TCXpo brings Smart Mobility exhibit to Ottawa’s Area X.O

TCXpo brings Smart Mobility exhibit to Ottawa’s Area X.O

Sep 28, 2023 | Area X.O, InDro News, Industry News, TCXpo, Transport Canada

By Scott Simmie

 

Canada’s largest Smart Mobility exhibit and demonstration took place in Ottawa September 27.

It was the second time the annual event has taken place. It brought hundreds of attendees – and more than 75 companies – to Area X.O, an innovation hub where leading Smart Mobility companies carry out research and development. The facility features a private 5G network and private roads, allowing companies to test and harden robots, drones, autonomous passenger-carrying vehicles, and more.

Sponsored by Transport Canada (that’s the “TC” in “TCXpo”), along with Invest Ottawa and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the event showcases innovations in the smart mobility space. Think the latest and greatest robots, drones, self-driving vehicles – along with a plethora of hardware and software associated with the sector.

“Today, we will celebrate Canadian innovation,” said Sonya Shorey, Vice President Strategy, Marketing and Communications of Invest Ottawa as she opened the show.

“Companies driving the smart mobility revolution. Innovators developing and commercializing multidisciplinary solutions to grand challenges and market opportunities. These innovations span every sector – from intelligent transportation to defence, public safety, security, aerospace, environment, smart agriculture, and telecommunications. And they are being developed by Canadian leaders.”

As Michael Tremblay, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, Area X.O and Bayview Yards, put it: “We’ve got incredible capability right across the country.”

Below: Michael Tremblay at the opening of TCXpo

 

 

Michael Tremblay Invest Ottawa

DARTT

 

One of the highlights of the show was the new Drone and Advanced Robotics Training and Testing facility, also known as DARTT. Built to the demanding criteria of the US-based National Institute of Standards and Training (NIST), DARTT is designed for evidence-based evaluation of drones over a variety of surfaces (including sand, gravel and water) and obstacles (including a variable incline ramp). There’s also a netted enclosure for flying experimental drones or assessing new payloads and failsafe features in a safe environment.

InDro’s Luke Corbeth hosted tours of DARTT, allowing spectators to take control of various robots and operate them over obstacles. Here, he explains the basics of the facility:

STREET SMART ROBOT

 

InDro also publicly unveiled one of its newest innovations: The Street Smart Robot, or SSR.

Built with the support of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation, the SSR will be monitoring bicycle paths in Ottawa this winter to detect snow, ice, potholes and debris that might impact the safety of cyclists. When those anomalies are detected, they’ll be flagged to road and maintenance crews at the City of Ottawa so they can be remediated.

Initially, the SSR will be remotely teleoperated by a human being who will have real-time situational awareness of all surroundings. The eventual goal is for the SSR to operate autonomously, with AI flagging problems so they can be sent up the chain.

Here’s a peek at the Street Smart Robot:

Street Smart Robot

PLENTY TO SEE

 

With more than 75 companies (and an estimated 1200 attendees) at TCXpo, there was no shortage of things to see and demonstrations to watch. Some of the highlights of the day included seeing:

  • The Skygauge drone, a unique design purpose-built for non-destructive testing, carrying out a demo flight. Its NDT probe was delicately placed against a pole while in flight, mimicking the routine carried for testing of metal tanks, coatings, etc.
  • The Wingtra drone, carrying out a flawless demo mission. The fixed-wing, two-motor VTOL is capable of transitioning to fixed-wing forward flight from hover, giving it great range and efficiency
  • A driverless tractor carrying out a circuit on a field, with commands sent remotely from a phone. Such devices will be common in the Smart Farms of the near future

Plenty of things caught our eye, including a remotely operated hang-glider (low cost, long range, high payload). There was a new Nokia dock system, allowing for automated flights in remote locations. The system recharges the drone, checks all systems, while maintaining a safe harbour from inclement weather – perfect for regular inspections in remote locations. There was even a US startup that has developed a system that will automatically lower car windows if you happen to plunge your vehicle into water.

We’ve gathered a few pix of the above – and more – which you’ll see in the gallery below:

Skygauge

Nokia Pod

Pilotless hang glider

Remotely operated hang glider

Tractor

And on this farm there was a robot, Ee-eye, ee- I/O

Tallysman Backpack

Good dog

InDro’s Luke Corbeth with the Unitree B1 quadruped at DARTT

InDro Sentinel

Drone Helicopter

Wingtra drone heads up for a mission

Wingtra

INDRO’S TAKE

 

The first TCXpo – despite the rain – was great. This one was bigger and better – and the weather was perfect. The demonstrations and exhibits collectively made it clear: Smart Mobility is coming.

“Part of the growth between the inaugural TCXpo and this display was due to word of mouth,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece. “But part of the equation is that the industry itself is growing at a rapid pace. The world of Smart Mobility may not have yet arrived, but you can definitely see it’s on its way.”

Finally, a tip of the hat to Transport Canada, ISED, Invest Ottawa and Area X.O. Those kudos aren’t just for putting on a great show – but also for having to vision to realize that this sector will create jobs, improve safety and contribute to greater efficiency in the not-so-distant future.

InDro Robotics, Tallysman partner on precision GNSS solution for ground robots

InDro Robotics, Tallysman partner on precision GNSS solution for ground robots

Sep 26, 2023 | GNSS, InDro News, Industry News, Scott Simmie, Tallysman

By Scott Simmie

 

There’s nothing like synergy.

And a new high-precision solution for location and heading – a collaboration between Indro Robotics and Tallysman Wireless – is the result.

As you likely know, while GPS is great – and good enough for us driving around using WAZE – its accuracy can leave something to be desired. Traditional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions generally are accurate to around 2.5 metres Circular Error Probability (CEP). That means the reported location has a 50 per cent chance of being within 2.5 metres of where it actually is. What’s more, that error rate exists under ideal conditions – with the detection system stationary and with an unobstructed view of satellites.

That’s good enough for a car with a driver, or a cargo ship. But many robotic applications require far greater precision. If you’re running a remote inspection robot using GPS waypoints, 2.5 metres isn’t good enough.

Think about it. In the example of a remote inspection robot, the device is generally operating at the location of a high-value asset. You might want a repeatable routine where the robot can get up close to look at gauges, valves, or anything else requiring inspection. You might want it to pass through a doorway, or get very close to – without touching – a highly energised electrical component. So accuracy matters, whether in this application or many other use-cases.

Now, InDro and Tallysman Wireless, a Calian company, are pleased to announce a solution.

Below: An InDro Sentinel inspection robot

Inspection Robot

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

 

That real estate phrase certainly applies when it comes to high-level robotics. But how do you get from a potential error of 2.5 metres down to, say, 2.5 centimetres – two orders of magnitude?

In this case, the solution came by partnering with Tallysman Wireless.

The company is known for its leading-edge GNSS and Iridium antennas. Tallysman also has an enviable reputation for customising those antennas for global clients seeking specific GNSS solutions. Ships, aircraft, trains and even drones carry out critical missions daily while relying on Tallysman solutions. InDro, meanwhile, is known for its R&D work, robots and custom innovations in the aerial and ground robotics world. So the potential was there for collaboration.

Because – and we know this well – it’s not just as simple as plugging antennas and receivers together and hoping for the best.

Tallysman InDro Backpack

THE ISSUE(S)

 

Antennas – even really good ones – are finicky pieces of equipment. Depending on what you’re mounting them on, they can be subject to interference that diminishes their performance. The type of connector attaching them to a receiver, even the length of the cable used in that connection, can also detract from optimal signal acquisition and accuracy. That’s why you want someone like Tallysman Wireless on board.

“We are experts in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions, specifically the antennae side of  things,” explains Gord Echlin, Tallysman’s Director of Business Development.

“A lot of people assume, unless you use the term GPS, that it’s a fairly easy thing to implement and get accurate results. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”

As Tallysman Wireless explains in a brochure:

“The problem is that keeping the antenna to system interface in the analog domain requires a lot of RF expertise to manage, expertise that is not widely available, and these issues amplify with long signal transmission over cables. Digital systems with built-in LTE communication links, common components of autonomous systems, are direct threats to the integrity of the GNSS signal.

 “Tallysman Wireless has solved this problem by integrating their sensitive, high performance, GNSS antennas in the same package as advanced GNSS receivers, in what is commonly called a ‘Smart’ Antenna. The GNSS processing solution is in compact, carefully engineered to mitigate the potential impairments between the antenna and receiver, and the Position/Navigation/Timing (PNT) information is now communicated to application system over in the digital domain, over a serial interface (UART, USB, CANbus, or Automotive Ethernet).”

