Francesca Roncolini

Abstract: Helicopters Emergency Medical (HEMS) missions in high mountains are often subject to risks due to the unpredictability of weather conditions. To overcome the risk of sudden deterioration of visibility, a MUM-T (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) solution consisting in the cooperation between the helicopter and a drone is proposed: the drone, equipped with meteorological and LIDAR sensors, explores the operative area and reports to the helicopter the detected obstacles, such as light poles and cables, turbulence, clouds. The map of the area is updated with the detected obstacles, and a safe path is planned accordingly.

Bio: Francesca Roncolini graduated in Aeronautical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. She carried out an internship at the swiss company UMS Skeldar, were she worked on the implementation of a mathematical nonlinear model for unmanned helicopters. Later, she worked as a consultant for the Flight Control System team in Leonardo Helicopters. Currently, she is a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Milano.