Two major projects that the Institute of Aerospace Technologies and QuAero Ltd are working on are ‘SmartAP’ and ‘TOUCH-FLIGHT’.
‘TOUCH-FLIGHT’ is a concept that allows the pilot to control the aircraft through a single tablet-like touch-screen device and by voice command, allowing quicker and easier control of the aircraft’s systems. This innovative concept has already been granted a patent in the United States.
‘SmartAP’ builds upon the ‘TOUCH-FLIGHT’ concept, so now the University of Malta and QuAero Ltd are collaborating to develop a package of concepts that can introduce a major change in the way pilots control aircraft and in operational safety.
This project uses artificial intelligence to assist pilots in decision-making during flight. While this concept is applicable to all categories of flight, it is specifically designed for application on large passenger aircraft. The work focuses on providing a computer system that monitors what is happening in the cockpit, how the aircraft is maneuvering and what is going on outside, what the pilots are doing and what air traffic control is requesting the pilots to do, in order to provide advice and guidance to the pilots as required. If needed, the system can also engage autopilot directly.
These projects were made possible thanks to around €400,000 in funds from the Fusion programme within MCST.
During his visit, Minister for Research, Innovation and the Co-ordination of the Post Covid-19 strategy Owen Bonnici explained how the Institute of Aerospace Technologies at the University of Malta plays a crucial role in research and innovation in the field of aerospace technology and has already worked on various successful projects under the guidance of main investigator Prof Ing David Zammit.
“On its part, QuAero Ltd is a private company that conducts research, while providing technical services in commercial aviation and seeing such fruitful collaboration between the private industry and the academic world gives me great satisfaction,” the Minister continued.
The work on ‘SmartAP’ and ‘TOUCH-FLIGHT’ follow on previous international, cutting-edge research primarily within the EU ‘Frameworks Programmes’. The University of Malta has been involved with European Industrial Primes such as Thales, Alenia and Airbus for more than 15 years. Through the Fusion programme, Maltese innovation is leading to the development of technologies of contemporary value and interest to global aviation.
