World’s first multi-drone system developed locally to enhance divers’ safety at sea

World’s first multi-drone system developed locally to enhance divers’ safety at sea.

Following an investment of €200,000 in funds from the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), a collaboration led by the Institute for Aerospace Technologies at the University of Malta and Divers Code developed the multi-drone system to enhance divers’ safety at sea.

The BEA project, is intended to mitigate this risk at sea through a system of drones, one operating underwater, a platform on the water surface, and one in the air, to support and monitor the safety of divers. More specifically, the system consists of a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV), a floating platform and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). While the ROV follows the diver, the floating platform acts also as a resting platform hosting critical support and first aid kit. It also acts as the communication link between the underwater ROV and the hovering drone. On the other hand, the drone detects boats and relays the message ensuring that it is safe for the diver to surface.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Keith Azzopardi Tanti said “the use of technology and technological devices is essential for us to progress in various sectors. Nowadays, technology is essential in order to continue to improve the quality of people’s lives. Innovative projects such as today’s, thanks to the work carried out in local research and innovation, do not only continue to grow the economy in the local and international market, but also the name of our country among other countries in the world.”

He emphasised the importance that the Government is giving to the research and innovation sector in order to reach the goals set for the Smart Specialisation strategy, including the maritime sector in this case. ” The Parliamentary Secretary concluded by saying: “I am proud of the work being carried out by the Malta Council for Science and Technology which continues to provide support and incentives to carry out more projects for the benefit of society.”

Dr. Tonio Portughese, MCST Chairman said that “These projects contribute to economic growth in the technology, research and innovation areas, but also, as in this case, to improve the quality of the product that our islands offer in many other areas, such as tourism.” He added that the tourism sector is one of the major pillars of our economy, and includes a growing percentage of niche tourism, over 5%, that visit our islands to enjoy the clear waters and many unique diving sites, many of which with great historical value, available.

BEA project coordinator Dr Robert Camilleri said “that drones are playing a bigger role in many aspects of our life. Therefore, research on collaboration between drones is important.”

Project BEA is financed by the Malta Council for Science & Technology, for and on behalf of the Foundation for Science and Technology, through the FUSION: R&I Technology Development Programme.

L‑ewwel sistema multi‑drone fid‑dinja maħluqa lokalment biex ittejjeb is‑sigurtà tal‑għaddasa fil‑baħar.

B’investiment ta’ €200,000 f’fondi mill‑Kunsill Malti għax‑Xjenza u t‑Teknoloġija (l-MCST), l‑Istitut tat‑Teknoloġiji Aerospazjali tal‑Università ta’ Malta u d‑Divers Code, żviluppaw sistema multi‑drone sabiex titjieb is‑sigurtà tal‑għaddasa fil‑baħar.

Il‑proġett BEA, huwa maħsub biex itaffi r‑riskju li wieħed jitlaqa’ miegħu fil‑baħar, permezz ta’ sistema ta’ drones, wieħed li jopera taħt l‑ilma, pjattaforma fuq wiċċ l‑ilma, u ieħor fl‑arja, biex ikunu ta’ għajnuna u monitoraġġ fis‑sigurtà tal‑għaddasa. B’mod aktar speċifiku, is‑sistema hija magħmula minn vetturi operati mid‑distanza,  magħrufa aħjar bħala (ROV), pjattaforma li żżomm f’wiċċ l‑ilma, u vettura tal‑ajru li taħdem mingħajr ekwipaġġ, magħrufa bħala (UAV).  Filwaqt li l‑ROV issegwi lill‑għaddas, il‑pjattaforma f’wiċċ l‑ilma taġixxi wkoll bħala sostenn fejn l‑għaddas jista’ jserraħ fuqha u sservi wkoll bħala l‑kaxxa tal‑ewwel għajnuna. Din il‑pjattaforma isservi wkoll bħala konnessjoni ta’ komunikazzjoni bejn l‑ROV taħt l‑ilma u d‑drone li jkun qed idur. Mill‑banda l‑oħra, id‑drone jista’ jinnota dgħajjes u jgħaddi l‑messaġġ ta’ allarm billi jassigura li huwa sigur għall‑għaddas biex jitla’ fil‑wiċċ. Is‑Segretarju Parlamentari għaż‑Żgħażagħ, ir‑Riċerka u l‑Innovazzjoni, Keith Azzopardi Tanti qal li “l‑użu tat‑teknoloġija u apparat teknoloġiku hija importanti ħafna sabiex nibqgħu nipprogressaw f’diversi setturi. Illum it‑teknoloġija hija essenzjali sabiex inkomplu ntejbu l‑kwalità tal‑ħajja tan‑nies. Proġetti innovattivi bħal dawn, grazzi għall‑ħidma fir‑riċerka u l‑innovazzjoni lokali, ikomplu jkabbru mhux biss l‑ekonomija fis‑suq lokali u internazzjonali, iżda wkoll isem pajjiżna fost pajjiżi oħra fid‑dinja.” Huwa saħaq fuq l‑importanza li l‑Gvern qiegħed jagħti lis‑settur tar‑riċerka u l‑innovazzjoni sabiex jilħaq il‑miri stabbiliti għall‑istrateġija tal‑iSmart Specialisation, fosthom is‑settur marittimu f’dan il‑każ. “Jiena kburi bix‑xogħol tal‑Kunsill Malti għax‑Xjenza u t‑Teknoloġija li qiegħed ikompli jagħti sapport u inċentivi sabiex jitwettqu aktar proġetti għall‑ġid tas‑soċjetà”, temm jgħid is‑Segretarju Parlamentari. Iċ‑Chairman tal‑Kunsill Malti għax‑Xjenza u t‑Teknoloġija, Dr Tonio Portughese qal li “dawn il‑proġetti jikkontribwixxu għat‑tkabbir ekonomiku fl‑oqsma, tar‑riċerka u l‑innovazzjoni, iżda mhux biss. Bħal f’dan il‑każ, dan il‑proġett qiegħed iservu wkoll biex titjieb il‑kwalità tal‑prodott li joffru l‑gżejjer tagħna f’ħafna oqsma oħra bħat‑turiżmu.” Żied jgħid li s‑settur tat‑turiżmu huwa wieħed mill‑pilastri ewlenin tal‑ekonomija tagħna, u jinkludi persentaġġ li dejjem qed jikber fin‑ niċċa turistika. Aktar minn 5%, li jżuru l‑gżejjer tagħna jagħmlu dan biex igawdu l‑ilmijiet ċari u biex jgħoddsu f’bosta siti uniċi, li ħafna minnhom għandhom valur storiku.

Il‑koordinatur tal‑proġett Dr. Robert Camilleri qali li d‑drones qed ikollhom rwol importanti f’ħafna oqsma fil‑ħajja tagħna. Huwa sostna li “għalhekk, ir‑riċerka fuq kollaborazzjoni bejn drones hija importanti.”

Il‑Proġett BEA huwa ffinanzjat mill‑Kunsill Malti għax‑Xjenza u t‑Teknoloġija, f’isem il‑Fondazzjoni għax‑Xjenza u t‑Teknoloġija, permezz tal‑FUSION: R&I Technology Development Programme.