In the framework of the Operational Programme Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, participation in the scientific group for developing the project “(AeRial System and Anti piRacy System)” going by the acronym ARSx2.

WEB PAGE: http://www.arsx2.com

The piracy in the marine environment

From ancient times, the transport of goods takes place by the sea, as it is the most economical and reliable way of transporting. Land geography, shipping, and maritime transport play a decisive role in this direction. Nevertheless, one of the major dangers of merchant shipping is the piracy of the seas. It is the result of social, political, and economic instabilities that occur in different countries of the world. The financial consequences for the shipping community were as important as the cost borne by all the countries that take part in dealing with the phenomenon. Therefore, in order to tackle the problem, it is necessary to use new technologies such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). It is a new, dynamic, and fast-growing market, which enables innovative ways to assist private guards and merchant ships to deal more effectively with the phenomenon of piracy.
At the same time, it offers assisted modes that are more economic, easier, faster, safer, more accurate, cost-effective, and accessible to anyone.

About the project

The idea of this research project is based on new, innovative, and rapidly growing Unmanned Technologies.

The subject of this proposal is based on a business idea of developing two different types of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

The first UAS will be suitably equipped with sensors and other recording instruments and an integrated processing system for the purpose of reviewing – recording, processing data, and identifying various unknown “targets” in marine areas to prevent piracy in commercial ships. In addition, it will be appreciably different from existing unmanned systems at both design and equipment level as it will have customized “smart systems” of data capture and reading based on the combined use of sensors and ground control systems to enable remote operation and management at the operational level missions.

The second UAS system to be developed in this project will be flexible and easy to use by non-specialist operators. In particular, it will be developed by its handlers in case the ship is occupied by pirates so as to follow the vessel at a suitable height and distance for the first significant period of the ongoing piracy by relaying to appropriate frequencies an S.O.S. signal and critical information. By following the ship, except for transmitting of the danger signal (S.O.S), it will relay the position of the ship, and an image of the situation in vulnerable points of the vessel through a network of micro-cameras installed on the ship’s bridge the escape room, etc

It is understood that the project contributes significantly to the competitiveness of enterprises and research institutions and will form the basis for providing advanced care services at the national, European, and global levels. The whole business venture is based on the need for a constant supply of people, travel security services, and goods on merchant ships that sail in areas where active pirate groups are.

Participants

The proposal will be implemented by a company (AS Prote) in collaboration with the Marine Remote Sensing Group of the Department of Marine Sciences of the University of the Aegean, which specializes in unmanned applications with unmanned aerial systems in the maritime area.

It is expected that this project’s final product will reduce the monitoring costs in interim safety information and save time. The advantages of the development of UAS in the marine security sector to combat piracy and to save time and cost are expected to be Significant.

This project is co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE