Aircraft anti-collision system won Polish edition of Galileo Masters 2016

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This year, Polish regional edition of the Galileo Masters competition has been won by an aircraft anti-collision project. Awards were also given to a real estate market application and a maritime sports solution.

A system for assuring secure distance between drones and manned aircrafts won the Polish regional edition of the Galileo Masters competition. This technology might soon protect aircrafts from drone collision hazards.

Statuetki dla zwycięzców / Źródło: Blue Dot Solutions

Statuetki dla zwycięzców / Źródło: Blue Dot Solutions

Aerobits, the winning team, has developed an integrated technology allowing for safe airspace usage by manned aircrafts and drones. The project was also recognized by the Polish Space Agency, which awarded the team with a special award for the best project related to safety and national security.

Our work was conducted in the beginning for research purposes for dedicated internal applications. But when the first debates on the need of introducing anti-collision systems for drones started, we have already had a working prototype. -said Rafał Osypiuk, PhD, Aerobits founder.

An important impulse to continue our work was provided by expert statements, who at that time informed of a lack of access to such technology. Thus, we developed new modules, which on a surface of a few square centimetres, integrate the ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast) aviation technology and precise multi-GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) precision positioning.- added Osypiuk.

After buying the IP rights, the researchers formed a two person start-up working at the West Pomeranian Technology University in Szczecin, Poland.

The project was created on a Polish university and is an example than in our country it is possible to create technological solutions in the academic environment, for which there is a market demand, and which can be later implemented on the market. Compared with other submissions to the competition, this project has already completed a few years of research & development activities and created a few integrated and tested prototypes. This shows a high level of technological advance. – said Krzysztof Kanawka, PhD, CEO of Blue Dot Solutions and organizer of the Polish regional edition of Galileo Masters.

Aerobits was one of the projects participating in the POSITION programme, which aimed at supporting the development of Polish solutions basing on satellite navigation (GNSS). POSITION was the first project in the Space call in the Horizon 2020 framework with a Polish leader. With the help of POSITION, more Polish GNSS-based solutions are expected to be implemented on the market.

During the Final Gala, which took place in the headquarters of the Industrial Development Agency the second place was awarded to the Nawiguj.com project, a modern sales tool that helps to localize real estate in rural areas. The main feature of this navigation application is to lead agents and clients to real estates in rural areas and presenting the plot area size in real-time.

The third place was awarded to My Live Regatta, a registration and presentation system for sailing races. My Live Regatta consists of three elements: a registration and participants handling system, a judging and sailing regulations service and a real-time visualisation of the competition.

Special Prize from the German Space Agency (DLR)

Gala Finałowa konkursu Galileo Masters/ Źródło: Blue Dot Solutions

Gala Finałowa konkursu Galileo Masters/ Źródło: Blue Dot Solutions

It this year’s Galileo Masters edition a significant recognition was given to ACNS (Augmented Crane Navigation System), which was given the Special Prize by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The ACNS project team has developed an automation system for cranes supporting work at heights. The technology will provide support in navigation and cargo transport, minimize collision risks and decrease lifting hook swings.

Polish membership in the European Space Agency supports the creation of new companies utilizing the possibilities of satellite data, while allowing existing companies to develop and grow. ESA programs are among the most efficient tools supporting innovation growth in companies and allowing for international promotion. It has to be stressed, that nearly 100% of financial investment into ESA programs have been reclaimed by Polish entities, which is not common and is a very good indicator of our companies’ competitiveness. This could also be noticed in the Galileo Masters competition. In regards to the ESA Ministerial Council, which will be held this week, it is essential to continue the participation continuity in the Agency’s programmes. Those investments, allowing the most modern companies to grow, bring measurable benefits to the economy “on the ground.- said Jakub Ryzenko from the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Zwycięzcy i partnerzy konkursu / Źródło: Blue Dot Solutions

Zwycięzcy i partnerzy konkursu / Źródło: Blue Dot Solutions

The Polish regional edition of Galileo Masters is a perfect example that Polish ideas utilising satellite data (i.e. downstream) are already strong and valued internationally. The development of this sector should be further supported, because it answers market needs, including commercial ones.

Partners and organisers of the Polish Galileo Masters regional edition: Blue Dot SolutionsBlack Pearls VCPolish Space AgencyPolish Agency for Enterprise DevelopmentIndustrial Development AgencyPomeranian Special Economic ZoneGMVCreotech Instruments S.A., ITTI. The competition was granted the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Economic Development, National Centre for Research and Development and the Polish Space Industry Association.

Galileo Masters (European Satellite Navigation Competition – ESNC) is the most important European competition for individuals interested in satellite technologies, who consider to work in the space sector. To the competition submitted are ideas for applications, devices and technologies utilizing satellite navigation. The main prize in the competition is 20k EUR, and the value of all prizes exceeds 1 mln EUR. The Polish regional edition in 2016 got most submitted applications from all editions in Europe.

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