Drone flight detection company Neuron launches beta version of its sensor network

UK drone and aircraft flight detection sensor network provider Neuron – which provides an open source public network of drone detection services – has announced the launch of its beta version network and has invited collaborative organisations to participate in the programme. The launch was oversubscribed within hours of the announcement, says the company.

“Neuron can support a range of dePIN use cases including physical resource networks such as flight tracking, digital resource networks such as video streaming, and human resource networks such as food delivery,” says the company in its website. “By installing sensors, you will increase surveillance capability in your local area, increasing safety for aviators and helping to enable drone activities. If you fly drones, you can use the sensors on your own projects, or if not, you can help support other people’s projects.”

Deadline for applications is 30 April 2024 at 17:00 (BST).

Earlier this year Neuron Innovations announced it had won a contract win with Milton Keynes Council, to deploy, model and integrate aircraft and drone tracking sensors across the city. This initiative aims to enable a variety of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone applications, including public infrastructure inspections and medical drone deliveries.

As part of the project, Neuron Innovations will model and deploy a range of low-cost aircraft tracking sensors to provide a recognised airspace environment that tracks the positions of aircraft and drones that are flying over the city. The network will be integrated with drone-in-a-box provider, Herotech8, as well as Milton Keynes ‘smart city lab’, to enable and monitor aerial drone activities within the city.

The council will be trialling two drone use cases: highways inspections to automate public infrastructure management and medical drone deliveries to expedite critical medical supplies, alleviating logistical pressures on NHS staff. If successful, this project is expected to increase high-tech, high-skilled jobs for local residents, enhance public infrastructure maintenance, and reduce traffic congestion, thereby cutting the city’s carbon emissions.