KTH Aerospace supplies modular UAV testbeds for university and aerospace research, offering hydrogen fuel‑cell hybrid drones, high‑altitude long‑endurance platforms, and autonomous return‑to‑launch systems. Each vehicle includes standardized CAN‑bus/Ethernet payload bays, real‑time telemetry, and open‑source PX4/ArduPilot flight control, enabling experiments in atmospheric imaging, magnetic field measurement, and micro‑gravity validation without custom airframe development.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
University researchers and aerospace education programs often lack access to modular, high‑performance unmanned aerial systems that can operate at high altitude, use emerging propulsion technologies, or provide autonomous return‑to‑launch capabilities for payload experiments. This limits the ability to conduct long‑duration atmospheric imaging, magnetic field measurements, or micro‑gravity boom validation without building custom platforms from scratch.
Solution
KTH Aerospace delivers a portfolio of purpose‑built UAV testbeds that address these gaps. The Green Raven platform integrates a hydrogen fuel‑cell powertrain with a modular airframe, enabling hybrid/electric flight research. ALPHA is a long‑endurance, high‑altitude UAV equipped with scientific imaging payloads for upper‑atmosphere observation. BOOMERANG provides an autonomous return‑to‑launch solution for free‑falling probes, while B2D2 and SPECTRE supply self‑deploying boom mechanisms for magnetometer and composite‑tape‑spring experiments. Each system includes flight‑ready avionics, telemetry, and a standardized payload interface, allowing research teams to focus on experiment design rather than vehicle development. KTH Aerospace also offers end‑to‑end support from design and manufacturing through testing and launch services, funded through collaborative contracts with academic and aerospace partners.
Target Audience
Primary customers are university research groups, aerospace engineering departments, and space‑flight program teams that require reliable UAV platforms for atmospheric, magnetic, or micro‑gravity experiments.
Features
- Hydrogen fuel‑cell propulsion module with embedded power management for the Green Raven hybrid drone
- High‑altitude, long‑endurance airframe (ALPHA) optimized for low‑drag performance and solar‑assisted power budgeting
- Autonomous return‑to‑launch navigation stack using GNSS, inertial sensors, and adaptive flight‑path planning (BOOMERANG)
- Self‑deploying boom mechanisms: bistable magnetic boom (B2D2) and composite tape‑spring boom (SPECTRE) with on‑board actuation control
- Standardized payload bay with CAN‑bus and Ethernet interfaces, supporting interchangeable scientific instruments
- Real‑time telemetry and data downlink via secure RF links, compatible with ground‑station software suites
- Integration pathways for REXUS/BEXUS rocket payloads and Esrange launch operations
- Open‑source flight control firmware based on PX4/ArduPilot, enabling rapid customization and academic research reproducibility