Recovery Fund Activities “Latvian Recovery and Resilience Mechanism Plan 2.2. Reform and Investment Direction “Digital Transformation and Innovation of Enterprises” 2.2.1.3.i. Investments “Support for the Implementation of New Products and December Services in Business” within the framework of the project SIA MASOC KC from 1 to 27 June 2024. 2.2.1.3.i.0/1/24/A/CFLA/007 “MASOC KC Support for the Development of Digital Products”.

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Within the framework of the project “MASOC KC Support for the Development of Digital Products”, SIA “TEMESO” will launch the implementation of the research project No. D.3.3. “Development of a Multi-Application BPL Platform” on 1 November 2024.

The aim of the research project is to develop a new digital improved product, which includes the already developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base testing system and the modifications carried out, to develop a new multifunctional UAV platform with increased aircraft autonomy and digital solutions. The project corresponds to the development of digital products, as it improves the UAV sensor system and control system, which includes a number of digital solutions and improves its autonomy. To improve autonomy, it is planned to work on integrating an inertial navigation system into the UAV. The project plans to optimize the propulsion system, which also includes the manufacture of an engine and propulsion system test bench, as well as the creation and integration of a video system into an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to enable observation and search missions. The new platform will be an UAV with observation, supply and data collection functionality. The main benefits of this platform will be higher speed (compared to other observation UAVs), maneuverability, resistance to GPS signal interference, ease of use, greater than other UAVs of similar parameters. Another advantage of this UAV can be considered its modularity and multifunctionality, which will allow using one single platform for various tasks. This would allow for flight in GPS signal interference conditions, and it would be able to autonomously perform an observation mission, collect data or deliver cargo. The result would be a surveillance BPS that is fast, maneuverable, and resistant to GPS interference. In addition, the project plans to work on the versatile use of the BPS, which would allow for various purposes with minimal use. A significant part of the project is intended to improve the efficiency of the BPS, which allows for increasing its performance indicators. Therefore, work is planned to develop a system engine/drive test bench, which would allow for optimizing the operation of the BPL engine and propeller. In addition, the results of the research planned during the project will be partially published or disseminated in at least two scientific articles or conferences indexed in the Web of Science, SCOPUS, ERIH (A or B) ScienceDirect or Elsevier databases.

The research project is planned to be implemented by December 31, 2026. The total cost of the project is planned to be EUR 272,600.00, including EUR 198,080.00 - financing from the European Union Recovery Fund.

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During the period from 01.11.2024 to 31.12.2024, two significant tasks were completed:

1.      A CAD model for the Drive Module Test Stand was developed.

2.      A schematic representation of the inertial navigation system's operation was created, and potential components were identified.

The work done will serve as a foundation for future tasks in the next stages of the project. The next phase will focus on the manufacturing of the drive module test stand and the testing of the drive modules. Simultaneously, work will be done on developing the operation schematic of the video control system and selecting components. Both the video system and the inertial navigation system will later be integrated into the TEMESO unmanned aerial vehicle's control system. Initially, the plan is to create a laboratory prototype to test the system's operation.

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Action program of the recovery fund "Latvian Recovery and Resilience Mechanism Plan 5.1.r. 5.1.1.r. of the reform and investment direction "Increasing productivity through increasing the amount of investment in R&D" reforms "Management of innovations and motivation of private R&D investments" 5.1.1.2.i. investment "Support instrument for the development of innovation clusters" implementation rules within the competence centers" SIA "MAŠĪNBŪVES KOMPETENCES CENTRS" from September 13, 2022 to June 30, 2026 implements project no. 5.1.1.2.i.0/1/22/A/CFLA/006 "Mechanical Engineering Competence Center".

As part of the "Mechanical Engineering Competence Center" project, SIA "TEMESO" is starting on June 1, 2023, research project no. 5.1.1.2.i.0/1/22/A/CFLA/006 "Improvement of the control system and production technology of the unmanned aerial vehicle (target platform)". The aim of the research project is to develop a new UAV control station and antenna system developed by the company, as well as to improve the manufacturing technology of composite parts used in the company.

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In the period from 01.06.2023 – 30.09.2023:

Within the framework of the intermediate stage, SIA "TEMESO" developed a CAD model of the ground station and its component list, the first prototype of the antenna system and samples of parts for further research of the production technology. In parallel with these works, tasks were defined for further research works planned in the next intermediate stage.

