Scientific monitoring of Antarctica: ZALA T-16 confirms reliable operation in high latitudes
Specialists from the ZALA company, working as part of the 71st Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), have successfully carried out scientific aerial monitoring in the vicinity of the Novolazarevskaya Antarctic Station.
The operation of ZALA T-16 UAVs in Antarctica takes place in extreme conditions, which place increased demands on the equipment and serve as the best test of its reliability. Low temperatures, strong winds, complex terrain, and altitude variations – ZALA unmanned aerial systems, developed with experience gained from working in the Arctic, Antarctic, and other hard-to-reach regions, have confirmed their ability to effectively solve tasks in the harshest conditions.
During planned scientific monitoring work on the ice continent, the ZALA T-16 unmanned aerial vehicle was fully taken under the control of operators from the Moscow Flight Control Centre at a certain stage. Furthermore, integration with the ZALA 4Z1x digital platform allowed specialists in Izhevsk and Moscow to simultaneously receive telemetry and high-quality video transmission from the unmanned vehicle.
The video and telemetry data obtained from the UAV provided SAE scientists with unique information for biological and environmental monitoring, as well as for research into the dynamics of glaciers and the coastal zone of the fifth continent. The ability to rapidly receive up-to-date data from the office in Moscow significantly broadens the horizons for planning fieldwork and allows scientists to concentrate more effectively on priority tasks.
This flight confirmed the high reliability of the solutions used: Previously, the company had successfully used similar principles to control an unmanned vessel in Antarctica with an external pilot from Izhevsk. The current stage demonstrates the readiness of the unmanned aviation system (UAS) for constant practical application.
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