British drone company Animal Dynamics has announced a collaboration with the University of Manchester to improve the realism of its simulated environment and accelerate the commercial rollout of its uncrewed aircraft system (UAS), Stork STM.
Wind simulation plays a crucial role in design and development, exposing UASs to numerous wind scenarios in a virtual world that can be difficult and expensive to replicate in the real world.
The relatively small size of UASs, combined with operation in built-up environments such as cities, means that they are more vulnerable to localised wind gusts.
However, using advanced simulation software, Animal Dynamics is able to evaluate flight control strategies for take-off and landing under challenging wind conditions, including ideas inspired by the way birds deal with strong winds.
The software, supplied by the mechanical, aerospace, and civil engineering division at the University of Manchester, allows Animal Dynamics to blend simulated wind data into its virtual worlds.
By combining sophisticated simulations with realistic local wind conditions around buildings and other physical features, the UAS is able to undergo rigorous and accurate evaluation in varying settings before taking to the skies.
The simulation software is expected to underpin a flight control system able to respond to local wind conditions in seconds; helping to improve the tolerance of UAS to gusty conditions, particularly during take-offs.
The system, being developed by Animal Dynamics, is expected to create a safer airspace in the future by making UAS more intelligent and adaptive.
Ian Foster, head of engineering at Animal Dynamics, said: “Simulation holds the key to unlocking aerial autonomy. It is crucial that we are able to expose our systems to challenging environments in virtual worlds.
“Thanks to the team at the University of Manchester we can now blend realistic wind data into our simulated environments, something that will accelerate our ability to be able to address the urgent, complex, and dangerous operational challenges across the world.”
Stork STM, an autonomous heavy-lift powered parafoil, is capable of carrying 135kg (298 lb) of cargo up to 250 miles (400km).
It has been designed to address urgent, complex, and dangerous operational challenges, such as providing humanitarian aid in crisis zones, improving emergency response procedures in difficult to reach places, assuring delivery in varying military settings, or designing sustainable agriculture solutions for innovative thinkers.
Animal Dynamics has a fully operational UAS, ST-25, for last-mile logistics with payload drop capability (10kg over 40km / 22 lb over 25 miles), infrastructure monitoring, and various lidar and other surveillance missions.