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In the time period 01.10.2023 – 31.12.2023, two important works have been carried out:

1. The scientific study "Optimization of control frequency, communication and antenna" was carried out.

2. The scientific study "Improving the production technology of flax composite and testing samples" was carried out.

As part of the "Optimization of control frequency, communication and antenna" research, more suitable antennas for the UAV system and system parameters that allow to increase the operating distance were selected. In the tests of the antenna system, a working distance of 48.7 km was achieved with communication quality indicators corresponding to the operation of the system. At distances closer to the operation, but with a larger sector of operation, another antenna was found. A set of these actions gathered potential future improvements to further increase operating distance. All results were summarized in a study report.

As part of the study "Improving linen composite production technology and testing samples", the composite gluing technology used in the company was explored and tests were carried out with various material combinations and technological changes. As a result, a technology map and a database with various technology configurations and parameters of manufactured parts were compiled. 

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In the time period 01.01.2024 – 31.03.2024, the design of the prototype of the Ground station has been completed and the CAD model and description for the manufacturing of production forms have been developed, as well as the four of six modules of the prototype of the GS have been completed, manufactured and configured:
1. The module of transmitters and antennas placed in the unmanned aerial vehicle;
2. GS Ground antenna module;
3. Ground station system power supply module;
4. Ground station remote control module;
All these modules are fully assembled and set up. We expect to manufacture the remaining two modules (the basic module of the Ground station and the control computer) within the 4th intermediate stage. After the production of these modules, the Ground station prototype will be fully assembled and can be fully tested.
Extensive information analysis work has been carried out in the field of production technology improvement and a precise plan for the next steps has been drawn up to create a test batch of parts according to the knowledge gained during the project. Also, work has started on milling the models, which will make it possible to make a set of forms.
When planning the testing of the Ground station, it was concluded that for safe and controlled testing it is necessary to create a flying transmitter-receiver station (in the form of a quadcopter). This will allow tests to be carried out more easily and without significant limitations, which would be significantly more difficult with a large fixed-wing UAV. Work on the creation of this platform has already begun.

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In the time period 01.04.2024 - 30.06.2024, the production of the prototype of the Ground station has been completed, the testing of the Ground control station has been carried out, and a batch of test parts with the improved linen composite technology has been produced.

In general, the planned results of the project have been successfully achieved. A prototype of the Ground control station has been created. It has been functionally tested, which shows the achievement of the initially set goals:

1. Stable operation of the system

2. System operation up to a distance of 40 km.

3. System modularity and rapid deployment.

The desired goals have also been achieved in the production technology section. Improved production technology, as a result of which UAV fuselage parts are manufactured with higher surface quality and greater strength. Natural fibre reinforcement material (linen fibre) has been preserved for these parts. On the other hand, the precision of the parts allows for higher quality manufacturing of the aircraft structure and improves the appearance of the final product. Hatches, wings and winglets have a more precise fit connecting to the central part.

The contract studies carried out within the project have made it possible to gather a large amount of theoretical and practical (laboratory measured) information. It significantly helped to carry out the project and provided a vision for the further development of the Unmanned Aircraft System. Further, it is planned to develop the long-range communication of the aircraft, improve the performance parameters of the unmanned aircraft and improve the operation of the unmanned aircraft system in the conditions of disturbances.

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As part of the "MACHINERY COMPETENCE CENTRE" project, SIA "TEMESO" is starting on June 1, 2023, research project no. 5.1.1.2.i.0/1/22/A/CFLA/006 "Improvement of the control system and production technology of the unmanned aerial vehicle (target platform)". The aim of the research project was to develop a new UAV control station and antenna system developed by the company, as well as to improve the manufacturing technology of composite parts used in the company.

In general, in this project, a new prototype of the ground control station was developed and its testing was carried out, which confirmed the long-range operation, stability and resistance to bad weather conditions of the developed system. In the second section of the project, the technology of manufacturing linen composite parts was perfected, which was finally tested by making a batch of high-quality test parts. Both sections of the project included scientific research conducted by Riga Technical University.

The team of the „MAŠĪNBŪVES KOMPETENCES CENTRS” provided significant support in the implementation of the project, which helped to coordinate the project and advised or provided recommendations at several stages of the project.

The project has ended successfully, achieving the initially set goals, and also significantly increased the competence of SIA TEMESO in several areas.