Or, as Echlin puts it: “We take the receiver, and we take the antenna and put it in the same package to mitigate the outside interference such that you get less than two centimetres of error. That, along with very precise heading information – with accuracy to 0.3 degree.”

THE INDRO CONNECTION

 

With the Tallysman Wireless integrated solution, there was just one more piece of the puzzle remaining. How to integrate this into a robot? That’s where InDro’s engineering team came along.

The package required a software interface where none had existed before. InDro engineers created a ROS2 coding solution and integrated the Tallysman smart antenna onto our InDro Backpack – which we use with Unitree quadrupeds.

InDro Backpack is our system for remote teleoperations over 5G (and 4G), which also allows for rapid sensor integration and other customization using ROS1 and ROS2 software libraries (which, along with an EDGE computer and high-speed modem, are on-board).

The complete solution – hardware and software – enable consistent, high-accuracy positioning. InDro Plans to offer this complete solution to clients in need of precision positioning.

Below: The Tallysman Smart Antenna solution, integrated with new ROS2 coding into the InDro Backpack

InDro Backpack Tallysman

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We were pleased to partner with Tallysman Wireless on this integration project. With robots increasingly used for remote inspection of high-value assets, accurate positioning and heading data has become essential.

“Being able to tap into the expertise of Tallysman Wireless – and combine their solution with software from InDro engineers – has resulted in a powerful solution,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece.

“We’ve already begun integrating this onto our own robots, and look forward to offering this to clients in need of the most accurate and reliable positioning possible.”

Looking for more information? Connect with us HERE. And if you happen to be attending TCXpo, the solution is on display September 27 at Area X.O in Ottawa.

InDro Commander module streamlines robotics R&D

InDro Commander module streamlines robotics R&D

Sep 21, 2023 | InDro Commander, InDro News, Innovation, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Building robots is hard.

Even if you start with a manufactured platform for locomotion (very common in the case of ground robots), the work ahead can be challenging and time-consuming. How many sensors will require a power supply and data routing? What EDGE processing is needed? How will a remote operator interface with the machine? What coding will allow everything to work in unison and ensure the best data and performance possible? How will data be transmitted or stored?

That’s the hard stuff, which inevitably requires a fair bit of time and effort.

It’s that hurdle – one faced by pretty much everyone in the robotics R&D world – that led to the creation of InDro Commander.

InDro Commander

WHAT INDRO COMMANDER DOES

 

InDro Commander is a platform-agnostic module that can bolt on to pretty much any means of locomotion. In the photo above, it’s the box mounted on top of the AgileX bunker (just above the InDro logo).

Commander is, as this webpage explains, “a single box with critical software and hardware designed to simplify payload integration and enable turn-key teleoperations.” Whether you’re adding LiDAR, thermal sensors, RTK, Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras – or pretty much any other kind of sensor – Commander takes the pain out of integration.

The module offers multiple USB inputs for sensors, allowing developers to decide on a mounting location and then simply plug them in. A powerful Jetson EDGE computer handles onboard compute functions. The complete Robot Operating System software libraries (ROS1 and ROS2) are bundled in, allowing developers to quickly access the code needed for various sensors and functions.

“Our engineering team came up with the concept of the InDro Commander after integrating and customizing our own robots,” says Philip Reece, CEO of InDro Robotics. “We realized there were hurdles common to all of them – so we designed and produced a solution. Commander vastly simplifies turning a platform into a fully functioning robot.”

Account Executive Luke Corbeth takes it further:

“The Commander serves as a “brain-box” for any UGV,” he says. “It safely houses the compute, connectivity, cameras, sensors and other hardware in an IP54 enclosure.”

It also comes in several options, depending on the client’s requirements.

“There are three ‘standard versions’ which are bundles to either be Compute Ready, Teleoperations Ready or Autonomy Ready,” adds Corbeth.

“I’ve realized over time that the value of Commander is our ability to customize it to include, or more importantly, not include specific components depending on the needs of the project and what the client already has available. In reality, most Commanders I sell include some, but not usually all, of what’s in the Commander Navigate. We’re also able to customize to specific needs or payloads.”

Below: Commander comes in multiple configurations

InDro Commander

COMMANDER DOES THE WORK

 

With InDro Commander, developers can spend more time on their actual project or research – and far less time on the build.

