Address industry challenges using remotely piloted aircraft systems and sensors for data acquisition, management, analytics, and dissemination.
The Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS) is one of North America’s most advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) research and development centres. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies and sensor systems, CIRUS is uniquely positioned to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions across a wide range of sectors.
The multidisciplinary team of researchers and advanced pilots transforms complex challenges into actionable insights using high-precision RPAS, advanced sensors, state-of-the-art modeling software and data dissemination platforms. The expertise spans industries including environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, emergency response, disaster management, and logistics. Every project is tailored to the clientele’s unique needs, ensuring accurate, dependable intelligence to support informed decision-making.
In addition to applied research projects, CIRUS empowers organizations through training and capacity building. The team provides the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience necessary to effectively operate RPAS and integrate advanced sensor systems. Their applied research and customized solutions leverage RPAS-based data collection, processing, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive data visualization through augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), interactive dashboards, and mobile platforms.
CIRUS is where innovation takes flight, combining leading-edge technology with practical expertise to solve real-world problems.
- Integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and advanced sensor technology
- Support the creation of RPAS regulatory framework including Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) and Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA)
- Testing of heavy-lift, high-endurance Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operation
- Integration of RPAS payload cargo delivery systems
- Data collection, processing, analytical modeling and dissemination of photogrammetry, thermal infrared imaging, multispectral imaging, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), multi-gas sensing, methane detection, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
- Analytical modeling leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) technology
- Data visualization leveraging maps, dashboards, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
- Enterprise GIS applications including ArcGIS Portal and ArcGIS Online
- Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) support for disaster management, search and rescue, wildfire mitigation and management, and reforestation/afforestation initiatives, mining, oil and gas, inspection.
- Aerospace and satellites
- Defence and security industries
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Forestry and forest-based industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized Lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Remotely Piloted Aviation Training Centre | Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Simulation Suites (3) | Provide learners with the ability to operate drones in simulation and test emergency procedures. |
| Remotely Piloted Aviation Training Centre | Classroom | Support student learning. |
| Remotely Piloted Aviation Training Centre | RPAS Workshop | Support RPAS maintenance activities. |
| Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability Hub | Scrum space with processing computers | Facilitate collaborations and bridge theory and practice, empowering researchers Canada-wide to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions for resilience and disaster management. |
| Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability Hub | Data visualization suite | Data visualization leveraging maps, dashboards, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to help solve real-world problems. |
| Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability Hub | High-performance computing, cybersecurity, and digital twin technology | Create realistic virtual worlds for experiments, simulations, field missions and data analysis. AR/VR enables immersive experiences to optimize response plans. Offers training and promotes sustainability to enhance disaster prevention and climate resilience. |
| Applied Research Technology | SwissDrones SDO 50 V3 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) (2) | High endurance, long range remotely piloted aircraft. |
| Applied Research Technology | SwissDrones SDO 50 V2 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) | High endurance, long range remotely piloted aircraft. |
| Applied Research Technology | Anavia HT-100 uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) (2) | High endurance, long range remotely piloted aircraft. |
| Applied Research Technology | Velos Rotors V2 uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopter (3) | Remotely piloted aircraft. |
| Applied Research Technology | Acecore Noa Heavy-Lift uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) | Remotely piloted aircraft. |
| Applied Research Technology | DJI Matrice 350 RTK Drone | Remotely piloted aircraft. |
| Applied Research Technology | LidarSwiss Micro Vux 22 LiDAR system | Industrial-grade LiDAR sensor. |
| Applied Research Technology | MicaSense 10-band Sensor | Multispectral sensors. |
| Applied Research Technology | Pergam Laser Falcon methane gas detector | Methane sensor. |
| Applied Research Technology | Sniffer4D multi-gas sensor | Real-time detection, mapping, and analysis of multiple gases and particulate matter. |
| Applied Research Technology | DJI Zenmuse H20T UAV load gimbal camera | Thermal IR and visual sensor. |
| Applied Research Technology | DJI Zenmuse P1 UAV load gimbal camera | Visual sensor. |
| Applied Research Technology | DJI Zenmuse L1 LiDAR Payload | LiDAR sensor. |
Private and public sector research partners
- W21C Research & Innovation Centre
- Alberta Health Services
- University of Calgary
- Frog Lake First Nations
- Stoney Nakoda Nation
- Blood Tribe/Káínai Nation
- Teck Resources Limited
- RMUS Canada
- Imperial Energy
- City of Calgary
- SwissDrones Operating AG