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The innovative flight test is the result of collaboration between Dufour Aerospace, RIEGL, BSF Swissphoto and the SLF
ZURICH Feb. 13 2025. Today, Swiss drone innovator Dufour Aerospace announced the first successful use of a commercial sensor application on one of its tilt-wing drones. With the support of RIEGL, the Austrian manufacturer of state-of-the-art laser measurement systems, a VUX-120-23 Lidar system was integrated and successfully flown with an AeroMini10 drone platform. The aim of the tests is to validate new and more efficient methods for large-scale data acquisition using large-scale drones.
Within a short period of time, the laser scanner managed to acquire good quality data. The flight behaviour of a tilt-wing drone - which after transition flies exactly like a fixed-wing drone - is ideal for efficient data acquisition and is predestined for the use of high-performance Lidar systems, such as the VUX-120-23. Further testing on bigger platforms and in more challenging environments will follow.
For Dufour Aerospace, the flights mark another milestone in their go-to-market activities. It was the first time a productive, commercial off-the-shelve high-value, high-quality payload was carried by a Dufour Aerospace drone. Sascha Hardegger, CEO of Dufour Aerospace, said: “There is growing interest among various private and public stakeholders in high-resolution, up-to-date and cost-effective data, particularly around environmental hazards, energy production or infrastructure inspection. Today, airplanes and helicopters are used for large-scale or long-range, high-resolution laser scanning. This test series will demonstrate the efficiency of drone application with a view to a lower environmental impact and significant cost reductions.”
Michael Mayer, Managing Director of RiCOPTER UAV GmbH, a RIEGL group company, said: “We are looking forward to further test flights with our high-end Lidar sensors with Dufour. The first measurement campaign went very well, and we are convinced that the combination of our scanners with high-end UAVs such as those from Dufour offers a very promising solution for the future.”
The functional tests took place in Mengen, Germany and are part of a larger project involving several stakeholders. In addition to Dufour Aerospace and RIEGL, these include BSF Swissphoto, a Swiss-German geodata company engaged in the acquisition of aerial images, oblique images, thermal images and laser data and the delivery of geospatial data products such as digital orthophotos, true orthophotos, 3D meshes and elevation models. The fourth partner is the WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, a world-renowned research institute in its field. It conducts solution-oriented research on natural hazards, mountain ecosystems, and snow and ice in a changing world.
About Dufour Aerospace:
Dufour Aerospace is pioneering drones for critical missions. Based in Switzerland, Dufour Aerospace develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable aircraft for cargo transportation, logistics, and public safety. The Aero2 drone features distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid module to meet today’s Advanced Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market requirements.
Contact: media@dufour.aero
For more information: www.dufour.aero
About RIEGL:
With more than 40 years of experience in the research, development and production of laser rangefinders, distance meters, and LiDAR sensors and systems, RIEGL is constantly innovating in the field of 3D measurement technology. RIEGL combines powerful laser scanners and laser scanning systems for terrestrial, industrial, mobile, airborne, bathymetric and UAV-based laser scanning with specially developed software packages for data acquisition and processing to create systems optimized for the most challenging surveying tasks. Based on RIEGL’s Ultimate LiDAR technology, RIEGL UAV LiDAR sensors and systems offer a wide range of functions to meet the requirements of the various tasks of UAV-based data acquisition in surveying. The wide range of devices distributed by RiCOPTER UAV GmbH, a RIEGL Group company, enables users to find exactly the right sensor for their specific surveying task. RIEGL has always been committed to delivering the highest performance, quality, reliability, and longevity of all its products and services, and strict adherence to applicable international standards is a priority.
For more information: www.riegl.com
About BSF Swissphoto:
BSF Swissphoto is a Swiss-German service provider for airborne surveying. We acquire geo data using modern, sustainable aircraft and latest technology sensors, both large format cameras and laser scanners. With a diverse team spread across the three locations in Berlin, Zagreb and Zurich, we deliver various products based on the acquired data, ranging from traditional Orthophotos, high precision elevation models to complete 3D city visualisation. In addition to our core business of airborne surveying, we consult governments in the field of land administration.
For more information: www.bsf-swissphoto.com
About WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF:
The SLF is well known worldwide as a leading research institute in its field. Along with basic research, the SLF performs applied research and provides various services, such as the Avalanche Bulletin. The SLF carries out advanced research while at the same time contributing to the resolution of urgent social issues, such as warning of natural hazards or analysing climatic and environmental changes in mountain areas. The SLF is part of the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, making it part of the ETH domain.
For more information: www.slf.ch
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ABOUT DUFOUR AEROSPACE:
Dufour Aerospace is pioneering drones for critical missions. Based in Switzerland, Dufour develops and manufactures efficient and sustainable aircraft for cargo transportation, logistics, and public safety. The Aero2 drone features distributed electric propulsion and a hybrid module to meet today’s Advanced Air Mobility and medium-sized drone market requirements.