Human-drone interaction: INESC TEC demonstrated technology during exercise promoted by the Portuguese army

INESC TEC participated in the first exercise for the testing of technological solutions with potential military application in Portugal. The first edition of ARmy Technological EXperimentation (ARTEX 23) was promoted by the Army’s Experimentation & Technological Modernization Centre (CEMTEx) and took place from May 22 to June 2, at the Santa Margarida Military Camp (Constância).

More than a dozen companies and research institutes had the opportunity to present and demonstrate their technologies in the first exercise organised by CEMTEx. The event aimed to promote the testing of solutions in real scenarios, realising their adaptability and encouraging technological innovation in the defence sector.

INESC TEC presented an innovative solution for human-drone interaction. More specifically, the solution explores an innovative concept of autonomous human-machine interaction that allows wearable monitoring of military personnel’s vital signs and activities, as well as measurements of the surrounding environment (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), in order to interact autonomously with a vehicle that protects and supports people in their military operations. In this case, this concept was explored with a drone able to perform 3D reconstruction and fly autonomously – to perform military rescue manoeuvres. This vehicle can release a rescue capsule whenever the intelligent human-machine interaction system detects said need, supporting military personnel who require support, e.g., after a fall or injury.

The INESC TEC team that participated in ARTEX23 featured researchers from the Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research (C-BER) and the Centre for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (CRAS), as well as representatives of the TECPartnerships initiative.

The Institute was also represented at the High Visitors Event, promoted within the scope of ARTEX 23. The initiative included an exhibition space to demonstrate the solutions tested during the exercise, with the presence of the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the President of the Board of Directors of IdD Portugal Defence, and senior Army officers.

INESC TEC has been exploring the application of some technologies in sectors like Defence and Security, participating in several initiatives that promote the work developed at the Institute, capitalising on some technologies for proven public utility results, thus contributing to the modernisation and development of these sectors.