{"id":5364,"date":"2025-11-05T15:47:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T14:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/?page_id=5364"},"modified":"2026-01-05T11:30:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:30:12","slug":"crash","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/projects\/crash\/","title":{"rendered":"CRASH"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><section class=\"kc-elm kc-css-936004 kc_row\"><div class=\"kc-row-container  kc-container\"><div class=\"kc-wrap-columns\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-415256 kc_col-sm-12 kc_column kc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-434842\" style=\"height: 20px; clear: both; width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"kc-elm kc-css-859126 kc_row\"><div class=\"kc-row-container  kc-container\"><div class=\"kc-wrap-columns\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-4508 kc_col-sm-3 kc_column kc_col-sm-3\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-89955 kc_shortcode kc_single_image\">\n\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/crash-concept540.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" \/>    <\/div>\n<div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-57145 kc-raw-code\">  <script>\n    window.addEventListener(\"load\", () => {\n      mastodonFeedLoad(\n        \"https:\/\/social.rma.ac.be\/api\/v1\/timelines\/tag\/DFR_CRASH\",\n        \"include-mastodon-feed-69d653e47d5e8\",\n        {\n          linkTarget: \"_self\",\n          showPreviewCards: true,\n          excludeConversationStarters: false,\n          excludeTags: \"\",\n          content: {\n            hideStatusMeta: false,\n            hideDateTime: false          },\n          images: {\n            preserveImageAspectRatio: false,\n            size: \"preview\",\n            link: \"status\",\n          },\n          text: {\n            boosted: \"boosted \ud83d\ude80\",\n            noStatuses: \"No statuses available\",\n            viewOnInstance: \"view on instance\",\n            showContent: \"Show content\",\n            permalinkPre: \"on\",\n            permalinkPost: \"\",\n            edited: \"(edited)\",\n          },\n          localization: {\n            date: {\n              locale: \"en-US\",\n              options: {},\n            }\n          }\n        }\n      );\n    });\n  <\/script>\n  <div class=\"include-mastodon-feed-wrapper\"><ol class=\"include-mastodon-feed\" id=\"include-mastodon-feed-69d653e47d5e8\"><li>Loading Mastodon feed...<\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-828279 kc_col-sm-6 kc_column kc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-740767 kc_text_block\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>CRASH<\/strong> (Collision-Resistant Agile &#038; Safe Helicopter-drones) is an innovative research initiative aimed at creating a new generation of drones that can operate safely and efficiently in challenging indoor environments\u2014even when collisions occur.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Why CRASH Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Special Forces often need to fly drones at high speed through cluttered, unpredictable spaces for reconnaissance missions. Current drones require extensive training and cautious piloting because even minor collisions can cause crashes. This slows down operations and increases cognitive load on operators.<\/p>\n<p>CRASH addresses these challenges by developing drones that are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Impact-resistant<\/strong> thanks to advanced smart materials<\/li>\n<li><strong>Agile and fast<\/strong>, enabling quicker reconnaissance<\/li>\n<li><strong>Easier to operate<\/strong>, reducing pilot stress and training time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Key Innovations<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Smart Materials for Collision Resilience<\/strong><br \/>Integration of novel visco-hyperelastic foams into drone structures allows them to absorb shocks and maintain integrity after impacts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Multi-Modal Collision Detection<\/strong><br \/>Embedded sensors and advanced algorithms will detect collisions and deformations in real time, enabling drones to adapt dynamically.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Agile Control Strategies<\/strong><br \/>Innovative control schemes (Model Predictive Control or Explicit Reference Governor) will optimize flight paths\u2014even exploiting collision forces\u2014to navigate faster and more efficiently.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Embedded Sensing for Post-Collision Recovery<\/strong><br \/>The drone will sense and respond to impact forces, ensuring smooth recovery and continued mission execution.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Impact and Applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>CRASH will empower Defence Special Forces with drones capable of rapid indoor reconnaissance, improving mission success rates and safety. Beyond military use, these technologies have potential applications in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Search and Rescue<\/strong> in disaster zones<\/li>\n<li><strong>Infrastructure inspection<\/strong> in confined spaces<\/li>\n<li><strong>Industrial and urban operations<\/strong> where agility and resilience are critical<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Who\u2019s Involved<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>The project is a collaboration between the <strong>Royal Military Academy (RMA)<\/strong> and <strong>VUB BruBotics<\/strong>, combining expertise in aerial robotics, AI-based control, and advanced materials science.<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-609654 kc_col-sm-3 kc_column kc_col-sm-3\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-158695 kc-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t<i class=\"fa-euro-sign\"><\/i>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-659825 kc_text_block\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rma.ac.be\">Royal Military Academy<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&#038;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.irsd.be\/website\/\">Royal Higher Institute for Defence<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Defence &#8211; Funded Research (DFR)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: inherit;\">2025 &#8211; 2029<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">0.4 M\u20ac<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-216151 kc_shortcode kc_single_image\">\n\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/RMA.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" \/>    <\/div>\n<div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-245602\" style=\"height: 20px; clear: both; width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-843979 kc-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t<i class=\"ion-android-people\"><\/i>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-969993 kc_text_block\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/people\/jorge-silva\/\">Jorge Silva<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-904264\" style=\"height: 20px; clear: both; width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"kc-elm kc-css-325042 kc_row\"><div class=\"kc-row-container  kc-container\"><div class=\"kc-wrap-columns\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-18672 kc_col-sm-12 kc_column kc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-979850\" style=\"height: 20px; clear: both; width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"kc-elm kc-css-616138 kc_row\"><div class=\"kc-row-container  kc-container\"><div class=\"kc-wrap-columns\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-662433 kc_col-sm-12 kc_column kc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\">\n<div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-268828 kc-title-wrap \">\n\n\t<h4 class=\"kc_title\">Project Publications<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-701108 kc_text_block\"><\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"kc-elm kc-css-267423 kc_row\"><div class=\"kc-row-container  kc-container\"><div class=\"kc-wrap-columns\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-743894 kc_col-sm-12 kc_column kc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"kc-col-container\"><div class=\"kc-elm kc-css-762981\" style=\"height: 20px; clear: both; width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2712,"parent":2797,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5364","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5364"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5396,"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5364\/revisions\/5396"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}