Having precise and immediate information on plant health is crucial for planning targeted and effective interventions aimed at optimizing the distribution of water and plant protection products, thereby reducing costs, safeguarding crops, and increasing productivity.

In situations such as critical weather events, drone-based analysis may also represent the most immediate and effective solution for obtaining an accurate overview and assessing the most appropriate actions to implement.

In the case presented, multispectral data acquired using the MicaSense Altum-PT sensor mounted on the MAVtech RX3 UAV platform were processed to monitor a traditionally trained trellised vineyard.

High-resolution multispectral and thermal images, subsequently processed through a Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetric workflow, enabled the generation of a georeferenced orthomosaic, a digital elevation model (DEM), a dense point cloud, and a 3D vineyard model—essential tools for morphological and vegetative analysis of the crop.

Specific vegetation analysis algorithms were then applied to calculate the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and the MCARI/OSAVI indices, useful for assessing the physiological state of vegetation, vegetative vigor, and chlorophyll response.

By comparing the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and the NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge Index), differences in sensitivity in estimating vineyard vegetative status were highlighted. In particular, NDRE is more effective in analyzing crops with high leaf density, proving more sensitive to variations in chlorophyll content during the later stages of the vegetative cycle compared to the traditional NDVI.

In robotics and drone applications, Vicon’s ultra-precise indoor localization system is the preferred solution when control and navigation algorithms must be validated with extreme accuracy, including swarm configurations, as it can simultaneously track the position of multiple drones and robots.

In collaboration with GPEM, a distributor and technology integrator of Vicon systems in Italy for more than 10 years, MAVTech has developed solutions enabling its drones to use positioning data provided by the system either through a direct local network connection (without the need for onboard processing) or through computations performed directly onboard the drone.

The solution, successfully tested and deployed at the “Futura Innovation Lab” of TXT Group, makes it possible to easily operate multiple drones simultaneously in indoor environments, providing an effective interface for developers working on navigation algorithms, autonomous flight, multi-drone systems, and UAV cooperation.

We are also working together on further developments to improve the integration between our drones and the Vicon system, with the goal of making the user experience increasingly simple, intuitive, and effective.

We are proud to have launched this collaboration between MAVTech and GPEM, aimed at providing advanced solutions for universities and public and private research institutions, thereby contributing to technological development in the drone industry.

MAVTech systems, designed and manufactured in Italy, integrate hardware, software, and communication platforms to support efficient operations in inspection, monitoring, surveying, search and rescue activities. The article also highlights new developments currently underway, including VTOL platforms, advanced swarm-based systems and AI algorithms, indoor drones for confined environments without GPS, and collaborative solutions between our drones and the rover systems of partner Info Solution, aimed at continuous monitoring and safety in complex industrial environments such as those in the Oil & Gas sector.

Founded as a spin-off of the Politecnico di Torino, MAVTech continues to develop innovative solutions, transferring research know-how to the market, with applications increasingly focused on safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

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Key points

The event confirmed that the technology developed within START2 is not only technically sound, but also operationally relevant. The significant results achieved by all partners strengthened our confidence in the real-world applicability of the living lab approach — particularly in mountain rescue and emergency response scenarios.

For MAVTech, the most meaningful outcome was the positive feedback on our tethered drone use case, which enabled the restoration of TETRA radio coverage in a signal-deprived canyon during the Pilot Day 2025 at the Serrai di Sottoguda.

Results achieved

MAVTech presented the results of eight development streams carried out within START2: the evolution of the Q4X drone platform (increased endurance, RTK precision, and progress toward EASA C3/C5 certification), the new compact multi-mission RX3 drone (EASA C2 certification pathway), integrated tethered drone solutions for long-endurance operations, wildfire detection systems using drone-mounted sensors, a preliminary vertiport design for rapid emergency response, the VTOL Lifeseeker for long-range search-and-rescue missions, and an automated mission planning tool for hiking trail operations.

The exchange with rescue professionals, institutional partners, and other technology developers confirmed a shared vision regarding the integration of UAVs into emergency operations in alpine environments.

Throughout the project, MAVTech was proud to share updates, results, and insights via digital channels such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, reaching both its professional network and a wider audience interested in drone technology and civil protection.

In addition, participation in Civil Protect 2025 and REAS 2025, due tra le più importanti fiere in Italia dedicate alla protezione civile e al soccorso d’emergenza, ha permesso a MAVTech di presentare e promuovere i risultati del progetto START2 tra le comunità di utenti finali più rilevanti.

Equipped with a LiDAR sensor and an RGB camera mounted on a steerable gimbal, the MAVtech UAV Q4X flight platform reconstructed the three-dimensional structure of the infrastructure with very high precision, also demonstrating excellent position-holding performance while hovering, despite wind gusts of up to 5 m/s.

The test was planned in compliance with safety requirements and current regulations and took place in two separate locations in the municipality of Gargazzone.

