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Testbeds & Fleet

AIDA3 is integrating with existing world-class facilities at Purdue as well as envisioning new ones. This research center has three key components:

The AIrTonomy Vision

AIDA3 is building research infrastructure for a new field of science: Safe and trustworthy AI for aerial autonomy aka AIrTonomy. We invite scientists to join us as lead users of a new research infrastructure, get involved now!

View AIrTonomy Report

Purdue UAV Research and Test (PURT) Facility

This facility is integral to AIDA3‘s research. It is notable for its large indoor motion-capture environment, which spans 20,000 square feet with a 30-foot ceiling. PURT enables the development of algorithms through the capture of ground truth data. Additionally, it incorporates virtual and augmented reality technologies, using motion capture data to stream video to both autonomous vehicles and humans with VR headsets. Initially, PURT will facilitate experiments with downscaled fixed-wing drones, using Windracers sensors, pending FAA approval for outdoor ULTRA flights.

Smart Operations Center (SOC)

The Smart Operations Center (SOC) at AIDA3 is a state-of-the-art facility designed for immersive, real-world remote operations and innovative research. It features a gridded wall of screens, motion capture cameras and VR/AR technologies, similar to those at the PURT facility. The SOC is also equipped with smart wearable devices like eye-tracking glasses, biometric sensors, EEG, fMRI, smartwatches and smart clothing. These technologies are geared towards optimizing operations, enhancing the interaction between operators and the AI systems they oversee.

Purdue Urban Canyon Lab (PUC)

In 2025, we plan to build the Purdue Urban Canyon lab (PUC), a new 12-acre outdoor motion-capture lab within the Purdue Martell forest to study autonomy outdoors in challenging conditions such as urban canyons and forests that cause signal degradation. Like PURT, PUC will be equipped with motion capture technology that uses active LED markers on the vehicle to capture and stream a vehicle’s position at very high accuracy (<1 cm), even around buildings and natural objects where other methods of ground truth data collection fail (e.g., Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) GPS).