Successful demo day by AIRlabs, Riegl and ElevonX
Frein an der Mürz, September 5, 2024 – AIRlabs, Riegl and ElevonX presented groundbreaking advances in area surveying using drone technology at a public demonstration in the alpine terrain of the LO R-9 Steinalpl flight area. The focus was on conducting a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) mapping mission, in which RIEGL LiDAR sensors were integrated into a specially customised VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drone from ElevonX. This innovative combination enabled precise surveying of large and difficult to access areas, creating new opportunities for the use of drone technologies in challenging alpine terrain.
Project number: 7.703.40002
Involved Consortium Partners
Innovative drone technology in alpine terrain
Robin Deutsch, technical-scientific employee at AIRlabs Austria: ‘For us, the demo day was a great opportunity to demonstrate the performance of the RIEGL sensors for surveying large forest areas and to gain valuable experience for expanding our expertise as a drone operator.’ ElevonX, for its part, tested its systems under challenging conditions in alpine terrain.
The VTOL drone from ElevonX was specifically customised for this project to enable the integration of the high-precision RIEGL LiDAR sensors, VUX-160 and VUX-180. In addition to the integration of the sensors into the aircraft, the risk assessment according to SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) played a central role in the preparations, as this was necessary for the BVLOS flight in alpine terrain. The flight, which lasted around 25 minutes, took place over an area of 4 km² at a height of around 300 metres above the ground. A meandering flight pattern ensured optimum area coverage. For safety reasons, the airspace was closed by means of a NOTAM message to the aviation authorities.
Highly precise and efficient mapping – a look into the future
The 4 km² area was scanned in just 25 minutes, generating a point cloud with a resolution of 60 points per square metre. The 3D data generated showed – due to the multi-target capability of the laser scanner – tree trunks, forest tracks, ditches and even individual leaves in astonishing detail – a clear demonstration of the potential of these technologies. Airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) therefore offers a fast and efficient method for accurately capturing 3D data of large areas.
Philipp Amon, Business Division Manager, ULS at RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems: ‘During the demo day, the full potential of drone technology was not yet realised – we see great potential for longer flight times and therefore larger scan areas. Further flights are already planned in order to further explore the possible applications and implement the knowledge gained in optimised applications.’
The event showed that the combination of VTOL drone technology and LiDAR sensors is a promising solution for surveying areas that are difficult to access. Thanks to the successful collaboration between Riegl, ElevonX and AIRlabs, the potential of this innovative technology was impressively demonstrated under real conditions in alpine terrain.
Impressions
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