FireDrone Receives €161K from Venture Kick for Heat-Resistant Drones
Swiss startup FireDrone, an Empa spin-off, secured €161,000 (CHF 150,000) funding from Venture Kick to advance the development of heat-resistant drones for extreme environments. These drones aim to improve safety in emergency response and industrial inspections by protecting people, infrastructure, and the environment during high-risk operations worldwide.
Challenges in High-Temperature Environments
Firefighters and industrial safety teams face significant hazards such as toxic smoke, unstable structures, and extreme heat when working in burning buildings or industrial furnaces. Conventional drones usually cannot function effectively in these conditions, limiting real-time situational awareness.
FireDrone's Innovative Solution
The company is developing autonomous drones capable of withstanding temperatures around 200°C. Their platform incorporates thermal insulation and cooling technology to enable real-time hazard detection in environments where standard drones fail.
Target Markets and Applications
- High-temperature industrial inspections
- Public safety and first-responder operations
The initial market focus covers industries such as cement, steel, aluminium, waste-to-energy, fertiliser, and glass production, as well as emergency scenarios complicated by heat and smoke where conventional drones cannot operate.
"FireDrone develops heat-resistant autonomous drones designed to withstand temperatures of around 200°C and provide real-time hazard detection in environments where standard systems are ineffective."
The technology supports safety improvements, reduces operational downtime, and informs critical decision-making in hazardous settings.
FireDrone's innovation promises enhanced operational safety in environments previously inaccessible to conventional drone technology due to extreme heat and hazardous conditions.