QuestUAV Ltd

about QuestUAV

QuestUAV Ltd is a UK based manufacturer of small, fixed wing unmanned aircraft ( sUAV ) that are designed to carry sensors such as high resolution cameras, infra red cameras, thermal cameras, multispectral cameras and video surveillance cameras.

Our drones / aircraft / UAV are also referred to as RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) in Europe.

The aircraft are operated autonomously in that the route is planned before flight and then following launch the aircraft will automatically fly the route, operating the cameras automatically and then come back to an automatic landing or parachute landing. Crew on the ground have control over the aircraft at all times and can intervene if required. The aircraft has inbuilt safety systems and failsafes to cope with emergencies.

We sell our products and services around the world and in all climates from desert and tropical to glacial and Arctic/Antarctic. The only limitation is wher countries are banned through UK Export Control from receiving Dual Use goods. Currently we have sold to or operated in 21 countries around the globe.

Designed to operate in the sub 7Kg category, the drones also benefit from a hand launch system that will allow them to be operated in a large range of territories and climates.

Drone Manufacture

QuestUAV has the knowledge, IP and equipment to design, manufacture and redesign fixed wing drones from raw materials right through to the finished article. This provides a rapid design cycle, with an ability to customize to client specification.

Our primary autopilot is UK manufactured, making export control a simple task to all of the European unio and other partner countries.

Location

All departments of the business operate from the QuestUAV headquarters in Northumberland UK.

The business conducts its flying training and research operations on 400ha mixed crop precision farm.

The company has twelve key personnel who manage all the manufacturing, training, research and administrative departments.

Other Services

QuestUAV not only manufactures the winged drones but also provides product training, flying training and data analysis support (post processing). This post-flight survey service allows customers to get closer to the whole purpose of UAV flight: data analysis from aerial imagery that allows high quality orthogrammetry and photogrammetry to provide consistent and reliable scientific or survey mapping.

Benefits

The primary benefits of our drones are robustness, ease of use, exceptionally low running costs, and a modular airframe construction that allows easy payload changes (the Q-Pod system).

This means that a wide variety of applications are achievable from one drone platform. Survey, agriculture, research, DEM generation, plant vigor, surveillance and more.

Remote Sensing (RS), Earth Observation (EO), Satellite Data Replacement and Surveillance are key disciplines that the drones are employed in.

Client List

Our extensive client list ranges includes the European Space Agency, Dole Agriculture and

Network

The QuestUAV organization has always aimed to develop strong links with Universities and research companies in UK and Europe. This close collaboration has helped develop a stronger, more technical product that can supply many markets. In exchange we offer Universities significant discounts in exchange for this collaboration. Our network has now matured into full commercial and retail sales across the globe.

Awards

QuestUAV has received many awards. These are the most significant awards:

Winner of the UK North-East Business Award for Innovation (Regional and North East Winner)

Winner of the Northumberland Small Business Award

Winner of the UK North-East Business Award for Newcomer of the Year (Regional Winner)

The BIPP Fox Talbot award for Scientific Photography (For Outstanding Achievement in the field of Photography). This has only been awarded twice since 2009.

History and Performance

QuestUAV has operated since 2008, though formerly know as Blue River Studios. The founder/director, Nigel King, is a former Royal Air Force pilot and instructor, with two decades of IT consultancy, remote control and photogrammetry experience.

Over the past five years the company has doubled in size and turnover each year. This strong growth is attributable to the broad skillset and energy of the founder/owner, being coupled with a business setting in a market that has high potential but significant barriers to entry.