INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INSTITUTE HISTORY
In parallel with the developments and studies in the world, within the body of TUBITAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) the following departments were established under the Vice Presidency of Information Technologies in 1990-1991)
- Software engineering
- Artificial intelligence
- Computer Aided Design
- Robotics
These departments were merged with the Space Technologies Department under TÜBİTAK MAM, which includes Remote Sensing, Electronic Systems and Astronomy working groups. They were restructured and the Information Technologies Research Institute (BTAE) was established in 1995, and carried out applied research and projects in the field of information and communication.
The founding director of BTAE, which had a staff of approximately 60 people when it was first established, is Prof. Dr. Fuat Ince. BTAE, starting from this date; By signing large-scale projects in coordination with the public sector, private sector, universities and research institutes, it gained significant experience in the field of work and contributed to its stakeholders.
In the first period, the development of the scientific, technical and laboratory infrastructure of BTAE was handled by considering the following five sections.
- Artificial intelligence
- Vision and Image Processing
- Robotics and Automation
- Information services
- Space Technologies
Over time, these departments have signed many important studies and projects. The Astronomy Studies Group has been restructured in 1999 and renamed as Turkey-Ukraine Joint Research Laboratory and was affiliated to TÜBİTAK MAM Materials and Chemical Technologies Institute.
After the 1999 Marmara Earthquake, the Remote Sensing Group left BTAE and joined the TÜBİTAK MAM Earth and Marine Sciences Research Institute in 2000, with the foresight that observations of the earth from space would contribute significantly to earthquake studies.
BTAE completed its preparations and application examples in project development and other processes in 2008 and became the first governmental institution to receive the CMMI-DEV Level 3 quality maturity certificate within the scope of system, software and hardware development activities.
With the structuring process in 2010, UEKAE and BTAE came together to form BİLGEM. Meanwhile, BTAE's name was changed to Information Technologies Institute (BTE). BTE, which is still one of the 5 Institutes under BİLGEM, continues its applied research and project development activities for the military and civil sector with all its strength today.
Some of the projects that played an important role in the historical development of BTE are summarized below:
Turkish Armed Forces Command Control and Information Systems (KKBS) Project (1996-1998):
The Turkish Armed Forces Command Control and Information Systems Project, which was initiated under the contract signed with the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) in 1996, was carried out by the ATOS (ASELSAN, ODTÜ, STM and TÜBİTAK MAM) Consortium. In the KKBS Project, the BTE side assumed the responsibility of the TAF Joint Message Handling System (MMKS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) work packages. The project and its team were deemed worthy of the TÜBİTAK MAM Achievement Award.
Mine Detection Systems (MTS) Project (1997-2000)
It was initiated within the scope of the contract signed with MSB R&D in order to create a countermeasure against mines, which is one of the elements that pose a threat to the security of the country.
Within the scope of the MTS project, which is the first high-budget project of BTE, the current situation analysis and feasibility studies of vehicle-mounted and hand-held mine detection systems for the detection and identification of buried metal and plastic mines were completed. In project scope:
- EMI - Electromagnetic Induction,
- GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar,
- IR - InfraRed,
- AS - Acoustic Sensor
- TI – Tomographic Imaging
methods have been studied; Two prototype systems were developed using commercial ready (COST) and developed original products and delivered to MSB R&D.
Acquisition of Flight Test Instrumentation Capability and Establishment of the Flight Test Center Project (1998-2001):
Acquisition of Flight Test Instrumentation Capability and Establishment of the Flight Test Center Project, which was initiated within the scope of the contract signed with MSB R&D in 1998, was carried out by the TUBİKAK MAM - STFA Savronik Consortium. Within the scope of the project, the first flight test center of our country, which meets the flight test needs of all kinds of aircraft in the inventory of the TAF, was established in Eskişehir 1st Air Supply Maintenance Center Command.
The Flight center was inaugurated on June 6, 2001, at the Hv.K. Within the scope of the project, an example flight test engineering study was carried out on an F-4E aircraft allocated by the Turkish Air Force.
Anti-collision Optical Laser Radar System (ORACLES) Project (1999-2001)
Anti-collision Optical Laser Radar System (Radar Anti Collision Laser System, ORACLES); It is an international project supported by the Ministries of National Defense of Italy, Portugal and Turkey and carried out by the Defense Industry and Research Centers of these countries. TUBİTAK MAM and ASELSAN from Turkey took part in the project. Within the scope of the project, an obstacle detection system laboratory prototype was developed that will provide helicopter pilots with a safer flight zone.
Educational Purposes Onboard Embedded Simulation System (WaSiF) Project (2000-2002)
Within the scope of the project, a flying simulator called WaSiF has been developed, which enables pilots using warplanes to get used to war conditions and to conduct exercises by fighting virtual enemies on real aircraft. This international project; It was supported by the Ministries of National Defense of Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal and Turkey.
Long Horizon Research Support Project (2001-2003)
A detailed HF Radar Feasibility Analysis was carried out and the ability to design an experimental High Frequency (HF) System was achieved within the studies of the Long Horizon Research Support Project supported by Turkish Naval Forces Command. A detailed simulation software including high sensitivite and high fidelity models was developed for Microwave Radar and a critical capability was gained in MW radar design. An original image processing software was also developed within the scope of this project, that is capable of detecting and classifying ships from satellite images with the resolution of one meter. The softwares developed in the project are integrated with the system in the Naval Forces Command fusion center and putted in service)
Succesfull R&D studies in the Long Horizon Research Support Project have increased the expectation of Turkish Naval Forces Command from the R&D studies within TÜBİTAK MAM, they have became a reference for BTE in many projects initiated in the following years (e.g., GENESIS, DATAS, RKA-YAZGEL, SARGAN, YDYFR Nuve System).
