European Maritime Surveillance Program to Use Tekever UAS
AR5 Life Ray Evolution unmanned aerial system. Photo: Tekever.
The European Space Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency selected the Tekever AR5 Life Ray Evolution unmanned aerial system for the RAPSODY Project, a program to test maritime surveillance applications.
The Tekever-led project is the first introducing UAS into maritime surveillance missions in Europe. The first year of the two-year program will be dedicated to integrating sensors, developing sensor algorithms to improve situational performance and optimizing data transmission. In the second year, the AR5 Life Ray will be placed in search and rescue scenarios and monitor pollution and oil spills in the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
“The AR5 Life Ray Evolution is one of our larger platforms. With a wingspan of 4.3 meters and a payload of 50kg, the AR5 is capable of performing 8 to 12 hour missions and has the most suitable design for the RAPSODY project,” says Tekever Chief Operations Officer Ricardo Mendes. “With the use of satellite communications, our system is geared to perform multiple types of long-range missions, including search and rescue, surveillance and maritime patrol and pollution detection, among others.”
Tekever is responsible for creating and adapting the Life Ray while Tekever UK will manage the sensor platform and develop fusion algorithms and data processing. Bond Air Services will operate the system and DSI Information Technik from Germany will secure the data link.
The European Maritime Safety Agency will define operating parameters and coordinate institutional relationships with end users including the Portuguese Navy, the Maritime Authorities of Malta and the Spanish Rescue and Safety Maritime Society.
UAS use for maritime surveillance will decrease risk, complexity and cost and can improve endurance when compared to manned systems, according to a Tekever press release.
