AI at Altitude: Intelligent Tools for Smarter, Safer RPAS Operations

Moderator : Sarah Graham, Nav Canada / AEAC

From drivetrain design to airport safety, predictive maintenance, and wind profiling, this session highlights how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way drones are built, flown, and integrated into real-world applications. These four presentations showcase innovative uses of machine learning and intelligent systems to improve performance, reduce operational fatigue, and unlock new capabilities across the RPAS ecosystem.

Machine Learning To Synthesize Propeller Drivetrain
Performance Data

By Bhavya Patel  and Ehsan Hashemi, University of Alberta

Designing efficient RPAS systems often requires extensive physical testing of motor-propeller combinations—an expensive and time-consuming process. This presentation introduces a machine learning approach to predict drivetrain performance using a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) trained on Tyto Robotics’ thrust stand data.

🧠 What you’ll learn:

• How neural networks can estimate thrust output from drivetrain parameters
• Insights from training on 170,000 datapoints across 1,500 motor-propeller combinations
• Strengths and limitations of the current model architecture
• The potential of synthetic data to accelerate RPAS design and reduce testing costs

From Drone Data to Progressive Safety: Reducing Operational Fatigue Through AI-Driven Integration

By Abby Logan, Wavionix Technologies Inc. 

Drone technology has revolutionized how airports inspect runways, monitor wildlife, and assess perimeter conditions—but the real value lies in what happens after data collection. This presentation explores how integrating drone-captured insights into intelligent, AI-supported safety workflows can reduce workload, improve response times, and minimize digital fatigue across airports of all sizes.

🛫 What you’ll learn:

• How AI automates incident categorization, reporting, and corrective action tracking
• Benefits for major hubs, remote, and Indigenous airports—including offline-enabled mobile tools
• Real-world examples of streamlined safety operations and improved team efficiency

Join us to discover how smarter workflows are transforming drone data into safer, more connected airport operations.

Predictive Maintenance for Drones & eVTOL: An AI-Driven Approach with VIGELON

By Ali Taleb and Ibrahim Ali Fawaz, VIGELON

As drone and eVTOL operations scale, traditional maintenance models fall short. This presentation introduces Vigelon’s AI-powered predictive maintenance platform, designed to keep fleets mission-ready by forecasting failures before they happen and optimizing resource allocation.

🔧 What you’ll learn:

• How real-time sensor data, maintenance logs, and environmental factors drive predictive insights
• Key modules: battery diagnostics, component lifecycle tracking, fleet dashboards, and cost analysis
• Results from early trials showing improved scheduling, reduced downtime, and enhanced compliance
• The role of digital twins and anomaly detection in proactive fleet management

Join us to explore how AI is transforming maintenance from reactive to predictive—unlocking safer, more efficient aerial mobility at scale.

Measuring Wind Velocity Over a Projectile Path

By Jacob Cole, University of Alberta

This presentation explores a low-cost RPAS system calibrated to measure wind speed in situ, using Ardupilot and validated against fixed anemometers. The project investigates how drone-based wind data can improve accuracy in projectile applications such as target shooting and golf.

🌬️ What you’ll learn:

• How RPAS can capture wind profiles along flight paths vs. fixed-location measurements
• Statistical evaluation of wind’s impact on downrange targeting accuracy
• Insights from drone-flown golf ball trajectories and shooting scenarios
• Potential for integrating real-time wind data into precision sports and ballistics

Join us to discover how drones are redefining wind measurement for performance and precision.

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Speakers

• 

  Ali Taleb

  Co-Founder

  VIGELON

• 

  Abby Logan

  Co-Founder

  Wavionix Technologies Inc.

• 

  Bhavya Patel

  Graduate Student

  University of Alberta

• 

  Jacob Cole

  Research Assistant

  University of Alberta / Department of Electrical Engineering

• Ibrahim Ali Fawaz

  VIGELON