DRONES Project Receives 30 Million Kroner from Innovationsfonden

Quadsat, Aalborg University, and The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) have received a total of 30 million kroner in backing from the Danish Innovation Fund, which invests in solutions of the future.

The DRONES project aims to improve the performance and reliability of sensors and communications systems in large vessels, aircrafts or road vehicles. The goal is to create a drone-based solution capable of in-situ radio testing and electromagnetic (EM) signature characterization, which allows the electromagnetic systems in the different objects to be tested while in operation mode. This will empower the industry (such as maritime, aerospace, automotive and defense, and associated companies) with enhanced capabilities for evaluating their critical electromagnetic systems.

Joakim Espeland, CEO, Quadsat, commented: “Ensuring effective operation of electromagnetic systems is absolutely critical for maintaining communications, ensuring reliable and effective operation, and remaining resilient to threats. Today, there is no fast, cost-efficient and easy solution to do this at scale. Existing methods require the ships, aircrafts, and road vehicles to be delivered to a designated test facility.”

Innovationsfonden, Quadsat, Aalborg University, and SDU will work together on the project, which is anticipated to not only save the industry money, but also have a positive impact on sustainability by dramatically reducing emissions.

Gert Frølund Pedersen, Aalborg University, added: “The combination of Quadsat’s existing knowledge and experience using drones to test ground antennas for satcoms, with the expertise and research capabilities within both SDU and Aalborg University makes this a particularly interesting project and I’m sure it will have a wide-reaching positive impact, both in Denmark, and on a global scale.”

The DRONES project was officially kicked off with a launch event at HC. Andersen airport in Odense on Wednesday 18th of September.