SkyScoutAI: A system to predict and prevent wildfires

SkyScoutAI: A system to predict and prevent wildfires

Apr 30, 2026 | Industry News, Innovation, Scott Simmie, SkyScout Ai, Wildfires

By Scott Simmie

 

Wildfires are a growing threat.

You might think, based on media coverage, that we’re having more of them. That’s not always the case; in some areas the number of wildfires is down. The real problem is that wildfire outbreaks in recent decades have become more intense: Larger, hotter, and spreading more rapidly. Scientists examining data from NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites gathered over 21 years found that “the frequency of extreme events increased by 2.2-fold from 2003 to 2023, with the last seven years including the six most extreme,” says a study published by Nature.

NASA sums up the problem like this: “Extreme wildfires have become more frequent, more intense, and larger. The largest increase in extreme fire behavior was in the temperate conifer forests of the Western U.S. and the boreal forests of northern North America and Russia,” it writes. “Warmer nighttime temperatures are a major contributing factor, allowing fire activity to persist overnight.”

Traditionally, we’ve used satellite data, weather forecasts and observable conditions on the ground to try to gauge risk. But our response has generally been reactive; rushing to contain and extinguish once a wildfire is underway, or rapidly evacuating communities once a fire is approaching.

Now, Canadian tech company SkyScoutAI says it has a better way. With the tagline “Predict * Prevent * Protect”, SkyScout says its system fuses ground sensors, satellite imagery, historical data, specific terrain features, drones and a powerful AI engine to produce an evidence-based score of the real-time threat to any given area where the system is deployed.

It’s a bold claim. But, given the Chief Technology Officer’s commitment to this field – which includes nearly a decade of research into using drones and AI specifically for wildfires – it’s clear there’s a ton of science it.

Above: A fast-moving wildfire east of Kamloops, BC in 2018. Photo by Murray Foubister via Creative Commons Share Alike 2.0. Below, a screengrab from SkyScoutAI.com

SkyScoutAI Screengrab

MULTIPLE DATA POINTS AND POWERFUL AI

 

A key component of the SkyScoutAI system is the person who helped devise it. Chief Technology Office Michal Aibin holds both a PhD and is Head of the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Master of Science Program in Applied Computing. He’s been researching the use of drones and AI for wildfires since 2017, and now has graduate students assisting in that research. For Michal, trying to find a solution to this problem isn’t simply an engineering challenge; it’s personal.

“What I really wanted to do with my research at BCIT is something that can make a change for the community, to the lives of people,” he says.

With a background in AI, he started by looking at existing methods of predicting wildfires and thinking: There must be a better way.

“We noticed there are lots of things on the detection side of things…detection of the fire, wildfire assessment, change detection – but there’s not that much on the prediction and prevention side,” he says. “So the question that came in the initial phases of research was: ‘What can we do six months or 12 months in advance to learn what the fire season will look like?’ And this is where the idea of prevention and fuel measurement and using different sensors and putting all of these into some comprehensive risk prevention management tool came into action.”

One of the things he noted early on is that wildfires “don’t just happen – they develop,” By this he’s referring to a cascade of factors or events that ultimately culminate into conditions that are a Perfect Storm for wildfires.

How dry is it? What’s the fire history in this location? How dense are the trees? Is there a water source nearby? Structures? What’s the immediate forecast and what are the historical weather patterns? Is the terrain likely to speed the spread of a wildfire?

Beyond its core algorithmic engine, SkyScout AI uses ground sensors to capture real-time microclimate data across monitored areas. For aerial imagery, the company partners with InDro Robotics for drone operations and regulatory compliance, and with Spexi to obtain the resulting high-resolution captures. SkyScout AI then assembles and processes that imagery internally, feeding it into their wildfire prediction and risk analysis pipeline.

SkyScoutAI’s proprietary AI engine takes all that disparate data and fuses it together to produce an easy-to-understand, actionable risk score. It has a very simple User Interface which includes data points at any given location, the threat level, and the confidence the AI has in its overall prediction (see below).

