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A solar-powered drone is being developed in Christchurch in the hopes that it will be a game changer for the aerial imaging industry.
Kea Aerospace is working on prototypes and the first full-scale Kea Atmos is expected to be built in 2022.
Photo: RNZ
Kea Aerospace is developing the Kea Atmos aircraft, which has a wingspan of 32 m and weighs only 90 kg.
Covered in solar panels that power three electric motors, the plane will be able to fly for months.
Kea Aerospace CEO Mark Rocket said the Kea Atmos would fly 20 times closer to Earth than satellites, which would make imaging more affordable.
The images collected by the aircraft are expected to be used for precision agriculture, disaster management and environmental monitoring.
“Ultimately we would like to be in control of our mission here in Canterbury and have a full fleet of these aircraft flying around the world constantly.
“We think it could be used for a lot of things, obviously imaging will come first, but eventually it could be used for things like communications and payload testing,” Rocket said.
Rocket, who is initially funding the project, said it had already received a lot of interest from investors.
Kea Aerospace is the second company to participate in the government’s airspace integration testing program.
Dr. Philipp Sueltrop (Chief Technology Officer) Mark Rocket (Kea Aerospace CEO) Megan Woods, Lianne Dalziel
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The first was with Wisk, a company that was testing an autonomous air taxi in New Zealand.
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods said advanced aviation was growing in New Zealand and generating high-paying jobs.
“There are enormous opportunities for New Zealand in this larger space. We have seen the success of Rocket Lab and all [have] pride in what Rocket Lab has accomplished.
“There are more opportunities for us as a country and that is why the innovation partnerships at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment are really pushing this area,” said Woods.
Kea Aerospace is working on prototypes and the first full-scale Kea Atmos is expected to be built in 2022.
