All our research is born and fostered from our offices and labs in the University of Southampton's Boldrewood Innovation Campus in Southampton, UK. Hanging from the ceiling of the lab are several of our in-house built platforms and other research vehicles that are either used as teaching aids or for inspiration. The work surfaces and shelves are dotted with new designs, research payloads and prototyped parts and the walls are home to photos, system diagrams and whiteboards full of doodles.
We have several 3D printers in the lab, often working away creating new components for our platforms or testing new desgin ideas. The central table becomes a hive of activity as we design, build and test ideas for different exciting research projects. The lab is equipped with soldering and electronic workstations to help us build up our custom PCBs, or manufacture our avionic wiring looms.
The proximity to a machining workshop, a small scale wind tunnel, a hot-wire cutter and open lab space, to name a few of nearby facilities, makes the UAV lab the perfect space for design, manufacturing and assembling our airframes.
Our state-of-the-art Mobile Command Control and Communication (MC3) vehicles are equipped to support any field test. Although primarily used by our team to support our flight tests, the vehicles are available and designed to support any autonomous systems test that requires a "lab on wheels". Each van is fitted with:
A generator and inverter system plus a large battery bank for direct power.
Rack mounted computers with large SSD storage and flat screen displays.
An externally mountable screen.
4G high-bandwidth internet connection an satellite internet communication system for more remote areas.
VHF air-band and marine-band communications transceivers.
Local team “walkie-talkie” system
Aircraft and ship transponder interrogators/ airspace virtual radar.
High quality, HD 30X zoom pan, tilt, tracking camera.
A pneumatically actuated communications mast
Auto-levelling pneumatic rams to provide a stable ground station.
A microwave oven, two gas hobs, a sink and air-conditioning.
Four rear seats (safe to use for travelling) and two front seats.
A side mounted fully enclosed awning.
For more information about the ground control vehicles and booking enquiries, please contact Mehmet Ali Erbil.
We built G-OUAV, a TLAC Sherwood Scout, as a 51% homebuild aircraft in 2017. This is now available for research applications including undergraduate group design projects and individual projects. It has a high spec glass cockpit and has an extra ground-plane to allow for antenna range testing.
The aircraft is a two seater with glass doors and canopy for excellent visibility. Is has a fabic-covered fuselage and the wings are foldable to improve storage options. Currently, the aircraft operates out of Popham Airfield in Hampshire and is being used by the Southampton University Aviation Society (SUAS).