“For end-users wanting a fully customized robot, Commander saves a huge amount of time and hassle,” says InDro Engineering Lead Arron Griffiths. “Customers using this module see immediate benefits for sensor integration, and the web-based console for remote operations provides streaming, real-time data. Commander also supports wireless charging, which is a huge bonus for remote operations.”

Commander serves as the brains for several InDro ground robots, including Sentinel. This machine was recently put through its paces over 5G in a test for EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute.

 

5G OPERATIONS

 

Depending on the model, Commander can also serve as a Plug & Play device for operations over 4G or 5G networks. In fact, InDro was invited by US carrier T-Mobile to a 2022 event in Washington State. There, we demonstrated the live, remote tele-operation of a Sentinel inspection robot.

Using a simple Xbox controller plugged into a laptop at T-Mobile HQ in Bellevue WA, we operated a Sentinel in Ottawa – more than 4,000 kilometres away. There was no perceptible lag, and even untrained operators were able to easily control remote operations and cycle between the Pan Tilt Zoom camera, a thermal sensor, and a wide-angle camera used for situational awareness by the operator. Data from all sensors was displayed on the dashboard, with the ability for the operator to easily cycle between them.

Below: T-Mobile’s John Saw, Executive Vice President, Advanced & Emerging Technologies, talks about InDro Commander-enabled robots teleoperating over 5G networks 

 

FUTURE-PROOF

 

Platforms change. Needs evolve. New sensors hit the market.

With Commander on board, developers don’t need to start from scratch. The modular design enables end-users to seamlessly upgrade platforms down the road by simply unbolting Commander and affixing it to the new set of wheels (or treads).

Below: Any sensor, including LiDAR, can be quickly integrated with InDro Commander

Teleoperated Robots

INDRO’S TAKE

 

You likely know the saying: “Necessity if the mother of invention.”

InDro developed this product because we could see its utility – both for our own R&D, and for clients. We’ve put Commander to use on multiple custom InDro robots, with many more to come. (We have even created a version of this for Enterprise drones.)

“On the commercial side, our clients have really benefited from the inherent modularity that the Commander provides,” says Luke Corbeth.

“Since the ‘brains’ are separate from the ‘body,’ this simplifies their ability to make the inevitable repairs or upgrades they’ll require. These clients generally care about having a high functioning robot reliably completing a repetitive task, and Commander allows us to operate and program our robots to do this.”

It can also save developers money.

“On the R&D side, the customizable nature of the Commander means they only purchase what they don’t already have,” adds Corbeth.

“For instance, many clients are fortunate enough to have some hardware already available to them whether it’s a special camera, LiDAR or a Jetson so we can support the integration of their existing systems remotely or they can send this hardware directly to us. This cuts down lead times and helps us work within our clients’ budgets as we build towards the dream robot for their project.”

Still have questions or want to learn more? You can get in touch with Luke Corbeth here.

InDro Robotics expands with InDro Forge prototyping & custom fabrication

InDro Robotics expands with InDro Forge prototyping & custom fabrication

Sep 18, 2023 | InDro Forge, InDro News, News Release, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

InDro Robotics is pleased to announce it is now managing InDro Forge – a prototyping and custom fabrication facility utilising tools including metal 3D printing, CNC machining, silicone and urethane casting, and more.

The facility is located in Ottawa, and was formerly known as the Bayview Yards Prototyping Lab. Previously run by Invest Ottawa, the facility is a “one stop shop” for entrepreneurs and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) seeking the custom design and fabrication of prototypes. The location features a variety of tools for additive and subtractive manufacturing all under one roof – along with a team with the requisite expertise. InDro Forge also plans expand into other areas, including limited production runs and other custom fabrication for specialty sectors.

The strategic partnership with Invest Ottawa brings InDro’s R&D and engineering expertise to The Forge, while Invest Ottawa will promote the facility and its capabilities to potential clients.

For both partners, this is a perfect match.

“We look forward to enhancing this already-excellent facility and broadening its capabilities and services,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece. “This is a great fit for InDro, and we’re truly excited about the possibilities for existing and new clients.”

There’s equal enthusiasm from Invest Ottawa:

“InDro Robotics is an ideal partner for our prototyping lab, Invest Ottawa, and the many innovators and companies we serve,” said Michael Tremblay, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa. “We look forward to building on our strong collaboration at Area X.O, and helping firms leverage the evolving prototyping and production capabilities available through InDro Forge to accelerate their technology commercialization and business growth. We are excited to house this expertise right here at Bayview Yards, our innovation hub.” 

