64 million DKK for drone research

Af Birgitte Dalgaard, bird@tek.sdu.dk, 23-09-2016

Drone research has just received a major boost.

In the national drone strategy there is allocated 30 million kroner to the project UAS-ability, which is based at the University of Southern Denmark.

With a total budget of 64 million DKK SDU must work for integrating the national research efforts in the field of drones, so everyone is working towards the goal of making Denmark a leading drone nation.

- It is fantastic! says leader of SDU Drone Center, Brad Beach. The American has been in charge of the drone center at SDU since 2015, and he will now start setting up two new drone laboratories in collaboration with HCA Airport in Odense.

Five universities participate

The project will unite the nation's forces in drone research. Drone researchers from five of the country's universities will collaborate to secure a leading position for Denmark in drone development.

- We have now created a strong research platform where the best conditions exist for world class drone research. Together we will find solutions for the technical problems that need to be solved before drones can become the commercial success that everybody expects, says Head of Department Kasper Hallenborg from the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute at SDU.

The universities will fund 34 million DKK, so the total budget is 64 million DKK. In the national drone strategy, The Minister for Education and Research allocates 30 million DKK from the research infrastructure funds for a national drone research infrastructure.

With SDU as a powerhouse, the UAS-ability will unite research in drone technology from the University of Aalborg, the University of Aarhus, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Copenhagen.

Drones have an enormous potential

- Drones have an enormous potential for strengthening Denmark’s productivity and the basis for growth in the entire country.

- That potential we must seize and develop, and therefore it is a great pleasure to be able to grant 30 million Danish kroner for Denmark’s first national research infrastructure for drone technology, says Minister for Education and Research, Ulla Tørnæs (V) and continues:

- The research infrastructure will be available for researchers all over the country and will strengthen the ability to transform knowledge about drones into concrete value for Danish companies.

Universities to go on spending spree

The grant from the Ministry of Higher Education and Science means that drone researchers from the nation's universities can make major purchases. They can now afford to buy the equipment that will facilitate development of the future's drones.

- At SDU, we are going to buy a 3-Dimensional radar. It is a tool which is absolutely necessary in developing drones that can self-register and avoid obstacles in the air. It is expensive and something we couldn't afford before, says Kasper Hallenborg.

At Aalborg University, the researchers are going to buy a large van: a command center on wheels that can monitor the airborne drones. The researchers will also buy a helicopter test drone with which they can test new sensors that can detect other aircraft.

Drone environment at HCA Airport strengthened

With the new grant, SDU now has the opportunity to integrate drone research even more into the internationally recognised drone environment flourishing at HCA Airport, where major companies like Boeing are testing drones.

- We will establish two new drone laboratories at the airport: a test laboratory equipped with simulators where researchers can test drones in different environments, such as inspecting offshore wind turbines, says leader Brad Beach from SDU Drone Center and continues:

- But also a composite laboratory where researchers can experiment with composite materials in the construction and design of the drones. In addition to Denmark´s universities, public and private companies may also use the laboratories when they are finished.