CybAero

The Linköping-based company CybAero develops and manufactures Autonomous Helicopters, also known as UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The helicopters can be equipped with various sensor systems which give them the ability to see, listen, measure, and record in flight. These abilities make the CybAero UAV indispensable in a variety of situations

CybAero are pioneers in the field of UAVs and the foundation of their work can be traced to an early 1990’s cooperation between Linköping University and the FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency). In 2008, CybAero performed the first official autonomous helicopter flight in Sweden at Gärdet recreational field in Stockholm.

The helicopter, measuring three metres in length and weighing maximum 180 kg, has a top speed of 150 km/h. The helicopter has many uses, particularly in monotonous or dangerous situations such as; power line inspection, oil spills, industrial accidents, and forest fires.

Picture: CybAero’s UAV helicopter APID 60 on a mission in Vardö, Norway

CybAero has contracts and collaborations with international actors in both Spain (Indra Sistemas) and France (EADS/Cassidian) to name a few as well as being active on its home ground. In cooperation with Tekniska Verken in Linköping, CybAero has flown missions to measure topological changes in landfills in accordance with the current EU Environmental Regulations.

In November 2011, CybAero received a research grant of SEK 1.3 million from the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, Vinnova. The company will investigate how a rapid response solution could be developed to enhance social security and meet a need for situational awareness in case of disasters and accidents.

There are almost limitless opportunities for Unmanned Helicopters and so far we have only seen the beginning of this exciting development.