The following work has been performed in the project:
WP1 Detailed project plan (closed)
A master plan has been approved in a formal planning review and serves the project management in WP9.
WP2 Definition of requirements
The functional requirements have been defined by Airbus starting from the CONOPS for automated landing. From these, equipment level requirements were derived. These requirements have been iterated on with feedback from the V&V planning, system definition and validation.
WP3 Validation & verification plan
The V&V activities were planned in the V&V plan. This plan identified features for the IPP prototypes that were needed in support of the V&V activities. The plan also identified the needed V&V environment, including two dedicated test benches.
WP4 System definition
KU Leuven demonstrated a series of representative algorithm that detect the runway in the images and extract a pose estimation out of that. Based on this algorithm, (UN)MANNED defined a set of vision operators inside their Sol Language to support the porting of the algorithm to Sol platform and the integration into their target hardware. (UN)MANNED defined the end-to-end algorithm using those vision operators. This was the basis for validation work in WP5.
Meanwhile KU Leuven further developed its algorithm toolbox with more capabilities (incl. processing images from a visual wavelength as well as from an infra-red wavelength camera and a tracking algorithm). (UN)MANNED extended its Sol vision library with KU Leuven’s new operators in order to iterate on the current application.
ScioTeq compared different system and equipment architectures. ScioTeq conducted the preliminary system safety assessment to select the best fit architecture. ScioTeq defined various interfaces and communication protocols in close collaboration with Airbus and the partners.
ScioTeq defined the technical specification and concept for the test bench software.
WP5 System validation
UNM demonstrated their end-to-end algorithm in Sol (defined in WP4) on their embedded target hardware (SolAero). This enabled a first measurement of the latency, identification of bottlenecks and resolution of the major bottlenecks. The on-target processing latency is a key characteristic closely tracked throughout the project.
KU Leuven has iteratively evaluated the performance of their algorithms.
ScioTeq prototyped the main building blocks for the validation prototypes and started their validation.
ScioTeq integrated all the technology bricks into IPP prototypes and validated their interoperability. Then ScioTeq, KU Leuven and (UN)MANNED went through an interative and collaborative process of testing, refining the algorithm, porting the algorithm and retesting. This resulted in a series of releases, of which several were delivered to Airbus for testing on their DISCO Bench.
Every iteration in the validation made progress in the performance of the IPP and at the same time revealed new issues and challenges. In november 2022, the iterations had to be stopped because the project was running to its end. This was at a point where the IPP operated as specified from 6 km till the flare. Solutions for supporting touch down and roll out had already been identified but could not be implemented anymore.
WP6 System verification
ScioTeq conducted per requirement verification on the configuration resulting from WP5. This verification made the capabilities and the limitations of the technology and the test benches clear. These were analyzed for resolution and recommendations are formulated towards future R&D for advancing the state-of-art.
WP7 Final report
The final report captures a summary of the technical results and a plan to exploit the results up to commercialization of certified IPP products by ScioTeq and UNM.
WP8 Prestudies
WP8 can be divided in two main activities: collection of video footage and a technology survey.
TEKEVER recorded visual and Infra-Red video footage during flight patterns that were defined by TEKEVER and ScioTeq. Airbus provided complementary visual wavelength and fused VIS/IR video footage. This footage is a stimulus during the testing of algorithms.
The technology survey yields a "shopping list" with building blocks and principles that could be used in the upcoming work packages and this is captured in D8.2 "Technology Survey Report".
WP9 Project management & dissemination
ScioTeq coordinated the project within the consortium, with Clean Sky 2 JU and with Airbus.
