All signs point to go for the first Limburg BVLOS drone platform

The first Limburg BVLOS drone platform has been realized at the Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen. BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight and involves drone flights during which the drone disappears from the pilot’s line of sight, marking an important step towards autonomous drone flights. 

Startup Nimo Drone Security is based at the Brightlands campus in Heerlen, where the focus is on human-centered AI applications and data science. As a pioneer and specialist in drone security, this company is part of the campus’ dynamic ecosystem. When a sensor is activated at one of Nimo’s customers’ premises, a drone takes flight to scout out the situation. The drone automatically transmits images of the situation; this makes security work more efficient, safe and effective.

Why the Brightlands campus?

Autonomous drone flights require advanced AI and data science. Just take responding to weather conditions, for example, working out the flight plan, the ability to avoid obstacles and objects, and so forth. At this specific Brightlands ecosystem in Heerlen, companies, startups, knowledge institutes and organizations work together on innovations in data science and human-centric artificial intelligence, ensuring to also take the societal and legal implications of these technologies into account. This makes the campus a breeding ground for expertise as well as the ideal testing ground for the development of this technology. The drone platform will be installed on the roof of the Brightlands campus in Heerlen.

Laws and regulations

BVLOS flights currently fall under the Specific category, designating high-risk flights. For the time being, autonomous drone flights are still categorized under a special classification that has yet to be opened in the Netherlands. One thing is certain, however; this classification will be available soon. Until then, the company will continue to work with operators who control drones when they are beyond the visual line of sight using a live image link, supported by observers. Test flights with autonomous drones are closely monitored so that operators always have the ability to intervene.

If the region genuinely wants to innovate and be the leader in autonomous drone flights, a platform like this will contribute to these efforts. The demand for autonomous drone flights is growing rapidly, and the potential future applications are very promising. These include the delivery of medicines and medical materials, rapid transportation and speeding up assessments by security services. In short, this company makes a visit to the campus very worthwhile. Nimo and the platform are of great interest to the regional audience.