From the Arctic to the stratosphere – projects by WUT students

One of the Group's most significant undertakings is the Snow's Eye system – a tool for the acoustic measurement of snow cover thickness and water content in snow. Such data are essential for researching glacier dynamics and forecasting sea-level rise. The team didn't stop at the concept – they designed a sonar, purchased and adapted a drone for flights in Arctic conditions, and then conducted field tests on Svalbard. Thanks to cooperation with the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and the ForScience Foundation, the solution developed at the Warsaw University of Technology has the potential to become part of international climate research programmes.

In parallel, the Group is developing the Blue Spark project, which aims to create autonomous underwater boats capable of operating in a multi-robot system. Thanks to this concept, ocean research can become cheaper, more accessible, and more effective, as the units will be able to share tasks and increase their range without the need for manned surface vessels. A key element here is the development of an acoustic positioning system, which will replace GPS, unavailable underwater. After tests in enclosed waters, the next stage will be trials in the open sea and participation in international AUV competitions.

The team is also working on next-generation drones. Several prototype machines have already been built and used in measurement missions in the Arctic, while experiments using artificial intelligence and machine vision for navigation are being conducted in parallel.

The most forward-looking direction of the Group's activity is the HAPS – High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite project. This is an autonomous aerial vehicle designed to reach altitudes above 15 kilometres and conduct observation or provide communication for many hours. This type of platform combines the advantages of satellites and drones, offering long-term presence over a designated area with simultaneous operational flexibility. A prototype is currently being developed, which in the coming months is scheduled to undertake its first mission, launched by a stratospheric balloon and returned to earth via precision landing.

The Group's greatest success so far was the research mission in the Arctic, during which the Snow's Eye system was tested. In the immediate vicinity of glaciers on Svalbard, they managed to collect the first field data on snow cover thickness. This is information that in the future could significantly improve the accuracy of climate change models and forecasts regarding sea-level rise.

“Projects carried out within the Student Research Group for Aerial Measurement and Control Systems are developed in close cooperation with the industrial environment, which enhances their research and interdisciplinary dimension. The involvement of students from various WUT faculties broadens the team’s overall competence,” emphasises Jan Mikołajczyk, President of the Group.

The team collaborates with both national and international institutions. Their projects are co-developed with members of the Student Research Group for Measurement Systems and Automation at the University of Warsaw (Faculties of MIM and FUW). Furthermore, the Group has established cooperation with, among others, the ForScience Foundation, the Institute of Geophysics PAN, and the company Creotech Instruments. By combining knowledge and experience from various fields, the Group members are able to create solutions that address real challenges in science and industry. The results of their work are presented at conferences and trade fairs, and their next goal remains their publication and implementation.

Students of the Student Research Group for Aerial Measurement and Control Systems during a meeting with Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski