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This patent is the fruit of a joint effort between ECA Group and EOST (Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre), the French School and Observatory for Earth Sciences, in the scope of a partnership related to magnetism in the naval sector.
The IT180 drone is a mini rotary-wing UAV that can be easily operated from any ship due to its compact size and its high-accuracy navigation even in strong winds. Moreover, it can be configured to operate in a tethered version (UAV IT180-999) to act as a radio relay or to detect drifting mines, for example.
The innovation rewarded today by this trophy consists in having this drone carry a magnetic sensor able to measure a ship’s magnetism while performing an aerial survey by a drone. Having a low magnetic signature is essential for these ships in order to avoid exploding on mines able to detect a magnetic mass. Measuring a ship’s magnetism is therefore important as it enables the adjustment of onboard compensation systems in order to modify its magnetism to the lowest possible values.
Using this innovation, any vessel equipped with an UAV IT180 will be able to verify and periodically adjust its magnetism as often as possible while today this is only possible at submarine bases which are often a fixed or permanent facility.
This innovation is rooted in a multi-task approach of the IT180 in the naval sector. Any ship can accommodate the IT180 as a technical tool capable of performing various tasks serving the ship’s crew or its mission:
- Interception of suspicious vessels;
- Detection of drifting mines;
- Measure a ship’s magnetism;
- Radar calibration;
- Radio relay for communications with aerial or surface drones;
- Recovery of data from underwater drones (DRONECOM® patent);
- Coastal (land) surveillance
Philippe Novelli - Director General ECA Group- Ship equipment and Protection Division / Jean-Jacques Periou - Exterior Consultant ECA Group
Patrick BOISSIER, President of EURONAVAL, Guénaël GUILLERME, CEO of ECA Group, Jean-Yves LE DRIAN, Minister of Defence, Simon DUBOIS, Director of SBS interactive, Christophe BRUON, Regional Manager Navy of VOITH TURBO
The UAV IT180 and its applications for the naval sector are presented this week at the 2016 Euronaval tradeshow at ECA Group’s booth: H73-F70.
A conference dedicated to the STERNA® solution will be held October 18th at 14:30 at ECA Group’s booth.