Let’s dive in.

Below: This 3D printer can create products in a variety of metals, including titanium.

 

InDro Forge

RAPID PROTOTYPING – AND MORE

 

The facility has already built a reputation for its work with rapid prototyping. Inventors, startups and SMEs have walked through the door with an idea for a prototype. They might want it for a proof of concept, a Minimum Viable Product – or simply as a working model to take and show investors.

Working with staff, they receive a full-fledged industrial design that is then fabricated in any one (or combination) of a number of materials. (The 3D printer alone can work with some 25 substances, including ABS and metal.) The Bayview Yards Prototyping lab built an excellent reputation for this kind of work. It was also an all-in-one solution for companies that didn’t have the equipment, time or expertise to carry out this highly specialised work.

Now, with InDro Robotics at the helm, we anticipate significant synergy between our Area X.O engineering team and the experts at InDro Forge. The latter will be able to draw on the expertise in aerial and ground robotics from our core R&D engineering hub. In turn, InDro Robotics will be able to add the design and fabrication capabilities of InDro Forge to its portfolio of services. What’s more, InDro has plans to extend the offerings of the lab, offering limited production runs and other custom fabrication services.

“We see the value when people come to us with a napkin sketch and leave with a physical prototype they can show investors,” says InDro Forge’s Pablo Arzate, an industrial designer with special expertise in additive manufacturing. He also sees synergy in the transition to InDro Robotics. 

“I personally am very excited – I feel like it’s meant to be,” he says. 

Below: Advanced capabilities include a water jet machine, capable of slicing through several inches of steel

Advanced Manufacturing

THE INDRO FORGE ADVANTAGE

 

For startups and SMEs, there’s a clear advantage to outsourcing prototypes and other complex design and fabrication to InDro Forge. Few companies, particularly smaller ones, have this kind of equipment and in-house expertise. InDro Forge is equipped with a wide array of additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities, including:

  • CNC machining
  • Silicone and urethane casting
  • Multi-element 3D printing (including metal)
  • Electronics and Printed Circuit Board fabrication and analysis

There’s much more, of course. But none of those machines or capabilities would be much use without the highly skilled InDro Forge team members. With backgrounds in industrial design and engineering (and many years of experience), they’re experts in multiple fabrication processes. The core team that worked with Invest Ottawa have stayed on and are now working with InDro Robotics. We’re pleased to welcome:

  • Joel Koscielski, Senior Manager of Design and Fabrication (and a mechanical engineer)
  • Pablo Arzate, Industrial Designer
  • Tom O’Leary, Fabricator and Machine Operator (and metal sculptor!)

For those seeking custom and complex fabrication, the InDro Forge advantage is clear.

“If you don’t have these machines at your disposal, it’s definitely great to find a place with the expertise to help you out,” says O’Leary. “If you don’t have these capabilities then we are here to help create the thing that you’re looking to create. We’re set up to help anybody who comes in with anything from an engineering project to a napkin drawing.”

InDro Forge offers services ranging from one-off prototypes to full product development.

“Some of our other clients come to us where they have an early prototype that they’ve cobbled together. It tells them that their idea is possible but it’s not a product yet,” says Joel Koscielski. “So we’ll help them turn that into a more refined version of itself. We might do one of those, we might do five – even 25.”

Projects can be big – or small.

“Sometimes it’s just that extra bit of capacity – they themselves have never had to make a sheet metal box that looks good,” adds Koscielski.

Below: You dream it, they can make it. From L-R, Koscielski, Arzate and O’Leary

 

Joel Koscielski
Pablo Arzate

FAVOURITE MACHINES

 

With all of those sophisticated fabrication capabilities in-house, you might guess that team members at InDro Forge have their own favourite machine. And you’d be right.

“My favorite machine is most definitely the Markforged II, it just stands out as a remarkable piece of engineering,” says Pablo Arzate.

“Its precision and versatility in 3D printing technology never cease to amaze me. The Markforged II’s ability to fabricate parts with carbon fiber and nylon on top of reinforcement fiber materials, including carbon fiber, glass fiber, and kevlar, opens up a world of possibilities for product development and rapid prototyping. Whether I’m creating intricate prototypes or functional components, the Markforged II consistently delivers impeccable results, making it an indispensable part of my creative and engineering endeavors.”

