Purdue launches aviation AI center
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Purdue University is partnering with a British drone maker to launch a center of research into how to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the safety and efficiency of unmanned aircraft.
The Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation will focus on innovations that can be scaled up as demand for drone technology grows, the university said. Purdue will provide its research expertise in technology, engineering and other fields, while Windracers will provide its real-world experience in providing autopilot systems for the Royal Navy and others.
The center will examine how AI and machine learning can be used for demand analytics, maintenance, real-time weather prediction and other applications for unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. Its laboratory will be based at the Purdue University Airport.
“Currently, it can take 10 people to operate one UAV. It is time for one operator to be able to coordinate 100 UAVs at the same time,” center director Sabine Brunswicker said in a news release. “Our mission is to go beyond current AI/ML models where the potential benefits of smarter UAVs can be fully realized globally.” If the center is successful, Brunswick said, “its breakthroughs can truly transform society at scale.”
More than 369,000 commercial drones were registered in the United States as of December, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the number is expected to reach nearly 1 million by 2027.
To support the center’s research, Windracers will bring two of its long-range drones to West Lafayette, the university said. The unmanned aircraft measures 20 feet by 30 feet and can cruise at 85 mph and carry more than 200 pounds of cargo up to 620 miles. Uses can include mail and parcel delivery, humanitarian assistance, defense and environmental protection.
“Our ambition is to revolutionize this industry so it is low cost and fully automated,” said Stephen Wright, founder and chair at Windracers. “Purdue is a highly respected academic institution with an incredible heritage in aviation. It also now has a major initiative to develop AI and practical applications rather than just looking at the theory.”