SkyScoutAI Live Screengrab

PREDICT, PREVENT, PROTECT

 

While SkyScoutAI’s system handles multiple variables, it can’t predict when a human being might  accidentally (or even deliberately) cause an ignition. Nor can it say when an electrical line might arc, or where lightning might strike. But because it can predict threat levels with a high degree of confidence, decision-makers have a tool that allows them to prepare resources. Thermal-equipped drones can make regular sorties in high-threat areas and provide an early warning system is there is an ignition. That data – the precise GPS coordinates – can be relayed in real-time to First Responder partners for a pinpoint response before the fire gets out of control.

It all sounds good – great, even – on paper. But it’s another thing to prove this system in the real world. That’s precisely what’s happening right now, with SkyScoutAI deployed in multiple locations in BC. There are also discussions with contacts in the US. Once the system has proven its worth, says Michal, the hope is for the company to quickly scale.

“We are fully ready as a technology. Now we are looking for institutional adoption and government procurements,” he says. “Those are processes we obviously don’t control. But we really hope that in two or three years we’ll be talking about SkyScoutAI as a tool known not only Canada-wide, but worldwide.”

Below: Michal Aibin speaks about SkyScoutAI on a recent edition of the SoundByte micro-podcast

 

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We’re big fans of SkyScoutAI – and not simply because we’re handling the drone and regulatory end of things. We’ve seen the utter devastation wildfires can cause too many times – to communities, to our forests, and to our environment and atmosphere itself. We also believe in the power of data, and the ability of SkyScoutAI to draw on multiple data points for continuous real-time threat-levels makes a lot of sense to us,

“Wildfires cause billions of dollars in damage annually, yet we’ve never had a reliable, data-driven way to predict threat levels,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece, who is also a Member of the Board of SkyScoutAI.

“This integrated system, which continuously evaluates multiple data points to produce reliable threat scores and confidence levels, will assist decision-makers in their allocation of resources to those areas most at risk with advance warning. Wildfires will continue to happen, but SkyScoutAI now provides an early warning system that should reduce their impact.”

Seeing is believing. We encourage you to check out their live dashboard, which includes live imagery and threat detection in multiple locations where it’s deployed, right here.

 

H2CanFly works to accelerate adoption of hydrogen as fuel

H2CanFly works to accelerate adoption of hydrogen as fuel

Apr 21, 2026 | Environment, Industry News, Innovation, National Research Council, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Picture a world where long-haul passenger jets are powered by liquid hydrogen – modified engines burning the gas the same way they used to combust Jet A fuel. There is zero CO2 produced. With the exception of some nitrogen oxides (due to higher combustion temperatures), the only exhaust is water vapour.  For an even cleaner, zero-emission process, imagine a short-haul hybrid turboprop using fuel cells to power batteries and electric motors. You could even use hydrogen to run a generator for hybrid propulsion of long-range drones or UGVs.

Providing the hydrogen is obtained in a sustainable way, such as using wind- or solar-powered electrolysis, this chemical element could be the path toward a net-zero emission future in not only the aviation sector, but many others as well.

That’s certainly the future H2CanFly, a non-profit national R&D and commercialisation initiative with some 45 partners in industry and academia, would like to see. Its vision? “Working together to build safe sustainable, and equitable aviation solutions for a cleaner world.”

Sounds ideal. But it’s not a simple or easy path, particularly when it comes to passenger-carrying aircraft.

“Aviation is the most challenging industry to de-carbonize, and sector growth is anticipated to out-pace typical incremental efficiency improvements. Clean sheet designs take time, and the technologies that enable these designs must be advanced now to achieve our net-zero objectives by 2050,” states the H2CanFly website.

We spoke in-depth with H2CanFly CEO Eric Lefebvre, and will extract some key nuggets from that conversation. But first, a brief video from H2CanFly partner Airbus that lays out in simplest terms how using green hydrogen for aircraft and vehicles might someday look (and note the blended-wing aircraft in the video).

Above: We have no plans to produce a hydrogen jet. But by the year 2050, the odds are good a blended wing like this could be in the skies – albeit with different livery.

THE HYDROGEN ADVANTAGE

 

Why use hydrogen rather than gasoline or jet fuel? The obvious answer is to reduce the carbon footprint of everything from drones to ground vehicles to large passenger aircraft. Lefebvre, and many others, believe hydrogen is the clear solution.