For Tom O’Leary, it’s the water jet – which uses a precision stream of water mixed with fine grit under immense pressure to cut and shape just about anything.

“My favourite piece in the shop is the giant basin of water,” he laughs. “It cuts with 55,000 PSI coming out of a tiny nozzle; it’s like having a saw with a calligraphy pen at the end of it. It’s absolutely capable of cutting through six inches of anything ranging from steel to glass to acryclic.”

And Joel Koscielski? He’s also particularly fond of the Markforged Mark II 3D Printer. 

“As a Fused Deposition Modelling printer using a carbon fiber reinforced nylon composite material – which has the ability to embed other continuous fiber structures into the parts – it is a true workhorse of innovation,” he says.

“On top of its use for functional parts for prototypes and products alike, its quality and surface finish allow me to make parts which can be used in sales or demonstration environments on the exterior of prototypes, not just on the inside. This is further complimented by a range of innovative solutions our team has developed such as interior metal reinforcement structures to push its parts into new and exciting areas of us.”

InDro Forge

INDRO’S TAKE

 

This is a major development for InDro Robotics, and we have big plans for InDro Forge. We’re excited to expand our team with the talented crew at InDro Forge and look forward to serving clients large and small.

“This is really just such a logical fit for InDro Robotics,” says CEO Philip Reece. “Whether it’s working with new clients or assisting our own, InDro Forge has all the right stuff – including the right people.”

We’ve issued a news release on the new transition/strategic partnership. You can find that right here.

InDro Robotics flies in urban wind tunnels for National Research Council project

InDro Robotics flies in urban wind tunnels for National Research Council project

Aug 24, 2023 | InDro News, Industry News, National Research Council, Scott Simmie, Transport Canada

By Scott Simmie

 

Flying a drone in dense urban settings comes with its own set of challenges.

In addition to following regulations laid out in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part IX, operators have to contend with other factors. Helicopters, for example, routinely share urban airspace. And, in addition to surrounding buildings, streets are generally more densely packed with people and vehicles than other locations.

But there’s another factor that can really cause problems: Wind.

Airflow in urban centres is very different from rural settings. The close proximity of multiple buildings can amplify wind speed and create tricky – and invisible – areas of turbulence. These can cause havoc for operators, and potentially for people and property on the ground.

That’s why the National Research Council, in conjunction with Transport Canada and other partners, is conducting research on urban airflow.

Below: The view from the InDro dashboard, showing a wishbone-shaped appendage carrying two anemometers

NRC Urban Wind Tunnel Eric

WHY THE RESEARCH?

 

The National Research Council is helping to prepare for the future of Urban Air Mobility. That’s the coming world where intra-urban drone flights are routine – and where airspace is seamlessly shared with traditional crewed aircraft. As the NRC states on this page:

“The vertical take-off and landing capability of UAS promises to transform mobility by alleviating congestion in our cities.”

As part of its seven-year Integrated Aerial Mobility program (launched in 2019), the NRC has already been working on developing related technologies, including:

  • “optical sensor-based detect-and-avoid technologies to assist path planning of autonomous vehicles
  • “drone docking technologies to support contact-based aerial robotics tasks
  • “manufacturing of high-density and safe ceramic lithium batteries to enable low-emission hybrid-electric propulsion”

The NRC is also interested in wind. Very interested.

 

DRONE FLIGHTS IN URBAN CENTRES

 

Drone delivery – particularly for medical supplies and other critical goods – will be part of this world before long (home deliveries will likely come eventually, but not for some time). In the not-so-distant future, it’s likely that specific air corridors will be set aside for RPAS traffic. It’s also likely, eventually, that an automated system will oversee both drone and crewed aircraft flights to ensure safety.

Part of the path to that future involves looking at the unique characteristics of urban wind patterns – along with the potential challenges they pose to drone flights. Are there certain locations where increased wind speed and turbulence pose a greater risk to safe RPAS operations? What wind speeds might be deemed unsafe? Can data gathered help lead to guidelines, or even additional regulations, for operations in cities? If the speed of wind at ground level is X, might we be able to predict peak turbulence wind speeds? Might drone manufacturers have to revise their own guidelines/parameters to take these conditions into account?

Those are the questions that interest the National Research Council, in conjunction with Transport Canada and other partners. And InDro Robotics is helping to find the answers.

