KTP – Case Study Framework

We are always keen to showcase your project’s success with a case study.

It is essential for capturing practical insights, measurable outcomes, and can be effectively shared with future teams, stakeholders and to strengthen future award nominations.

The below outlines the Case Study framework. Please return the completed form, to ktp@uwe.ac.uk

Can you tell us a bit about the partners:
– Organisation: short description of what the company does; where it’s based
– Knowledge Base: short description of team’s specialist knowledge
– KTP Associate: short profile of Associate, including highest qualification

About the Organisation:

Metrea is a global defence company, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in London, Harwell, and multiple locations worldwide. The company is the originator and leading provider of specialised services known as “effects as a service” to national security partners. Delivering across multiple domains and over a dozen mission areas, Metrea combines cutting-edge commercial technology with innovative business models to deliver solutions at commercial speed.

Metrea operates vertically integrated full-stack capabilities spanning airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), air-to-air refuelling, electromagnetic warfare, space domain awareness, and advanced simulation. Its ISR fleet alone has completed over 7,500 missions and logged more than 170,000 flight hours, while its aerial refuelling arm operates the world’s fifth-largest tanker fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers and maintains an aircraft availability rate above 90%. The company serves the US DoD, MOD, NATO, and allied partner nations globally.

About the Knowledge Base:

The KTP was supported by a multidisciplinary academic team from UWE Bristol including Lyndon Smith, Mark Hansen and Melvyn Smith based at the Centre for Machine Vision (CMV) where they led research in object modelling, computer vision, and machine learning. As co-directors of CMV both Lyndon Smith and Mel Smith are Professors in Machine Vision bringing expertise in image processing, 3D data modelling, and skills such as photometric stereo technique. Professor Mark Hansen played a vital role as Knowledge Base Supervisor bringing leading expertise in the application of machine learning techniques for image analysis across a range of real-world applications.

About the KTP Associate:

Louis Aberdeen, graduated with a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Bath, specialising in numerical linear algebra, scientific computing, and optimisation methods, with self-taught expertise in machine learning and computer vision.

Louis was hoping for a role in Data Analytics but was immediately drawn to the job title “Space Data Analyst”. Initially Louis assumed he would be underqualified as his degree was in mathematics. However, soon realised his skills matched the criteria in the job description. Due to the nature of work, the details of the job description were vague, which spiked Louis’ curiosity. Space debris was a very serious problem, and it was exciting to learn more about the project.

The strength of the partnership was a key factor in the Associate’s success. The academic team provided Louis with essential guidance, technical expertise, and mentorship, while Metrea offered invaluable direction throughout the project. Together, this support enabled Louis to grow professionally and has allowed Louis to secure a position as Machine Learning Engineer at Rowden, an electrical engineering firm based in Bristol, leveraging his signal processing, deep learning, and research skills.

About Innovate UK:

Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. Their mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.

What was the challenge (summarise the KTP)?

Metrea had developed LASSO (Low Earth Orbit Space Surveillance Operations) – a software plug-in for their Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that enables Electro-Optical and Infra-Red cameras to track Resident Space Objects (RSOs) in orbit.  While the LASSO hardware and data collection software was operating at TRL 7–8, having already been demonstrated in operational environments, the methods and models for extracting insights from collected footage were at TRL 0–1 effectively pre-research. By the end of the project, the analytical pipeline had advanced to approximately TRL 6.

To unlock LASSO’s full potential, Metrea needed to develop sophisticated image processing tools and machine learning models to maximise the operational value of LASSO data. At the same time, they faced the commercial challenge of transforming LASSO from a technically impressive capability into a revenue-generating product – through software licensing to national air force programmes and the sale of data and insights to satellite operators.

The solution: What have the benefits been of the KTP / What changed as a result of the KTP?  (Can you back this up with any figures)?

• The KTP brought together UWE Bristol’s expertise in computer vision with Metrea’s operational platform to unlock the analytical potential of LASSO. The Associate researched how astronomical telescopes use Point Spread Functions to correct for optical aberrations, developed a system to empirically build Point Spread Functions (PSFs) from background stars and generate comprehensive synthetic datasets for model training and evaluation.
  • This fed into work on image reconstruction and attitude (pose) estimation of resolved satellites, where deep learning approaches were found to significantly outperform traditional deconvolution methods both empirically and qualitatively.
  • Recognising that satellite miniaturisation had driven exponential growth in orbital objects, many of which are too small to resolve, the project pivoted to studying what could be inferred from changes in apparent brightness of these unresolved RSOs. A distributed data pipeline was built to process approximately 700 million light curve entries, applying statistical measures, angular velocity extraction, and deep learning with wavelet transforms. This work demonstrated that LASSO could be used to establish and corroborate “patterns of life” for space objects, a significant operational capability for Space Domain Awareness customers.
  • The breadth of research across resolved RSOs, unresolved RSOs, and re-entry tracking expanded the total range of LASSO’s applications and directly strengthened Metrea’s eligibility for further contract opportunities.
  • The expertise provided by UWE Bristol was embedded within Metrea, including knowledge transfer by the Associate into the Metrea Machine Learning team.

What are the headline stats from the KTP/Benefits? i.e. % increase of profit sales, productivity or enquiries etc.

