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TRIMIS

GPS-free, beyond the visual line of sight navigation for logistics drones in urban environments

Project

AUTOFLY - GPS-free, beyond the visual line of sight navigation for logistics drones in urban environments


Funding origin:
European
European Union
STRIA Roadmaps:
Connected and automated transport (CAT)
Connected and automated transport
Transport mode:
Airborne
Airbone
Transport sectors:
Freight transport
Freight transport
Duration:
Start date: 01/04/2022,
End date: 30/06/2023

Status: Finished
Funding details:
Total cost:
€3 527 060
EU Contribution:
€2 456 377

Overview

Background & policy context:

The increasing use of drones in various fields like delivery and inspection highlights the need for situational awareness capabilities. The EU-funded AUTOFLY project aims to address this need by developing a unique platform designed by Sightec that enables drones to perform complex tasks autonomously. The platform utilises advanced algorithms for vision-based orientation and navigation, real-time detection and tracking, visual positioning and autonomous inspection. It also allows for constant communication and real-time broadcast of analytics to mission control while using minimal network bandwidth, beyond line of sight and without GPS. By cross-referencing map data with visually observed landmarks, known waypoints, and visible obstacles and hazards, the system enables autonomous and remotely piloted vehicles to navigate like human pilots.

Objectives:

Sightec offers a unique platform based on cutting-edge algorithms which can provide vision-based orientation and navigation, Real-time Detection & Tracking, Visual Positioning and Autonomous Inspection. Sightec analytics performed on edge devices support a novel approach for determining global self-position. Our system enables constant communication and real-time broadcast of analytics to mission control, while using minimal network bandwidth. With Sightec, autonomous and remotely piloted vehicles to navigate as human pilots do, by cross-referencing map data with visually observed landmarks, known waypoints, and visible obstacles and hazards. Sightec enables drones to autonomously perform complex tasks that are otherwise impossible with currently available technology. In February 2021, our capabilities were demonstrated through a successful flight of a delivery drone across five routes in southern Israel, beyond line-of-sight and without the use of GPS.

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