Category: Technologies

22 Jun 2020

TSURU ROBOTICS CONDUCTED TESTS FOR MTS STARTUP HUB

As already reported by tsuru.su, mobile operator MTS has opened a platform for developing and testing digital solutions for devices running on 5G – MTS StartUp Hub network. Tsuru Robotics became one of the first residents was with a project for controlling a swarm of drones.

Our company conducted the first tests on integrating drones into the 5G network. And the management of drones in the MTS 5G network was absolutely successful.

Now Tsuru Robotics team is preparing to present its achievements at the MTS STARTUP HUB Demo Day.

08 Jun 2020

“CABLEWALKER” TECHNOLOGY: ALL SYSTEMS GO

The new Cablewalker system, designed for diagnostics of live high-voltage power lines by utilizing drones, was tested on the 110 kV line between the Novo-Sverdlovsk Thermal Power Station and the village of Dachnaya. Tsuru Robotics has designed the system that an unmanned vehicle to land on the line and take off from it in various landscapes and weather conditions. We have also solved the problem of electromagnetic compatibility of the flying devices with a working line.

During the tests, the Cablewalker took off automatically, reached the given location over the line, and landed on it. At that point, the wheel module was engaged, and the Cablewalker began moving along the section of the line. At the previously determined distance from the pole, the drone stopped, automatically took off from the wire, and flew over to the next section. The entire time during these maneuvers, it was submitting data to the control center.

As a result, the Cablewalker has become the first working live power line diagnostics robot in the world.

10 May 2020

THE APPLE DOCTOR WENT OUT INTO THE GARDEN

A unique event took place in the Kaluga region from May 8th till May 11th — the first automatic system in the country for early diagnostics of apple tree diseases was tested.

Apple trees get sick – unfortunately, this is a widespread phenomenon. Moreover, when the disease can be determined, its consequences are already irreversible — the appearance of apples is significantly damaged, and it is problematic to sell them. And so that diseases do not spoil the fruits, apple trees are treated with special means. And not only sick trees — it is impossible to distinguish them from healthy ones at an early stage. All this, of course, affects the environmental friendliness of apples.

The company “Soyuzsnab”, which owns extensive apple orchards, decided to cope with this problem. At her request, Tsuru Robotics, Skolkovo resident, in collaboration with the Skoltech research group, developed a system that would recognize the disease at an early stage.

Scientists took an apple tree, infected it with a scab (this is the most common disease of apple trees), and studied it on a spectrometer — in what range of the spectrum the first signs of the disease are visible. And this range was found.

Then it was time for the field, or rather garden tests. The company “Microgarden” (a scientific-technical division of “Soyuzsnab” and the resident of agro-industrial Skolkovo cluster) with the financial support of Foundation For Assistance To Small Innovative Enterprises held a test in one of the gardens in Kaluga region. The date was chosen because apple trees diseases begin to appear during the flowering period — in May is such a period in the central region of Russia. The system developed by Tsuru Robotics uses three cameras — a conventional one, a thermal imager, and a special camera that takes pictures in five ranges.

The structure is mounted on a tractor that moves along the trees and shoots.

The first experiment was successful. The system tested about 30 rows of apple trees of various varieties.
Now the collected data is tested by computer algorithms for recognizing the disease. And only sick trees will need to be treated with special tools.

In the future, by the way, the system will be able to recognize whether the tree is cured or needs to be re-processed.

02 Apr 2019

ALTIUM ANNOUNCED THE START OF COOPERATION WITH TSURU ROBOTICS

Altium, a leading global developer of PCB designing software, announced the start of cooperation with our company. Within its framework, Tsuru Robotics created drone reference design in Altium Designer. The main objective of the partnership was to develop the design of a compact unmanned multirotor that includes features from complex professional devices. As a result, Tsuru Robotics created a smart device that differs significantly from a conventional drone. Some of the important features are the presence of a powerful microprocessor, support for computer vision and the ability to connect various external devices. And all this in a compact assembly of PCBs the size of a mobile phone.

“We are confident that the scope of drone applications will constantly be expanding: they are already used for aerial photography, patrolling and monitoring of various objects. Tsuru Robotics manufactures high-tech drones using its own electronics, which has no analogs in the world, – said Alexey Sabunin, head of product marketing for Altium. “We are pleased to help to create such a unique project not only for Russia, but for the whole world, and we continue to help the company create innovative products.”

“We noticed that many specialists on the Russian market work with Altium,” said Nikita Rodichenko, Technical Director of Tsuru Robotics. “We had a desire to work with Altium long before we initiated this project, during which we were able to fully use the functionality of the software at all stages of the project. Previously, for some individual tasks, we used other engineering software, but now all the design work for printed circuit boards in the company is fully carried out in Altium Designer. ”

01 Mar 2019

TSURU ROBOTICS DEVELOPED DRONE THEATER

Voronezh hosts the “robots’ festival” from February 28 to April 7. The festival features more than 70 robots, VR, and several techno shows. One of the show is the drones’ theater, that was created on the basis of Tsuru Robotics mobile show complex.

Our team delivered the complex to the customer in Voronezh. Five drones give a show inside the frame with dimensions of three meters. The performance is not simple — drones, dressed in costumes, play a fairy tale in the automatic mode according to the programmed scenario.

