Objective
Drone Hopper is remote-controlled aircraft that incorporates a container unit to hold liquids that can be used for firefighting, propelling nebulised liquid to be directed towards land. In Europe, fires destroy millions of hectares of forest woodlands causing the loss of many human and fauna lives and an immense economic damage.
The company has created an innovative technology for wildfire extinguishment thanks to a patented release mechanism that convert the water into small water drops (water mist) and mixes it with the air creating a wet air flow that suffocates the fire by removing the oxygen from the chemical combustion reaction.
Apart from the technical novelty, there are several operational and economic benefits that make it a viable commercial proposition to compete widely in the market for fire management with its primary customers being the public administrations responsible, or the subcontracted private companies.
In addition to the application of the technology in firefighting, the systems are perfectly adaptable to discharge other types of liquid, such as fertilizers and fumigation for agricultural management.
The main focus of the feasibility study is to identify the initial high-potential target European markets to trial and launch the service in the first 3 years of commercialization, as well as to assess in more detail the international competitive landscape and identify market risks to determine opportunities and threats. The next step would be to devise a marketing and sales strategy.
Forest fires are the most important threat to forest and wooded area in Southern Europe. Our project will face the European challenges proposed by Legislation on protecting the EU's forests against fire. Investments in firefighting and fire prevention is essential. Europe is has supported forest fire research since the late 1980s with the aim of strengthening research activities and initiatives such as Drone Hopper.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringirrigation
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robotsdrones
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraftrotorcraft
- social sciencespolitical sciencespublic administration
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy
- H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
- H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
28015 Madrid
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.