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Research & Development Request

H2020 Fast track to Innovation: Seeking robotics companies and navigational computing companies for parcel delivery system using remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Reference Number: RDUK20180711001
Publication Date: 11 July 2018

Summary

A UK and Dutch company are seeking two companies to join an H2020 Fast Track to Innovation bid, aimed at creating an innovative parcel delivery service using drones and a robot-operated landing platform. They are seeking companies with robotics design and build capabilities for an apparatus capable of loading/unloading parcels from drones on a landing platform and a second for the use of Earth Observation (EO) satellite data for terrain relief analysis, via research cooperation agreements.

Description

Parcel delivery to remote areas remains costly and logistically difficult, with little incentive to provide these services due to high operating costs. 



This UK company and their Netherlands-based partner have joined a bid to continue developing an intelligent parcel delivery service aimed specifically for remote areas, by using a fully-automated robotic system to load and unload packages from the aerial platforms.



The new system has been subject to a successful feasibility study and was deemed commercially, technically and operationally viable. They are seeking two additional partners in the application for H2020 Fast Track to Innovation funding to bring the process to market. 



Among the bid's framework conditions is that "the proposed innovation is expected to generate a positive impact at the European level other than economic (societal, environmental, scientific, etc). Wherever appropriate, the minimisation of impacts on climate and the environment is taken into account". Additionally the outlook can be described as positive for market launch within three years.



Two specific industrial partners are sought: Firstly, they are seeking companies to provide a robotics element, in the form of a mechanical system for loading and unloading parcels aboard RPAS from a landing platform, and securing the RPAS to the platform upon landing.



Secondly, they are seeking a software company able to provide 'sense and avoid' programming for the sensors aboard the RPAS using image recognition and/or using Earth Observation (EO) data for route validation and ground obstacle registration. This system may use terrain relief modelling in combination with existing data i.e. Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) data.



The UK and Dutch company are seeking companies via research cooperation agreement from a range of countries listed below. 



The deadline for the project submission is 23 October 2018.



The deadline for EOIs in this profile is 5 September 2018.

Requested partner

Type: Industry

Activity of partner: Robotics/Navigational computing

Specific role of partners sought: Design and manufacture of robotic apparatus capable of loading and unloading packages from a platform. Programming of UAVs, drones or RPAS via a range of possible EOD or other data to enable the vehicles to avoid obstacles while flying and to land.

Dissemination Countries

Belgium, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden