Drones for a safer society

The investment in drones aims to apply new solutions in the near future in various industries and areas whose use can lead to a safer and more secure society.

- The next step in the drone area is to go from experiments to creating benefits, something we now see happening in a number of areas. We expect the projects to lead to positive sustainable effects for both people and society through a focus on increased security, says Erik Borälv, programme manager responsible for the call at Vinnova.

The projects are, for example, that tasks are performed with lower risk, that supervision of animals, nature, environment and traffic contributes to better control and that one can observe places and situations where there is a lack of sufficient overview today.

In 2021, all project will participate in a joint activity to practically demonstrate their solutions. The date and place for this will be decided in the spring.

Project that receives funding within Drones for a safer society

Fifteen project receive funding for one year with a total of 17 million. The projects are listed in alphabetical order and with the name of each coordinator:

Automated ground station for emergency drones, Everdrone AB

The project develops technology for autonomous drone systems for socially beneficial applications. Within the current project, companies will collaborate on the development of an automated ground station. The ground station is a crucial component for being able to offer a complete drone system in the future in the form of a subscription service (Drones as a Service).

DRONESAFE, Luleå University of Technology, Department of Space and Systems Engineering

The project develops autonomous drones, equipped with gas sensors, to monitor levels of toxic gases in opencast mines after blasting.

Drone and robot-based maintenance and repair of wind turbines in an inaccessible environment, ACC Innovation AB

The project develops a new concept with drones that can lift and place a robot that weighs more than 100 kg for repair and maintenance of wind turbines.

Drone system with real-time image recognition for more efficient and secure surveillance, AMKVO AB

A drone system with real-time image recognition that should be able to fly programmed routes or be flown manually over an industrial area outside the drone pilot's view in order to be able to quickly perceive people, vehicles or fire.

Drone-assisted inspection of bridges, Tyrén's AB Stockholm

This project aims to enable and motivate the use of drones when inspecting bridges by proposing and demonstrating solutions for handling and analyzing the relatively large amounts of data that a drone-assisted inspection methodology entails.

EDIT 3.0 - Electric aircraft and drones in the service of society, the railway and the Swedish Transport Administration: fast and safe restart of traffic, OUTFLIGHT AB

Faster, safer restart of traffic is made possible with collaboration and a common, mobile-collected situational picture; for example around stops in train traffic such as track running, (unsafe) passenger or wildlife collisions, search, breakdown, storm, avalanche, need for clearing, and other incidents.

High-capacity drone for firefighting, Skogforsk, Stiftelsen Skogsbrukets Forskningsinstitut Uppsala

The project aims to develop and demonstrate a drone that can be used for extinguishing forest fires, especially for post-extinguishing. The drone must be able to lift water partially autonomously and remotely, look for fire pits in the immediate area and water bomb over embers or fire.

Inventory of damaged forest with autonomous drone, Katam Technologies AB

As a result of ongoing climate change, damaged forests will become an increasingly common and growing problem that society needs to address. The purpose of the project is to use an experimental prototype together with needy owners to develop safe and precise methods for mapping and analyzes of dangerous trees and damaged, risky forest.

Control of flue gas emissions from ships with drones, Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Space, Geosciences and Environmental Sciences

The shipbuilding sector is a major source of emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The aim is to supplement conventional on-board inspection with drone measurement of sulfur fuel content and nitrogen oxide emissions in passing ships.

Radio reconnaissance for search of missing persons (RASP), Linköping University, Department of Technology and Science

The project will, together with voluntary organizations and responsible authorities, demonstrate a radio reconnaissance module that can be mounted on drones as part of a complete management system where drones and search personnel work together.

Real-time 3D for monitoring risky processes and environments, I-CONIC Vision AB

A concept for fast processes and for 3D-documenting dangerous areas and processes. Video from drones is processed into 3D models and further into automatic measurement and analysis for, for example, distance to objects or extent of area.

Seacat - risk minimization during inspection from the sea surface, University of Gothenburg, Department of Marine Sciences

Careful inspection and monitoring of marine facilities entails major challenges and significant risks. The number of marine facilities is constantly increasing, and at the same time the requirements for control linked to the environment, protection and safety are increasing. Inspection of marine facilities (both above and below the surface) is a necessary and integral part of facility operations.

Safer working environment for reindeer husbandry companies, Dálvvadis ekonomisk förening

Reindeer herders often work alone in difficult terrain. According to previous research a reindeer research three and twice as likely to be injured as a construction worker and an agricultural worker, respectively. The challenge is to create a connection and opportunities to communicate and follow a person who is beyond normal mobile coverage.

TYRA TrYgghetsResurs Autonom, Swedish Defense Research Agency, FOI, Division of Management Systems

Projektet TYRA will develop a small and light drone which, by following the police and rescue service during the operation, complements the image-based documentation from the blue light staff's personal cameras. During the project, a prototype is developed that is used to demonstrate and evaluate the concept's safety-enhancing capabilities.

Underwater Drones for Seaweed Farm Monitoring and Sampling, Royal Institute of Technology

Aquaculture and especially algae farms can play a key role in consumption, animal feed and as a source of biofuels. Production is, however, ship- and labor-intensive with operations that involve great risks for people. This project focuses on robot systems to meet the demand for inspection and monitoring operations, through an underwater robot that inspects and takes samples in an algae farm.