Andrew Wade

C2I 2020 Aerospace & Defence shortlist

In-Depth

Our runners-up in Aerospace & Defence brought innovation to uniquely challenging environments, from the inside of active volcanoes to the unforgiving terrain of the battlefield. Andrew wade reports. 

Category: Aerospace & Defence

Project: UK Volcanology Field Robotics Team

Partners: University of Bristol, with University of Manchester, University of Cambridge and UCL

Category sponsor: HVM Catapult

Featuring a collection of scientists and engineers from some of the UK’s leading universities (Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester and UCL), the UK Volcanology Field Robotics Team has been breaking new ground in aeronautics and volcanology since 2017. Using bespoke fixed wing drones, the team has been studying volcanic plumes in some of the most challenging physical environments on Earth, in countries such as Guatemala, Chile, Montserrat and Papua New Guinea.

Aerospace & Defence shortlist

“Robotics, and in particular drones/UAVs presented an opportunity for a revolution in volcanology,” said Dr Matt Watson from the University of Bristol.

“We saw a future in which we could significantly reduce the risk to scientists whilst providing a step change in the quality and quantity of data we could gather. For the first time, we could take our instruments directly into volcanic eruption clouds, and to places that were simply beyond our reach just a few years ago”.

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