AERIAL-CORE has developed aerial cognitive robots, with unprecedented capabilities on the operational range and safety in the interaction with objects in the environment and with human co-workers, for applications such as the inspection and maintenance of large linear infrastructures. These aerial robots have cognitive capabilities for perception and planning, teaming with multiple aerial robots, aerial morphing to combine long range endurance with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and hovering for local observations, manipulation involving force interactions, and co-working with humans.

AERIAL-CORE has already demonstrated autonomous tracking of an electrical line, mapping of the vegetation near the line, bioinspired aerial robotic platforms, landing on the conductors and manipulation for maintenance, including the installation of clip-type and helicoida-typel bid-diverters, and separator of conductors. Technologies for battery recharging from the electrical lines has been also developed. The fully autonomous inspection of an electrical system, with several lines, by using a team of 2 multi-rotors and a convertible system, with VTOL and fixed wing, has been also demonstrated.

The AERIAL-CORE consortium is now working on the integration of the system that will be validated in the inspection and maintenance of electrical lines in the ATLAS flight test center.