Aerospec and Elythor get FIT backing

Aerospec and its detection system for polluting particles

Described by the WHO as "the greatest environmental risk to health", air pollution remains a global challenge. Fine particle pollution is the deadliest, causing almost 4.2 million deaths every year, with 99% of the world's population breathing air that exceeds the fine particle limit set by the WHO. However, reducing the presence of these fine particles in the air is no easy task. In fact, they come from a wide variety of sources (incinerators, transport, fires, power stations, oil and coal combustion, industry, etc.) and vary according to the season or time of day.

To find the right solution to the problem, it is essential to first be able to identify it accurately and to have continuous data on the sources. However, the means currently available to do so are less than optimal. Their 'manual' use, whether it's manual sampling of ambient samples, manual analysis of data by PhD students, or laboratory measurements also carried out by humans, generates very significant time and cost losses.

Aerospec has developed an innovative, fully automated system. This infrared aerosol monitor can determine the chemical composition of particles, predict their sources, and issue daily reports. Precise intelligent data that companies and governments alike urgently need.

Thanks to the CHF 100,000 Tech Seed loan awarded by FIT, Aerospec will be able to successfully industrialise its product. The company plans to market and start selling its infrared monitor by the end of 2024 to the 20 qualified potential customers it has already identified.

Elythor and its drones combine distance and precision

For the last fifteen years or so, drones have been used to capture images, inspect, and monitor infrastructure. The main limitation drones have, lie in their energy-hungry fight against the wind, which means they can't fly for very long resulting in time consuming missions with increased costs.

Rather than going against the wind, why not turn it into an ally? Combining the features of aircraft and their ability to stay aloft for long periods and traditional drones and their level of precision, the innovative drones developed by Elythor combine these two assets: precision AND distance.

This innovation is made possible by integrating these aerial machines with wings that are not fixed but capable of moving and retracting. They are, therefore, capable of withstanding strong winds while exploiting their potential for propulsion, increasing their flight time by 20% while gaining speed in an unprecedented way, like a boat sail.

On top of that, they offer extremely thorough inspection capabilities for infrastructures stretching over long distances, as well as for remote assets. This makes them particularly interesting for drone inspection in the energy sector, and for the inspection of construction sites, two areas that are very complicated to access and sectors that need to be able to benefit from the very latest innovations if they are to be competitive in their respective markets.

The Tech Seed loan of CHF 100,000 granted to Elythor by the Foundation for Technological Innovation will enable it to develop its first minimum viable product and hire engineers for this purpose.

(PR)