Companies Test the Drone Technology of the Future at Skellefteå Droneport

Skellefteå Droneport was buzzing with activity as Monava AB and UASolutions AB conducted joint field tests. The goal was to develop their respective technologies and benefit from each other’s expertise.

“What’s great about collaborating with other companies is that the results always turn out better than if you work alone,” says Alexander Hebbe, CEO and co-founder of Monava AB.

Thanks to the field test package provided to Skellefteå Droneport through the AeroEDIH project, companies can fully test their products and services for a few days, with access to test areas, infrastructure, and expert support.

Two Companies, Two Perspectives

For UASolutions, the focus of the tests was to try out a custom-built drone for spreading ashes. The company offers a funeral service that involves dispersing cremation ashes using drones.

“I wanted to upgrade my system and perform simulated dispersals using gravel instead of ashes,” explains Andreas Gising, founder of UASolutions.
“We also took the opportunity to test night flights, which I hadn’t tried before, and it was very interesting.”

At the same time, Monava AB collected sound data from various types of drones—valuable information for training its AI system for drone monitoring. The system is designed to monitor and visualize where a sound originates and identify what it is based on how it sounds, such as drones flying into restricted areas.

“We focus on developing surveillance technology that can contribute to safer airspace. To succeed, we need large amounts of sound data from different environments,” explains Alexander Hebbe.

Support from RISE and AeroEDIH

Also present during the test days was Per Bröms, Senior Researcher at RISE and Project Manager for the field test package at Skellefteå Droneport. He brought four drones of different sizes to support the tests.

“An important part of our work within RISE and AeroEDIH is to build networks between Swedish drone companies. By meeting, testing, and sharing knowledge, companies learn from each other and discover the resources available across the country,” says Per Bröms.

A Test Environment with the Right Conditions

For Andreas Gising, this was his first visit to Skellefteå Droneport, and he believes the location is perfect—with open spaces and undeveloped industrial land nearby.

“Everything has worked great, and it’s easy to work here. There are offices, a kitchenette, a heated hangar, and opportunities to fly both indoors and outdoors. I could build, integrate, and test—and then just open the door and fly.”
“It’s also very interesting to be here at the same time as another company in the industry. Alexander showed me his technology, and I’ll definitely stay in touch with him going forward,” he continues.

After two intense days, the companies leave Skellefteå with new knowledge and new collaborations.

“What really stands out to me is Skellefteå Droneport’s truly innovative approach. They’re expanding the possibilities for drone development in Sweden and are far ahead in creating the right conditions for future technologies,” concludes Alexander Hebbe.

Monava AB and UA Solutions AB are the first companies to use Skellefteå Droneport to develop and test their drone technologies in a real-world environment. In addition to giving companies the opportunity to test their solutions in practice, these activities also provide valuable feedback on how Skellefteå Droneport can continue to develop as a test environment.

“It’s incredibly valuable to have companies on site testing their technologies in a real setting. It gives us concrete feedback on how we can develop both the physical environment and our operations to better match the needs of companies,” says Annelie Viksten, Business Developer at Arctic Aviation Hub.