DummDumm Drones are Altering Water Monitoring

Clear water is without doubt one of the most valuable sources now we have; but, checking its high quality has at all times been a tough, costly, and generally hazardous process. In lots of international locations, the present methodology entails sending folks out on boats to gather samples manually after which transporting them again for testing. It’s sluggish, expensive, and in some circumstances dangerous — staff have drowned whereas making an attempt to take samples in rivers with sturdy 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 folks 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 outfitted with multispectral sensors that may detect anomalies. If one thing seems uncommon, they mechanically 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 progressive is not only using drones, however the way in which 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 might cowl areas that might in any other case require ships, gas, and doubtlessly a number of folks.

DummDumm’s service can cut back prices by as a lot as 65 p.c in comparison with these older strategies, with even better financial savings in massive international locations the place distances are lengthy or the place there are a number of testing websites. The system isn’t nearly price, although — it additionally reduces the dangers to staff and permits the gathering of higher information extra often.

The corporate’s enterprise mannequin combines {hardware} — the drones and their floor management system — with software program, provided as a subscription service. Prospects can obtain real-time monitoring, notifications, and professional evaluation, with service ranges tailor-made to their particular wants. Wanting 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 Okay-water and different public establishments. It signed an MoU in Thailand earlier this yr, and plans additional enlargement into Europe and past. In actual fact, 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 strategy seems to be each well timed and obligatory. By combining drone expertise, superior sensors, and cloud-based information providers, the corporate is exhibiting how the way forward for environmental monitoring would possibly take flight — actually.

Filed in Green. Learn extra about CES, CES 2026, Drones, Korea and Water.