Using (just) your brain to control a drone

Imagine using a brain-to-computer interface that enables people to control drones with their minds. It’s not science fiction anymore, and project BRAINFLIGHT is making it possible!

The BRAINFLIGHT project, the result of the shared belief of four organizations – TEKEVER (Project Coordinator – Portugal), Champalimaud Foundation (Portugal), Eagle Science (Netherlands) and Technische Universität München (Germany) – that aircraft can be directly controlled by the human brain, has accomplished several important results and is paving the way for having mind controlled drones.

During a public presentation in Lisbon (Portugal), TEKEVER and Champalimaud teams use high-performance electroencephalogram (EEG) systems to measure brain waves noninvasively, and then use specially conceived algorithms to convert brain signals into drone commands. The “drone operator”, wearing a cap that measures brain activity, influences the drone’s path using nothing but simple thoughts. Essentially, the electricity flowing through the pilot's brain acts as an input to the drone’s control system, in order to perform, on the air, a mission with objectives previously defined by the research team.  

“The project has successfully demonstrated that the use of the brain computer interface (BMI) on a simulator for the Diamond DA42 aircraft, where one pilot controlled the simulator through the BRAINLFIGHT system. We’ve also integrated the BMI the UAV ground systems and have successfully tested it in UAV simulators. We’re now taking it one step further, and performing live flight tests with the UAV.”, said Ricardo Mendes TEKEVER’s COO.

BRAINFLIGHT uses a multi-disciplinary approach of combining aeronautical systems engineering with neuro-science research. The project explores two different brain-computer interface (BCI) approaches. For this purpose, researchers have used the BCI system in a four seat, twin engine, propeller-driven aircraft simulator (the Diamond DA42). The final step in the project is the validation of the BCI approaches through control of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in real flight.

Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER’s COO, said “this is an amazing high-risk and high-payoff project, with long-term impact that has already provided excellent results and will require further technology maturation. We truly believe that BRAINFLIGHT represents the beginning of a tremendous step change in the aviation field, empowering pilots and de-risking missions, and we’re looking forward to deliver these benefits to the market with highly innovative products.”

BRAINFLIGHT is a project with significant impacts, both in mid and long terms. If BCI is adopted in the future as a method of control for aircraft (both manned and remotely piloted) then the project will potentially benefit the entire pilot community (from ultralight and general aviation to commercial aviation). Through the operant BCI approach, we believe people will be able to pilot aircraft just like they perform everyday activities like walking or running. This will mean that pilots will be able to focus on higher cognitive activities while still being able to operate such a complex system as an aircraft (akin to how professional sportsmen can focus on the tactical aspects of movement without worrying about maintaining proficiency on the basic game skills for example). Pilots will reduce their workload and physically disabled people may benefit in the medium term by becoming able to pilot aircraft. In addition, one of the obvious areas of application of this technology is advanced prosthetics, enabling people with severe physical disabilities to interact with their surroundings in an easier way. Another possibility is the application of the project results to the control of other complex systems like automobiles, boats, trains or any other system that combines physical interactions necessary for its control with a need for greater attention and focus on instruments or surroundings.

TEKEVER drone tracks lava flow at Pico do Fogo volcano capturing dazzling images

. TEKEVER Group has joined forces with Cape Verdean authorities during the volcanic eruption at island of Fogo (Cape Verde) by tracking the lava flow and monitoring magma temperature;

. TEKEVER drone captured dazzling images of the powerful volcanic eruption at Pico do Fogo volcano on the island of Fogo;


The TEKEVER team flew to the Island of Fire, in Cape Verde, to monitor the lava stream of the volcano that began erupting last November. In an action to support Cape Verdean authorities, the company used drones to make the first aerial images of the damage caused by the volcano. The TEKEVER drones captured images in high definition and with thermal imaging cameras. With this information, the Cape Verdean authorities identified the lava river that flowed below the magma already solidified and was, thus far, invisible to the surface. For one week, TEKEVER conducted missions throughout the day and night, using equipment such as the AR4 Light Ray, TEKEVER’s own creation.

