At a glance
The MIDRES project aims to develop a fully autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) capable of operating in GPS denied areas and aiding in search and rescue operations. The project initiated in 2021 and its consortium is made up of Greek academic institutes and industries. It has an almost three-year duration, with the test flights of the UAV models taking place in 2023.
The consortium
The Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery (LFMT) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), in Greece, is responsible for the aerodynamic and structural design of the UAV assessment as well as for the flight testing. The Laboratory of Robotics and Automation (LRA), at the Democritus University of Thrace is responsible for the development of the perception and obstacle avoidance system, which enables to UAV to operate autonomously. ALTUS LSA is responsible for the development of the portable ground control station (GCS), while DIDEAP determines the flight requirements of the UAS and supports in the development and testing phases.
Innovation
The MIDRES UAV will feature a combination of innovative design and navigation methods, which provide it with Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capabilities, as well as operation in GPS denied areas. The UAV’s perception system contributes to its safe operation and enables it to operate autonomously and identify humans in distress. This is achieved by recognizing and avoiding potential obstacles in collision course, maintaining sufficient distance from the ground, as well as using an optical and a thermal camera. Moreover, the UAV design will be modular, and the Ground Control Station will be a portable lightweight pack, equipped with a computer and integrated telemetry system, offering increased portability
01
AUTH - LFMT
Project coordinator, UAV design & performance analysis, aerodynamic and structural analysis, flight testing of the UAV
02
DUTH – LRA
Robotic vision, perception and obstacle avoidance system, human recognition system
03
ALTUS LSA
Development the portable GCS, telemetry systems
04
DIDEAP
Mission requirement definition, support in UAV development and testing