Two research projects at Aalborg University in Esbjerg are to strengthen Denmark's defense against hybrid threats. The projects, called ABBA USV and U-Shield, focus on the development of drones that can monitor and protect offshore infrastructure such as offshore wind turbines, pipelines and data cables.
ABBA USV focuses on surveillance and inspection using unmanned drones both above and below water, while U-Shield is developing a so-called interceptor drone that can peacefully neutralize unwanted drones near critical installations, Aalborg University said in a press release.
The new initiatives will have a total budget of DKK 80 million and will result in a doubling of the staff at AAU Energy in Esbjerg. According to section head Simon Pedersen, the investments mean that the university's research can be more effectively translated into concrete solutions.
- It gives us the opportunity to develop technology that doesn't just stay on the drawing board, but comes out and makes a difference in the real marine environment, says Simon Pedersen, section head at AAU Energy in Esbjerg.
The projects are supported by EUDP and Innovation Fund Denmark as well as a number of industry partners, including Vattenfall, Teledyne Reson, Tuco and SubC Partner. The latter expects maritime surveillance to become a growing market in line with increasing security needs.
- We see it as a duty to utilize our knowledge to develop and optimize inspection solutions that can be used in connection with critical energy infrastructure - especially underwater," says Rasmus Graungaard Olsen, project manager at SubC Partner.
The researchers in Esbjerg point out that Denmark's dependence on energy and data infrastructure at sea makes surveillance and security increasingly important in light of increasing hybrid threats against the country.
- Our work researching surveillance and securing maritime security has always been relevant, but it has certainly not become less current, says Simon Pedersen and states:
- Almost all internet transmission is via submarine cables, and the dependence is only increasing. Therefore, there is a growing need for surveillance and security - both of energy supply and telecommunications.
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