Pioneering work in a double pack: SpecDrone successfully completed

04.02.2026
Research

Between code and technology: Julian Bialas worked on the algorithms that enable the SpecDrone's precise pair flight.

The SpecDrone research project has resulted in a technological breakthrough for the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol: two precision-controlled drones measure methane in the air – flying in synchronized pairs for the first time. We spoke to data science expert Julian Bialas about the background to this project.

In 2025, an extraordinary research project came to an end at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol: Under the title SpecDrone, a drone system was developed that can detect methane in precise pair flight for the first time.

The project leader was Prof. (FH) PD Dr. Mario Döller, who coordinated the work at the university and was responsible for the collaboration with the partner institutions. Together with Virtual Vehicle, HiWitronics, and Twins, a technology was developed that could take environmental monitoring to a new level in the future.

The Origins

Methane is one of the main drivers of climate change – and its sources are often difficult to access or spread over large areas. This is exactly where the project comes in: two drones fly parallel to each other, one emitting a laser beam and the other receiving it. This creates a free measurement space between the two – a so-called open path. This means that the laser passes through nothing but the air itself. Anything in this path, such as methane, changes the light slightly.

This measurement method is part of spectroscopy, a technique that analyzes how a substance changes light. These tiny changes can be used to precisely determine the methane concentration over distances of up to 50 meters. Until now, this so-called open-path spectroscopy was mainly possible in stationary applications; now, for the first time, it has been made mobile and highly accurate.

THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES KUFSTEIN TYROL

Julian Bialas, MSc, was involved in the project as a research assistant in the field of Data Science & Intelligent Analytics at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol. His specialist areas of mathematics, data analysis, and control logic were particularly influential in the algorithmic and analytical work.

Together with his colleagues Simone Walch and Robert Kathrein, MSc, he developed the algorithms for coordinated pair flight. The team implemented the leader-follower concept, in which one drone sets the course and the second maintains its position precisely. “The biggest challenge was to compensate for latencies, vibrations, and external influences in such a way that the laser beam remains stable over many meters,” Bialas explains.

Integrating the developed algorithm into the existing hardware environment posed a particular challenge: it had to run on the same mini-computer as the gimbal control and other systems. Successful implementation was based on intensive coordination with the project partners and several test series, including at the university's airfield.

Moments of breakthrough

Integrating the submodules of all partners was a huge undertaking. On several occasions, errors had to be sought that only became apparent when the systems interacted – electromagnetic interference, firmware bugs, or faulty compass data. A particularly memorable moment for the team was when, during the second major test meeting, the entire pair flight functioned stably for the first time. “It was clear then that we had achieved something that was truly technically challenging,” says Bialas.

NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND INDUSTRY

The potential of this technology extends far beyond methane measurements: fire gas detection, pipeline inspections, industrial emissions monitoring, and forestry applications are all conceivable in the future. The mobility of drones allows large areas to be surveyed efficiently, safely, and without contact.

A RESEARCH PROJECT THAT CONNECTS

For Bialas, SpecDrone was a win not only technically, but also on a human level: “The collaboration with our partners was extremely professional. Everyone contributed their expertise - and in the end, we had a functioning overall system.” Once again, it was confirmed that the university offers ideal conditions with its own airfield, Maker Space, and active research community.