The “Nexus” system by Quantum Systems is designed to be flexible and modular, allowing it to be adapted to a wide range of deployment scenarios—whether aboard ships for maritime surveillance, at border posts for security purposes, or installed permanently in urban environments. Although the technology is currently in the final stages of development, market entry is already planned. According to spokesperson Claudia Steinhoff, the first pilot customers are expected to begin using the system later this year—with a version of Nexus capable of hosting up to three drones simultaneously.
Unmanned Vehicles with Drones
The range of possible applications is exceptionally broad. In military contexts, the system is used for reconnaissance and risk assessment in conflict zones. In acute danger situations, the robotic arm enables an unmanned vehicle to deploy a drone ahead of time to obtain an initial situational overview—before any personnel enter the area.
“This minimizes risks and improves protective measures for operational forces,” explains Steinhoff.
Drones from Quantum Systems are already in use in the war in Ukraine. Due to frequent GPS interference in the conflict zone, traditional drone navigation is often difficult or impossible. That’s why the system relies on artificial intelligence (AI): the drone compares the live camera feed with uploaded map data—much like a human would navigate using a paper map from a helicopter.
“This visual navigation capability is a key element in enabling GPS-independent operation,” says Steinhoff.
Disaster Relief
In addition to deployment in Ukraine, there are numerous civilian and governmental use cases. Police forces, fire departments, disaster relief agencies, and the Bavarian Red Cross already use Quantum Systems’ drones to rapidly assess major damage events. The drones were deployed during the earthquake in Turkey and the flood disaster in Germany’s Ahr Valley, among others. With the help of drones and previously collected map data, damaged or destroyed infrastructure such as bridges, roads, or paths could be located and assessed.
Drones are also used for flood prediction. In South Africa, for instance, simulations were run to predict the spread of water following a potential dam break. Such analyses enable the precise planning of evacuations and the timely implementation of protective measures.
Commercial Applications
The technology also has numerous applications in the commercial sector. Companies in construction and surveying use the drones to plan and document large-scale infrastructure projects—such as roads, bridges, railway systems, or major construction sites. In agriculture, drones support crop forecasting, fertilizer planning, and irrigation optimization. In open-pit mining—particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Australia—they are used for volume measurement, safety inspections, blast planning, and subsequent path assessments.
With the launch of the “Nexus” system, Quantum Systems expects to unlock many more applications for its drones. The company continues to communicate its milestones and technical innovations—among others—at XPONENTIAL Europe.
Author: Sonja Buske
