Research and collaborative projects
Research and collaborative projects (B2B & Public Sector)
Copting is a development partner for sophisticated unmanned systems in the air, on the ground and on the water.
Since 2014, we have combined in-depth operational experience with comprehensive R&D expertise in all areas of modern drone technology. Our projects are developed in close collaboration with industry, government agencies, security organizations, and scientific institutions.
Key areas and projects
We develop future-oriented technologies, including in the following areas:
- Hydrogen and fuel cell systems
- flying 5G cells
- wired communication drones
- mobile, secure landing systems
- Drone forensics and security-related special solutions
Our focus is on the dual-use segment – from research applications and logistics solutions to the protection of critical infrastructures and industrial applications, as well as defense programs.
Copting develops complete flight systems as well as specialized components and integration solutions that fit into existing control center, security and IT architectures.
Development partner
As a full-service system integrator, we provide holistic support for innovation processes:
- Feasibility studies
- Prototyping
- Testing and validation operation
- Certification support
- Training of specialist personnel
Mechanics, electronics, software and automation are developed in an integrated manner and consistently tailored to the respective use case – from free-flying systems to tether solutions to automated hangar systems.
Research for real-world operating conditions
In national and international projects – including AutoFlow, CREST, SMARAGD and ROBORDER – we develop systems for demanding environmental and operating conditions.
Our solutions are used in, among other things:
- Offshore Inspection
- Infrastructure monitoring
- security-critical missions
- automated operating and monitoring scenarios
The focus is on practicality, automated mission execution, secure data transmission, and integration into existing IT and security architectures.
Sustainable technology base
Copting develops all key components in-house – flight platforms, tether and hangar systems, as well as automation and integration solutions. Depending on the application scenario and budget, we also manufacture in-house or use purchased components with secure supply chains, optionally China-free and ITAR-free.
Our products are designed to remain technologically flexible and support investments in the long term. This allows for the gradual development of new applications, sensors, and operating models – reliably, safely, and with future-proofing.
AUTOFLOW
The amount of energy a wind turbine produces depends not only on the wind, but also on the condition of the rotor blades.
Currently, the systems have to be taken out of service for a condition assessment, which leads to high downtime costs for maintenance.
The AutoFlow research project therefore deals with the question of how the rotor blade condition can be recorded and evaluated during plant operation – and this in the truest sense “on the fly”.
For the first time, a multi-sensor-equipped flight system is being used, capable of performing both thermographic and laser-based measurements. "Through the experience and results of this project, we expect not only significant savings in maintenance costs for plant operators, but also an increase in operational safety by enabling us to detect and rectify potential damage at an early stage," emphasizes Friederike Jensen, project manager at the Bremen Institute for Measurement Technology, Automation and Quality Science (BIMAQ) at the University of Bremen.
Automated flight system for onshore and offshore measurements
In fact, the project goes a step further: The unmanned aerial system is not only intended to be remotely controllable, but also to carry out measurements on nearby wind turbines fully automatically. "A particular challenge in the development of the automated aerial system is posed by the harsh environmental conditions in the offshore area," says Tim Reuscher, Head of the Mobility Department at the Institute for Control Engineering at RWTH Aachen University.
At the same time, the data will be transmitted and analyzed in real time to provide a quick initial overview of the plant's condition on-site. This will allow for an immediate decision on which areas of the plant require further investigation.
Diverse consortium demonstrates close collaboration between science and industry
The project is managed by BIMAQ (Institute Director A. Fischer), which is responsible not only for coordination but also for the measurement technology to be installed on the flight system. The flight system and the hangar, which must be particularly suitable for harsh offshore conditions, are being developed by Copting GmbH and supported by software from Oecon GmbH.
The Institute for Control Engineering (IRT) at RWTH Aachen University is responsible for developing the control system for the flight system and its flight paths, as well as for controlling the measurement routine during flight. The research project is also supported by the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation and Deutsche WindGuard with regard to defining the (measurement) requirements and validating the flight-based measurement system. WindMW, as the offshore wind farm operator, is involved in the development and offshore demonstration of the flying measurement system at the offshore wind farm off Heligoland.
The AutoFlow project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection with 1.8 million euros for a period of 3 years.
The consortium
- BIMAQhttps://www.bimaq.de/
- IRT, RWTH Aachenhttps://www.irt.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/iung/
- OECONhttps://www.oecon-line.de/
- Offshore Wind Energy Foundation https://www.offshore-stiftung.de/
- Deutsche Windguardhttps://www.windguard.de/
- WindMWhttps://www.windmw.de/
Crest
The overarching goal of CREST is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of information, operations, and data obtained by LEAs (Law Enforcement Agencies).
The consortium
The Law Enforcement Agencies come from 8 European countries.
In addition, there are 7 researchers/academics and 7 industry partners.
Together, they are trying to find a way to meaningfully and effectively address the current challenges posed by crime and terrorism.
This includes transferring data collected by unmanned vehicles (on land, water and in the air) into shared databases in order to draw conclusions across Europe.
Of course, data will also be incorporated through conventional procurement methods.
Combating crime and terrorism with an IoT-enabled autonomous platform based on a system of Advanced Intelligence, Operations and Investigation technology.
Emerald
How railway infrastructure can be monitored using drone data and external data services.
Problem statement
To ensure that restrictions on the regular operation of the railway do not interfere with service, bridges, overhead lines and railway infrastructure routes must be regularly subjected to visual inspection.
Since this would cause disruptions during normal operating hours, such work is often carried out on weekends or during night shifts, which usually also means track closures. This is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly.
Project goal
The aim of the project is to demonstrate that drones can transmit suitable images through automatic, precise approach, which can then be used for monitoring and diagnosing large-scale infrastructure. To this end, research activities will be conducted to improve automatic image analysis using Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Analysis software should then enable the comparison and evaluation of selected elements from a reference database.
implementation
The pilot project aims to determine which parts of the infrastructure are suitable for automatic evaluation of image data and which aircraft and sensors are appropriate for this purpose.
The project also addresses regulatory issues and the implementation of the pattern recognition software.
As a long-term goal, it is conceivable that fully automated drones will take off, taking weather and traffic conditions into account, and collect data on the condition for maintenance companies.
Network coordinator: Siemens Mobility GmbH, Munich
Project volume: €1,166,070 (of which 75% is funded by the BMVI)
Project duration: 08.2018 - 07.2020
Project partners: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne; Copting GmbH, Braunschweig
Problem statement
The European Union has a total external border length of 13,271 km. Effectively controlling this border is a mammoth task and cannot be accomplished by ground units alone.
While there are guarded border crossings, this contrasts sharply with countless kilometers of unguarded borders and coastal sections that are difficult to monitor.
Project goal
The main goal of ROBORDER is the development of a fully functional, autonomous border surveillance system using unmanned, mobile robots on land, in water and in the air.
These UAVs, UUVs and UGVs can function as individual devices or work in swarms.
Project partners
In addition to numerous companies and educational institutions, operational units of national police and border protection authorities are also involved in the project.
Examples include the Romanian Border Police (RBP), the Portuguese Criminal Police (PJ), the Port Authority of Livorno (APL), the Hungarian National Police (HNP), and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
