The area is dedicated to the design of both the flying platform as a whole system and some subsystems that equip the platform itself: the on-board air data sensors and the platform’s guidance and control system. The platforms of interest are mainly those aimed at urban mobility and the unmanned LTA. As regards the design of the flying and control systems, it starts from the modelling of these devices to arrive ta the implementation and experimental validation of the device itself.
- Virtual (Synthetic) Sensors and machine learning applications
Aim of this research is the reduction of the number of the aircraft external sensors implementing a suite of synthetic sensors based on neural networks or analytical solutions. At the same time this project will see the implementation of techniques of machine learning applied to the aeronautical field.
The study of virtual sensors aims to support or to replace part of the sensors suitable for measuring flight parameters, specifically for measuring the angle of attack and sideslip angle.
The elimination of these sensors, installed externally to the aircraft, has the aim to simplify redundant architectures and to provide dissimilar failure modes. A solution, based on neural networks, was patented in 2013 and studied under various theoretical and implementation aspects, including the requirements to be met in the experimental flight campaign phase. A second patent application was filed in 2020 about a new solution applicable to any type of flying bodies.
In this context, the research also aims to provide a series of consolidated procedures for the study, design, implementation and certification of these innovative sensors that have received interest from the aeronautical industry. The results of these research prepared the basis of the European project MIDAS and ASSE.
- Unmanned LTA platform for monitoring
The “VECTOR” Project consists in the definition, design and development of a new generation innovative airship for civil and homeland security applications.
This platform is a remotely controlled full electric Lighter Than Air (LTA) flying platform, adopting highly innovative technical solutions, capable of ensuring enhanced operational effectiveness and strong reduction of acquisition, operational and logistic support cost.
Vector can be equipped with various surveillance and monitoring sensors, selected according to the specific mission requirements.
The existing conventional airships show strong operational limitations, mainly due to the poor efficiency of the conventional control system, even for standard manoeuvres and light gusts.
The Thrust Vectoring Technology overcomes the operational limitations of the conventional airships.
Enhanced operational effectiveness: long endurance, including hovering.
Low cost: strong reduction of acquisition, operational and maintenance cost.
The Project is strongly focused on the realization of an innovative high technological system:
- Innovative Flight Control System based on the Thrust Vectoring Technology;
- Innovative Electric Power Generation System;
- Advanced onboard Sensor Data Processing (replacement to the maximum possible extent of Human Operators with “Virtual Operators”, also considering possible evolutions to Artificial Intelligence applications);
- Ultra Lightweight Envelope Materials.
The research aims to enable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities for fixed-wing aircraft using a modular system named ThrustPod. The ThrustPod technology (IT102021000028016, PCT extension in July 2023) is not limited to a specific aircraft but can be implemented across various aircraft categories within the framework of green urban operations.
The ThrustPod technology is designed to enable sustainable urban air mobility, providing electric and low-noise transportation for goods and people within cities and between cities at high speeds (approximately 250 km/h). The air vehicle equipped with the ThrustPod has the following characteristics:
- It is based on available or certified parts and components.
- It does not require tilting or rotating parts to avoid certification issues.
- Independent propulsive systems and energy storage to ensure a smooth transition phase. This aspect is crucial for enhancing the overall reliability of the air vehicle.
- It provides the aircraft with higher aerodynamic efficiency compared to similar concepts.