19 Feb 2019

TSURU ROBOTICS JOINED THE PROJECT “CABLEWALKER”

FutureLab developed a contact technology “cablewalker” for the diagnosis of power lines under voltage. After takeoff, the drone sits on the line, switches off the propellers, and starts moving along the wire with the help of the wheel module. The advantages of this technology are the ability to deliver diagnostic equipment without disconnecting the voltage and the possibility to overcome obstacles on the power wire. The detailed information about the project can be found on the company’s website.

The main problem is to ensure an accurate automatic landing on the wire. Tsuru robotics joined the project to help FutureLab with this problem. We will develop a system of an automatic drone landing on the wire in different types of landscapes and weather conditions, as well as optimize flight characteristics of the current vehicles.

The photo is taken from the FutureLab photo report.

01 Feb 2019

TSURU ROBOTICS FINISHED PROJECT IN TAIWAN

Tsuru Robotics installed its autopilots on several large drones, developed by Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Tsuru delivered autopilots to Taiwan then mounted and configured them.

The integration was done for drones with six, eight and 18 propellers, ranging in size from 2 to 3.5 meters. Drones with Tsuru Robotics autopilots showed excellent flight quality.

The drones will be used for fast delivery and lifting of telecommunications equipment for commercial purposes.

01 Aug 2018

MOBILE ILS CALIBRATION SYSTEM CARRIED OUT BY TSURU ROBOTICS DRONE TESTED SUCCESSFULLY

Kursir LLC. (Skolkovo resident) completed tests of its innovative ILS calibration system installed on the drone, created by our company, in Noyabrsk (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug).
Kursir developed a mobile device for operational checks of airport systems, responsible for the safety of the landing. Today, the verification of radio equipment for flights around the world are carried out with the help of specialized aircraft laboratories, which makes verification very expensive. In Russia, airports should carry such tests once a year. The new system allows to carry out low-cost inspections every day.
The project uses Tsuru Robotics drone. The size of the UAV is 1 m, weight is 3 kg, and flight duration is up to 50 minutes. Kursir installed measuring complex that weighs about a kilogram as a payload. Measurements of the direction finder ARP-75 and landing system SP-75 parameters were taken. Tests confirmed the possibility of measuring the necessary parameters of landing systems with the device.
It should be noted that such light measuring systems to check the airports do not exist in the world yet.
The drone involved in the complex is a modification of the Tsuru Robotics security drones developed by our company.

18 May 2018

TSURU ROBOTICS HELD MINI-EVENT

For the first time our company held a show of drones in a very limited space: the performance took place in one of the rooms of Moscow apartments. Flight space was an area of 4×4 m, and height limited to a three-meter ceiling. Three small
drones (20 cm diagonal) with scattered led lighting participated in the show. Specially created video three walls projection accompanied the performance. Music also was designed purposely for the 2.5-minute show.

Besides, for the first time, the positioning system cameras were located on the same line, not just in the same plane.

24 Apr 2018

SXT FLYING ARENA OPENED IN SKOLKOVO TECHNOPARK

Skoltech-Tsuru Flying Arena, opened in Technopark, is the largest Russian indoor flight zone for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Skolkovo Technopark provided the space for the zone. The area of SxT Arena is 260 sqm, ceiling’s height is seven meters. This Arena with the preinstalled local positioning system is located on the ground floor of Technopark. The arena is a training zone, where, in addition to testing algorithms, you can conduct a variety of rehearsals for different types of drone group behavior. We’re developing new types of drones group behavior in the Arena in collaboration with Skoltech ISR Lab.
In addition to current work, Skoltech ISR Lab and Tsuru robotics will conduct summer practice for students. Students will be able to participate in the implementation of the company’s projects, or carry out their own, gaining practical knowledge and skills of drone control.

06 Apr 2018

MOBILE DRONES SHOW BEGINS TOUR

We successfully implemented our latest project — a mobile show complex for the company FabFuture. The complex can be installed for advertising purposes in areas with large concentrations of people — in shopping malls, airports, etc. Six drones automatically perform a specified mission within a limited space. The frame, inside which the drones fly has a cubic shape. The diagonal dimension of the drones is 250 mm, and frame size is 3 m. After completing the 7-minute flight program, the drones land and are ready for takeoff again after quick batteries replacement. Show complex includes drones, camera positioning system, frame, and computer. The whole system takes three to four hours to build and configure.

The customer plans to hold shows in different Russian cities. More information on project page.

19 Feb 2018

TSURU ROBOTICS DRONES PLAYED BASKETBALL

Our company in collaboration with Interactive Lab and “Pitch group” presented one of the show programs during the match of all stars of the VTB United League in St. Petersburg. Our devices broke at least the same amount of applause from the audience, as the best Europe basketball players in the “Yubileyny” sports Palace.

Tsuru Robotics is the only company in Russia that creates autonomous drone shows while constantly improving the program. For the first time in our country, a group choreography of 12 drones was carried out. The vehicles started the show during the time-out between the third and fourth quarters of the main match and performed more than three-minute “dance”. Large drones were “dressed” in costumes, stylized as basketball balls. SIBUR and Wilson designed “Ecoball” – basketball balls made of orange-and-blue recycled plastic specifically for this match. Led lighting costumes of drones, shimmering, repeated these colors.

Anton SOLOMIN, a basketball columnist for “Match TV”: “It was terrifically beautiful and even a little scary! The rise of the machines has never been so close. This show was really unexpected for most of the guests. The performance was, certainly, unusual – no one has seen this before”.
More information on project page.