In Russia, a system for automatic takeoff and landing of unmanned aerial vehicles on board small autonomous vessels is being developed. The project is being implemented by the Russian University of Transport (RUT), which is subordinate to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, together with the V. A. Trapeznikov Institute of Management Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences as part of the "Priority 2030" program.
The new system is designed for integration into domestic unmanned boats and is designed to solve one of the key technological problems of marine robotics — the lack of stable means of aerial reconnaissance on autonomous vessels. The development provides automated takeoff and landing of UAVs directly from the deck of the vessel in conditions of rolling, wind loads and movement along the course.
Control algorithms and onboard equipment allow the drone to interact correctly with the platform without operator intervention, which significantly increases the autonomy of marine complexes. This opens up opportunities for long-term continuous missions, including monitoring of water areas, technical inspection of hydraulic and port facilities, as well as participation in search and rescue operations.
According to industry sources, the developers have already manufactured a prototype of the system, installed on a small autonomous vessel. The tests carried out confirmed the operability of the solution and the stability of the UAV landing in real operating conditions.