On August 21st, the Estonian Aviation Academy hosted a seminar featuring a presentation by Rainer Kivimäe on Metrosert’s Applied Research Centre and its impact on the UAV sector and entrepreneurial development. The seminar provided extensive insights into Metrosert’s business areas, including Metrology, Certification, and the Applied Research Center.

The Applied Research Center’s Drone Technology division presented its planned new three research teams:

1. Unmanned Aerial Systems: Focusing on comprehensive drone subsystems and types

2. Communications and Navigation: Exploring secure communications, navigation systems, sensors, and data solutions

3. Flight Physics: Investigating aerodynamics, materials, platform development, and propulsion systems

A significant portion of the presentation highlighted the center’s comprehensive new laboratory services, including indoor and outdoor facilities. These laboratories are projected to be available for customers from the fourth quarter of 2025. The indoor labs will offer testing for EMC, acoustics, climate, and various environmental factors, while the outdoor facilities will accommodate large-scale testing and real-world drone validation.

The seminar fostered insightful discussions on UAV use cases and the step-by-step development process from research and testing to industrialization. It emphasized the global UAV market’s growth potential and the critical role of applied research and rigorous testing in advancing drone technologies.

This event underscored the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and research institutions in driving innovation in the unmanned aviation sector.

Rainer Kivimäe, Head of Drone Technologies Unit, Applied Research Centre

Photo: Estonian Aviation Academy