Autonomous Systems Test Arena erected and inflated at DTU.
Autonomous Systems is an exponentially expanding field of research globally as well as on DTU. There is an acute need for an enclosed facility, where researchers can test a wide range of types of autonomous systems, including self-operating drones, robots and small submarines.
Last Friday, researchers and students from DTU Electrical Engineering literally helped build their own test arena on DTU Lyngby Campus. 30 employees helped “roll-out” a 3.6 tons membrane, and within a couple of hours their 14 meter high facility was erected/ -inflated, an airdome held up by 10,000 cubic meters of air.
DTU’s new test arena, Autonomous Systems Test Arena (ASTA) is very unique, as that there are very few places in the world where one simultaneously test systems in the air, on the ground and in and under the water. The 950 m2 airdome will be utilized as a temporary test arena for the next 6 – 8 years, all while DTU will strive to establish a permanent building.
With a creative approach and a lot of dedication from the Institutes DTU Electrical Engineering, DTU Aqua, and DTU Space, DTU has in very short time established, a relative inexpensive specialized unique research facility.
The Test Arena will open in the spring of 2020.