Crane (drone)

2024: Product Announcement

Russian developers in August 2024 presented a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "Crane," capable of flying without using satellite communications. This drone is the result of the work of specialists from the Institute of Intellectual Robotics (IIR) of Novosibirsk State University (NSU).

According to AviaPort, the uniqueness of the Crane lies in the use of artificial intelligence and machine vision for navigation. The device builds the flight path based on visual data, and not on coordinates obtained from the satellite. This allows unmanned aerial vehicles to function even with an unstable global satellite system signal.

source = NSU

Director of the Institute of Intellectual Robotics of Novosibirsk State University Alexei Okunev stressed that the main goal of the development is to create a single platform on the basis of which it will be possible to produce various types of drones with common properties. The key task is to train the drone to independently recognize the area and build a flight route without the help of a satellite navigator.

Research on the project is nearing completion. Some of the tasks have already been solved, in particular, the high-quality work of visual odometry has been ensured. This was confirmed by the first place that the team of Novosibirsk State University took in the drone orientation competitions as part of the design and educational intensive "Archipelago 2024."

At the next stage, the developers plan to increase the share of artificial intelligence in drone control. The UAV must learn to "recognize" objects on the ground observed in previous flights, and use this information to optimize the route and perform the tasks.

By the end of 2024, the IIR NSU expects to produce the first batch of prototypes of the Crane UAV. These devices are planned to be transferred for testing to potential industrial partners interested in the joint development of this platform with the university.^[1]

Notes