ETH Zurich meets you in Brazil with AtlantikSolar 18 - 30 October 2015

The flight

Scientists from the ETH Zurich autonomous systems laboratory will for the first time perform a long distance flight with a solar-powered unmanned airplane in the dense Amazon forest. The aircraft  - an autonomous vehicle (UAV) named AtlantikSolar – will fly over a section of the forest between Barcarena and Caxiuanã, in Pará, on 22 October.

The flight will serve as a test with which the scientists aim to investigate the autonomy and the resistance of the aircraft in climatic conditions different from those in Europe. It was made possible through the close cooperation with local partners, externe SeiteCensipamcall_made (Centro Gestor e Operacional do Sistema de Proteção da Amazônia), the externe SeiteInstituto Emilio Goeldicall_made, the externe SeiteFederal University of Parácall_made, the externe SeiteInstituto Chico Mendes for Biodiversitycall_made and the State Secretariat of Pará. During the test flight atmospheric data will be collected – such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed. The data will be used to validate and complement studies on the function and the dynamics of the Amazon forest, which are currently performed with locally fixed sensors and satellites.

The project marks the strengthening of partnerships in science and technological innovation between Brazil and Switzerland, through new collaboration and partnerships between individual researchers. It is supported by Presence Switzerland, externe Seiteswissnex Brazilcall_made and ETH Zurich. In addition to the test flights, a series of lectures, conferences, and exhibits will focus on UAVs, solar energy and other aspects of ETH Zurich research and cooperation with Brazil over a two-week period from 18 – 30 October 2015.

Watch AtlantikSolar in their preparations for the Amazon mission: externe Seitehttp://uk.reuters.com/video/2015/10/14/solar-plane-prepares-for-amazon-mission?videoId=365936569&videoChannel=4000&channelName=Technologycall_made

Schedule of Events

19 October    Official opening of AtlantikSolar activities in Brazil by the Swiss Ambassador with a public conference in Belém

20 October    Scientific workshop with the Brazilian project partners in Belém (closed event)

21 October    Preparations and testing for Amazon flight

22 October    Long distance flight from the Barcarena area in Belém to Caxiuanã (if weather permits)

23 October    Exploratory flights over the Caxiuanã National Forest

24 October    Exploratory flights over the Caxiuanã National Forest

28 October    Opening of AtlantikSolar exhibition and public conference in São Paulo

29 October    AtlantikSolar Presentation in the externe SeiteDrone Show Latin Americacall_made and VIP Event with the ETH Alumni Brazil

For event details, programmes and registration please see the box below and check for updates.