The University has a number of strengths in the field of Autonomous Systems with at least three recent, relevant EPSRC grants (Satellite Formation Flying Control (£250K), DECODE (£800K), Autosub (£500k+)) and a track record of undergraduate project success (Student Autonomous Underwater Challenge - Europe (SAUC-E), inaugural European Student Competition for Unmanned Aircraft Systems winners 2008).
The DECODE (Decision Environment for COmplex DEsign) EPSRC project is specifically aimed at developing a coherent set of software tools and a design methodology that will allow users to quickly explore the design space for unmanned vehicles. The DECODE software tools are being tested by using them to develop a set of air vehicles to meet a very demanding long range maritime reconnaissance mission. The first DECODE air vehicle will flew in 2010.
We have partnered with a German company (PACE gmbh) to develop a UAV concept design optimiser module as part of the DECODE project.
The University has UTCs in Noise and Computational Engineering with Airbus and Rolls-Royce and these companies along with BAE systems, Cobham and others support the work being undertaken in the DECODE project.
Existing Unmanned Systems Activities within the University (Underwater and Fixed wing aircraft)
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