“Hydrogen has a bright future in terms of its scalability, cost factor, its energy density, its gravimetric density, and so forth,” he says. “There are a lot of key applications that will benefit from the use of hydrogen. But there needs to be work – and it needs to be concerted and organized in order to bring about the desired R&D outcomes.”

That’s where H2CanFly comes in. The not-for-profit organisation has several major OEM partners, including Airbus, Boeing, CAE, Ballard and more. There are multiple SMEs, including InDro Robotics onboard. Others from the aviation sector, such as Edmonton International Airport, the Ontario Aerospace Council, and the Canadian Airports Council are involved. Plus there are several partners in academia, including the University of Waterloo, Concordia University, UBC and more. With so many high-level, vested partners on board, there’s the potential for real momentum (you can find a partner list here).

In addition to being a voice of the industry, H2CanFly is very much involved with trying to shape the next steps of the hydrogen evolution in Canada. That means working directly with partners on real-world R&D projects, carrying out research at its newly announced ARCTIC (Aero Research & Clean Tech Innovation Centre) lab at Aéroports de Montréal’s YMX Innovation Centre, conversing frequently with regulators – and orchestrating multiple (and complementary) R&D efforts in a unified way to push the needle forward in Canada.

 

A CHALLENGING, BUT NECESSARY STEP

 

Integrating hydrogen as a combustible fuel on a long-range passenger aircraft is not an easy task. It would involve liquid hydrogen, which would have to be in cryogenic tanks (there’s also research underway into binding hydrogen atoms with another material to create solid hydrogen, but that’s a topic for another day).

Those cryogenic tanks are not practical for storage in the wings, so in most designs they either sit aft of passengers (which means reducing seats or extending the body), or in a newer design such as a blended-wing craft. Commuter aircraft and regional feeders would likely use fuel cells producing electricity to power electric motors. Most existing fuel cells aren’t suitable for long-range flight with larger aircraft due to their weight and power output limitations (though there are steady improvements).

But the push is on. And Canada’s National Research Council says H2CanFly is playing a critical role:

“Decarbonizing aviation is a critical component of Canada’s goal of meeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and making the sector more sustainable,” states the Council’s 2025-2026 Departmental Plan.

“The H2CanFly consortium is set to transform the aviation industry by fast-tracking the commercialization of hydrogen propulsion aircraft to reduce aviation’s climate impact and strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in the field. This partnership network, uniting key stakeholders from industry, academia and government, will build an inclusive and accessible national hydrogen flight research platform to achieve critical environmental and economic objectives for Canada.”

There are certainly hurdles ahead. It can take many years for new aircraft designs to be certified, and – for the aerospace industry – the bottom line is always important. The cost of sustainable, “green” hydrogen will have to come down (and the consensus is it will). There are also global and regional regulations/agreements requiring aviation carriers to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2050 – and hydrogen seems to be the solution of choice.

The two videos below both provide excellent overviews of what’s ahead, with the second being longer and more in-depth. If you’re pressed for time, check out the first one (though they’re truly both worth a watch).

INDRO’S TAKE

 

InDro Robotics has long supported a sustainable future, so the widespread possibilities offered by hydrogen are of great interest to us. In fact, we’re currently working on a project with partners that involves a proof-of-concept for delivering hydrogen fuel in the field to RPAS and uncrewed ground vehicles.

“With concerns over greenhouse gases and a changing global climate, now is definitely the time to be exploring renewable propulsion systems and infrastructure for the future,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We are pleased to be working with Eric Lefebrve and H2CanFLy on not only a sustainable future, but one where Canadian innovations in the hydrogen sector have an opportunity to be put to use globally.”

You can listen to our conversation with Eric, who appeared on a recent episode of our SoundByte micro-podcast, right here.

 

New NAV CANADA study projects massive growth in drone/AAM use

New NAV CANADA study projects massive growth in drone/AAM use

Apr 20, 2026 | Drone News, Industry News, NAV CANADA, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Those in the drone sector in Canada have seen incredible growth in recent years across multiple areas: Technology, use-cases, economic benefits and regulatory advancements. Many in the industry have long said ‘Drones are the future’ – or words to that effect.

Now, a new study commissioned by NAV CANADA backs up that belief with some astonishing projections. The report forecasts a growth in the number of drones in Canada from 24,000 in 2024 to 507,000 by 2045. And with those numbers come some impressive economic figures.

