulation of the system performance for specification and testing purposes.

Certification Standard

We also wrote the certification process for integrating weapons onto aircraft for the SA Air Force’s acquisition of BAe Systems Hawk trainers and Saab Gripen aircraft, which will become a standard for other acquisition programmes.

Epsilon applies the concept of system engineering into all its product ranges and services. This ensures that final output conforms to the user requirements in all aspects of form, fit and function. This may lead to combining the principles of mechanical- and electrical/electronic engineering with composites technology to provide the client with a product unique to his requirements.

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