Skyports Drone Services and Makutu Launch Water Quality Survey Drone Flights in Partnership with Northumbrian Water
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Skyports Drone Services and Makutu have successfully conducted maiden test flights for a revolutionary drone inspection service designed to reinforce water quality monitoring for river and coastal waters. This revolutionary enterprise, in partnership with UK water supplier Northumbrian Water, seeks to revolutionize the industry by combining Skyports Drone Services’ expertise in distant drone operations and winch technology with Makutu’s advanced water testing solutions.
The newly launched service utilizes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) electric drone operations to automate water quality surveys, offering improved access to difficult locations, reduced carbon footprint, and faster data collection over larger areas.
The target is to present a substitute for labor-intensive data collection processes, particularly in rural or difficult-to-reach areas, where manual collection and transportation of water samples to a central lab could be arduous and time-consuming.
Skyports Drone Services deployed its cutting-edge Speedbird Aero aircraft, equipped with specialized winch technology, through the initial phase of flights. The drone seamlessly carries Makutu’s unique water sensor technology to testing locations, lowering the sensor into the water to gather samples. The collected data is then transmitted in near real-time to Northumbrian Water for evaluation.
The highly automated Speedbird Aero aircraft eliminates the necessity to return to base between tests, allowing for continuous data collection from multiple locations on a single battery charge.
Phase one proof-of-concept flights, conducted in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Bishop Auckland, and Blyth within the northeast of the UK, focused on testing the efficiency of Skyports Drone Services and Makutu’s integrated solution. Visual ground observers supported these tests, with the following phase set to scale operations and introduce remotely operated BVLOS sample collections.
Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, emphasized the project’s commitment to sustainability, safety, and improved access through electric drone services. Brown stated, “Water quality is a hugely vital issue within the UK. The unique solution we’ve developed with Makutu provides water corporations with critical real-time data, enabling higher monitoring, maintenance, and faster response to issues.”
Richard Warneford, Wastewater Director at Northumbrian Water, expressed excitement concerning the project, highlighting the successful test flights as a testament to the validity of UAV technology of their water quality monitoring program. Warneford said, “We’re proud to be making history with this project and we are able to’t wait to start rolling it out officially across the North East – it’s just one other step towards having the cleanest rivers and beaches within the country.”
James Sumsion, Chief Executive Officer of Makutu, described the collaboration as a major milestone in environmental stewardship and technological innovation. He emphasized the facility of partnership and forward-thinking in addressing ecological challenges, stating, “This project is a wonderful example of how cutting-edge technology could be leveraged for the greater good. We’re excited to see how this pilot study evolves and contributes to setting recent standards in environmental monitoring and sustainability across the country.”
Read more: