The Intelligent Drone Lab partners with industry to facilitate research and development into drone autonomy using computer vision and machine learning techniques.

Headshot of AAII's Professor Michael Blumenstein
Professor Michael Blumenstein | Lab Co-Director
Headshot of AAII's Associate Professor Nabin Sharma
Associate Professor Nabin Sharma | Lab Co-Director

Autonomous drones

The Intelligent Drone Lab (iDL) is the nation’s first laboratory of its kind. The lab partners with industry to facilitate research and development into drone autonomy using computer vision and machine learning techniques. Its key objectives will include research into Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight for remote pilot licences, collaboration with industry on employing drones as practical solutions in multiple application areas (industry verticals), and delivering short courses on flying, maintaining and managing drone operations for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority drone licence training.

Upper left | Lower right: Overhead view of ocean with sharks and whales outlined with a square and labelled. iDL develop autonomous drones equipped with an AI application, SharkSpotter. Dones can distinguish and identify sharks and other visible animals in the water, using real-time image processing techniques and state-of-the-art sensors and software. Upper right | Lower left: The Little Ripper drones fly to troubled swimmers caught in dangerous surf conditions and drop self-inflatable devices to assist.

Upper left | Lower right: In collaboration with The Ripper Group, iDL develop autonomous drones equipped with an AI application, SharkSpotter. Using this technology, drones can distinguish and identify sharks and other visible animals in the water, using real-time image processing techniques and state-of-the-art sensors and software. Image: Westpac Little Ripper.
Upper right | Lower left: The Little Ripper drones respond to people caught in dangerous surf conditions or floods, by dropping self-inflatable devices to assist troubled swimmers, significantly lowering the total rescue time. Image: Westpac Little Ripper.