MUS is a partner in a project consortium led by the Italian company Sistematica SPA, which also includes a drone manufacturer TopView SRL, the University of Florence and the University of Aarhus. The end of the project is planned for 2020.

The first tests of the tethered drone took place on the research-training vessel of MUS Navigator XXI. The drone is supposed to be a tool primarily for SAR services enabling the increase of detection range of survivors and their precise location. A cable is attached to the drone, which supplies electricity and can transmit digital data, so there is no need to replace the battery. The tested technology allows to avoid interference caused by many electromagnetic devices (in particular radio and radiolocation equipment) mounted on ships. The assumption of the project is to construct a specialized device, intended for work in marine conditions, resistant to a wide range of meteorological conditions, salinity and dynamics of ship’s motion in waves. The team under the guidance of prof. Lucjan Gucma is responsible for including present and future requirements of users at sea in this project, including solving problems related to positioning, data presentation on the electronic navigational chart and coordinating cooperation with the Polish Maritime Search and Rescue Service. Designers are also planning to use a drone commercially, for instance in construction industry. Detailed information of the SARA project can be found at:  http://thesaraproject.eu/