U-AVES Announces Commencement of Innovative Test Flights in Doonbeg

The U-AVES (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles for Ecological Surveys) project is delighted to announce the commencement of their innovative test flights for ecological surveys off the coast of Doonbeg in County Clare. This project is funded by the government of Ireland which was awarded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

August 2024 - A significant milestone in the U-AVES project has been achieved on the commencement of test flights using VTOL UAVs for ecological surveillance of the area surrounding Doonbeg.

Initial test flights, made possible through the partnership of A-techSYN, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), BlueWise Marine, and Energia Group, are the first step in the U-AVES project that aims to revolutionise ecological surveys in Ireland and abroad through the use of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The U-AVES project will utilise cameras and sensors deployed on a long endurance VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) fixed wing UAV to capture imagery of seabirds and marine mammals in the area.

Taking off from the picturesque coastal area of Doonbeg, Co. Clare, the flights are testing different cameras and sensors to determine the best configuration and optimal sensor configuration for data validation. The visuals collected from these flights are then meticulously analysed to evaluate the capability of the system to identify and count abundance of seabirds and marine mammals.

Following the initial test flights, Mark Early, Head of Aviation and Safety, at A-techSYN - Advanced Technologies with Synergies reported: “The integration of advanced sensor technologies significantly enhances the precision and reliability of data collection for the U-AVES project. Our flagship CGT-50 VTOL UAV is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging and environmental sensors, that are designed to withstand harsh marine conditions, ensuring consistent and high-quality data capture. This collaborative effort not only pushes the boundaries of current ecological monitoring techniques but also sets new benchmarks for future environmental and offshore renewable energy surveys, globally.”

Despite unforeseen circumstances resulting in the change of location from Newcastle to Doonbeg, A-techSYN and the wider U-AVES team have worked closely with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to get the test flights off the ground. A Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) has been issued by the IAA for the Co. Clare coastline from Monday the 8th of July until Friday the 4th of October 2024.

John Breslin, Managing Director at BlueWise Marine has said: “Obtaining the TRA is a major milestone for the U-AVES Project, demonstrating that the system and procedures comply with national aviation regulations having achieved the necessary authorisation from the IAA.  Having a safe and regulated airspace for use by the project for almost 3 months, allows the project team to focus on undertaking flights to collect images of seabirds and mammals without external air traffic concerns, allowing more efficient and effective use of time and resources.”

TRA’s are a critical tool used to temporarily protect airspace, allowing specified procedures to take place in a safe and secure manner without interference from other aircrafts. This TRA permits use of the airspace adjacent to the Doonbeg site for the purpose of gathering imagery and video footage through the U-AVES project. This not only enhances the efficiency and reliability of the tests but also provides assurance to stakeholders about the safety and regulatory compliance of the operations.

This project has been supported with financial contribution from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme 2022, Grant number 22/RDD/851.

About the U-AVES Project Partners:

A-techSYN: A-techSYN is a technology company at the forefront of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) innovation, providing cutting-edge UAV technology and solutions. They are involved in collaboration projects with the Irish Navy, Irish Army, British Military of Defence, Taiwanese Navy, and third-level and research institutions in both Ireland and Europe. They are collaborating with companies in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America and the Arctic Circle. See a-techsyn.com for more information.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU): ATU is a renowned academic institution committed to research, education, and environmental conservation. See atu.ie for more information.

BlueWise Marine: BlueWise Marine is a leading provider of marine technology solutions, stakeholder engagement, marketing, communications, health and safety (HSEQ), fisheries monitoring and infrastructure management services for marine and offshore renewable energy initiatives, projects and infrastructures. See bluewisemarine.ie for more information.

Energia Renewables: Energia Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy across the island of Ireland and supplies 21% of renewable electricity in Ireland. Energia has recently entered a partnership with Vårgrønn, an international offshore wind developer, to develop 2GW of offshore wind in Ireland by 2030. See energiagroup.com/renewables for more information.

About the SEAI RDD programme:

The SEAI National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration (RDD) Funding Programme spearheads support for research, innovation and coordination of Irish energy research efforts.

SEAI catalyses direct energy research action through the delivery of the annual RDD Programme and through capacity-building processes with citizens and communities as well as private and public sector organisations. The revitalised SEAI RDD Programme launched in 2018 and since then it has developed into a multi-annual call, involving companies, non-academic research institutions, 3rd level educational bodies, public sector, and semi-state bodies.

Details of energy research projects can be viewed on the National Energy Research Database.

About SEAI:

SEAI is Ireland’s national energy authority investing in, and delivering, appropriate, effective and sustainable solutions to help Ireland’s transition to a clean energy future. We work with Government, homeowners, businesses and communities to achieve this, through expertise, funding, educational programmes, policy advice, research and the development of new technologies.

SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

Press Contact:

Kayleigh Laffey
BlueWise Marine - Marketing Communications Specialist
kayleigh.laffey@bluewisemarine.ie