Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Silent Flyer (Solving the greatest problem of surveillance: To see without being seen)
Reporting period: 2019-05-01 to 2019-08-31
Flygildi is a company founded with the purpose of developing and commercialising an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAS) of a ground-breaking flapping wing design concept. Silent Flyer is a patented robotic bird that uses wings and tail, instead of propellers, for lift, propulsion and navigation, in a similar way as birds do. With eleven degrees of freedom, and a very low noise emission, it can mimic real bird species, allowing for an unobtrusive flight that can be unnoticed to other birds, animals and humans on the ground. Our goals are to further improve its manoeuvrability and flight range; develop sample units that mimic specific bird species; and build our first market references.
We developed a study that checks the feasibility of the project. We analysed technical goals and drafted an execution plan to implement, test and demonstrate the improved system. We analysed the market of UASs and identified those applications in which the Silent Flyer can deliver its full potential. We developed our go-to-market strategy and our plan for commercialization. We analysed trends, drivers, barriers, opportunities and competitors’ activity and revised our IPR protection strategy. Our business plan includes evaluation of sales, costs and investments. We performed a cash-flow analysis and estimated project financial indicators. Budget and required sources of funding have been analysed. Overall, the project has been considered feasible.
Silent Flyer belongs a new category of UAS. Its bioinspired design has applications as a bird pest deterrent at airports, helping aviation authorities to reduce risk of aircraft collisions with birds which is a serious economic and safety problem for aviation. Similarly, it can help farmers to reduce crop losses by damage from birds. To law enforcement bodies it can serve as a tool to obtain visual evidence of crime in difficult situations. Its applications also extend to the monitoring of wildlife without disturbing its natural environment.