Aerosense and Kobe University will Both Compete in an International Drone Tournament

Credit: Aerosense

The international competition for disaster response and emergency products delivery utilising drones will be held for three days starting on 11th July (Tuesday) in Yokohama City and Futtsu City. Chiba Prefecture will feature participation from Kobe University and Aerosense, a domestic drone company. A vertical take-off and landing type fixed-wing drone developed by Aerosense is equipped with an object-throwing device developed by Kobe University.

Competition Overview

According to Aerosense, the International Federation of Automated Control Systems (IFAC) and the Advanced Robotics Foundation are hosting the “World Drone Competition” together. Four teams from both Japan and outside are expected to compete.

The occurrence is predicated on the hypothesis that a catastrophe took place close to Futtsu Minato Park in Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture. A drone carrying around 300 grammes of medicinal medications will fly from Hakkeijima in Yokohama City over Tokyo Bay in about 16 kilometres, dropping the pharmaceuticals at the supply drop location in Futtsu Minato Park. The drone then makes its way back to Hakkeijima while carrying out a number of tasks without charging.

Flight Path and Mission

1. A drone loaded with therapeutic drugs was dispatched from Hakkeijima, Yokohama City, and flew 16 km near Futtsu Minato Park.

To

4. Return flight 16km from Futtsu Minato Park to Hakkeijima, Yokohama City. 

(Perform steps from 1 to 4 without charging)

Aerospace and the Role of Kobe University

In order to participate in this competition, Aerosense primarily contributed the “Aero Bowing” VTOL drone, which was enhanced for flying distance extension and picture transmission (reading victim messages, releasing therapeutic medications, and position confirmation). On Aerosense’s VTOL aircraft, Kobe University has placed an object-throwing mechanism of the inertial reel (yo-yo) variety created by the group of Associate Professor Takamitsu Urakubo of the Graduate School of System Informatics, who is active as a leading specialist in VTOL drone research. Kobe University and Aerosense will work together to manage the competition’s aircraft operations.