UAE-based Masdar Institute has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thales Alenia Space and French engineering university MINES ParisTech to jointly develop applications for the Stratobus drone-satellite hybrid airship.
Under the deal, Masdar Institute will work on the development of applications, which will help the UAE to monitor and protect the Arabian Gulf and natural resources.
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The first six months of the project will focus on defining the needs of Stratobus UAE users, while the second phase will see the Masdar Institute interfacing with various users to define their environmental application needs.
During the second phase, the institute will also develop the detailed specifications and technical processes, as well as define and develop specific software algorithms to be included in the Stratobus control centres.
Masdar Institute interim provost Dr Behjat Al Yousuf said: “Accurate and timely environmental monitoring is key to ensuring the wellbeing of the UAE and its people.
“In particular, our ability to observe and measure what is happening in the Arabian Gulf is critical, as it is a major source of our water, trade, tourism and food."
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By GlobalDataCurrently under development by Thales Alenia Space, along with French and European partners, Stratobus has been designed to act as a hybrid between a drone and a satellite.
Image: A graphic rendering of the Stratobus airship. Photo: courtesy of Masdar Institute.
