Drone Laboratory

Overview. The SINTEF Drone Laboratory advances drone-based research through the integration of open hardware design and open-source software for flight planning, operations, and data processing. It supports both custom-built and commercial off the shelf (COTS) drone platforms, enabling flexible, high-performance solutions for a wide range of scientific and operational challenges. The lab combines advanced sensing, precise positioning, and high-performance computing to deliver end-to-end capabilities from system development to data interpretation.

Hardware. The laboratory is equipped with a diverse fleet of drone platforms, including COTS systems (e.g., DJI Matrice 300 RTK, DJI Mini 2) and custom-built prototypes (I & II) with payload capacities up to 5 kg. It supports rapid prototyping and maintenance through dedicated tools, spare parts, and field equipment designed for harsh environments.

A broad suite of drone-mounted sensors enables high-resolution surface and subsurface mapping, including RGB and multispectral cameras, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and magnetometers. Advanced terrain-following capabilities are achieved using radar altimeters alongside obstacle detection systems. High-precision positioning is provided by RTK-GNSS systems, ensuring accurate geolocation of all measurements. Onboard computing units enable real-time data integration and logging.

Software. Operations are supported by open-source and commercial software for mission planning and execution, including Mission Planner, and UgCS with custom payload monitoring. The lab develops and applies automated data processing workflows using Python and R, supporting photogrammetry, geophysical data processing, and interpretation. High-performance server infrastructure provides capacity for flight simulation, large-scale data processing, and advanced analysis, enabling efficient handling of complex, multi-sensor datasets.

Applications. The SINTEF Drone Laboratory supports a wide range of applications across research and industry. These include geohazard assessment (e.g., avalanches and landslides), natural resource exploration, environmental monitoring, and critical infrastructure inspection. The platform is also applied in defence and security contexts, as well as in emerging areas such as green energy and climate-related monitoring.

Operating as a certified drone operator in Norway, SINTEF adheres to Luftfartstilsynet and EASA regulations, ensuring safe and compliant operations, with ongoing development toward beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) capabilities.