NORCE researchers innovate Norwegian companies

– This is a great example of Norwegian researchers supporting Norwegian industry - and Norwegian researchers listening to the industry to meet market demands, says Trond Løke, CEO of Norsk Elektro Optikk AS (NEO).

The software enables a drone equipped with a hyperspectral camera to display data with centimeter-level precision. Hyperspectral cameras are useful when more detailed information is needed than what regular cameras can provide. While a regular camera sees what the eye sees, a hyperspectral camera can see what the eye cannot see, such as chlorophyll and minerals.

Immediate visualization

Hyperspectral imaging has been known for 30 years, but the challenge has been the long processing time after data collection. Now, everything can be fully visualized in 3D and shared immediately with a ground station anywhere in the world.

– We believe this is groundbreaking and will change how hyperspectral technology is used in real-time applications. We collect 500 MB of data every second from a drone. Instead of waiting hours and days to process the data, we can analyze and use the information immediately. This has never been done before, says Agnar Sivertsen, senior researcher at NORCE.

Revolutionizing the mining industry

NEO and NORCE have been collaborating for over 17 years and are now partners in the EU project M4Mining, coordinated by NORCE. The main goal is more efficient mining operations and higher extraction rates.

Previously, we had to fly the drone to collect large amounts of data, which experts then spent weeks processing. Now, we can get detailed images of the minerals as we fly, allowing the minerals to be sorted more efficiently.

In the mining industry, the software can be used, among other things, to update mineral maps several times daily. By mapping the area before blasting, better decisions can be made, and the use of water and chemicals can be reduced. Users do not need to install any software; they can use any PC to access the data. This makes the use of the software both flexible and accessible.

– This marks a significant advancement for the technology, allowing NEO to expand its market and sell more systems to a broader audience. With the new software, we can get real-time results while flying and eliminate the need for post-processing, says Løke.

He states that NEO is already several steps ahead of the competitors but that this software solution will further strengthen their lead, especially in complete drone solutions and total user-friendliness.

– This will not only give us an even greater advantage but, more importantly, it will help clients realize that this technology is fully mature and ready for practical applications far beyond just research, he says.

A key advantage

Competition for research funds will increase in the future. NORCE’s ability to produce licensable technology is an important advantage in this context.

– This agreement is a good example of how NORCE can strengthen existing Norwegian companies through research-based innovation. This is one of the best ways NORCE can document that innovation indeed emerges from innovation projects at NORCE. We need much more of this going forward,” says Christopher Giertsen, Group Director for commercialization at NORCE.

– NORCE engages in high-quality research and development, and it is especially rewarding to work on projects that not only have strong commercial potential but also a real impact,” says Løke.