Precise and reliable autonomous landing for drones, helicopters and other rotorcraft

Project Information

LOLAS

Grant agreement ID: 875887

DOI 10.3030/875887

Project closed

EC signature date 31 July 2019

Start date 1 August 2019

End date 31 December 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost € 71 429,00

EU contribution € 50 000,00

Coordinated by

INTERNEST
France

Project description

New landing system to improve rotorcraft safety

Rotorcraft like drones and helicopters are used to make deliveries, transport the sick or injured to the hospital, and offer a range of commercial services. Despite their frequent use, hazardous weather or poor visibility pose serious problems to all types of rotorcraft. It is estimated that 33 % of accidents occur during approach and landing, while 43 % occur due to poor visibility conditions. These accidents also result in human injuries. This EU-funded project LOLAS has designed and patented the local landing system (LOLAS). It is a solution aimed at improving the safety of landing for rotorcraft in bad weather conditions or in difficult terrains. The project will design three variants by 2021.

Objective

Landing has always been one of the most dangerous flight phases for any aircraft, but particularly so for rotorcraft (drones, helicopters & other). Challenging weather conditions only increase the likelihood of an accident. 33% of accidents for helicopters take place during approach & landing. 43% of them take place in poor visibility or in bad weather . These accidents lead to injuries of people (both inside the aircraft & on the ground) as well as to hull damage & losses.
We have designed & patented the local landing system (LOLAS)—a novel solution that allows safe landing of drones & helicopters in challenging conditions, such as bad weather or a moving platform.
We have been successful in beta sales of LOLAS to early adopters in the aerospace & defence industries, generating €280,000+ in revenues. Our current sales pipeline is worth €60,000+. We have major industry players in the EU, US and other countries signed as customers & an extensive pipeline.
We have a solution that can be commercialized today with the existing drones & in the mid-to-long term with helicopters. It is future-proof: we are targeting the new market of urban air transportation that is forecasted to reach €4bn by 2022.
We are aiming to complete 3 LOLAS product variants by 2021, launch to helicopter market & reach €15m in revenues (75+ FTEs) by 2023.

Fields of science

Not validated

• engineering and technology › mechanical engineering › vehicle engineering › aerospace engineering › satellite technology
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › robotics › autonomous robots › drones
• engineering and technology › mechanical engineering › vehicle engineering › aerospace engineering › aircraft › rotorcraft
• engineering and technology › mechanical engineering › vehicle engineering › aerospace engineering › aeronautical engineering
• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › energy and fuels

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme
• H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
• H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies

Topic(s)

• EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument

Call for proposal

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-1

Funding Scheme

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

Coordinator

INTERNEST

• Net EU contribution: € 50 000,00
• Address: 23 RUE ALFRED NOBEL ; 77420 CHAMPS-SUR-MARNE ; France
• SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes:
  Region
  Ile-de-France › Ile-de-France › Seine-et-Marne
• Region: Ile-de-France › Ile-de-France › Seine-et-Marne
• Activity type: Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
• Total cost: € 71 429,00