DroneMatrix grew out of the company of Frank Vanwelkenhuyzen which is specialized in software for the planning of security companies. The safety sector is growing after the recent terrorist attacks. Because of this there is a shortage of police officers. As a response Vanwelkenhuyzen established DroneMatrix. Drone constructor Bart Engelen and creative Raf Gorissen were attracted for the further extension. Now, a year later, they launched their first drone Yoshua. This is some sort of black box which enables the police and aviation authorities to identify and follow each drone in the sky.

For the development of the drones DroneMatrix called in the help of Vansichen Linear Technology. This collaboration is running smoothly and in the mean while there were already two prototypes developed. Tythus is a drone intented for the police, fire department and emergency services at big events with a lot of people. By means of a cable that feeds the drone with a generator it can stay in the air for a long time. That way the police, fire department and the emergency services can follow everything from a distance.

Top of the bill however is Yacob. This drone can take off autonomously out of its charging station, carry out its inspection flight, perform eventual additional inspection assignments and land back in the charging station autonomously afterwards. A partnership was set up with some Flemish universities for the software development. This software can recognize a number of things through camera images like cats, dogs, human beings, cars and it can read license plates. The next step in this process is the identification of individuals who may or may not have access to the site. Security firms Seris and Securitas were involved in this story from the very start.

After the first smooth cooperation an exclusive cooperation contract was signed. Besides the development of the drones, they will also be prepared for production. If everything goes according to plan, the production will start within two year inside the buildings of DronePort in Brustem. The aim is to tap new markets of the drones globally in which there needs to be worked in a variety of climatic conditions. Create 100 jobs within three years, that’s the objective.

To achieve all of this there will be put a cluster of local companies around DroneMatrix. These companies can contribute to this project, each from their own expertise. According to Maxime Vansichen it has no use to re-invent the wheel time after time. It’s better to draw upon existing expertise. The European umbrella organization of drone companies EUKA was willing to take on this project alongside with DroneMatrix. Together with Syntra there were set up training programs for future drone pilots.

www.dronematrix.eu