“It was one of our hardest missions so far. But with the images of TEKEVER, the Cape Verdean authorities had a more peaceful Christmas. For the first time, it was possible to predict the advance of lava with certainty. The mission had two main benefits. We provided the Cape Verdean authorities with key information to protect their population as well as testing our equipment in an extreme context. We are very happy to be able to help!”, said Ricardo Mendes, COO TEKEVER.

The biggest eruption of Pico do Fogo in decades has destroyed two villages. Some 1,500 people were forced to abandon their homes before the lava flow reached the villages of Portela and Bangaeira at Fogo island in the Atlantic archipelago. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the Cha das Caldeiras region at the foot of the volcano immediately after it first erupted on November 23.

This mission had no costs to the Cape Verdean authorities and was developed under the social responsibility commitments of the company.

Pioneering TEKEVER Unmanned System selected for maritime surveillance in Europe

. The European Space Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency have selected the TEKEVER AR5 Life Ray Evolution for a new European maritime surveillance system composed of drones.

. The European project RAPSODY, led by the TEKEVER Group, will introduce, for the first time, unmanned aerial systems in maritime surveillance missions within Europe.

The new unmanned aerial system AR5 Life Ray, developed by technological Group TEKEVER, was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to create the first European maritime surveillance system composed of drones. 

The RAPSODY Project, led by TEKEVER, will test the use of unmanned aerial systems in a maritime context through real-world demonstration of two scenarios: search and rescue missions; and pollution and oil spill monitoring. The systems will operate over the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first time unmanned aerial systems will be introduced into maritime surveillance missions in Europe. 

This significant two year long project is being announced this week. It is expected that the first year will be dedicated to the integration of the various sensors that will board the aircraft, developing on-board sensor algorithms to improve operational performance, as well as optimizing data transmission according to the type of missions that the system will carry out. In the second year of the project, there will be tests and demonstrations that will put the system in real scenarios and prepare it for a fully commercial use. 

"The AR5 Life Ray Evolution is one of our larger platforms. With a wingspan of 4.3 meters and a payload of 50 kg, the AR5 is capable of performing 8 to 12 hours missions and has the most suitable design for the RAPSODY project. With the use of satellite communications, our system is geared to perform multiple types of long-range missions, including search and rescue, surveillance and maritime patrol and pollution detection, among others", explains Ricardo Mendes, COO of TEKEVER. "The AR5 is a clear advance in our systems, providing an excellent way to complement maritime surveillance operations, with a lower cost and greater flexibility than manned systems, as well as responding to the huge challenges posed by the European maritime space". 

The RAPSODY project is the result of a consortium lead by TEKEVER, which is responsible for providing and adapting the AR5 Life Ray system. Bond Air Services (UK) is responsible for the operation of the system, while TEKEVER UK manages the creation and adaptation of the sensor platform, the development of fusion algorithms and data processing. DSI Information Technik (Germany) is responsible for assuring security on sensor data transmission. 

The European Maritime Safety Agency will establish and validate operational requirements and coordinate all institutional relationships with the multiple end users of the system, including the Portuguese Navy, the Maritime Authorities of Malta and the Spanish Rescue and Safety Maritime Society. 

There are many advantages in using unmanned systems for maritime surveillance. For example, a reduction of risks associated with the missions, performance which goes beyond that of human endurance, as well as less complexity and a lower cost when compared to manned systems. 

About AR5 Life Ray Evolution 

The AR5 Life Ray Evolution is an unmanned aerial system designed for medium and long-range maritime surveillance missions. Capable of carrying 50kg in 8 to 12 hour missions, the AR5 features a wide range of sensor options, including high-definition and infrared cameras, synthetic aperture radars, LIDAR, AIS, among others.

“Social networks are crucial in crisis scenarios management”, says European study

. iSAR+ will provide instructions for an efficient use of social media in crisis situations

. European project reached an important milestone with a simulation of a crisis scenario at the Paris Subway

Social networks and mobile technology provides important information for the authorities in case of crisis scenarios and catastrophes. This is one of the conclusions of the European Research Project iSAR+ - Online and Mobile Communications for Crisis Response and Search and Rescue, funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and lead by the Portuguese technological Group TEKEVER.

The project reached an important milestone last month with a simulation of a crisis scenario at the Paris Montparnasse station during which authorities were receiving social network information provided by particular users. It’s also settled a final showcase in Kuopio (Finland) next year. 

