SUNNY outlook for cross-border security in EU
The EU is planning for future use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to improve border surveillance. The plans are part of a new EU research project, co-funded by the European Commission, for an enhanced detection system at external borders.
This includes developing a two-tier UAV sensor network to test both large field and focused surveillance capabilities for a potential future use of UAVs once they are allowed to fly in non-segregated airspace.
The Smart UNattended airborne sensor Network for detection of vessels used for cross-border crime and irregular entrY (SUNNY) project will run for 42 months to help achieve the objectives of the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR).
The SUNNY project will develop affordable and interoperable technical capabilities, in particular for detecting and tracking small vessels used by migrants and drug smugglers.
Rory Doyle, deputy research director at engineering, science and technology consultancy BMT Group one of 18 partners involved in the project and SUNNY project coordinator, explained: The sheer scale and remoteness of some of the border areas (on land and over sea) presents a complex challenge for national authorities. This challenge is intensified due to the insufficient resources that are available to cope with such tasks and achieve the desired levels of effectiveness.
By improving sensor and data transmission capacities, as well as real-time data processing capabilities, the SUNNY project will help to overcome these challenges.
SUNNY will examine new tools for collecting real-time information in operational scenarios, with much of the development work concentrating on on-board processing and communications to improve efficiency and reduce cost.
This will include developing new sensors and on-board processing systems that are low weight, low cost and high-resolution which can operate under variable conditions, such as darkness, snow and rain.
Emerging wireless technologies and architectures will also be exploited with the aim of defining a European-wide standard.
Through the SUNNY project we not only want to improve the effectiveness of the current airborne sensors, but provide a more integrated approach to the technologies being used and the communications required, said Mr Doyle. As such, this will further equip the EU and its member states with enhanced tools to protect the external borders and prevent cross-border crimes.
