From prototype to a scalable UAV platform
Turning a breakthrough unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) concept into a commercial platform takes more than successful flight tests. It requires confidence that the technology can keep progressing – technically, operationally and commercially.
Limosaero, a Cambridge-based SME, is developing a solar-powered UAV capable of long-endurance flight, with applications including environmental monitoring, mapping and surveying. After successful flight testing of its prototype, the opportunity was clear, but so was the need for clarity on the right route to market and how the platform could scale with confidence.
How NCC helped – building confidence and momentum
Having supported Limosaero throughout its initial product development, including manufacture of the original composite airframe, NCC was well positioned to support the next phase of the programme.
NCC’s work enabled two key outcomes:
- Manufacturing assurance: using complete lay-up manuals and process documentation, NCC manufactured additional flight-critical composite components to the same standards as the original parts, supporting consistent performance and ongoing testing.
- Commercial clarity: NCC conducted a scaling study to analyse viable development pathways and routes to commercialisation, including whether Limosaero should progress as a UAV manufacturer or a service-based organisation, and the funding, technology and process implications of each route, considering the economies of scale at various levels of manufacturing output.
Impact – a clearer route to market
Using the outputs from the scaling study, Limosaero was able to determine a preferred route to commercial exploitation: offering a range of long-duration UAV surveying services.
Limosaero’s UAV has since undertaken capability demonstration flights including mapping and aerial survey work, and has completed an outdoor ammonia mapping demonstration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and a multispectral imagery survey of blue-green algae blooms in Lough Neagh.
Next steps
With a clear development plan for the UAV platform and a route to commercialisation in place, Limosaero has once again turned to NCC’s expertise to manufacture further optimised prototype parts and upskill their workforce through a collaborative development approach.
The bigger picture
A lot of tech ventures fail not because the technology doesn’t work, but because manufacturing isn’t repeatable or the commercial model isn’t grounded. Supporting UK innovators to bridge that gap, from prototype development to scalable operation, is where NCC adds value.
Get in touch with the team to find out more about the project or to learn more about how you can leverage NCC's expertise.