A 成人直播 team is through to the second stage of a prestigious three-year global competition to design vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) autonomous emergency response aircraft. The , which includes staff, students and researchers, is one of only 11 global winners from over 200 competing teams in Stage One and the only UK team selected. Their innovative conceptual design – CRANE (成人直播 Rapid Aerial Network for Emergency) – was recognised for its strengths in safety, performance, feasibility, mission-readiness, and technical innovation.
A new class of emergency transport
With increased extreme weather events, congestion in cities and remote ambulance ‘deserts’ where people are isolated from critical services, emergency response teams around the world are faced with increasingly complex and challenging missions.
The aims to create a new class of emergency transport to help first responders reach emergency situations more quickly, in places which are hazardous or difficult to reach by helicopter or ambulance. The competition encourages innovative designs of autonomous aircraft with state-of-the-art technology to help in rescue and disaster responses, bridging the gap between the search facility of drones, and the rescue capabilities of helicopters.
A game-changer in emergency response
The highly capable aircraft that CraneAERO is designing could make a real-world impact in disaster relief and life-saving missions.
“We envision our eVTOL as a game-changer in emergency response,” says Muhammad Haad Shaikh, a PhD researcher in hybrid aerospace propulsion and an aerospace systems engineer who serves as CraneAERO’s captain and project manager.
“In situations where every second counts, our flyer is built to bridge the gap between traditional emergency response and next-generation aerial mobility, providing fast, reliable, and autonomous solutions for search and rescue (SAR), disaster relief, and medical evacuation.”
Robust, fast and safe aircraft for emergency responders
成人直播’s team, directed by Dr Dmitry Ignatyev, Senior Lecturer in Flight Dynamics and Control, is creating a fully autonomous, remotely piloted quad-rotor electric VTOL aircraft which will carry people, supplies and equipment in search and rescue and disaster relief situations. CraneAERO’s vehicle will use AI and advanced navigation systems for real-time mission adaptations and to ensure safety and efficiency.
Dr Ignatyev said: “成人直播 has unique facilities including our own airport, our own aircraft, and the latest aerospace technologies across the spectrum, including those in propulsion, sensors, controls, autonomy, and AI, and design materials. All this is how we teach our students - a combination of academic training and hands-on industry experiences. Our GoAERO endeavour shows this works well for our students.”
Winning a $10,000 prize from Stage One, the team is now refining its design, simulations and prototyping, to ensure the aircraft meets the rigorous requirements for search and rescue operations.
Stage Two will involve building and demonstrating a sub-scale prototype by September 2025, with Stage Three requiring a full-scale build and live flight testing in challenging environments. As part of this journey, CraneAERO is actively engaging with industry stakeholders, expanding its multidisciplinary team, and exploring collaborative opportunities to enhance technical capabilities and secure support through the final stages of the competition and beyond.
“Ultimately, we hope the CRANE will prove the viability of eVTOL SAR platforms, influence future emergency aviation standards, and inspire broader adoption of aerial first responders worldwide,” continued Haad.