“The RPAS and AAM sectors contributed between $2.4 billion and $3.6 billion CAD to Canada’s GDP in 2024, supporting more than 30,000 jobs nationwide,” says a summary of the report’s highlights. “By 2045, that contribution is forecast to grow more than twentyfold, reaching over $69 billion CAD and creating more than 290,000 new jobs as demand accelerates for data processing, logistics, infrastructure inspection, and remote flight operations.”

That future will, of course, involve an increasing number of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights, as well as the certification and integration of new passenger-carrying Advanced Air Mobility vehicles. Orchestrating all of that new traffic in the skies will require a sophisticated solution for safely managing all this, and the report touches on that as well.

Director of RPAS Traffic Management at NAV CANADA Alan Chapman led the report, entitled: RPAS and Advanced Air Mobility Market Sizing and Economic Impact. He calls it “the most sophisticated forecasting analysis of its kind for the Canadian RPAS and AAM sector,” and is clearly pleased with the final product.

Here’s Alan’s post announcing the report (which gives a shoutout to InDro CEO Philip Reece, Regulatory and Training Specialist Kate Klassen, and Law Enforcement Division Consultant Brian Fentiman of BlueForce).

Above: A Beta Technologies eCTOL CX300 takes to the skies. AAM aircraft like this will play a role in Canada’s RPAS/AAM future

USE-CASE PROJECTIONS

 

As mentioned, all of this traffic will require a unified RTM system to safely ensure there’s no conflict between traditional aviation and the RPAS/AAM sectors – and also within the RPAS/AAM world itself. Because of the immense projected growth in flights, the report predicts that RTM system will be handling a lot of traffic.

“By the year 2045, the RPAS Traffic Management (RTM) system is projected to handle roughly 19 million operations, equating to more than 50,000 operations daily,” says the NAV CANADA summary page. “However, the study anticipates operations of more than 21 million drone and AAM flights by this time, requiring additional investment to increase the system to meet projected demands and seize the potential of this growing sector.”

By the year 2045, there will have been significant growth in the Advanced Air Mobility sector, meaning new and transformative sustainable aircraft that can carry passengers, transport people requiring medical care, and even deliver large cargo payloads to remote or isolated areas. The growth of AAM (along with more heavy-lift drones) points to new use-cases. Here’s how the report breaks down projected annual flights for 2045, which includes a massive growth in drone deliveries:

  • 4.9 million consumer goods delivery flights
  • 350,000 health-care deliveries, including prescriptions, blood, organs, pathology samples, and other medical supplies
  • 150,000 RPAS passenger transportation operations, including tourism, commute, and transporting patients
  • 15,000 RPAS First Responder/security flights, including emergency management and disaster management

“The scale of economic opportunity highlighted in this study confirms that Canada is entering a new era of aviation,” says Mark Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer at NAV CANADA. “To seize that potential, Canada’s key players need to be ready – by investing in the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships that will enable safe integration of new airspace users. Canada has a unique opportunity to lead globally, and the work starts now.”

 

COMPREHENSIVE

 

This study is the first of its kind by NAV CANADA, and the company clearly wanted to do things right. The report “draws on more than 3,000 verified data sources, reports, and market insights, making it the most comprehensive forecasting model ever produced for Canada’s RPAS and AAM industries,” states NAV CANADA. In addition, more than 40 subject matter experts were consulted, including experts in the aviation, technology and infrastructure sectors.

And while there will still be some recreational pilots, the overwhelming majority of flights will be commercial, creating not only jobs and other economic benefits, but also saving companies that adopt the technology money.

“Beyond recreational flying, 97 per cent of operations are expected to deliver measurable business value, improving efficiency and safety across sectors such as construction, energy and mining. In fact, the study shows that automated solutions can achieve cost savings of 50-70 per cent when implemented on-site,” says this summary.

The implications are huge – and there will be some challenges ahead. NAV CANADA says it’s already hard at work preparing for this evolution.

“Integrating millions of uncrewed and advanced air mobility flights will require resilient digital infrastructure, adaptive traffic-management frameworks, and tighter data exchange between operators, regulators and NAV CANADA,” said David Sheppard, Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer at NAV CANADA. “This study sets out the scale of that challenge and highlights the work now underway to ensure these technologies can be safely and efficiently integrated into Canadian airspace.”