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MAVTech will develop an innovative solution of autonomous drones capable of operating in complex and confined environments, such as chemical plants, tunnels, penstocks, and geological sites, where the GNSS signal is absent or degraded. These contexts represent a challenge for conventional drones due to narrow spaces, unknown obstacles, and variable lighting conditions.

The project aims to create a fully autonomous UAV, capable of localizing itself, mapping the environment, and avoiding obstacles in real time, providing precise and safe data for industrial surveying missions, infrastructure monitoring, and Search & Rescue.

Thanks to its consolidated experience in the design and integration of autonomous systems, MAVTech will develop lightweight sensors, software optimized for onboard processing, and interchangeable payloads, ensuring precision, reliability, and versatility.

MAVTech drones will operate in extremely challenging environments, from underground tunnels to complex industrial plants, and will be used for monitoring missions, structural surveying, and safety, thanks to sophisticated Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO), Lidar Inertial Odometry (LIO), SLAM, and obstacle avoidance algorithms developed in-house.

The project represents a fundamental step to strengthen MAVTech’s position in the autonomous systems sector for monitoring, maintenance, and safety in high-risk environments.

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For this activity, our Q4X drone was prepared and equipped with an ARTVA device (Avalanche Victim Search Device) integrated on an extendable arm. The objective of the test was to verify the system’s functionality under real conditions. The activities carried out provided significant technical insights, allowing us to proceed with the next development steps.

In the upcoming phases, further field tests will be conducted and the system will be progressively optimized, with the aim of making it increasingly effective in supporting search and rescue operations in mountain environments.

Developed in collaboration with Eurac Research, the PARSIVAL project is funded by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and the European Union under the FESR 2021–2027 program.

The project is structured into several phases, with initial laboratory tests followed by trials in real operational environments. In both scenarios, fleets of drones will be deployed, with one drone dedicated to inspection tasks and multiple support drones providing precise positioning through Ultra Wide Band (UWB) radio technology. The number of support drones will be progressively reduced from an initial 4 to 3 and then 2, in order to evaluate and compare the performance of different configurations and identify the optimal solution.
In addition to the hardware and software development of the drones, MAVTech will contribute to the market analysis for this application, with the aim of defining a viable operational solution for infrastructure inspection.

MAVTech is proud to take part in such a significant project, alongside important partners such as TXT e-solutions (Lead Partner), Fondazione LINKS, Inspection Drone, and the City of Turin, with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) programme.

For a complete overview of the project, we report here an excerpt from the Dire.it – TG Hi-Tech, available in full at the following link: Friday, December 5, 2025 edition.

The Piedmont Aerospace District is a non-profit association that brings together the scientific, technological and industrial excellence of the Piedmont aerospace ecosystem. Established in 2019 as an evolution of the Piedmont Aerospace District Committee, which had been active since 2015, DAP aims to strengthen and enhance the regional aerospace supply chain by fostering collaboration among companies, research institutions, public bodies and industry associations.

MAVTech’s entry into the District represents a significant step in the company’s growth path, enabling it to actively contribute to a highly qualified ecosystem focused on technological innovation, applied research and the development of new professional skills.

DAP brings together a structured and representative network covering the entire aerospace sector. It includes 6 public bodies: the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City of Turin, the City of Turin, Finpiemonte, the Turin Chamber of Commerce and Finpiemonte Partecipazioni. In the field of research and education, the District involves 7 leading institutions, including the Politecnico di Torino and the University of Turin. The network is completed by 5 key industry players, including Leonardo, 2 industry associations and 114 companies operating in the aeronautical and space sectors.

The activities of the Piedmont Aerospace District focus on several strategic objectives: strengthening the regional aerospace supply chain, fostering innovation and enhancing the value of the network among stakeholders, addressing the need for training and new professional profiles, identifying funding opportunities at national and European level, and intensifying communication activities.

Within this context, MAVTech will be able to contribute its technological and operational expertise, supporting the development of collaborative projects and innovation across the supply chain.
Membership in DAP also strengthens MAVTech’s positioning within the Italian aerospace landscape, opening up new opportunities for collaboration with industrial partners, research institutions and public bodies, in line with the company’s vision of combining technological innovation, practical applications and positive territorial impact.

Within the FC4DRONES project, MAVTech designed and built a multirotor drone, while the project leader Dumarey Group handled the integration of the new hydrogen-powered system. The complete system was then jointly tested in an operational environment.

Thanks to this project, it was possible to:

• Double the flight time compared to battery-powered systems alone;
• Reduce refueling times compared to traditional recharging;
• Develop reliable digital twins of both the drone and the power system;
• Create a control unit for managing power distribution between the fuel cell and the battery.

The project was carried out in collaboration with Dumarey and funded by the NODES program, as part of the PNRR – Italia Domani initiative, with the support of the European Commission – NextGenerationEU.

A concrete step toward drones that are more efficient, sustainable, and ready for real-world commercial and industrial applications.