R&D to enhance drone flight technology to facilitate pollution reduction in urban areas

该项目的目的是进一步开发和证明使用Aspira定制的无人驾驶飞行器（无人机）喷洒特定涂料和消毒剂的安全有效性。这些涂料可用于保护和增强建筑物和结构，解决空气污染，包括氮氧化物和颗粒物，并消毒地区对传染病，包括新冠肺炎。Aspira是一家领先的技术公司，开发新的，更安全的方式维护和处理高层建筑物和结构与专业涂料，通过使用定制的无人机，民航局（CAA）已经批准在建筑物附近飞行和喷洒。我们的主要目标是通过应用涂料积极清洁建筑物，减少空气污染和颗粒物，以及降低高空作业的风险，支持绿色议程。我们特别关注基于具有光催化性能的纳米钛技术的专业产品的应用。一种潜在的改变游戏规则的透明材料，当应用于外表面时，将表面转化为自清洁，污染破坏催化清洁剂。使用二氧化钛涂层减少NOx不是一项新技术，它是催化转化器的原理。限制是将其应用于现有结构的成本过高。我们的无人机将使建筑物得到快速有效的处理，同时最大限度地减少传统方法失败的成本我们的系统和重型喷雾无人机具有独特的水平喷雾能力。为了实现这一目标，我们的项目主要目标是：* 进一步发展和试验防撞技术，以减低在喷洒时飞机在建筑物/构筑物附近飞行的潜在风险。*建立并试用强大的操作程序，以便使用我们的无人机有效、安全地喷涂特定涂料。*维持加强喷洒作业的监管授权，以解决空气污染问题。进一步开发有效的喷洒系统，以应用污染控制产品。*利用与索尔福德大学科学、工程与环境学院建立的关系和拟议的试验进行试验 * 了解并解决任何环境影响，包括积极和消极的影响（如适用）。我们已经证明了这一概念，但我们现在需要改进技术。这包括开发先进的飞行稳定技术和有效喷涂各种涂层，以针对肮脏的建筑物和结构，空气污染，包括氮氧化物和颗粒物。这也可以用来消毒地区，防止COVID-19和其他传染病。一旦开发出来，这将有助于保护和美化城市中心等举措，大幅减少氮氧化物和颗粒污染物，并以负担得起的成本减少冠状病毒等疾病的潜在传播，同时降低高空工作的风险。COVID-19造成的干扰19对我们实现这一目标所需的技术的研究和开发产生了重大的不利影响，这笔赠款将使我们能够实现这一目标。

The intent of this project is to further develop and prove safe and effective spraying of specific coatings and disinfectants using Aspira's bespoke Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone). These coatings can be used to protect and enhance buildings and structures, tackle air pollution including NOx and particulate matter and disinfect areas against infectious diseases including Covid-19\.Aspira is a leading technology company developing new, safer ways of maintaining and treating tall buildings and structures with specialist coatings by using a bespoke Drone, already approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly and spray in close proximity to buildings. Our primary aim is to support the green agenda by applying coatings that actively clean buildings and reduce air pollution and particulate matter, as well as to mitigate the risks of working at height.In particular we are focussing on the application of a specialist product, based on nano titanium technology with photo catalytic properties. A potentially game changing transparent material that when applied to exterior surfaces transforms the surface into a self-cleaning, pollution busting catalytic cleaner.Reducing NOx using a titanium dioxide coating is not a new technology, it is the principle of catalytic converters. The restriction is the prohibitive cost of applying this to existing structures. Our drone will allow buildings to be treated quickly, effectively whilst minimising the cost where more traditional methods have failedOur system and heavy lift spray drone has a unique capability of spraying both horizontally (forwards) and downwards, using both ground fed and onboard spray systems.In order to achieve this goal our key objectives of the project are:* To further develop and trial the anti-collision technology to minimise potential risk associated with flying in close proximity to buildings/structures whilst spraying.* To establish and trial robust operating procedures to enable specific coatings to be effectively and safely sprayed using our drone.* To maintain regulatory authorisation for enhanced spray operations to tackle air pollution.* To further develop an effective spraying system to apply the pollution control product.* To trial this using the establish relationship and proposed trials with Salford University School of Science, Engineering & Environment* To understand and address any environmental impact, both positive and negative (where applicable).We have proven this concept but we now need to refine the technology. This includes developing cutting edge flight stabilisation technology and effective spraying a variety of coatings to target dirty buildings and structures, air pollution including NOx and particulate matter. This could also be used to disinfect areas against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.Once developed this will enable initiatives such as the protection and aesthetic enhancement of city centres, significant reduction in NOx and particulate pollutants and potentially the spread of diseases such as coronavirus at a cost that is affordable and whilst reducing the risk of working at height.The disruption caused by COVID-19 has significantly and adversely impacted our research and development for the technology required to make this a reality and this grant will enable us to achieve this goal.