Below: An InDro-built R&D drone operating on Robot Operating System 2. It’s popular with researchers building the next generation of drones and exploring new use-cases

InDro ROS drone

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We’re obviously excited about this new future, and have multiple projects underway to explore how best to safely integrate new use-cases and technology into the ever-evolving regulatory framework. These projects include a hydrogen-powered drone and infrastructure for refuelling in the field, as well as a broad partnership for long-range deliveries of critical supplies to remote and isolated First Nations communities. (There’s more, but we’ll just have to surprise you later on.)

“InDro Robotics was incorporated in 2014 because we could see the future potential of drones,” says Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We’re grateful to NAV CANADA and Alan Chapman for having the foresight to produce an evidence-based report; one which confirms our own convictions about the incredible potential of this industry. We look forward to this future, and have no doubt ground robotics will achieve similar growth.”

You can read the entire study right here.

NGen announces $79.5M to support 20 new AI projects in Canada – including InDro Robotics

NGen announces $79.5M to support 20 new AI projects in Canada – including InDro Robotics

Mar 31, 2026 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Industry News, NGen, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

New funding, totalling $79.5M, will help 20 Canadian companies – including InDro Robotics – advance their AI capabilities in order to be more globally competitive.

The money includes $50.3M in direct investment from industry partners and $29.2M in Federal funding from the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy – an initiative within the department of Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The announcement was made March 31, 2026 at Next Generation Manufacturing Canada‘s (NGen’s) N3 Summit in Toronto, a gathering featuring some of the country’s leaders in robotics, AI, automation, defence, quantum and more.

“This is not another year; 2026 is what the Prime Minister calls a hinge moment,” said Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation (and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), as he announced the funding.

“We are seeing the biggest realignment in history since the Second World War….at the same time there is a technological revolution. We need to seize this opportunity, or as the Prime Minister says: ‘If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu’…The strategy is led by our North Star, our foundational principle, which is AI for all,” he told those in attendance.

The funding will benefit 20 projects which, says the news release accompanying the announcement, “bring together manufacturers, technology firms, and researchers to solve production-level problems – from improving safety, quality control and output – while enhancing the commercialization of Canadian artificial intelligence.”

“These projects are about turning Canadian AI into Canadian productivity — keeping machines running longer, reducing waste, and preventing costly shutdowns,” said Jayson Myers, CEO of NGen. “Manufacturers are under intense pressure to control costs, build resilient supply chains, and compete globally. By putting Canadian AI directly onto factory floors, we’re helping manufacturers do that now, not years from now.”

It’s all part of the push toward Industry 4.0 and – in multiple sectors and use-cases – greater global economic opportunities for cutting-edge Canadian technology companies.

Above: Federal Minister Evan Solomon at the NGen N3 Summit. Below: The InDro Cortex – an AI brain-box that allows for teleoperation, advanced autonomy, and the seamless integration of ROS-2 compatible sensors on ground robots, humanoids, quadrupeds and drones. It’s also a popular platform for advanced R&D work. Second image: Luke Corbeth, InDro’s Head of R&D Sales at the N3 show

InDro Cortex Robot Developer Kit for Autonomous Robots and Drones
Luke Corbeth at the N3 Conference in Toronto

THE MONEY

 

Ottawa is adding $29.2M, and Minister Solomon – a former entrepreneur – made it clear that he and the Federal Government are fully committed to assisting Canadian companies in the AI space…and to retain that talent and capacity within Canada. 

“It is time to stop the pattern where Canadians plant the seed, we water it, we grow the plant, and someone else harvests it and takes away our headquarters, our IP and our best minds. That is coming to a stop,” he said to spontaneous applause.

“This is the age of the entrepreneur. The moment when the distance between idea and execution has never been shorter,” he said.

While NGen coordinated the projects and played a key role in securing the industry funding, it is not a government department or agency. Next Generation Manufacturing Canada is, according to the news release, “an independent, industry-led organization responsible for selecting, managing, and supporting projects that address real manufacturing challenges and deliver commercial results.”
 
