Focus on the Environment
On June 12, 2026, a workshop on “Sustainable Drone Flight” was held in Vienna—at the Berresgasse Campus —with a 4th-grade class from a middle school specializing in computer science.
Since April of this school year, the students have been studying new technologies in depth, particularly artificial intelligence and its potential applications in the environmental field. The project “Focus on the Environment” was implemented as part of an approved cooperation grant.
The workshop was conducted by B-NK GmbH in collaboration with Andreas Fürlinger, founder and CEO of Volare GmbH, a company active in drone development under the brand name Apeleon, who contributed his expertise in the field of drone technology. The focus was on how modern technologies, particularly drones and aerial image analysis, can be used in environmental research.
During the workshop, the students learned about different types of drones and discovered how drones fly, the technology behind them, and the role played by sensors and artificial intelligence. Using concrete examples, the workshop demonstrated how drones are used in environmental research today, for instance for the automated analysis of aerial imagery, for monitoring ecosystems, or for recording environmental changes.
After the theoretical portion, the students had the opportunity to get hands-on and conduct their first flight tests using small training drones. This allowed them to immediately apply and experiment with the technical fundamentals they had just learned.
The workshop generated a great deal of interest, and the students participated with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm. In addition to gaining fascinating insights into current technologies, they also got a sense of the potential significance of drones and artificial intelligence for research, environmental monitoring, and future career fields.
Photos: B-NK GmbH