SPS Automation with Scott Spooner: Drone Innovation and Autonomous Flight
🎯 Summary
New Zealand Tech Podcast Summary: Bespoke Robotics and Autonomous Systems with Scott Spooner (SPS Automation)
This episode of the New Zealand Tech Podcast, hosted by Paul Spain, features an in-depth conversation with Scott Spooner, founder of SPS Automation, focusing on the development of bespoke, advanced drone and robotics technology, particularly for challenging environments in New Zealand.
1. Main Narrative Arc and Key Discussion Points
The discussion traces the evolution of SPS Automation, starting from its roots (which include the merger with Eronavax, where Spooner was previously Chief Engineer) to its current status as a specialist in novel aviation products. The central narrative revolves around solving complex, real-world problems—most notably invasive species control—using highly customized, modular autonomous systems. A significant portion is dedicated to the technical challenges of building large, hybrid-powered drones capable of complex operations like precision spraying and operating in swarms, all while navigating a flexible but complex regulatory landscape.
2. Major Topics, Themes, and Subject Areas Covered
- Bespoke Robotics and Drones: Development of custom Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) ranging from small, swarm-capable units to large, heavy-lift multirotors.
- Invasive Species Control: Application of drone technology for targeted herbicide application against wilding pines, a major environmental issue in New Zealand.
- Advanced Avionics and Modularity: Internal development of flight control systems, redundancy measures, and a modular design philosophy to reuse components across different platforms.
- Drone Light Shows and Swarm Technology: Development and deployment of technology enabling large-scale, coordinated drone displays.
- Power Systems: Utilization of hybrid propulsion (internal combustion engine driving an alternator for electric motors) for extended endurance on large aircraft.
- Regulatory Navigation: Working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CA) under Part 102 rules to gain approval for complex, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), tele-operated operations.
3. Technical Concepts, Methodologies, or Frameworks Discussed
- Dissimilar Redundancy: Implementing multiple, fundamentally different sensor systems (e.g., GPS and ground-beacon triangulation) for primary flight sensors to ensure safety if one technology fails.
- RTK GPS: Real-Time Kinematic GPS used for high-precision positioning, often dual-redundant in critical applications like drone shows.
- Hybrid Propulsion: Using an onboard generator (IC engine) to power electric propulsion, maximizing flight time over pure battery power.
- Tele-operation: Operating aircraft remotely from a central control center, allowing expert pilots to manage multiple drones simultaneously.
- Machine Vision/AI: Forward and downward-facing stereo cameras used for obstacle avoidance, plant recognition, and calculating targeted chemical dosages.
- SORA 2.5: Specific Operational Risk Assessment methodology adapted by the company to prove safety cases for novel, non-prescriptive operations to the CA.
4. Business Implications and Strategic Insights
SPS Automation operates on a dual business model: Contract R&D (acting as an R&D enabler for universities and other companies) and Internal Development (funded by private shareholders). This strategy allows them to offset the high cost of developing their proprietary aircraft (like the BFD series) while maintaining control over quality through in-house design and modular engineering. Their success in wilding pine spraying demonstrates a clear path to commercial viability in specialized agricultural and environmental services where traditional methods are inefficient or inaccessible.
5. Key Personalities and Thought Leaders Mentioned
- Scott Spooner: Founder of SPS Automation and former Chief Engineer at Eronavax.
- Paul Spain: Host of the New Zealand Tech Podcast.
- Isaac (from Drone Shows): Mentioned in context of swarm technology development, indicating collaboration or shared industry knowledge.
6. Predictions, Trends, or Future-Looking Statements
Spooner is focused on developing autonomous vehicles for jobs where human presence is undesirable or dangerous, specifically avoiding the immediate pursuit of personal air vehicles/air taxis. Future plans include:
- Developing the BFD Pro (a larger variant).
- Exploring 250 kg+ payload aircraft.
- Moving toward herbicide-free invasive plant control solutions.
- Creating a comprehensive ecosystem of autonomous vehicle technology for the betterment of New Zealand.
7. Practical Applications and Real-World Examples
The most compelling example was the wilding pine spraying trial in Central Otago. Using the smaller AC 16 drone, the team cleared 350-450 trees across 500 hectares in just 2.5 days, achieving a 100% kill rate even in windy conditions and inaccessible cliff faces. This validated the precision and effectiveness of their chemical application systems, countering industry skepticism about drone spraying efficacy.
8. Controversies, Challenges, or Problems Highlighted
- Technical Difficulty: Developing complex systems like dissimilar redundancy and advanced C2 links in-house is inherently stressful and technically demanding.
- Regulatory Ambiguity: While the New Zealand CA is flexible, the lack of prescriptive rules under Part 102 requires companies like SPS to invest heavily in developing and proving complex risk assessments (like adapting SORA 2.5) from scratch.
- Industry Misinformation: There is existing doubt within the industry regarding the reliability and effectiveness of drone spraying operations.
9. Solutions, Recommendations, or Actionable Advice Provided
- Embrace Modularity: Design systems so that components developed for one platform can be rolled
🏢 Companies Mentioned
đź’¬ Key Insights
"The flexibility in New Zealand—you say, 'I want to build a flying T-Rex with rockets, and it goes into space and changes color,' and you can do that if you can prove the safety case. The flexibility is very enabling in New Zealand, so it's a very powerful system."
"The 102 system, the Civil Aviation Rules Part 102 system, it's been hard but really good. We wanted to do some crazy stuff... But we sat down and worked out how to go through this. At the start, they didn't—we didn't have it written down, 'This is how to do it,' but we worked with them and actually came up with a pathway that allowed us to get to where we need to go."
"They use dual RTK GPS, so it runs two independent GPS systems which are RTK to give us heading. And we also have an internal secondary localization system that allows for redundancy if GPS—say, for example, all the satellites turn off, who knows?"
"The big game-changer for us is Starlink. We have a Starlink dish on board, which is able to beam all the data that aircraft is capturing directly out to anywhere in the country where you can actually operate this aircraft from a live video feed."
"We wanted to design it around tele-operation, which means the aircraft is out in the wilderness doing spray operations by itself, and instead of having a specialist pilot on site for one per aircraft, having a center where expert pilots can operate multiple drones simultaneously anywhere in the country."
"all of our bigger aircraft are hybrid, which means that they run—they have an onboard internal combustion engine coupled to an alternator that generates electricity to power a traditional electric propulsion system."