 
 

THE FOCUS

 

The twenty projects selected focus on real-world industrial challenges, with the overall goal to boost commercial made-in-Canada AI solutions and boost the sector’s global competitiveness. The projects will support manufacturers across a broad swath of sectors, including defence and security technology, automotive, food production, life sciences, home building and advanced materials.

Specifically, according to the release, those challenges include:

  • AI-powered quality inspection and traceability systems
  • Smarter and more flexible robotics for manufacturing and construction
  • Digital twins to speed up production in life sciences
  • AI-enabled equipment that can adapt in real time to changing conditions
  • Advanced 3D inspection and automated testing tools

We don’t have the space to highlight all twenty projects, but we do want to give you a sense of the breadth of them. Martinrea Automotive Inc., along with partners Polyalgorithm Machine Learning (Poly ML), will be working on a Machine Health Monitoring System. It’s described as “AI that listens to machines before they fail, cutting downtime, reducing waste, and keeping Canadian automotive supply chains running strong.”

Electrophotonic-IC Inc., along with partner Dream Photonics will pursue AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing for the next generation of data centres, with the goal of “strengthening Canada’s position in advanced semiconductor technologies.”
 
And yes, InDro Robotics, along with partners the LFL Group (which owns leading furniture and appliance retailer Leon’s) and Owen and Company Holdings Inc. will be working on “AI-enabled perception that allows robots to understand the real world, pushing Canadian robotics toward smarter, more flexible manufacturing automation.” 
 
“NGen’s mission is to build world-leading manufacturing capabilities in Canada and take it to the world,” said Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair of advanced manufacturer Linamar. “NGen has been an enormously successful initiative. Today it’s such a powerful network, with more than 13,000 member companies across this country, including 10,000 Small and Medium Enterprises representing nearly 200,000 employees – and NGen is actively connecting them.”

Below: Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair of Linamar, who on the N3 main stage early at the show. She’s followed by Jayson Myers, NGen CEO

Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair, Linamar
Jayson Myers, NGen CEO

INDRO’S TAKE

 

The NGen announcement is yet another important and strategic move to bolster made-in-Canada innovations and prepare them for the global market. It’s also Federal recognition, via the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, of the role AI will play across a multitude of sectors going forward.

“InDro is pleased to be working with Owen and Company Holdings Inc. and LFL Group on this ambitious project,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We’re also proud to be amongst the twenty projects named and in the company of other innovative Canadian firms pushing the envelope on AI-enabled projects. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the team at NGen.”

Interested in future NGen funding programs? Keep an eye on their website.

InDro Controller, Cortex and VR Humanoid push the envelope

InDro Controller, Cortex and VR Humanoid push the envelope

Mar 26, 2026 | Humanoids, InDro Solutions, Scott Simmie, VR Humanoid

By Scott Simmie

 

We’ve all seen the videos on LinkedIn or elsewhere by now: A humanoid robot, doing incredible gymnastic feats. Or perhaps it’s toiling away in a factory, moving boxes from one location to another – maybe even tightening a bolt. They’re not AI videos – they (or at least most of them) are indeed real.

They leave an indelible impression – that a humanoid can simply be dropped into a complex environment and immediately get to work on its own. That day will undoubtedly come, but it’s at least several years down the road. And so while those videos are real, they’re not actually realistic. The actions these robots are carrying out represent countless hours of coding and simulation work for each and every specific task. Humanoids are definitely not “Plug And Play” – and won’t be for quite some time.

For InDro, that gap between existing capabilities and the demand for humanoids that can do more represented both a challenge, and an opportunity. What if, we thought, we could create a system where a human being could remotely control a humanoid with a highly intuitive interface? What’s more, what if we could use that system to easily train a humanoid to carry out those same tasks in the future completely on its own?

That’s precisely what we did. Using a combination of our InDro Cortex brain-box, our InDro Controller software interface, and a Virtual Reality headset and hand controllers (plus a lot of our own coding), we’ve developed a system that allows a humanoid to be fully operated by a human being who can see what the robot sees in 3D. This not only allows these modified humanoids to be put to use in an environment where you wouldn’t want to send people – but can be used to train the humanoid to carry out repeatable tasks autonomously in future.

We recently demonstrated these capabilities at the big Mobile World Congress in Spain. Ericsson invited us to display as a way to highlight the power that its private 5G networks enable. Below, Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth explains the basics.

