Launch of XLCargoDrones center

November 28, 2018

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Today, innovation center XLCargoDrones has been launched at the Amsterdam Drone Week. The  University of Twente, NLR- Netherlands Aerospace Centre and the Amsterdam University of Applied Science combine their research strengths in the field of drones to accelerate the market introduction of Unmanned Cargo Aircraft (UCA). The three institutes set up a research agenda on all aspects of UCA operation from societal issues, logistical opportunities to technical challenges.

XLCargoDrones offers the unique opportunity to get involved in a body of knowledge, a network of researchers and facilities all geared towards accelerating the UCA market introduction. Participants will be offered the opportunity to steer the multi-year research agenda of XLCargoDrones. Both industry and government are invited to join the new initiative.

The research agenda for the coming years entails:

• Methodologies for calculating benefits for UCA operation
• Regulations and procedures specific for UCA
• Effects of UCA on mobility
• Introduction strategies and social acceptance
• Optimization of the multi-modal logistic chain
• Optimization of unmanned cargo aircraft configurations

Hans Heerkens, assistant professor at the University of Twente and chairman of the Platform Unmanned Cargo Aircraft: “Unmanned aircraft have huge potential, but everyone is waiting for everyone. By providing knowledge to inform investment and policy decisions, we hope to help manufacturers, operators and government organizations to make UCA a reality”.

Source : NLR - Netherlands Aerospace Centre