Drone Research Project

Multi-Robot Operations Interface

An interface for the intuitive and reliable operation of a heterogeneous robotic team with state
monitoring and a safe failure tolerance system.

application
Multi-Robot Operations Interface

In complex, large-scale robotic operations such as mixed fleets of aerial, ground, and marine units, the challenge lies in ensuring seamless collaboration, reliable control and safe operation even for non-expert users. The IROC platform addresses critical use-cases like:

  • Coordinating heterogeneous robotic teams (UAVs, UGVs, autonomous boats) to perform mission tasks across different environments (air, ground, water) under unified supervision.
  • Real-time state monitoring of all units: tracking telemetry, sensor data, fault conditions, and mission progress, even when operations scale up to many robots.
  • Safe mission management including anomaly detection, failure-tolerance, and emergency handling, ensuring robustness in dynamic or hazardous scenarios.
  • Enabling operators without deep robotics specialisation to plan, launch and supervise complex multi-robot missions. Lowering the barrier to deploying large robotic formations in real-world industrial, research or civil-protection contexts.
Solution
An Interface For the Intuitive and Reliable Operation of a Heterogeneous Robotic Team with State Monitoring and a Safe Failure Tolerance System

Our solution for the IROC project combines intuitive interface design, robust system architecture and autonomous coordination to enable secure and effective operation of heterogeneous robotic fleets.

  • A unified command interface let’s the operator define multi-robot missions, visualise telemetry and sensor data from UAVs, UGVs and unmanned boats, all in one dashboard.
  • Built-in failure-tolerance and emergency management systems handle missions safely in real time, detecting malfunctioning units, reassigning tasks and safeguarding mission objectives.
  • Autonomous planning and execution capabilities allow the robot team to navigate, cooperate and adapt in varying environments, without requiring specialist-level control from the operator.
  • The result: large robotic formations become practical for real-world applications, offering clients scalable and dependable automation for tasks ranging from inspection and monitoring through to coordinated field operations.

See the Project Outcomes

Robotic system demonstrator with integrated developed modules.

Support software for planning routes and visualizing telemetry and sensory data for diverse teams of robots.

Project Funding

This project is co-financed from the state budget by the Technology agency of the Czech Republic under the SIGMA Progamme – funding programme for applied research and innovation.

Project Partners

Partners: VUT Brno 

Project Details

Project ID: TQ03000786

Programme: SIGMA – DC 2: Začínající výzkumníci/výzkumnice a vyrovnávání příležitostí v projektech aplikovaného výzkumu, Program na podporu aplikovaného výzkumu a inovací

Time Period: 01/2024 – 12/2025

Our solution combines robust hardware, advanced autonomy, and flexible sensor integration to turn raw inspection data into meaningful insights that improve safety, efficiency, and decision-making.

  • The platforms are designed to operate both in GNSS and GNSS-denied environments, featuring advanced localization, obstacle avoidance, and fully autonomous flight trajectories.

  • The mission-planning interface allows operators to define inspection points, automate scan patterns, and monitor telemetry in real time, including battery status, sensor data, and communication link quality.

  • A modular design supports various sensor configurations (thermal cameras, LiDAR, optical or ultrasonic sensors), customizable for specific inspection needs such as structural integrity, pipelines, or machinery.

  • Multi-robot coordination enables cooperative missions, for example, simultaneous scanning of interior and exterior areas, synchronized data acquisition, and faster coverage of large sites.

  • The user interface provides straightforward mission setup, result visualization, and data interpretation tools, transforming every inspection into a source of actionable operational intelligence.

See the Project Outcomes

Algorithms for automatic visual defect detection

HW functional sample of unmanned helicopter with integrated flight control unit.

SW for autonomous inspection via unmanned helicopters.

User interface SW for specifying inspection missions, interaction with an autonomous helicopter and visualization of flight and inspection data.

Prototype of an unmanned helicopter optimized for performing autonomous inspection missions in complex environments

Prototype of an unmanned helicopter optimized for performing autonomous inspection missions in complex environments

Functional sample of drone flight control unit.

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