Below: A DJI M300 drone, modified by InDro and specially equipped with anemometers to detect windspeed while avoiding prop wash

NRC Urban Wind Tunnel Eric

RESEARCH

 

Previous studies have shown that turbulence caused by buildings can indeed impact the stability of RPAS flights. Now, the NRC is keen on digging deeper and gathering more data.

The research is being carried out by NRC’s Aerospace Research Centre, in conjunction with a number of partners – including McGill University, Montreal General Hospital, CHUM Centre Hospital, InDro Robotics and others. The flights are being carried out by InDro’s Flight Operations Lead, Dr. Eric Saczuk (who is also head of RPAS Operations at the BC Institute of Technology).

“Urban environments create a variety of exacerbated micro-level wind effects including shear, turbulence and eddies around buildings. These effects can locally increase reported wind speeds by up to 50 per cent,” says Dr. Saczuk.

InDro has been involved with this research for three years – with earlier flights carried out in the NRC’s wind tunnel. Now, the testing has become more real-world. InDro flies a specially equipped DJI M300. The wishbone-shaped appendage in the photo above carries two tiny anemometers placed specifically to capture windspeed and variations without being affected by the thrust generated by the rotors. The drone is also equipped with an AVSS parachute, since these flights take place over people.

 

THE MISSIONS

 

Some months prior to the flights, the NRC installed fixed anemometers on the roofs of the hospitals mentioned above. This allowed researchers to obtain a baseline of typical wind speeds in these areas. Then came the flights.

“Part of our mission is to fly the drone over three different rooftops and lower the drone to hover at 60m and 10m above the anemometer station,” says Dr. Saczuk.

“This allows NRC to compare the wind data recorded by the static anemometers with data captured by the mobile anemometers on the drone. Our launch sites are from the CHUM Centre Hospital and the Montreal General Hospital, which are about three kilometres apart with a pilot at each location. Additionally, we’ll be flying the drone from one hospital to the other and also along an ‘urban canyon’ between the three rooftops.”

 

NRC Urban Wind Tunnel Eric

CHALLENGES

 

Flying in urban locations always requires additional caution. The research also demands very precise altitudes while capturing data – along with piloting with the anemometers attached to the drone.

“Gathering the data always has its challenges – especially when operating over a dense downtown core such as Montreal,” he says.

“Many months of planning led to two days of successful data capture on July 26 and 27. One of the main challenges is maintaining C2 connectivity amongst the tall buildings. Another consideration is ensuring a proper center of balance with the added payload well forward of the aircraft. Resultingly, flight endurance is shortened due to the extra load on the motors and thus we had to modify our flight plans to account for this. We learned a lot during the first two days of data capture!”

For Dr. Saczuk, this is a particularly rewarding research project. Why?

“Quite simply because it’s cutting-edge and involves RPAS,” he says.

“We have established a great relationship with the test facility at NRC and Transport Canada, so to know that InDro is involved in helping to understand the potentially adverse effects of flying RPAS around tall buildings for the purpose of making these flights safer feels very rewarding. Personally, I also enjoy challenging missions – and this may well be the most challenging mission I’ve ever flown!”

Below: The M300, equipped with the anemometers and looking a bit like a Scarab beetle. The sharp-eyed will notice that the two anemometers are mounted vertically and horizontally

NRC Wind Tunnel Eric

INDRO’S TAKE

 

InDro Robotics has a long history of involvement with research projects and other partnerships with academia. We are particularly drawn to projects that might have a positive and lasting impact on the industry-at-large, such as this one.

“Urban wind tunnels and turbulence have the potential to disrupt even a well-planned RPAS mission,” says InDro CEO Philip Reece. 

“As we move toward more routine drone flights in urban centres, it’s important to capture solid data so that evidence-based decisions can be made and Best Practices evolve. This research will prove valuable to the Canadian RPAS industry – by helping to ensure safer urban drone operations.”

The research is ongoing; we’ll provide updates when further milestones are hit.

InDro Robotics tapped to fly drone missions at Kelowna fire

InDro Robotics tapped to fly drone missions at Kelowna fire

Aug 21, 2023 | Emergency Response, InDro News, Industry News, Scott Simmie, Spexigon, Wildfires

By Scott Simmie

 

As forest fires continue to threaten Kelowna, BC, officials have urged tens of thousands of residents to heed warnings and evacuate from the area. Some 30,000 people are currently under an evacuation order, with another 36,000 being told to stand by and be ready to flee if necessary.