The capabilities and market credibility developed during the KTP directly supported Metrea’s eligibility for MOD feasibility studies and wider paid exercise participation, in assessing the use of LASSO and Metrea aircraft in live fire exercises to demonstrate the system’s ability to track hypersonic objects and Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) targets and share positional data in real time.

The KTP delivered strong technical, commercial, and professional benefits for all partners involved. The project accelerated Metrea’s capability development, advanced academic research outputs, and directly supported the Associate’s career progression. Metrea projects to make 12 licence sales per year after the KTP as a result of the development the KTP has made to LASSO. These outcomes demonstrate the value of the collaboration and the impact the project achieved.

Key achievements include:

• Four data collection flights conducted from Tampa to expand datasets and perform system integration tests.
• Deep learning approaches significantly outperformed traditional image reconstruction methods.
• Success of the KTP work led to Metrea entering a feasibility study for a major follow-on contract.
• 1 joint REF-eligible academic paper submitted, with one more being prepared for submission.
• Associate secured employment in the defence technology sector following the KTP.

Can you provide any key facts and impacts?

The KTP generated significant benefits for both the Company and the Knowledge Base, strengthening technical capability, creating new research outputs, and laying the groundwork for future collaboration and funding opportunities. The partnership delivered measurable impact across commercial, academic, and societal dimensions.

Associate Impact

• Took LASSO’s analytical pipeline from TRL 0–1 to approximately TRL 6, leading all technical development from image simulation through to pose estimation and light curve analysis.
• Gained rare operational experience through four live data-collection flights in Tampa, Florida, extending skills well beyond laboratory research.
• Co-authored an academic paper submitted for peer review with a second in preparation, alongside broader technical contributions in Maritime Domain Awareness and SIGINT.
• Presented findings across Metrea’s wider business, exploring how the work could be applied to other product areas.
• Secured post-KTP employment as a Machine Learning Engineer at Rowden (Bristol), demonstrating strong career progression from the programme.

Company Impact (Metrea)

• Transformed LASSO from a data collection tool into a commercially viable analytics platform, directly contributing to the MOD feasibility studies with the Missile Defence Centre, valued at beyond £1 million.
• Unlocked new revenue streams through software licensing and data sales, and raised LASSO’s profile at NATO, Farnborough, and with the UK Ministry of Defence.
• Extended capability beyond Space Domain Awareness into Maritime Domain Awareness and SIGINT, embedding deep learning practices across the business.
• Contributed to broader societal benefit by improving tools that reduce the long-term risk of Kessler Syndrome and supporting maritime surveillance with applications in trafficking and smuggling detection.

Knowledge Base Impact (UWE Bristol / CMV)

• Co-produced an academic paper submitted for peer review with a second in preparation, generating novel research at the intersection of computer vision and Space Domain Awareness.
• Demonstrated the practical transfer of established astronomical imaging methods, including Point Spread Function modelling, into a defence and intelligence context opening a new applied research direction for CMV.
• Strengthened CMV’s engagement with the defence and space sectors, supporting future collaboration, funding opportunities, and REF impact potential.

The KTP demonstrated that operationally valuable insights can be extracted from LASSO footage, significantly strengthening the system’s commercial proposition. The diverse research outputs spanning image reconstruction, pose estimation, light curve analysis, and re-entry tracking and expanded the range of customer use cases and directly contributed to Metrea pursuing a major follow-on contract for a live demonstration.

Quotes from the associate / business / academic – can be on the experience / the knowledge learnt / the future etc.

For the business: “This was our first time working with a KTP and it has proved to be a very worthwhile venture. UWE Bristol was able to provide Metrea with an exceptional Associate who was able to adapt rapidly to the continued changing business demands throughout his period of work with us. His knowledge and adaptability provided rapid analytical outputs and support products to our customers and was most welcome as we used them across the globe tackling some of the most complex and wicked security problems faced today”. – Chris Dunn: Solution Architect at Metrea.

For UWE Bristol: “This was a highly ambitious KTP that has delivered excellently against its plan, in no small part down to the exceptional adaptability of the associate, Louis. It has been a pleasure for the academic team at the CMV to work with Metrea and especially with Louis and see him develop so much over the course of the KTP. The projects that Louis worked on while at Metrea have the potential to have a real impact on international defence as well as giving the CMV its first foray into space. We wish Louis the very best for his future and look forward to working with Metrea again.” Prof Mark Hansen.

For the KTP Associate: “The KTP has been a fantastic opportunity to develop both my technical and professional skills. Working to foster collaboration between the industry partner and knowledge base results in an outcome greater than the sum of its parts. A personal highlight was getting into the hangar with my KTP supervisor Ryan to troubleshoot the integration of LASSO into Metrea’s aircraft, crawling around on the floor checking we had all the correct port connections” Louis Aberdeen (KTP Space Data Analyst Associate).

From the Knowledge Transfer Adviser: “This innovation project has been very successful in enabling new revenue streams now and in the future for the Company as well as achieving significant societal benefits in early detection of fire, people smuggling and defence/space problems enabling early detection and real time actions to be taken

Louis has led the project with drive and determination and has successfully covered the technical and commercial challenges through excellent communication skills and innovative thinking.

The development of the deep learning-based image recovery system by the team is based on wide ranging technology integration into a working and practical system with a strong commercial focus and is a great example of how the KTP methodology works to achieve breakthrough solutions at pace”. Paul Spenley (Knowledge Transfer Adviser – IUK)