Sphere Drones to aid NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Sphere Drones has been awarded a major tender to supply its HubX drone-in-a-box systems to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) under the NSW Government’s Natural Hazards Technology Program, enhancing the latter’s ability to manage natural hazards, preserve biodiversity and protect feral-free zones.

HubX provides a fully integrated, off-grid, turnkey solution designed for remote operations. Mounted on a 4WD-capable trailer, it is engineered for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations, enabling seamless drone deployments in rugged and remote areas.

Initial deployments of HubX will take place across key national park locations, including Yiraaldiya, Tugalong, Nattai, Yathong and Kosciuszko National Parks. These deployments will allow NPWS to monitor critical areas from a central control centre, with operational benefits including:

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

Alongside NPWS, Sphere Drones will closely collaborate with the Forestry Corporation of NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority to further extend the capabilities of the Natural Hazards Technology Program, ensuring that the HubX system is deployed effectively across various sectors. This holistic approach will enhance the overall impact on public safety and environmental protection.

“We’re proud to partner with NPWS to safeguard some of the most ecologically important regions in NSW,” said Sphere Drones CEO Paris Cockinos. “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.”

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 to further strengthen NPWS’s hazard management capabilities.