27/04/2020

IMPA develops technology for defense drones.

In the midst of quarantine, researchers from IMPA (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics), IME (Military Engineering Institute), and LNCC (National Laboratory for Scientific Computing) are working to refine the technology of Brazilian drones for the Ministry of Defense. The group of 25 people is developing a software and hardware system to control small, remotely piloted aircraft.

Drones can be used for defense, public security, and infrastructure. Among other things, they will perform reconnaissance and surveillance of hostile environments; micro-surveillance in the Amazon and of nuclear, biological, or chemical defense platforms; identify aerial targets; map transportation networks; and monitor transmission lines.

“We are working on the implementation of the complete hardware and software platform. The partnership consolidates the relationship between IMPA and IME, which already existed with the BRICS project . So, this exchange of knowledge that we carry out is a natural approach in research,” reflects Luiz Velho, one of the coordinators of the program and of Visgraf ( IMPA's Computer Graphics Laboratory).

In addition to him, the project is led by Paulo Fernando Rosa, from IME, and Jauvane Cavalcante, from LNCC. “It’s a project especially linked to new technologies and is strategic for the government because of the importance of the sector itself. Countries like Israel, the United States, and Brazil have a tradition of excellence in Defense, so it’s important, as an institute, for us to be a part of that,” assesses Luiz Velho.

The machines could also be useful for observing fire and controlling artillery damage; on nuclear, biological, or chemical defense platforms; and in Civil Defense search and rescue operations.

During the pandemic, meetings with doctoral students, master's students, undergraduate students, and collaborators who are specializing in the subject continued to take place and were moved online. On April 14th and 15th, the group participated in the PROCAD-DEFESA Project Presentation Seminar, with representatives from the Ministry, CAPES, and other technological centers in the country that are also working on the development of other technological tools.