APLAUSE - Automated Precision Loading And Unloading System Environment
Lead Participant:
DIGITAL & FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Abstract
The APLAUSE project focuses on the emerging UAV drone delivery market.
The project looks to build on our engineering works to support Unmanned Air Vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic for the NHS.
We have been working with the NHS, flying UAV's carrying COVID-19 samples, PPE and other biological agents between pathology labs and hospitals.
APLAUSE takes these works and looks to build automated loading and unloading systems for UAV's, providing a new man to machine interface.
UAV's are inherently dangerous. At the moment they are manually flown by pilots at each end of the flight. Landing is a manual operation and the loading/unloading phase only happens when pilot calls out that all is clear. This is a commitment the pilot has to do as detailed in their operations manual as approved by the CAA.
Our vision for the project it to take the learnings from our previous endeavours working with our partners within the NHS and create and automated loading and unloading system for UAV's that will stand the test of time and allow us to work with the CAA as they move from manual control of UAV's through to automatic, where one pilot flies the UAV remotely all the way and then on to autonomous mode where one pilot is overseeing 15 UAV's in flight at any one time.
Our key objectives are to build a working demonstrator system, funded with help from the public purse, that enables us to demonstrate how a UAV may unload and load new cargo, whilst operating within a closed aviation environment. By doing this we will be propelling the UK forward as a country with innovative solutions for the UAV industry with a focus on parcel delivery solutions.
Our main area of focus is on the loading and unloading of goods and power sources on to UAV's to enable remote operated parcel delivery flights to be fully automated. We need to create a safe environment to automate the loading and unloading of UAV's that complies to aviation and commercial needs and regulations.
APLAUSE is innovative as it builds on our initial UAV flights, made under COVID-19, utilises the opportunity that the CAA has afforded us,with regards flying in a pandemic, and takes a significant step forward for the UK UAV and robotics industries alike, building a solution that can be adapted to changes in UAV airframe and commercial context alike.
The project looks to build on our engineering works to support Unmanned Air Vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic for the NHS.
We have been working with the NHS, flying UAV's carrying COVID-19 samples, PPE and other biological agents between pathology labs and hospitals.
APLAUSE takes these works and looks to build automated loading and unloading systems for UAV's, providing a new man to machine interface.
UAV's are inherently dangerous. At the moment they are manually flown by pilots at each end of the flight. Landing is a manual operation and the loading/unloading phase only happens when pilot calls out that all is clear. This is a commitment the pilot has to do as detailed in their operations manual as approved by the CAA.
Our vision for the project it to take the learnings from our previous endeavours working with our partners within the NHS and create and automated loading and unloading system for UAV's that will stand the test of time and allow us to work with the CAA as they move from manual control of UAV's through to automatic, where one pilot flies the UAV remotely all the way and then on to autonomous mode where one pilot is overseeing 15 UAV's in flight at any one time.
Our key objectives are to build a working demonstrator system, funded with help from the public purse, that enables us to demonstrate how a UAV may unload and load new cargo, whilst operating within a closed aviation environment. By doing this we will be propelling the UK forward as a country with innovative solutions for the UAV industry with a focus on parcel delivery solutions.
Our main area of focus is on the loading and unloading of goods and power sources on to UAV's to enable remote operated parcel delivery flights to be fully automated. We need to create a safe environment to automate the loading and unloading of UAV's that complies to aviation and commercial needs and regulations.
APLAUSE is innovative as it builds on our initial UAV flights, made under COVID-19, utilises the opportunity that the CAA has afforded us,with regards flying in a pandemic, and takes a significant step forward for the UK UAV and robotics industries alike, building a solution that can be adapted to changes in UAV airframe and commercial context alike.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| DIGITAL & FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED | £299,201 | £ 209,441 |
Participant |
||
| FUUSE LIMITED | £79,200 | £ 55,440 |
| GRAPHENATION LIMITED |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Chris Crockford (Project Manager) |