A project investigating the safety and commercial viability of drone flight has secured a share of almost £70m to continue developing new aviation technology.
Tech firm Zenotech, which has offices in Bristol and Chepstow, and Aylesbury-based aerospace component manufacturer Flare Bright founded the ‘SafeZone’ initiative to develop safer unmanned drones for use in urban spaces.
The idea is to help ease congestion, improve sustainability and develop emergency services’ capabilities, according to the firms.
In the initial stages of the project, the two companies held a series of flight trials airside at Cardiff International Airport. The airport has now joined the programme as a partner, providing facilities and operational support, along with Cranfield University.
In the third phase of the study, researchers will generate and use localised aerodynamic meteorological data to allow the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to adapt their route as they fly through wind changes and close to buildings for inspection purposes.
Zenotech said following the Covid-19 pandemic airports around the world are planning to "significantly increase" the use of autonomous drones to inspect facilities, in order to improve cost-efficiency.
The partnership is planning to use the results to help deliver a new live-data service, which will be designed to provide real-time information about aerodynamic hazards in urbanised environments.
The latest funding for the scheme has been secured via a programme called the ‘Future Flight challenge’. Delivered by government sponsored body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), it seeks to help develop greener ways to fly, such as all-electric aircraft and deliveries by drone, as part of the UK’s effort to reduce carbon emissions to net zero.
"This second Future Flight challenge win is a testament to our successful results in the initial tests with Flare Bright within the ‘manoeuvring area’ of Cardiff Airport," said Zenotech co-founder David Standingford.
“It is rewarding that our cutting-edge CFD and HPC tools - zCFD and EPIC - and industry expertise in the fields of aeronautical engineering and renewables are contributing to the live-data stream which will be a game-changer in enabling safer, greener, more commercially viable drone flight in urban spaces and airports.”
Carl Sequeira, head of engineering at Flare Bright added: “It is great that UKRI has put its faith in our companies again to take this technology to - literally - new heights!
“Having accurate wind data is a critical enabler for the drone industry of the future, and we are looking forward to the challenges of bringing this latest innovation to reality and ultimately to the benefit of the wider industry.”
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