First Arabic-Speaking Flying Labs Takes Wings and Facilitates Morocco Drone Corridor

With Morocco Flying Labs, our growing network of knowledge hubs and local experts is opening to an infinite set of possibilities in terms of technology application for humanitarian, public health, environment, and development purposes, facilitated by state-approved corridors for testing and training of drone solutions.

The team, made up by a diverse group of PhD students, engineers and faculty professors, will be led by Jamal Berrich as Lead Coordinator and Toumi Bounchentouf as Team Manager, and is supported by ATLAN Space, École nationale des sciences appliquées d'Oujda (ENSAO), the LSE2I Laboratories, and the Centre d'Excellence Coaching Territorial.

At the heart of their mission is the ATLAN Space® project SKYNET – a scientific enterprise that applies artificial intelligence technology to drones to allow governmental institutions to take informed decisions on deforestation, floods and environmental crimes, including illegal exploitation of natural resources, animals and forest fires, agriculture, urbanism and topography.

The concept originated after consultations were held with international NGOs of the calibre of Global Ocean Trust, World Wildlife Fund and Grid Arendal. Labelled as COP 22 for its crucial role in combating climate change and awarded by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Moroccan Ministry of the Environment, SKYNET has been sponsored by major technology players such as NVIDIA and Microsoft.

On the one hand, the Morocco Flying Labs will rely on SKYNET to fight against desertification, in particular, for the safeguarding of oriental plant species suffering from an intense and uncontrolled agricultural exploitation that disrupts the ecosystem. The National Institute for Agricultural Research in Oujda has already expressed interest in the use of a technology that can bring concrete results where other tested solutions have proved unsatisfactory.

On the other hand, SKYNET relies on the same mapping and analytical technologies for field-research purposes to prevent and assess damages caused by floods. In addition, a patented Moroccan detection and identification mechanism will help civil protection services to search and rescue victims of floods.

Other Morocco Flying Labs' projects will see the application of technology in public health, to deliver assistance to diabetic patients, as well as school projects and AI workshops to build skills and introduce students to the benefits of robotics for social good.

We warmly welcome Morocco Flying Labs to our African network, excited to see a great team develop great projects and take the lead in the regional drones-for-good sector.