Another milestone in Smart Mechatronics And RoboTics (SMART) Research Group in Saxion University of Applied Sciences!
We tested our aerial robot Sarax with a live wind turbine in Eemshaven, Netherlands, by the (very windy) North Sea, in a Physical Interaction Experiment (for Inspection and Maintenance tasks). Testing the robot, control and autonomy stack,and getting new insight and lessons from the operational environment.
This marks an important milestone in our mission to contribute to the Netherlands Energy Transition goals. Together with our partners, we are developing Aerial Robotics Technologies (in Perception, Localisation, Autonomy and Control) for Inspection and Maintenance of offshore Wind Turbines.
This test was facilitated by the Maestro-Drone, AlFusION, and AEROWIND projects, funded by Nationaal Regieorgaan Praktijkgericht Onderzoek SIA, and the Smart Maintenance at Sea (SMAS) Project.
Our students Yehia Moustafa, Camiel van Duijn, Thijs Hof, Waleed Elfieky, Ferdi Cakin got a chance to experience how their BSc and MSc projects can solve real world challenges and contribute towards a sustainable future.
The work was the accumulation of many years of team work in Smart Mechatronics And RoboTics (SMART) Research Group and with our students and partners. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this milestone!
Ayham Alharbat
Robotics Researcher
My research focuses on the modelling and control of Floating-body Robots, with applications to Physically Interactive Aerial and Legged Robots, and the use of optimization methods to improve the performance, safety, and adaptability of the physical interaction.