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A customised low-cost ultralight aircraft for survey, filming and animal tracking in wild environments.

Project description

Innovative aerial surveys of low-infrastructure environments

The monitoring of low-infrastructure environments, pipelines, rail, or wildlife requires affordable and sophisticated aerial survey solutions. Modular technology enables selecting options and minimises start-up costs. Funded by the European Research Council, the AIRSCAN project proposes a low-cost aircraft integrating aerial survey, filming and tracking technology that is controlled by a single pilot. The aerial survey platform fills a market niche between drones (limited by payload and range) and commercial operations (high cost, require infrastructure, lack of flexibility). AIRSCAN will document the structural modifications, specifications, and options for modular onboard technology, refine the onboard systems set-up and mission planning system, develop a costing model for the aircraft and licensing of IP, perform market analysis, and prepare the product for commercialisation.

Objective

This proposal draws on the extensive technical developments of Ad-G 323041 LOCATE to commercialise the know-how to build a low-cost aircraft with integrated aerial survey, filming and tracking technology capable of operating in low-infrastructure environments. These requirements are common to many applications and there is currently no affordable off-the-shelf solution. Our product is unique, providing a technologically-advanced integrated data collection system controlled by a single pilot. Modular technology enables buyers to select options relevant to their own operation and minimise start-up costs. With operating costs of approximately €30/hour, our product will make sophisticated aerial survey, filming and tracking accessible to researchers, NGOs, government and commercial operators, delivering impact through high-resolution, high-quality information at low cost for infrastructure survey (eg pipeline, rail/cabling and flood plain survey) and conservation (habitat change, wildlife density), land and habitat management (national parks, game reserves). This aerial survey platform fills a market niche between drones (limited by payload and range) and commercial operations (high cost, require infrastructure, lack of flexibility). We will: DOCUMENT the structural modifications and specification for fitting out the aircraft with the equipment payload specified; REFINE the on-board systems set-up and mission planning system; DOCUMENT the options for modular on-board technology; DEVELOP a costing model for building, equipping, fitting out and operating the aircraft and licensing of IP; UNDERTAKE market analysis and research and communicate with potential suppliers and users; PREPARE a comprehensive portfolio for uptake by potential commercial partners. The project team includes three aviation/industry members experienced in bringing innovative technologies to this market.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2018-PoC

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Host institution

THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 149 526,00
Address
ROYAL COLLEGE STREET
NW1 OTU London
United Kingdom

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 149 526,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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