INDRO’S VR HUMANOID

 

Trying to control a stock humanoid with a factory remote is usually a challenging and non-intuitive task. It can be cumbersome, frustrating work.

Now picture instead donning a 4K Virtual Reality headset and holding hand controllers. You can see what the robot is seeing. The arms follow where your arms move. The hands clasp when you want them to; the wrist articulates. And if you want even finer control over the hands, there’s another option we’ve programmed.

“We support hand tracking as well, so you could ditch the controllers and have the headset track your hand movements and finger positions themselves,” explains InDro’s Front End Developer, RJ Bundy. In other words, the headset’s camera translates your precise hand and finger movements directly into action on the humanoid. What’s more, you can monitor multiple data streams through the headset using Augmented Reality.

Already, we have clients putting these humanoids into hazardous environments.

“We’re seeing strong interest from places like nuclear sites, where you don’t necessarily want to send in a person. It’s a powerful tool for remote telepresence, allowing experts to step into wherever they need to be without actually having to physically be there.”

What’s more, the actions carried out by the human can be used to train the robot to carry out such tasks autonomously down the road.

“Every teleoperative movement can be recorded as motion data,” says Bundy. “We then use that data to train the robot so it learns context, balance – the nuances of real human motion. And then, over time, those recordings help accelerate our autonomy. It allows the robot to repeat tasks more independently without a human having to control it every time.”

The VR humanoid is an impressive step on the road to full autonomy. And it’s made possible by two other InDro innovations.

 

INDRO CORTEX, INDRO CONTROLLER

 

InDro is known for our custom robotic builds for industry, research, defence and more. Nearly every single robot (or drone) that leaves our manufacturing facility is outfitted with both InDro Cortex and InDro Controller. (The rare occasions when they’re not are when researchers want to test or build their own solutions.)

InDro Cortex is a very small, very powerful AI compute unit we integrate with the robot and its various sensors. It comes pre-loaded with InDro Controller software, which is our interface with the robot, allowing you to carry out everything from manually controlled missions through to fully autonomous missions, including Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) in unfamiliar environments. We have four tiers of Controller available, depending on use-cases. InDro Controller also enables ultra low-latency operations over 5G, meaning you can operate a robot or drone remotely anywhere there’s a cellular signal (or local WiFi network).

With powerful AI and Machine Vision capabilities, Cortex is the brain behind our devices, including the VR humanoid. With Controller onboard, you simply log in via an encrypted browser. Data from every sensor onboard is at your fingertips in the intuitive console. Want to program a robot for a regular surveillance or asset monitoring mission? It’s simple, including having the robot stop at particular points of interest to inspect gauges, measure temperatures, etc. Need to add an additional sensor? Cortex provides power distribution, sensor fusion, and can instantly detect and integrate any ROS 2-enabled sensor, saving countless hours of integration hassle for clients.

It’s the incredible power – and synergy – of Cortex and Controller that enable all of our powerful robots. And those two provided the foundation which enabled (with a lot of dedicated engineering) our new VR humanoid. It can be put to use immediately with intuitive manual control, learning the tasks it can one day carry out autonomously.

Below: InDro Cortex and InDro Controller also power our new surveillance and inspection quadruped, Prowler. It’s available as shown for $50k CAD and autonomously returns after missions to wirelessly recharge

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We received incredible feedback at the Mobile World Congress in Spain for our VR humanoid. Attendees instantly understood the ease of operation – and the gap this product fills as we advance toward completely independent, fully autonomous humanoids that will one day be working alongside humans in multiple settings.

“I’m extremely pleased with our Area X.O engineering team and the work it has accomplished in making this VR humanoid a reality,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We have already shipped to a client for hazardous environment operations, with other VR humanoids being integrated as we speak. It’s a great example not only of the power of Cortex and Controller – but also our ability to build upon these innovations in new and highly useful ways.”

How the National Research Council of Canada advances drone capabilities

How the National Research Council of Canada advances drone capabilities

Mar 20, 2026 | BVLOS, InDro News, National Research Council, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Canada’s drone industry, along with drone technology in general, have advanced immensely over the past decade, and at an even greater pace over the past few years.