Ship Integrated Combat Management System (GENESIS) Project (2001-2004)
The GENESIS Project was initiated by the Naval Forces Command in order to meet the battle management system modernization needs of the G-Class frigates in the Naval Forces' inventory. The following work packages were carried out within the scope of the project:
- Development and Production of Prototype Operator Console (OPKON), Command Control Console (3K) and Sensor Integration Cabinet (SEK),
- Development of Infrastructure Software,
- Development of Automatic Target Tracking and Detection System,
- Electronic Warfare System Database Software Development,
- Supporting software and hardware development activities carried out under the responsibility of ARMERKOM
Electronic Warfare System Database Software Development work package was made by İLTAREN. The GENESIS project has been a very important step on the way to the MİLGEM Project, where our national warship has been developed.
Customs Border Gates Security Systems (GUMSIS) Project (2001-2004)
GÜMSİS Project was implemented within the scope of the protocol signed in 2001 between the Prime Ministry Undersecretariat of Customs and TÜBİTAK MAM to prevent illegal traffic of goods, vehicles and people.
Within the scope of the project, Control Center, Vehicle Tracking System, License Plate Recognition System, Closed Circuit Television System, Network Security, Mobile/Fixed Scanning Systems and System Integration work packages were implemented.
The systems in question were put into use at many customs border gates, primarily Kapıkule, Ipsala, Sarp, Gürbulak, Dilucu, Cilvegözü and Habur. With the commissioning of the systems, a large amount of smuggling incidents were revealed. The GÜMSİS Project was mentioned with praise in the 2006 Turkey Progress Report of the European Union.
AR-GE 2001 Project (2002-2004)
AR-GE 2001 Project supported by SSM; It was the first project initiated in Turkey for the purpose of developing a mission computer and avionic system integration with completely national facilities for the management of aircraft avionics systems from a single center. With this project, the pilot, whose workload was minimized by integrating communication, navigation, target detection-diagnosis, friend-foe identification systems and platform data on air platforms, was provided with technological opportunities to provide effective command and control. Within the scope of the project, the software design, System Integration Laboratory design and the design of some cards were completely original.
Modern Mine Detection Systems (MMTS) Project (2003-2006)
In the MMTS project, which was initiated under the contract signed with MSB ARGE, the Handheld Mine Detection System (ETMTS-1) production prototype, which includes GPR and EMI sensors, and Mine Odor Sensor (MKS) (MAM Materials Institute) research prototypes were developed. The ETMTS-1 system has become one of the few systems in the world with two detectors for detecting plastic and metal mines for mine detection. In addition, for the first time in our country, the fusion of two sensors and the diagnosis of buried objects were carried out within the scope of this project. The project and its team were deemed worthy of the TÜBİTAK MAM Achievement Award.
Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Activities Modeling and Simulation System Project (2003-2006)
Within the scope of the project, a system was modeled to perform the simulation of Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance that are used to monitor the enemy from long distances, to provide early warning and intelligence about enemy activities, to create a real or near-real time joint picture and to deliver it to users simultaneously.
The simulation infrastructure, which was put forward as a result of the project work, which was briefly defined as C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), enabled the development of all kinds of modeling and simulation systems.
AR-GE 2004 Project (2004-2006)
This work, which was brought to a certain level by preparing the infrastructure with the R&D 2001 Project, was continued with the R&D 2004 Project and paved the way for the avionics integration of ATAK helicopters to be realized in our country with national resources. Project was started with the cooperation of ASMATA consortium formed by ASELSAN, TÜBİTAK MAM and TAI companies. The mission computer developed by BTE was integrated into the AH-1S helicopter with the configuration expanded by adding weapon systems to form the basis of the ATAK helicopter Project. Mission computer software has been developed in accordance with the RTCA-DO-178B standard in terms of security.
Educational Purposes Onboard Embedded Simulation System Network (NetWaSiF) Project (2005-2009)
Germany, Italy, Portugal and Turkey took part in the project supported by the European Defense Agency (EDA). Within the scope of the NetWaSiF Project, which is the continuation of the WaSiF Project, the first flying simulator fleet in the world that allows more than one fighter aircraft to fight together in a distributed simulation environment was implemented with the participation of BTE. In the developed system, the aircraft can transfer the data of the simulators on them to each other and to the mission control center via data-link. The mission control center on the ground also monitors the scenario implemented in the air in real time and can intervene when necessary.
Handheld Mine Detection System -2 (ETMTS-2) (2008-2010)
After the successful completion of the MMTS project, the ETMTS-2 product was developed considering the needs of the users. The system, whose power consumption, weight and ergonomics have been improved, has been delivered to domestic and international stakeholders, primarily the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF). The ETMTS-2 project and its team were awarded the TÜBİTAK MAM Incentive Award.
Afterwards, the ETMTS-3 system, which is the updated version of the ETMTS-2 system in terms of usage concept, was developed and presented to the inventory of other security units, especially the TAF.
ETMTS systems participated in the tests of NATO working groups abroad and were appreciated.
Within the scope of the new term expansions of Mine Detection Systems projects, in 2019, the lightweight and ergonomic OZAN Foldable Metal Detector, which only has an EMI sensor on it, has been originally developed and widely used in the Turkish Armed Forces.
These studies continue rapidly by evolving towards EMI with array sensors and GPR systems with array sensors attached to the vehicle/robot. All mine detection systems developed in accordance with military standards are still used by domestic and foreign stakeholders, especially the TAF.
