Oana Coșman
Aimed at supporting the efforts of the European Union and various states and international bodies in clearing hazardous areas, Hyper Drone is intended for military use and offers complete support to armies and governmental bodies involved in demining operations.
The new drone produced by OVES Enterprise is being sold to private companies that want to add a new product to their portfolio and that have ongoing contracts and commitments to government bodies involved in demining operations and helping to increase safety in vulnerable communities.
Hyper Drone is a unique solution, based on the OVES Octocopter platform (the company's first drone model), which can have various multirotor configurations (quad-, hexa-, octo-copters), equipped with multiple sensors and useful equipment for detecting, mapping, and neutralizing mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
It is specially designed for EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams, with a robust structure made of carbon fiber and aluminium, adapted for operations in any weather conditions and urban or rural environments. The modular system facilitates maintenance and repair, ensuring the necessary safety and reliability.
"We use cutting-edge technology to detect metal-containing mines, as well as a spectrometer and highly advanced AI, useful in detecting plastic mines, which are currently banned. Moreover, we have sensors in every component of the drone and an intelligent dashboard, which can optimize the parameters of the drone or the drone fleet," says Mihai Filip, CEO of OVES Enterprise, mentioning that the drone can be customized with various demining tools, radiation detection, advanced cameras, telecommunications relays.
The Hyper Drone can carry out missions involving flights of approximately 75 minutes at a speed of 80 km/h and can carry equipment weighing up to 25 kilograms at an altitude of 1,000 meters.
The drone can be configured for different purposes and types of mines, with configurations allowing for the detection, mapping, and neutralization of mines in a single mission, with varying payloads (water, gel, explosive titanium charges).
The new drone model features power management systems, data collection systems and mission planning software. Detection sensors include magnetometers, plastic sensors, thermal sensors and ground penetrating radar.
It can conduct high-resolution surveys to identify mines and IEDs, creating geotagged data for rapid mapping of their locations. The Hyper Drone is equipped with independent firing systems and a targeting system for disruptors, including a laser pointer and a high-definition camera for precise targeting.
The research and development of Hyper Drone involved investments of over 400,000 euros, in addition to the initial investment of 500,000 euros made by OVES Enterprise for the development of this new business line.
“Once the platform was ready, the more difficult part was to integrate the sensors and technology needed to develop a top-of-the-line product. Matching the platform with the necessary gun for remote triggering of the mine charge, sensors, etc., took about 6 months, and in total, we have been working on this solution for over a year", says Mihai Filip.
OVES Enterprise recently announced an expansion into a new business line focusing on drone production. The company is currently developing 9 models, of various sizes, both with rotors and fixed wings. All products are self-funded, with OVES Enterprise also handling research and development, focusing on innovation and identifying new ways to use drones.
Recently, the company successfully tested the AI aspect of drones, which are capable of autonomous flight in enclosed spaces, for example, and solutions for mounting mini solar panels to increase autonomy, as well as ways to use internal combustion engines made from magnesium alloy to reduce the weight of the drones.
Next year, OVES Enterprise plans to start drone production in Romania, in a factory near Bucharest. The company estimates that by the end of the year, over 30% of its turnover will be generated by drone sales and the software required for their operation.
