UMS SKELDAR demonstrates the potential of RPAS applications for fisheries protection, flood risk management and coastal erosion monitoring. QinetiQ, one of the world’s leading defence and aerospace organisations, chose remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) specialist UMS SKELDAR to demonstrate the environmental protection capabilities RPAS can provide to the Welsh Government. In a week long project which began on March 7th 2016, UMS showcased the potential of RPAS applications in the areas of fisheries protection, flood risk management and coastal erosion monitoring.
The live flights utilised key partner C-Astral’s Bramor C4EYE and gEO platforms, and aimed to demonstrate capabilities including:
- Co-operative vessel: The RPAS flew to a known ‘co-operative vessel’ location, as reported by the Fisheries Enforcement. Additionally, location data was provided by the legally-required ‘Succorfish’ VMS. The aim was to confirm the identity and location of the vessel, and to identify and report on any fishing or other activities it was carrying out.
- Non co-operative vessel: The aim was to search a defined area and visually detect the presence of a vessel otherwise known to the Fisheries Enforcement, and carry out the location, identification and reporting of activities as above.
- Coastal survey: The objective was to complete detailed visual surveys of coastal areas within the area of operations, as directed by the National Trust Wales.
- Any other tasks within the scope of the project and bounds of the area of operations, as requested by the Welsh Government.
David Willems, Global Business Director for UMS SKELDAR, explains: “These demonstrations prove the change in direction the civilian sector is taking for tasks like fisheries protection and monitoring coastal erosion. RPAS not only provide the Welsh Government with a more efficient way to identify and locate vessels undertaking illegal activities or where the coast is eroding, they also are more cost-effective due to the lack of need for manned patrols taking days, weeks or even months to undertake the same role.”
Both C-Astral platforms undertaking the demonstrations have been designed with surveillance in mind. The Bramor C4EYE is appropriate for operations where real-time video observation and surveillance capabilities are of utmost importance. It has an endurance range of three hours and a standard datalink of 30km. The Bramor gEO family is suitable for surveying and remote sensing applications in areas where replacement of the standard surveying methods is required. It is capable of measuring precise results down to 1cm with a ground sampling distance that begins at 0.9cm.
To find out more about the project with QinetiQ, or to organise a briefing with David Willems to discuss, please contact us on +44 1242 211187 or [email protected].
ENDS
This release has been issued on behalf UMS SKELDAR by Montpellier Public Relations Ltd. For further information please contact Andy Parker [email protected] or Philip Hicks [email protected] on +44 (0) 1242 211187
About UMS SKELDAR
UMS SKELDAR is a world leader in the design and manufacture of both vertical take-off & landing (VTOL) and fixed wing high-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Formed through a joint venture between UMS AERO Group and Saab, UMS SKELDAR is Europe’s only provider of both Rotary and Fixed Wing platforms.
The company is headquartered near Basel in Switzerland, with twin manufacturing facilities in Switzerland (Möhlin) and Sweden (Linköping) and offers a comprehensive solutions portfolio specialising in the 3-12+ hour endurance range. The company provides a total solutions capability globally, including development, manufacture, testing, training, consultancy, maintenance, managed services and finance options (incorporating purchase/leasing and lease purchase). It also provides associated systems including ground control stations, communications links and data terminals.
With a highly active research and development programme UMS SKELDAR provides solutions to a wide variety of military defence and civil security sectors globally. To find out more about the company, click on http://umsskeldar.aero/
