Somerset chosen to pioneer drones project

Somerset Council is flying high after being awarded funding from Innovate UK to help bring forward a project that could transform disaster response and environmental protection in the county. The award for the £191,370 project comes from the Future Flight Regional Demonstration Fund for the Council’s Project RESCUE that will investigate the potential for drones to be deployed to monitor environmental emergencies.

The “eyes in the skies” can be launched quickly, reach inaccessible areas safely and provide real-time footage and data to support the teams on the ground.

The Council will be working with two business partners, experts in the field of both drone operations and regulations, to develop a business case and a concept of operations for using drones in emergency situations.

These are Somerset based Land & Minerals Consulting Ltd who are currently working with the Civil Aviation Authority on establishing safety cases for flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and innovative start-up Limosaero who are pioneering solar powered fixed wing drones capable of flying long distances.

The Resilience and Emergency Services Coordination Using Enabled-drones (RESCUE) project will also bring together local emergency services, resilience teams, Government agencies and drone service operators to develop the case for adopting the scheme in Somerset.

Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for the Economy, Planning and Assets, said: “The potential for drones is exciting and shows that Somerset is at the forefront of imaginative and innovative solutions to real problems that affect our communities. I am delighted that Innovate UK is showing faith in our county through this funding.

“We have demonstrated clearly that Somerset can lead the way in the future of flight with iAero, our aerospace innovation centre in Yeovil, which is a key asset driving our ambitions for the Council’s Future Flight Innovation Zone initiative that aims to provide test and evaluation facilities for smart aviation technologies.

“Somerset suffered devastating floods more than ten years ago, leaving communities marooned, homes under water and farmland swamped. The economic costs were up to £147.5 million, but the cost in human terms was immeasurable.

“Project RESCUE will develop a business case for the use of drones to collect data and intelligence during environmental emergencies in Somerset. This will include the

environmental, social, and economic implications of flooding across the county, identifying drone-based solutions to support emergency responses, and identify the economic growth opportunities the adoption of drone technologies and supporting services will have on the region.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is creating a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations.

We provide targeted sectors with expertise, facilities and funding to test, demonstrate and evolve their ideas, driving UK productivity and economic growth. Join our network and communities of innovators to realise the potential of your ideas and accelerate business growth. Innovate UK: inspiring business innovation.

inspiring business innovation.

Future Flight Innovation Zone (FFIZ)

The Future Flight Innovation Zone (FFIZ) in the South West of England is a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of sustainable aviation technologies. It is located in Somerset and Devon and focuses on decarbonising the aviation industry through innovative technologies. The FFIZ will serve as a real-world testing facility, developing, testing, and commercialising new future flight technologies under real-world conditions. This includes testing hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered technologies for drones, and UAVs. The zone is managed by Somerset Council and is part of a broader effort to ensure the long-term sustainable future and decarbonization of the British aviation industry.