BeNeDrone
AI in the air, safety on the ground
Our tools
BeNeDrone develops innovative solutions to support the safe and efficient deployment of medical drones across the Dutch-Belgian border. Using artificial intelligence (AI), data analysis, and virtual reality (VR), the project investigates how drone flights can be planned, evaluated, and adapted to changing regulations and circumstances.
The project is developing two complementary tools:
Drone Route Estimator
The Drone Route Estimator uses AI and geographic data to map out potential drone routes and their medical and economic implications. Factors such as national borders, population density, land use, water bodies, hospitals, legislation, and other air traffic are taken into account.
This interactive tool helps policymakers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders gain better insight into questions such as: How do regulations affect response times in medical emergencies? What are the consequences of differences between Dutch and Belgian regulations? And where can cross-border cooperation improve the deployment of medical drones?
Drone Route Simulator
The Drone Route Simulator then brings these routes to life in a realistic virtual environment. Using virtual and mixed reality, drone flights over complex terrain can be experienced and evaluated without the need for actual medical flights.
The simulator makes it possible to investigate practical challenges that cannot always be deduced from data, such as weather conditions, obstacles, and changing air traffic. Routes can also be dynamically adjusted when conditions change during a flight.
Together, the two tools provide a unified framework for researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, drone operators, and other stakeholders to better understand and prepare for the opportunities and challenges of cross-border medical drone flights.