“We cannot stress strongly enough how critical it is to follow evacuation orders when they are issued,” said BC minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma on Saturday. “They are a matter of life and death not only for the people in those properties, but also for the first responders who will often go back to try to implore people to leave.”

Now, the City of Kelowna has called on InDro Robotics to assist with the effort by flying drone missions to gather specific data.

Recent footage shows just how close the fire is to the city:

INDRO TO ASSIST

 

On Friday, InDro Robotics was approached by the City of Kelowna to assist in damage assessment by flying drones in the affected areas and also to carry out thermal missions. The first flights are being deployed today (Monday, August 21, 2023).

InDro is carrying out thermal missions over the city landfill, which is burning beneath the surface. A FLIR sensor will identify hot spots for those involved with fire management.

“With a rapidly changing situation, decision-makers need the best available data,” explains InDro CEO Philip Reece. “The thermal data will be useful – as these subterranean fires, which can smoulder for days and even weeks, are not visible to the naked eye.”

In addition, InDro will be flying missions to assess damage and pull together high-resolution photogrammetry. Plans are to use the Spexigon platform for those missions.

 

SPEXIGON

 

The Spexigon platform simplifies the acquisition and processing of high-resolution earth imagery using most popular drones.

The software standardises the capture to produce imagery at scale. The process begins with Spexigon capturing and indexing raw drone imagery. That imagery can then be used by the SpexiGeo software (or other third-party platforms).  The imagery below was captured by Spexigon, but processed and viewed on the SpexiGeo app (you can scroll through the imagery and zoom in, revealing the high resolution).

AUTOMATED

 

Spexigon automates the flights; the pilot’s job is simply to monitor the airspace like a visual observer (though manual control can be taken over at any time). This automation results in greater accuracy when capturing data over targets of interest and produces a database that can easily and securely be accessed by decision-makers.

The Spexi app provides access to multiple features, including:

  • Planning tools for efficient and accurate data acquisition
  • Autonomous flight using the latest DJI drones
  • Secure, cloud-based footage processing and sharing
  • Survey work using Ground Control Points

“Obtaining high-resolution photogrammetry requires precise flying – including maintaining a consistent height above ground level,” says Reece. “The automated flights will ensure consistent photos – which will provide decision-makers with a clear picture of what’s been damaged, and to what extent.”

 

WILDFIRE “TOURISTS”

 

The spectacle of this raging fire has, unfortunately, drawn some unwanted attention. Officials say unauthorized drones flights have been taking place with people posting video to social media. The presence of drones not directly related to emergency operations is both illegal and dangerous. Water bombers and helicopters are in regular use and drones can pose a threat to those operations.

“Drones are a significant hazard to our air crews fighting fires,” said Bruce Ralson, BC’s Minister of Forests, on Saturday. “Now is not the time to take the footage or photos of active wildfires. Not only is it irresponsible, but it is illegal to fly them in fire areas.”

InDro is working closely with Kelowna emergency operations to ensure any drone flights do not pose a conflict with crewed aviation.

“This will be an ongoing operation and we’ll obviously be taking great care to ensure any InDro-operated flights are well clear of other aerial firefighting operations,” says Reece (pictured below).

InDro Robotics

INDRO’S TAKE

 

The wildfires near Kelowna – and Yellowknife – are obviously of serious concern. InDro hopes to make a meaningful contribution to those involved in the emergency response.

“Drone-gathered data – whether thermal or visual – helps those in charge make the best possible decisions in a rapidly changing situation,” says InDro’s Reece. “We will fly missions as long as required, and offer any other assistance we can. We hope the situation for the tens of thousands of people impacted by this disaster returns to normal as soon as possible.”

We’ll provide further updates as missions progress.

Update: Following the completion of our missions, the City of Kelowna provided the following statement.

“The Regional District of the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Center contracted InDro Robotics to capture drone footage of the Clifton-McKinley fire area.  Flights were coordinated and authorized through the Emergency Operations Center.

“The thermal imagery captured by drones improved firefighting by providing precise data on underlying fire threats. Marking specific hotspots on maps where the ground temperature exceeded safe levels allowed responders to pinpoint exactly where fires were burning underground, ensuring a more effective and targeted response. In addition, the footage allowed Emergency Operations Center staff to share imagery with directly impacted property owners, allowing them to understand the magnitude of the damage before it was safe to allow re-entry.”

Credit for feature image: Murray Foubister via Wikimedia Commons