New electric drone testing and training facility in the works

The facility will be part of the new Omnidrome Research and Innovation Centre at the university for world-leading research, innovation, education and knowledge exchange for air, land and water-based drones.

Planning permission was granted by Runnymede Borough Council and plans are already progressing for the build which will take approximately three weeks, as the structure is primarily fabricated offsite.

The building will be a bespoke hanger which will allow operators to develop and test specialist electric drones in a confined, safe space, without disrupting residents or those on campus.

Professor Jürgen Adam, who has been appointed as the new Director of Omnidrome, said: “This is a very exciting time for the university, and I am looking forward to heading up the new Omnidrome Research and Innovation Centre with the team.

“The centre and new Omnidrome facility will allow us to meet the future needs for challenge-led research and innovation in areas such as drone and sensor technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and more.”

Professor Ken Badcock, Senior Vice-Principal (Academic Strategy & Research) at Royal Holloway, added: “The new centre and Omnidrome facility will be on the cutting edge of new advances in cyber security and is unique to the UK in its response to robotic research.

“We are very much looking forward to working with many partners, sharing innovations and ideas and helping businesses explore the full advantages that technology like this can bring to their organisations.”

The testing and flying of the drones will only take place within the building – no experimental drones will be allowed to fly outside of the building.