TESTS WITH DRONES

The partner NORCE has 15 years of experience with using drones in climate and environmental sciences. This technology and competence are now coming to a new use in the CHOPIN project by using the drones to verify and demonstrate the developed surface coatings in real-life. 

THE CONCEPT

The proven drone platform is currently being rigged for realistic test of the CHOPIN developed surface technology during flights through insect swarms. The climate and environmental payload sensors will this time be replaced with samples of surface coatings which will be flown through insect swarms. Through a camera, the scientists will monitor the effect of the coating by assessing the amount of insect build up compared to a non-coated reference, in real time. The drone flight tests will take place on Finnmarksvidda in Northern Norway, which is widely known for its short but intense insect boom during the peak of summer.

The drone “Cryowing Roamer” that will be used to test the
developed technology in real-life flight tests.

A sample with the surface coating developed in the CHOPIN project is mounted on the front of the drone and ready for flight testing. On the left side of the sample, a camera for real  time monitoring and documentation of insect residue build up is installed.

THE ADVANTAGES

By using drones for the real-life tests, the CHOPIN projects are capable of performing a more cost-effective experiment, as compared to using manned aircrafts:

·         No need to certify the installation of test samples on the aircraft. Samples can be installed and changed by the scientists who will process them.

·         Manned aircraft are generally restricted to flight altitudes (higher than 120m above ground) where there are no insects, whereas drones can fly at low altitudes and “harvest” insects where the concentration is high.

·         Drones can be operated in the middle of insect hot-spots, ensuring short turn-around time between different test samples.

The drone flights are the final experiment in the CHOPIN project, where we validate the findings from the laboratory tests and wind tunnel experiments in a real-life scenario.

IN THE CHOPIN PROJECT

The drone flights are the final experiment in the CHOPIN project, where we validate the findings from the laboratory tests and wind tunnel experiments in a real-life scenario.


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