But there are still some tricky areas, particularly as industry tries to take advantage of Transport Canada’s new regulations that permit routine, low-risk Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights. For example, what is an effective Detect and Avoid (DAA) system? How can AI be best put to use for identifying aspects of critical infrastructure that require maintenance? And how can long-range BVLOS flights best serve the needs of remote First Nations communities?

These are all questions worth asking. And, thankfully, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has been collaborating with academia, industry partners and First Nations communities in a coordinated effort to find solutions.

Above: An NRC image showing a drone on a BVLOS flight in BC as part of a research project. Below: A custom modified drone InDro piloted for NRC research on urban wind tunnels in Montreal. That wishbone device carries two separate, high-precision anemometers mounted at different angles to detect turbulence, eddies, wind shear etc. 

NRC Wind Tunnel Montreal Eric

MORE THAN DRONE SITE SELECTION

 

Pretty much everyone in the drone industry is familiar with the NRC’s Drone Site Selection Tool, or DSST. Available as a mobile app or via browser, the DSST allows operators to check airspace and determine permissible operations for all levels of drone operation (ie sub-250g, Basic, Advanced, and Level One Complex low-risk BVLOS). It shows restricted, controlled and safe flying areas for all categories at a glance, and even includes a measurement tool so you can be certain your operations meet Transport Canada requirements. (You can access the browser version of the DSST here.)

While the DSST is an indispensable tool for operators, the NRC is also involved with highly complex research. Back in 2019, it launched its Integrated Air Mobility Program – which collaborates with outside partners to develop new technologies that could benefit the industry while enhancing safe operations.

“The NRC works with industry, academia, and the public sector to develop critical and key technologies to strengthen Canada’s supply chain, develop new technology solutions, support the development of UAS regulations, and enrich our talent pool of highly skilled aerospace researchers.”

One example of that research was referenced in the photo above, where the NRC’s Integrated Air Mobility Program examined how urban wind tunnels can potentially impact RPAS operations. InDro captured real-world data from the air, which was compared with data produced by wind-tunnel testing of a scale model of downtown Montreal. We wrote about that research here (and if you want a really deep technical dive you can find the research paper here).

 

MUCH, MUCH MORE

 

Montreal is but one example. The NRC has been involved with multiple projects and has or is developing technologies including:

  • optical sensor Detect-and-Avoid systems
  • drone docking technologies for drone work that involves physical contact with an object during an aerial task (such as non-destructive testing)
  • the manufacturing of high-density, safe ceramic lithium batteries – ideal for low-emission hybrid-electric propulsion

 

Several of the NRC’s more recent projects (with academic and industry partners) involved developing and testing AI and Machine Vision software for detailed mapping and structural inspection, as well as a system that allows a drone to plan, execute and land its mission completely autonomously – perfect for routine deliveries.

“Researchers and engineers from Toronto Metropolitan University, led by Professor Farrokh Janabi‑Sharifi, teamed up with InDro Robotics and the Cowichan Tribes to create intelligent flight‑planning systems that allow drones to pick up and deliver packages safely,” writes the NRC.

“This project marks a significant milestone in advancing drone technologies. The collective expertise, dedication and innovation of all partners were instrumental in achieving the project objectives,” says Prof. Janabi-Sharifi.

Below: The team during a testing day in Cowichan, BC. InDro’s Training and Regulatory Specialist Kate Klassen appears second from left. NRC image

INDRO NRC

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We’re proud to work with NRC and its Integrated Aerial Mobility program, along with other partners. And we’re pleased the NRC feels this latest project was so successful:

“The results were promising,” says the NRC. “The systems proved they could help drones fly safely in remote environments, avoid obstacles, and land accurately. These advances in Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) technology could transform how Canada delivers goods and inspects infrastructure in hard‑to‑reach places.”

Part of that goal – specifically, safe and autonomous BVLOS deliveries – will help enable a long-term project involving InDro and multiple partners to deliver medical supplies to remote First Nations communities in northern British Columbia. Such NRC projects help lay the groundwork that ultimately benefits the industry as a whole.

“Projects like this show what’s possible when industry, academia, First Nation and research partners collaborate,” says Philip Reece, Founder and CEO of InDro Robotics. “By testing advanced technologies in real environments, we’re helping ensure these innovations serve Canadians in meaningful ways.”