The new laboratory consists of units and workshops enabling the production, testing and servicing of drones. A computing centre and a system for monitoring airspace based on passive radars were also established. Consequently, Przasnysz is the first city in the world whose airspace is monitored by this technology.

– The opening of the centre is a huge success, which is part of the implementation of the current strategy of the Warsaw University of Technology – said Prof. Krzysztof Zaremba, the Rector of WUT. – Thanks to cooperation with local government authorities, government administration and the use of European Union funds, we have the opportunity to conduct unique and much needed research. Today, drones are a permanent element of our reality and their role – also due to the international situation – will increase. I am glad that the Warsaw University of Technology is a leader in this field, and I congratulate everyone involved in the creation of the laboratory.

The centre conducts research on unmanned aerial vehicles and radar technologies, photo by Paweł Waligóra

During the ceremony, the details of the project, development plans and the scope of work were presented.

– The Aerospace Research Centre is administered by the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, but the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology and the Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography also participate in it. I am convinced that other faculties will also find a good place for the implementation of their research work here – emphasized Prof. Janusz Frączek, Dean of the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering. – Further investments in the centre's infrastructure are planned as part of the project "Mazovian platform of materials and sensory technologies and applications in energy conversion and storage, electromobility, aviation and autonomous systems". We also have plans related to the development of aviation training and space research installations.

– In the activities carried out in the centre, we want to place particular emphasis on the creation of a national competence centre in the area of the use of drones for agriculture and forestry – said Prof. Robert Głębocki, the manager of the OBLOT project.- This will allow the development of unmanned aircraft technologies in our country and the construction of fully autonomous systems that can perform tasks independently. We count on the cooperation and support of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Polish Air Navigation Agency and the entire "droners" community in Poland. The centre is open to cooperation with all research institutions and companies from Poland and the EU.

Apart from the authorities and representatives of the University, the opening ceremony was attended by the Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure, local government authorities, the Mazovian Unit for the Implementation of EU Programmes, the Polish Air Navigation Agency and future users of technology (including the army, police, fire brigade or forestry services).

The centre in Przasnysz is to become the national competence centre in the area of the use of drones for agriculture and forestry

The construction of the laboratory is one of the elements of the project "Field Research and Implementation Polygon in Przasnyski District", implemented by the Warsaw University of Technology at the airport in Przasnysz. The project is co-financed from the sources of the European Union, and its goal is to strengthen the research and development activity of the University and increase the commercialization of research results. The total investment costs PLN 33 million of which PLN 24 million is spent on research equipment. In total, 9 laboratories and workshops were created, mainly focusing on unmanned platforms and light aviation.