# Bonus Episode: Drones in Challenging Environments (ERF 2026)

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-08-13
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026

## Summary

Claire Asher interviews Radika (Arya Advanced Research and Invention Agency), Francisco Perez (Aerospace Research Center, Spain), Karolina Johannesen (Oslo University Hospital), and Adam Norton (New England Robotics Validation Experimentation Center) about drones in challenging environments at the European Robotics Forum. They discuss specific applications including organ transport by APN, tunnel inspection by Francisco's team, and regulatory hurdles for healthcare drones. The conversation highlights cross-sector learning, the technical difficulties of GPS-denied and toxic environments, and the need for standardized measurement and testing protocols.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026#t=7) Introduction: Workshop Motivation and Cross-Sector Learning
- [2:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026#t=140) Radika: Bridging Healthcare, Nuclear, and Inspection Sectors
- [5:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026#t=353) Francisco Perez: Tunnel Inspection in Toxic and GPS-Denied Environments
- [8:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026#t=518) Karolina Johannesen: Healthcare Time Gains and Regulatory Challenges
- [12:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-drones-in-challenging-environments-erf-2026#t=737) Adam Norton: Deformable Objects and Standardization Needs

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Arya Advanced Research and Invention Agency (company)
- Equinor (company)
- SINTEF (company)
- University of Oslo (company)
- APN (company)
- Aerospace Research Center (company)
- Oslo University Hospital (company)
- New England Robotics Validation Experimentation Center (company)
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (company)
- ASTM International (company)
- euRobotics (company)
- Zipline (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#006 - How a drone company overcame the limitations of indoor applications for restaurants, warehouses, with Junyang Woon of Infinium Robotics, Singapore](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2016-12-28-006-how-a-drone-company-overcame-the-limitations-of-indoor-applications-for-rest) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [52. Drones to Explore Space and Save Lives on Earth](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-01-11-52-drones-to-explore-space-and-save-lives-on-earth) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [FAA’s landmark approval for American Robotics & its impact on drones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-01-22-faas-landmark-approval-for-american-robotics-its-impact-on-drones) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Robotics investment trends with Oliver Mitchell; are Amazon drone deliveries coming?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-02-robotics-investment-trends-with-oliver-mitchell-are-amazon-drone-deliveries-comi) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Amazon’s security drone, life-size Gundam & robotic-assisted surgery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-30-amazons-security-drone-life-size-gundam-robotic-assisted-surgery) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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