Funding approval for HDCC handed over to TU Darmstadt: considerable interest

Gruppenfoto bei der Förderbescheid-Übergabe an das Hessische Drohnenkompetenzzentrum. Roll-up-Displays des Kassel Airport und des hdkz unscharf im Hintergrund. — The Minister for Digital Affairs, Prof. Dr Kristina Sinemus (centre), presented the grant notification to Prof. Dr Heribert Warzecha, Vice-President of Darmstadt Technical University, and Prof. Dr Michèle Knodt, Director of the HDKZ. | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

In true style, the funding approval for the Hessian Drone Competence Centre (HDCC) at Kassel Airport was delivered by drone on 5 August. In front of more than 180 invited guests, exhibitors and members of the press, Hesse’s Minister for Digital Affairs, Prof. Dr Kristina Sinemus, presented the funding approval to Prof. Dr Heribert Warzecha, Vice-President of Technical University of Darmstadt, and Prof. Dr Michèle Knodt, Director of the HDCC. Led by TU Darmstadt, the new Innovation and Transfer Centre will bring together research, testing, training and application.

„In future, innovative drone technologies will be tested under real-world conditions at Kassel Airport, in the heart of Germany, and put into practice. Current international developments in the field of unmanned aerial systems demonstrate how important it is to take decisive action in this area. In doing so, we are strengthening Hesse’s innovative capacity and our technological autonomy,“ said Prof. Dr Kristina Sinemus.

Prof. Dr Michèle Knodt emphasised: „Innovation cycles in the field of unmanned aerial systems have shortened dramatically in recent years. It is therefore crucial not only to develop new technologies, but also to test them at an early stage in collaboration with future users, to continuously refine them and to bring them into practical use much more quickly. This is precisely why we are creating the HDCC, a facility that is unique in Germany.“

Raum am Kassel Aiport, in dem eine Drohne den Förderbescheid an das Hessische Drohnenkompetenzzentrum einfliegt – mehrere Personen warten darauf, den Förderbescheid in Empfang zu nehmen. — Frank Syring, Head of the Digital Technology and Innovation Funding Unit at the Ministry for Digital Affairs, Minister for Digital Affairs Kristina Sinemus and TU Vice-President Heribert Warzecha are waiting for the funding decision, which was delivered by drone. | © HDCC Sascha Mannel

Exhibition featuring work by the Technical University and local companies

In an accompanying exhibition, TU researchers led by Professors Dorota Iwaszczuk, Simone Schaub-Meyer, Oskar von Stryk, Uwe Klingauf, Michael Muma and Björn Scheuermann: from drones that set up communication networks during crises, through the collaboration between ground robots and drones, to AI-based methods of image analysis for highly detailed maps.

Kassel Airport had also invited numerous exhibitors, including RotorKonzept, Argus Interception, Thales, Digital Resilience Xchange (DiReX) and the Calden Fire Brigade. They showcased state-of-the-art drone technology, provided an insight into their work and staged flight demonstrations in the airport’s outdoor area.

Gruppe von Personen schaut sich ein Lagebild an einem Computer-Bildschirm an, Forschende des HDKZ erklären, was darauf zu sehen ist. — Oskar von Stryk, Professor of Simulation, Systems Optimization and Robotics group (third from the right), and Markus Kramer, research assistant (first from the left), demonstrate how rescue robots can work together with drones to create situational awareness. | © HDCC Sascha Mannel

Kassel Airport as a real-world laboratory

Until now, there has often been a lack of suitable test environments in which new technologies can be tested alongside their future users under real-world operational and safety conditions. This is precisely where the HDCC comes in. Kassel Airport offers a unique testing environment for this purpose: as an active commercial airport, it enables innovative drone technologies to be integrated directly into real-world operational and safety processes and tested under practical conditions. This direct transfer from university research to real-world flight operations is a unique selling point of the site and gives the Hessian project a pioneering role in technology.

Funding from the State of Hesse and the EU

The HDCC receives funding of eight million euros; 4.8 million euros are provided by the State of Hesse through the Distr@l funding programme, whilst a further 3.2 million euros come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Gruppenfoto des HDKZ-Teams vor der Messewand des Hessischen Drohnenkompetenzzentrums. — The interdisciplinary team from the Hessian Drone Competence Centre gathered at Kassel Airport for the handover ceremony. | © HDCC Sascha Mannel

Highlights from the award ceremony and the exhibition at Kassel Airport:

| © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

Digitalministerin Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus als Speakerin bei der Förderbescheid-Übergabe am Podest vor verschiedenen Roll-up-Displays des Hessischen Drohnenkompetenzzentrums und Kassel Airport. — | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

Prof. Dr. Michèle Knodt, Direktorin des Hessischen Drohnenkompetenzzentrums, als Speakerin auf einer Bühne vor vielen Zuschauern. — | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

Personengruppe mit Förderbescheid vor einer Messewand des Hessischen Drohnenkompetenzzentrums am Kassel Airport. Unscharf im Vordergrund steht eine umbemannte Drohne. Eine der Personen hält den Förderbescheid in den Händen. — | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

Unbemannte Drohne fliegt über bewölkten Himmel. — | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

Große Menschengruppe auf dem Außengelände des Kassel Airport. — | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel

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