Issue 37 Unmanned Systems Technology April/May 2021 Einride next-gen Pod l Battery technology l Dive Technologies AUV-Kit l UGVs insight l Vanguard EFI/ETC vee twins l Icarus Swarms l Transponders l Sonobot 5 l IDEX 2021 report

75 Icarus Swarms | In operation UAVs from the GCS is supplied encrypted and ID-secure when they are delivered by Parrot. The security of the UAVs’ operations is therefore further enhanced, as they cannot be remotely accessed or controlled without specified security keys. “Not all the UAVs we use are like that,” Lauwereins says. “For example, for the Parrot Bebop 2 we have to add security and safety features similar to those on the Anafi. It’s very important for special forces that the UAVs’ video streams can’t be viewed by hostile agents, let alone their control be taken over.” As mentioned, various failsafes are included in the Icarus algorithms to perform autonomous corrective actions, such as inertial-based return paths for GNSS failures, as well as auto-calibration of the IMUs, compass and barometer in mid-flight if their measurements show indications of instability or other failures. “Correcting bias on-the-fly is very difficult, but it’s important that our UAVs can do so, particularly since these sensors are very sensitive to temperature and many of the special forces’ preferred payloads and environments will heat the sensors’ electronics considerably,” Lauwereins says. Lauwereins adds that as well as the various hardware and software modules installed on its UAVs, another processor is typically integrated on each craft for dedicated battery management, as well as monitoring the performance and fidelity of each one’s main CPU, as a final safety measure. The main CPU monitors this safety processor in turn to intermittently confirm it is operating nominally. Also, the processor has the authority to cut off battery power in the event that a severe malfunction is happening, or if it is decided that a UAV has to be destroyed by letting it fall out of the sky than risk its technology falling into enemy hands. Post-flight maintenance Once the UAVs have completed an operation, they return according to their predefined routes and timings. Their landing coordinates are typically at the same rough locations as those they were launched from, although Icarus recommends that when they land they are spaced at least 2 m apart to ensure there are no collisions. The company also supplies extra battery packs, wall chargers and some specially designed charging equipment for operators to replenish their UAVs’ batteries between flights and thus help sustain operations for as long as required. “It’s nothing too complicated,” Lauwereins says. “For example, we can provide a case that will charge up to 120 batteries at once, with two plugs to draw sufficient energy from a generator, external power pack or wall socket.” Once all the UAVs are recovered, some basic maintenance tasks are recommended, although much like the rest of their systems the company has sought to keep these as simple as possible. For example, visual checks for broken propellers, removing and recharging batteries, and diagnostics of any failed components or UAVs can be performed; any repairs or replacements should be carried out by Icarus however. Future plans The technology is continuing trials with French special forces, and active operations of the systems outside France are anticipated in the future. Meanwhile, Icarus continues to develop its technology for a range of other uses. For example, it offers swarms as part of its Certifence product, in which up to 1000 UAVs can be deployed into an area protected by a counter-UAS system to test its ability to detect and potentially mitigate the threat of the trespassing Certifence UAVs through non-destructive or destructive means. “We’re also looking into the challenge of flying hundreds of UAVs safely through a city,” Lauwereins says. “That’s very different from light shows for entertainment, where the drones are flying over a stage, but in the future we’re confident that we’ll be able to conduct important commercial operations in city skies with all the safety and reliability needed. “One thing we’re really looking forward to are advances in CPU power. We are currently working on neural networks for even more intelligent ad hoc navigation and other behaviours, but either CPUs will need to get more powerful or neural networks will need to get smaller before we can use them in our small UAVs.” Unmanned Systems Technology | April/May 2021 Icarus aims to enhance its navigation intelligence through neural network r&d, but the size and weight of processors needed remains a sticking point for its small UAVs