{"id":46981,"date":"2023-10-20T15:52:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/drone-startup-is-ready-to-test-the-waters-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:52:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:52:00","slug":"drone-startup-is-ready-to-test-the-waters-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/drone-startup-is-ready-to-test-the-waters-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Drone startup is ready to test the waters – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While working in the mining and oil industry, Adelaide entrepreneur Dan Squire regularly saw the innovative use of drones to solve long-standing issues.<\/p>\n

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But when he moved into the water industry, he was surprised the same wasn\u2019t being done there.<\/p>\n

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It was that realisation which led him to create his startup, Drones over Water, which utilises unmanned autonomous vehicles to monitor water quality in remote locations.<\/p>\n

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The concept was recently recognised at the Flinders University New Venture Insitute\u2019s eNVIes awards last week, with Squire taking out the top prize.<\/p>\n

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He has developed a prototype drone fitted with water sensors that can collect samples and records data from water sources in areas difficult for humans to access.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn the Murray-Darling and places like that, sometimes they can\u2019t test billabongs and lagoons, because it\u2019s quite hard to get out there,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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Squire says the information collected by drones would arm the water industry with crucial information about water quality, like the presence of blue-green algae, and help experts know how to best treat that water.<\/p>\n

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Drones are also less likely than boats to damage fragile water environments.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAt the end of the day, anytime you can get someone off a watercourse, that\u2019s a good thing,\u201d Squire says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve spoken with more than 20 CEOs and managers, and almost every one of them has said they think this is something that is useful and a great idea. Those who would use it have said they would take it on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Squire now plans to move on from the prototype stage, but admits there are obstacles to be overcome. The sensors for the drone must still be perfected and he also has to appease aeronautical authority regulators.<\/p>\n

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Regardless, he’s already thinking about other applications for his product.<\/p>\n

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A sailor by trade, Squire foresees drones being used to test seawater, as well as reducing the risk to ship workers completing dangerous jobs.<\/p>\n

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“In that world, you’ve got people hanging off the sides of ships,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhy can’t you just send a drone to do that? It\u2019ll reduce the risk.”<\/p>\n

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Do you know more on this story or have a tip of your own? Raising capital or launching a startup? Let us know. Follow StartupSmart on<\/i> Facebook<\/i>,<\/i> Twitter<\/i>, and<\/i> LinkedIn<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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