Sky-workers

In the past decade, particularly smaller drones have started to claim their share of the sky due to their potential applications in the civil sector as flying-eyes, noses, and very recently as flying hands. Network partners from various application domains: safety, Agro, Energy & logistic are curious about the next leap in this field, namely, collaborative Sky-workers.

Their main practical question is essentially:

“Can multiple small drones transport a large object over a high altitude together in outdoor applications?”

The industrial partners, together with Saxion and RUG, will conduct feasibility study to investigate if it is possible to develop these collaborative Sky-workers and to identify which possibilities this new technology will offer. Design science research methodology, which focuses on solution-oriented applied research involving multiple iterations with rigorous evaluations, will be used to research the feasibility of the main technological building blocks. They are:

• Accurate localization based on onboard sensors.
• Safe and optimal interaction controller for collaborative aerial transport


Within this project, the first proof-of-concepts will be developed. The results of this project will be used to expand the existing network and formulate a bigger project to address additional critical aspects in order to develop a complete framework for collaborative drones.