PrecisionHawk recently completed extreme-weather testing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) climatic wind tunnel at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
According to PrecisionHawk, the extreme-weather and shock and vibration testing will accelerate the design cycle and development of protocols related to UAV safety and reliability.
PrecisionHawk says it worked with engineering experts at ACE – the university’s $100 million multipurpose testing and product-development facility – to explore the impact of harsh climates and unpredictable weather conditions on typical UAV navigation and operation.
The ACE-PrecisionHawk program is funded in part by National Research Council Canada’s Business Innovation Access Program.
“UAVs have an enormous number of civil applications, such as agriculture, insurance or helping utilities inspect equipment in remote locations,” explains Ernest Earon, chief technology officer and co-founder of PrecisionHawk. “Ensuring and proving UAV reliability is a key requirement for future commercial use. ACE offers every possible parameter to help us with our commitment to research how UAVs can safely operate beyond line of sight and in real-world conditions.”
