CAPRI

CAPRI (Cooperative UAVs Positioning for bRidge Inspection) is an innovative project that aims to revolutionize bridge monitoring through the cooperative use of autonomous drones. The main goal is to develop an effective solution that overcomes the current limitations of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) technologies.

Current issues in drone-based inspections

The solutions currently available for bridge inspection using drones present several significant limitations:

  • Lack of a reliable positioning system under the bridge: without a GNSS signal, drones cannot safely fly in the most critical areas.
  • Partial inspection: many structural elements, especially those hidden underneath the bridge, are not detected.
  • Long times and high costs: inspections require multiple steps and specialized personnel, with significant impacts on the budget.
Our proposal: cooperative drones for complete inspection

The CAPRI project proposes the use of a swarm of cooperative drones developed by MAVTech, capable of operating autonomously and in sync to fully cover even the most inaccessible areas of bridges.

The project is divided into two phases:

  • Phase 1: use of 5 drones, with 1 performing the inspection and 4 supporting precise positioning through ultra wide band (UWB) radio technology.
  • Phase 2: reduction in the number of drones to 3 in total (1 for inspection and 2 for support), optimizing system efficiency.

 

Image credits: Fondazione LINKS
Project partners

The CAPRI project is based on collaboration between actors with complementary skills, each responsible for a key element of the solution.

TXT e-solutions, Lead Partner of the project, will be responsible for:

  • AI-based Defect Detection on Bridges: analyzes RGB images to automatically detect defects such as cracks or degraded components.
  • Development of the Ground Control Station, the ground station that receives real-time data from the drones and enables analysis of detected defects during flight.

Fondazione LINKS is the technology partner responsible for developing and integrating the system architecture, which includes:

  • Hybrid and Cooperative Positioning: enables accurate estimation of the inspector drone’s position even without GNSS signal, solving localization issues under the bridge.
  • Mission Planner: plans drone trajectories and manages their autonomous missions in real time.
  • Communication Module: enables communication between drones and the ground station via Wi-Fi and/or 4G/5G.

Inspection Drone, a company with solid experience in infrastructure monitoring, provides professional pilots and supports data acquisition activities throughout the project. It will also identify two additional bridges for inspections outside the Turin area.

City of Turin, a strategic partner in the project, provides urban areas for testing, particularly Parco Dora. Its support will be essential for obtaining flight authorizations and for conducting activities in real-world environments.

Business Development

An essential part of the CAPRI project is dedicated to developing the business model. At the end of the project, the technical solution will need to be transformed into an operational and scalable service for bridge monitoring. MAVTech will be specifically responsible for market analysis.

Project details

Title: Cooperative UAVs Positioning for bRidge Inspection
Acronym: CAPRI
Project ID: –
Overall Budget: € 1,492,107.00 (funded: € 994,500.00)
MAVTech Budget: € 232,090.00 (funded: € 185,400.00)
Funding Programme: ESA ARTES 4.0 Downstream Applications
Partners: TXT e-solutions, Fondazione LINKS, Inspection Drone, City of Turin.
Duration: 07.2025 – 06.2027