“The information gathered on social networks and evaluated by our system were crucial for a faster and more efficient reaction of the authorities. For example, people provide us geo-referenced information and some details like the number of injured people or problems to access the accident site”, said João Belfo, iSAR+ Project Leader. 

TEKEVER is the Coordinator of the iSAR+ research project (http://isar.i112.eu) which aims at developing the iSAR+ Guidelines, providing instructions and recommendations for citizens and Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) agents for an effective and efficient use of social media and mobile technology in crisis situations.

The iSAR+ Platform integrates Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and functionalities that offer additional communication channels between PPDR agents and citizens and enhances high-quality situational awareness for PPDR and citizens, during and after a crisis situation. 

iSAR+ is a two and a half year European project, with an overall budget of around five millions euros for the 16 participating institutions of nine European countries.

Portuguese industry steps up in Space

Tekever and European Space Agency signed an agreement for the intersatellite communications link on ESA’s Proba-3 formation-flying mission.

The two satellites will accurately hold position at a distance of 150 m or more.

"This contract highlights a key technology contributionby Portuguese companies in a very advanced mission", said ESA.

PROBA-3 is the third small satellite technology development and demonstration precursor mission within ESA's GSTP (General Support Technology Program) series. The primary mission objective is to demonstrate the technologies required for formation flying of multiple spacecraft in the fields of space science, Earth Observation and surveillance. This involves the in-orbit validation of these new Formation Flying (FF) techniques and technologies through a series of precision FF maneuvers, including formation acquisition, high precision pointing, reorientation, maintenance, resizing, rotation and slew.

The PROBA-3 mission concept comprises two independent minisatellites in HEO (Highly-elliptical Earth Orbit) in PFF (Precise Formation Flying) formation, close to one another with the ability to accurately control the attitude and separation of the two satellites.

AR1@ATLAS exercise

The Portuguese Police conducted an ATLAS exercise in Lisbon this month with the participation of other police forces from across Europe. For the first time, ATLAS introduced UAV as a means to enhance operational capability, tactical awareness and to co-ordinate the response to the type of critical situation faced by police forces in many life threatening situations.

The UAV used was a TEKEVER - AR1 Blue Ray. With 65km/h wind speed and raining, the AR1 completed the mission successfully.

This exercise had recreated a situation of abduction of students at a university in Lisbon by a violent terrorist group. The mini-UAV made ​​the recognition of the place before the special forces action.

With day and night imagery to front line units in real time, the forces had the means to take the right decision at the right time.

37 international forces participated in ATLAS exercise in Lisbon.

Portuguese army uses TEKEVER UAVs in Kosovo

By: BETH STEVENSON

LONDON

Source: Flightglobal.com

The Portuguese army is nearing the end of a NATO deployment in Kosovo using its indigenously-built Tekever unmanned air vehicles (UAV).

The AR4 Light Ray UAV was deployed in support of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission in April. Since then it has been used for convoy protection – flying ahead of ground vehicles to carry out reconnaissance of the route ahead – to survey potential operational areas for safety and to pre-determine force requirements for particular missions.

Portugal's army has been operating the system for three years, but this is the first NATO operation it has been utilised for.

Portuguese army

“There are possible conflict zones there – they use it to survey the areas instead of or before sending teams out,” says Ricardo Mendes, chief operating officer of the company. “The current plan is to have it there for six months until the end of October. We’ve been speaking regularly and the results are good.”

The AR4 has an endurance of 2h and is using electro-optical/infrared payloads for the surveillance missions, operated from some 7.7nm (14.2km) away. Two systems have been deployed in support of KFOR, each comprising several aircraft and ground control equipment.

“It is a matter of pride for the Portuguese forces to use a Portuguese system,” Mendes says. “This is the first real integrated NATO mission where they have used this capability. Everybody is very happy with the system.”

Portuguese army

Mendes is hopeful the operations in Kosovo will highlight the system to other forces through the joint training that is taking place, and numerous potential acquisitions are being discussed in Europe.

Meanwhile, the company introduced the enhanced AR2 Carcara UAV in collaboration with Santos Labs in July. Mendes says this has become operational with the Brazilian navy, which had also operated a previous iteration of the UAV. Training is currently “well under way”, he says, and different elements of the navy have been trained to use the system.