AERIAL CORE

Project name: AERIAL COgnitive Integrated Multi-task Robotic System with Extended Operation Range and Safety
Project acronym: AERIAL-CORE
Dates: 01.12.2019 - 30.11.2023
Total budget: 8.595.306,25 EUR
Funding: EC Horizon 2020, ICT
Grant Agreement Number: 871479
Website: https://aerial-core.eu/

 


The main objective of AERIAL-CORE is the development of core technology modules and an integrated aerial cognitive robotic system that will have unprecedented capabilities on the operational range and safety in the interaction with people, or Aerial Co-Workers (ACW), for applications such as the inspection and maintenance of large infrastructures. 

The project will integrate aerial robots with different characteristics to meet the requirements of: 

(1) Long range (several kilometres) and local very accurate (subcentimetre) inspection of the infrastructure capability;

(2) Maintenance activities based on aerial manipulation involving force interactions; and

(3) Aerial co-working safely and efficiently helping human workers in inspection and maintenance. 

AERIAL-CORE technology modules will be based on Cognitive Mechatronics and apply cognitive capabilities to aerial morphing in order to combine long range endurance and hovering for local observations, manipulation involving force interactions, and co-working with humans. 

The project will develop: 

  • Cognitive functionalities for aerial robots including perception based on novel sensors, such as event cameras, and data fusion techniques, learning, reactivity, fast on-line planning, and teaming;
  • Aerial platforms with morphing capabilities, to save energy in long range flights and perform a very accurate inspection;
  • Cognitive aerial manipulation capabilities, including manipulation while flying, while holding with one limb, and while hanging or perching to improve accuracy and develop greater forces;
  • Cognitive safe aerial robotic co-workers capable of physical interaction with people; and
  • Integrated aerial robotic system for the inspection and maintenance of large infrastructures. 

The system will be demonstrated in electrical power system inspection and maintenance, which is an application with a huge economic impact that also has implications in the safety of workers and in wildlife conservation.

The project coordinator is the University of Seville, and project partners are the following:

1. University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (UNIZG-FER)
2. Ecole Polytechnique federale de Lausanne
3. Centre national de la recherche scientifique CNRS
4. C.R.E.A.T.E. Consorzio di Ricerca per l'Energia l'Automazione e le Tecnologie dell'Elettromagnetismo
5. Fundacion Andaluza para el Desarollo Aerospacial 
6. Universitat Zurich
7. Ceske vysoke uceni technicke v Praze
8. Aristotelio Panepistimio Thessalonikis
9. Terabee
10. senseFly SARL
11. Donecle SAS
12. Syddansk Universitet
13. Endesa Distribucion Electrica SL
14. Vertical Engineering Solutions SL
 


News

Computer Vision Workshop

Our PhD student Antonella Barišić attended the Programming short course and workshop on Deep Learning and Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems from 19th to 21st of August, 2020. The workshop was held remotely with more than 40 participants.

The aim of the workshop was to provide theoretical and practical programming knowledge on applying computer vision techniques and deep learning to solve problems in robotics such as object detection and target tracking.

Author: Ana Golec
Zdenko Kovacic at ERF 2020 (Malaga,...

Prof. Zdenko Kovacic attended European Robotics Forum (ERF) that was held 3-5 March 2020 in Malaga, Spain. Prof. Kovačić joined project partners  in promoting the project, attending lectures and workshops, and networking.

This was the 11th Annual European Robotics Forum ‘Future Robotics: Unlocking Human Potential’ hosted by Trade Fair and Congress Centre of Malaga (FYCMA). This iconic event put Spain at the heart of Europe’s most influential forum for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Author: Ana Golec
New H2020-ICT project ‘AERIAL-CORE’...

The new project “AERIAL Cognitive Integrated Multi-task Robotic System with Extended Operation Range and Safety (AERIAL-CORE)” commenced on December 1, 2019. It is a four-year project funded under HORIZON 2020-ICT, and coordinated by the University of Sevilla (Prof. Anibal Ollero). FER (LARICS) is partaking as a project partner, together with other European partners.

The main objective of AERIAL-CORE is the development of core technology modules and an integrated aerial cognitive robotic system that will have unprecedented capabilities on the operational range and safety in the interaction with people, or Aerial Co-Workers (ACW), for applications such as the inspection and maintenance of large infrastructures.

The project will integrate aerial robots with different characteristics to meet the requirements of:

  • Long range (several kilometres) and local very accurate (subcentimetre) inspection of the infrastructure capability;
  • Maintenance activities based on aerial manipulation involving force interactions; and
  • Aerial co-working safely and efficiently helping human workers in inspection and maintenance.

 

Author: Ana Golec