USPvOS linked with RescueSim of VSTEP
During the Kooy Symposium on the 3rd of April 2013 Delft Dynamics presented their Universal Simulation Platform for Unmanned Systems (USPvOS), connected to the virtual incident management simulator of VSTEP: RescueSim. With the USPvOS system groundstations of unmanned systems can be linked directly to serious games, thereby allowing the complete command structure to be trained at once. In the shown set-up the groundstation of the RH2 'Stern' is linked via the USPvOS system with RescueSim. In this way the robot helicopter can be controlled realistically in a virtual environment, whereby the (virtual) camera view of the helicopter is shown on the groundstation. More information can be found in the press release.

Delft Dynamics selected by Dutch Defence for development flying robots!

Delft Dynamics' project ASIMOV, "Autonomous Rapid Deployable Multicopter for Overview and Security", is selected by the Dutch Ministry of Defence as best project proposal of a total of 44 submitted proposals by Dutch SMEs under the SBIR tender "Safe ground based actions and military operations in urban areas". This research and development project will be executed in a period of two years.

Delft Dynamics expects to make a strong contribution to safer future operations for the defence staff with the development of a rapidly deployable autonomous multicopter system. This inexpensive, lightweight, compact , easy and safe deployable system can be used to obtain an overview and detect IEDs, and can be equipped with different, removable sensor packages.

Because the multicopter will automatically takeoff and land from a transport box from e.g. a defence vehicle, it will reduce the workload of the operator, without the need for the operator to leave the vehicle. In this way a quick overview of the situation in alleys and behind fences and buildings can be obtained in a safe way. "During the preliminary, feasibility phase of this project, we received a lot of positive responses from several defence departments for this development." says Gerwin Voorsluijs, projectleader of project ASIMOV. In addition, several first responders, such as police and fire-brigades, could benefit from this system, to protect citizens better in the event of emergencies.

2D aerial images for 3D model
On a beautiful sunny day in December Delft Dynamics has taken photos of all sides of an army vehicle from Dutch defence, carried out for TNO. The RH2 'Stern' robot helicopter flew at different heights in a circle around the vehicle, during which at various positions high resolution pictures were taken. Using these photos TNO will create a 3D image of the vehicle at the request of Dutch defence. The goal is to create in a quick way a 3D model of the situation on the basis of 2D images. TNO was very pleased with the result and the professional commitment of Delft Dynamics and was very impressed by the robot helicopter and appreciated the support.

SBIR project ASIMOV approved
Delft Dynamics' project ASIMOV, "Autonomous Rapid Deployable Multicopter for Overview and Security", is selected by the Dutch Ministry of Defence as 1 of 8 awarded projects of a total of 44 submitted proposals under the first phase of the SBIR tender "Safe ground based actions and military operations in urban areas". Delft Dynamics expects to make a strong contribution to safer future operations for the defense staff with the development of a rapidly deployable autonomous multicopter system. This inexpensive, lightweight, compact, easy and safe deployable system can be used to obtain overview and detect IEDs, and can be equipped with different, removable sensor packages. Because the multicopter will automatically takeoff and land from a transport box from a vehicle, it will reduce the workload of the operator, without the need for the operator to leave the vehicle. In this way a quick overview of the situation in alleys and behind fences and buildings can be obtained in a safe way. The multicopter is electrically powered, making it even possible to land the multicopter temporarily on for example a rooftop of a building to conserve battery power, while the on-board camera can still be used.