FireDrone Secures €161K from Venture Kick for Heat-Resistant Drone Technology
Swiss startup FireDrone has received €161,000 (CHF 150,000) in funding from Venture Kick to advance its development of heat-resistant drone technology designed for extreme environments. The company aims to improve safety during emergency response and industrial inspections, helping protect people, infrastructure, and the environment.
Enhancing Safety in Critical Operations
Firefighters and industrial safety teams often face severe risks when working in high-temperature areas such as burning buildings or industrial furnaces. These hazards include toxic smoke, structural instability, and extreme heat, conditions in which typical drones fail to function and limit real-time situational awareness.
Technology and Capabilities
FireDrone, a spin-off from Empa, develops autonomous drones capable of operating at temperatures of about 200°C. Their technology employs advanced thermal insulation and active cooling systems that allow continuous operation in harsh conditions. These drones deliver real-time hazard detection and support safety measures, minimizing downtime and improving decision-making under pressure.
Target Markets and Applications
FireDrone focuses on two major application areas: high-temperature industrial inspections and public safety. The company’s initial target industries include cement, steel, aluminium, waste-to-energy, fertiliser, and glass production. Additionally, the drones are designed for use in first-responder scenarios where heat and smoke prevent traditional drones from being deployed effectively.
“Our mission is to enable safe and efficient operations where conventional systems fail,” the company stated.
Author’s Summary
FireDrone’s innovation brings new resilience to emergency and industrial operations, enabling drones to perform reliably in high-heat environments where safety and visibility are critical.