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F&Z Solutions has developed a custom environmental DNA (eDNA) pump in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA). Together with the autonomous drone Pamela, the solution will now be used in multiple research projects in Norway and abroad.

USV Pamela is a small and lightweight uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) developed by F&Z Solutions in Trondheim for environmental monitoring in lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. The platform enables the collection of high-resolution spatial data with great efficiency and minimal operational complexity.

Andrea Faltynkova, F&Z Solutions. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset, Fremtidens Industri

Pamela is already being used by NINA, which applies environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis to map biodiversity and monitor species of particular ecological and management interest.

"Living organisms constantly release traces of DNA into their surroundings—in the form of skin cells, hair, saliva, feces, and more. By collecting these traces, we can use DNA technology to determine which species are present in a given area, without needing to capture or observe them directly," explains Frode Fossøy, senior researcher at NINA.

eDNA has proven to be both more cost-effective and, in many cases, more accurate than traditional field-based monitoring methods.

Assembly of the Pamela drone at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – NINA. Photo: NINA

Autonomous DNA sampling

With the Pamela drone, NINA can now collect eDNA samples even more efficiently. The autonomous vehicle can cover large areas while simultaneously collecting plankton and filtering water using the newly developed pump from F&Z Solutions.

“These samples give us a far more representative picture of biodiversity in a lake or a marine harbor,” says Fossøy.

“In addition, the GPS-based autonomous navigation enables us to repeat the exact same transect later, which is essential when monitoring changes in biodiversity over time.”

DNA analysis of the plankton samples reveals which crustaceans are present in the water column, while the filtered samples can detect everything from fish to aquatic insects. This year, Pamela will be used in several monitoring projects, including studies on how hydropower production affects biodiversity in regulated reservoirs.

"The hydropower industry has shown great interest in eDNA, and with Pamela and the new pump, we now have a powerful tool to support that kind of ecological mapping.”

Senior researcher Frode Fossøy. Photo: NINA

EU-funded pilot project – and support from Testination

The new eDNA pump was developed in close collaboration between researchers at NINA and the team at F&Z Solutions. The pump is now part of a pilot series being deployed in the EU-funded research project PINKTrack, which aims to track the spread of invasive pink salmon in European waterways. Units are now being delivered to research partners in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, and Greenland.

The production of this pilot series is co-funded by Testination, a shared platform that brings together test infrastructure in the Trøndelag region. Testination helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop and validate new technology by providing access to facilities and expertise that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Testination is part of the Norwegian Katapult program, run through the DigiCat centre. It plays a key role in strengthening the maritime autonomy ecosystem in Norway. Key partners include NTNU, SINTEF, Maritime Robotics, OceanTech Innovation, Torghatten, and Boreal.

“Our collaboration with F&Z Solutions has been extremely fruitful. They took the challenge head-on and developed a product we are very happy with,” says Fossøy.

F&Z Solutions currently has the capacity to include 1–2 more projects in the pilot and welcomes inquiries from researchers with relevant field sampling campaigns.

The Pamela drone from F&Z Solutions. Photo: Lars Bugge Aarset/Ocean Autonomy Cluster

From Trondheimsfjorden to Europe

F&Z Solutions is a member of the Ocean Autonomy Cluster and an incubator company in FI Ocean Space Incubator, part of the ESA BIC (European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre) program.

“F&Z Solutions is a great example of how ESA BIC-supported technology can be applied in both space-related and Earth-based domains. Their ability to enter the European market with a solution developed in close collaboration with Norwegian researchers shows the strength of this type of partnership,” says Linda Hald, European Affairs Advisor for ESA BIC and Fremtidens Industri.

Senior researcher Frode Fossøy and chief engineer Rolf Sivertsgård from NINA testing Pamela drone in the harbor basin at Brattøra in Trondheim.

Want to learn more?

For questions contact:

Andrea Faltynkova, Co-founder & Environmental Scientist
F&Z Solutions
Phone: +47 967 06 776
andfalty@gmail.com
www.fzsolutions.no

Frode Fossøy, Senior Researcher
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – NINA
Phone: +47 996 92 303
frode.fossoy@nina.no
www.nina.no/NINAGEN