Sphere Drones wins NSW government tender

Drone systems developer and manufacturer Sphere Drones has been awarded a major tender with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to supply its HubX drone-in-a-box systems under the NSW Government’s $1.89 million Natural Hazards Technology Program.

This comes shortly after Sphere Drones’ recent success with the Western Australian Police Force’s (WAPOL) Drones as First Responder (DFR) programme.

The HubX system is mounted on a 4WD-capable trailer and provides an integrated, off-grid, turn-key control system designed for remote drone operations.

HubX is engineered for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, enabling seamless drone deployments in rugged and remote areas.

Initial deployments will take place across key national park locations, including Yirraldiya Park, Tugalong, Nattai, Yathong, and Kosciuszko National Parks.

The CEO of Sphere Drones Paris Cockinos said: “HubX’s innovative technology will allow NPWS to deploy drones quickly in remote areas, boosting their capability to monitor high-risk zones, prevent bushfires, and conserve endangered wildlife.

“Following our success with WA Police, this win reinforces our commitment to providing practical, impactful solutions for public safety and environmental conservation across Australia.”

Sphere Drones has worked in close consultation with NPWS and Gareth Pickford, their Chief Remote Pilot (CRP), to fully understand the extent of their BVLOS approvals and applications.

The HubX system will offer NPWS several operational benefits, including:

• Faster response times to natural hazards like bushfires through real-time aerial monitoring from remote command centres
• Enhanced conservation efforts by equipping NPWS with advanced tools to help safeguard biodiversity
• And improved operational efficiency in remote and rugged areas, allowing NPWS to monitor vast landscapes with fewer resources.

The NSW Natural Hazards Technology Program runs from January 2024 to June 2025 and includes a 12-month pilot phase, during which HubX will be tested in real-world conditions.

Picture: Sphere Drones/HubX with drone