DIREC project

PERSIST: Autonomous Drones to protect Denmark’s Infrastructure

Project impact

High above Denmark’s power plants, autonomous drones equipped with advanced AI keep constant watch. They inspect biomass stockpiles, detect potential fires, and monitor the surrounding area.

This vision is becoming reality with PERSIST (Persistent Drone Operations at Critical Infrastructure) — a research project led by the University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University, drone and AI company Robotto, and energy providers HOFOR and Ørsted.

The project showcases how cutting-edge AI research can be transformed into practical solutions that protect people, the environment, and critical infrastructure — while reducing operating costs, enhancing safety, and strengthening a greener, more resilient energy supply.

PERSIST also reflects DIREC’s mission to bridge research, industry, and society. Here, advanced technology is translated into scalable solutions that make a real difference — precisely where society needs it most.

PROJECT DATA

Project name

PERSIST: Persistent Drone Operations at Critical Infrastructure

Project period

2025-2027

Funding

DKK 3,960,000

Scientific mission

The technology is based on edge AI, enabling drones to process data locally — rapidly and with high precision. Using computer vision, drones can measure biomass volumes and detect intrusions. Multi-drone algorithms coordinate tasks across fleets in real time, while language models allow missions to be directed with a simple prompt.

Through workshops, field trials, and co-design, researchers and industry partners share a common mission: to develop solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into daily operations.

Project Participants

	Anders Lyhne Christensen – Professor – University of Southern Denmark
	Timothy Robert Merritt – Associate Professor – Aalborg University
	Jens Kai Holm – Chief Specialist – Ørsted Bioenergy and Thermal Power A/S
	Kenneth Geipel – CEO – Robotto Co ApS
	Martin Skjold Lind Grøntved – Senior PM – HOFOR A/S

Partners

HOFOR sees persistent aerial monitoring as a natural extension of our strategy to leverage digital technologies for improving plant efficiency and operational resilience, in line with the EU directive on Critical Infrastructure Resilience. Participating in the PERSIST project directly supports our strategic goal of becoming a smarter, more sustainable utility operator.

Martin Skjold Lind Grøntved
Senior Project Manager
HOFOR

Robotto builds edge-AI drone systems for time-critical missions – search-and-rescue, wildlife protection, and security. PERSIST gives us a unique opportunity to push that technology from single flights to a fully autonomous, multi-drone service that can patrol biomass power plants around the clock. Working side-by-side with HOFOR, Ørsted, and academic experts allows us to refine on-board threat detection, object recognition, and automated task execution under real industrial constraints.

Kenneth Geipel
Chief Commercial Officer
Robotto Co ApS

Persistent aerial monitoring aligns with Ørsted’s strategy of utilizing digital technologies to improve plant efficiency, upholding our commitment to cybersecurity (e.g. N1S2), and positions the power plant to respond to threats to operational continuity as required by the EU directive on Critical lnfrastructure Resilience. Participating in PERSIST therefore accelerates our transition to a smarter, greener utility company and the lessons learned in this project can inform similar installations at our other sites.

Jens Kai Holm
Chief Specialist
Ørsted Bioenergy and Thermal Power A/S