Project description

Nowadays many industry sectors have to deal with the increasing trend towards individualised and costumer specific products. The costumers expect configurable products that concur with their desires and demands. The associated production processes hence change from the mass production of just a few distinct products to low quantities and a wide variety of different products. Due to the high amount of investment costs and the required level of automation, commonly used logistic system are not profitable for this kind of production and alternatives are required.

In this context, autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be an alternative to existing logistics systems and driverless transport systems. They are able to operate in the currently unused space above the production systems, thus extend the flow of materials by the third dimension. Furthermore, a transportation system based on UAVs is highly flexible and allows fast transportation.

Therefore, the intention of the research project is the development of existing UAVs and corresponding technologies to use them in industrial applications. By combining different sensor technologies, indoor positioning systems and innovative software algorithms an autonomous navigating UAV shall be created and evaluated within the scope of two industrial use cases.

Besides the in-house transportation, the research regarding the application possibilities of UAVs also focuses on advanced tasks like maintenance and the surveillance of manufacturing facilities.

Simultaneously to the development of the UAV, its hazard potential is analysed and evaluated. By the use of appropriate safety technology and precautions, a compliance with industrial safety directives and legal regulations shall be archived.