RusDronoport company announced the successful testing of an autonomous ground station for VTOL-type UAVs. The complex is designed for fully automated drone operations: the system independently prepares the aircraft for flight, performs launch, receives it after completing the mission, and provides maintenance between missions.
During tests, the UAV operated in gusty winds up to 10 m/s. According to the developer, the drone port is designed for year-round operation in a wide temperature range — from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius.
Flight control does not require constant operator presence. The automated system ensures mission execution from take-off to landing and allows real-time video streaming to multiple departments or services that require access to surveillance data.
The UAV used can carry a payload of up to 3 kg. Depending on the task, cameras, thermal imagers, gas analyzers, or lidars can be installed on board to collect specialized information.
According to the developers, the combination of a UAV and an autonomous drone port allows monitoring an area of up to 30 thousand square kilometers. This figure is comparable to the area of Belgium and opens up opportunities for monitoring large industrial facilities, extended infrastructure, and remote territories.