Clear water is without doubt one of the most valuable sources we now have; but, checking its high quality has at all times been a tough, costly, and generally hazardous activity. In lots of nations, the present technique includes sending individuals out on boats to gather samples manually after which transporting them again for testing. It’s gradual, pricey, and in some instances dangerous — employees have drowned whereas making an attempt to take samples in rivers with robust currents or in areas that boats couldn’t attain.
DummDumm Inc., a younger Korean firm based in 2023, is tackling this drawback with drones. As an alternative of sending individuals into the water, their service makes use of specifically designed drones to gather water samples and measure high quality in real-time. The drones are geared up with multispectral sensors that may detect anomalies. If one thing seems uncommon, they routinely accumulate water from a exact depth — as much as 30 meters deep — with out mixing it with water from different layers (that’s essential). The samples, as much as 4 liters at a time, are flown again safely, and the outcomes are transmitted to a floor management system over 5G.
What makes this modern isn’t just using drones, however the best way DummDumm solved the technical challenges that defeated earlier makes an attempt. A water sampler is heavy, and carrying liters of liquid within the air is unstable. Their drones make the most of improved motors, a fastidiously balanced sampler design, and a buoy system that enhances the general course of, making it smoother and safer. With a flight time of about 90 minutes (45 minutes if carrying a full water load), the system is totally unmanned and may cowl areas that will in any other case require ships, gasoline, and probably a number of individuals.
DummDumm’s service can scale back prices by as a lot as 65 % in comparison with these older strategies, with even higher financial savings in giant nations the place distances are lengthy or the place there are a number of testing websites. The system isn’t nearly value, although — it additionally reduces the dangers to employees and allows the gathering of higher knowledge extra incessantly.
The corporate’s enterprise mannequin combines {hardware} — the drones and their floor management system — with software program, provided as a subscription service. Clients can obtain real-time monitoring, notifications, and skilled evaluation, with service ranges tailor-made to their particular wants. Trying forward, DummDumm plans to reinforce this platform with AI-powered insights and cloud-based collaboration.
DummDumm has already examined its drones in Korean rivers, dams, and lakes with the assist of Ok-water and different public establishments. It signed an MoU in Thailand earlier this yr, and plans additional growth into Europe and past. In truth, the corporate will make its worldwide debut at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the place it goals to place itself as a full-stack water high quality administration platform, not only a drone maker.
In a world the place local weather change, air pollution, and inhabitants development are placing extra stress on water sources, DummDumm’s method appears each well timed and needed. By combining drone know-how, superior sensors, and cloud-based knowledge providers, the corporate is exhibiting how the way forward for environmental monitoring would possibly take flight — actually.
Filed in . Learn extra about CES, CES 2026, Drones, Korea and Water.
Trending Merchandise
