Arctic Drone Labs
We research and develop the future of unmanned aviation and related industries.
Our services
Consulting
We provide support for project preparation. We monitor public funding instruments and assist our partners in project application preparation. We seek new business opportunities and monitor regulatory developments in the field.
Monitoring and influencing drone-related legislation nationally and internationally is within our expertise.
We impact education in the field by promoting the initiation of specialized drone-related training programs at various universities. We also provide training for drone experts and pilots for companies.
Access to technology expertise and facilities for validation
ADL provides industry, especially SMEs, with direct access to cutting-edge technological expertise through collaborative projects. Projects can be implemented either with the industry partner’s own experts or with experts from the ADL network in selected areas of operation.
ADL provides industry, especially SMEs, with direct access to cutting-edge technological expertise through collaborative projects. Projects can be implemented either with the industry partner’s own experts or with experts from the ADL network in selected areas of operation.
Examples of collaborative projects:
- Building and testing drones and related sensors
- Mobile phone applications
- Software for data processing
ADL’s experts have supported SMEs in developing technology from concept stage to prototype development and demonstrations in operational environments.
ADL has access to state-of-the-art laboratories for the development, integration, and testing of electronics (including printed electronics) and mechanics. Through its network, ADL offers companies access to, among others, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), hardware reliability (stress tests, climatic conditions), or over-the-air (OTA) testing and validation.
Proof of concepts / Lab testing
Lab testing in TR Levels 3 and 4 can be done in several laboratory facilities in collaboration with ecosystem members, such as Oulu University of Applied Sciences, University of Oulu, VTT and TESTiLABS.
We prepare environments and fields for testing drone related proof-of-concepts and products. Currently we have testing areas/facilities (drone labs) in several locations in Finland, where drone equipment is available for rapid testing of new ideas. We also have a network of drone pilots available for helping with diverse missions.
Prototype development and testing
Arctic Drone Labs facilitates testing processes for prototype development in TR Levels 4 and 5. The aim is to utilise drone-related technology to increase the business potential of companies and to increase the efficiency of the activities of public stakeholders.
The demonstrations will carry out rapid experiments using drones and related peripherals and tools, with the aim of creating new products and services. The project will be implemented in close cooperation with companies, research institutes and authorities in the relevant area.
Examples of quick experiments:
- supervision,
- cleaning and washing,
- temperature measurement,
- automated work processes,
- supply of goods,
- utility inspections.
Demonstrations
We conduct different types of product demonstrations in TR Levels 6 and 7. The demonstrations are typically owned by SMEs or other Arctic Drone Labs networked partners.
Examples:
- Integrating high resolution thermal cameras to flying platforms e.g for checking structures and finding missing persons in the terrain.
- Integrating light detection and ranging (LIDAR) or RGB camera equipment for photogrammetry and 3D-modelling of target objects, sensors measuring distances (ranging), hyper-spectral and multispectral imaging and data analysis.
- Our multispectral cameras can be utilised to demonstrate agricultural photography in industrially relevant or operational environments.
The following services are in the planning phase and will be available in future:
- Pilot production and demonstration / pilot lines / pre-series
- Product validation / certification
Information
We share information of current events, research and development. We organise seminars and online meetings for our collaborators. We also collect the drone-related news to our webpage and social media channels.
Networking
Our ecosystem includes more than 20 Finnish companies or research institutes. Therefore, it covers most of the experts in the field of drones.
Drone Test Area Oulu West (EFD828)
Features
- Area size: 52.5 x 45.5 km
- Nearby Airports / Helipads: Oulu (EFOU), Ahmosuo (EFAH), Hailuoto (EFHL), OYS (EFHO)
- Operator: Oamk / Arctic Drone Labs
- Local services: Drone Fleet, Repair Centre, Indoor Test Area, 5G test network, U-Space Testing
- Oulu University Hospital and Oulu Prison are delimited out of flying activity.
- The phone number for the person in charge of the flight operation will be announced in activating NOTAM.
- ICAO 7-days advance notice (NOTAM) cannot be guaranteed. Activating NOTAM will be published no later than the previous working day before the day of operations.
- Unmanned aircraft do not have to give way to other air traffic in a reserved danger area (REF ASM Handbook 3.10).
- When the area is active, the person in charge of the operation is reachable using the phone number provided in the advance notification. Also, the drone operation radio frequency of 133.325 MHz will be monitored during the activity.