About Sentian Aerospace
Sentian Aerospace is an award-winning, fully fledged drone manufacturing company and airborne services provider. We design and build Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and we are focused on delivering high value data in the form of video and multispectral data to our customers through the use of our airborne platform.
Designed by Sentian Aerospace
Simplicity in its beauty and superiority in its performance
Built by Sentian Aerospace
Manufactured in South Africa to the highest standards
Operated by Sentian Aerospace
Delivering high quality and high value data seamlessly.
Our services
Offsite asset inspection
We are uniquely positioned to provide a robust site inspection and data collection service. We provide the following services:
- Inspection of assets in remote, hard-to-access and often dangerous areas.
- Accurate data and images
- Tracking progress of a project
- Maintenance reports of solar farms, Wind farms, Bridges, Oil rigs, Mariners
Designed from the inside out, the Sentian drone is meticulously sculpted to maximize range performance to reach those difficult, often dangerous places to reach in order to get you that valuable data.
Surveillance
Due to the long endurance and large speed range, the aircraft can remain airborne of up to 18 hours giving you the flexibility and time to keep an eye on those valuable natural assets. We provide:Wildlife tracking
- Wildlife tracking (Visual & radio tag)
- Anti-poaching
- Migration
- Border patrol
Fully licenced pilots
Out pilots hold multiple instrument-rated remote pilot licences
Accredited operations
We are fully and legally authorized to fly within certain airspaces to serve out customers .
Beyond reach
We can collect data over long distances using our platform
Stockpile/Mine inspection
The flexibility of the platform allows such to fly in mines (Open cast) and in industrial areas. As such we can deliver the following services:
- Aerial monitoring of amount of inventory and stocks
- Consumption rate and reserves
- Dam water levels
- Creating location and inventory plans at mines
- Management of pits and landfills
The aircraft
Sentian
Go the Distance
The drone was designed for long range and long endurance in order to have the necessary capability to reach beyond our customers needs. It features vertical take-off and landing capability like a helicopter, and then transitions to fixed wing mode for long endurance flight. It is modular in design for easy transportation and storage. It can fly slow for good data collection but can also fly extremely fast for delivery. It can even stop and hover in mid-air to aid in powerline inspection and search and rescue.
Multiple payloads
Apart from the primary flight control video camera, the aircraft can be fitted with :
- LIDAR Sensor
- High resolution video cameras
- Infrared FLIR thermal imaging cameras
- Extra fuel tanks for long endurance
- Sonar system for depth analysis
Autonomous ready
Full autonomous mission execution capability. A truly generation 7 drone.
Some specs
Wingspan 7m
Length 3.2m
Payload 15kg
Powerplant Hybrid electric
Type VTOL
Cruise speed 100km/hr
Max speed 260km/hr
Min. speed 0km/hr (hover)
Endurance 18 hours (Engine: Payload as fuel)
Endurance 2 hours (Full electric)
Range 800km radius
Meet the team
Sentian Aerospace was founded in 2015 as a drone manufacturing company. It was founded by a group of four friends who had the desire to do their part in improving the world. Their philosophy was and still is to provide a low cost aerospace platform that could be used for efficient data collection. This was the seed in the conception of Sentian aerospace. Our mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable and green, efficient collection of valuable data.
02
Aerospace engineers
02
Electrical & electronic engineers
03
Marketing consultants
Muzi Dube
Founder , CEO, Aeronautical engineer
Primary job function is to make high level company decisions, to manage the day to day running of the company and. Furthermore, Muzi’s duties include the design and continuous development of the aircraft frame/structure with the objective of optimizing performance. Performing the necessary aerodynamic calculations & simulations for ground, airborne and hovering modes. Static and dynamic stability analysis for hover and forward flight, cruise turn performance including power requirements. Design and development of rotor (VTOL) system and also the design for safety of the entire system.
Muzi Dube is a holder of a BSc Aeronautical engineering degree from the University of Witwatersrand.
Edmund Moyo
Founder , CFO, Electrical engineer
Primary job function is to provide high level financial decision making on the project and company as a whole. Furthermore, his responsibilities are to work in a team of Electrical & Electronic engineers to design and develop the entire wiring diagram of the UAV system, this includes the high-power loom and low power loom. Design and development of the UAV power plant system, lighting systems, lightning protection. Power generation, consumption & assisting in the design and development of power management software, emergency power generation and battery protection.
Edmund Nhlanhla Moyo holds an Electrical Engineering diploma from Vaal University. Edmund is currently pursuing a BTech Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Johannesburg
Ishmael Chiremba
Founder , CTO, Electrical & Electronic engineer
Primary job function is to project manage the entire project on a broader scale, to ensure that the project is flowing smoothly and to put measures in place to mitigate risks that may lead to project failure. Additionally, Ishmael’s tasks are to design and develop the entire wiring diagram of the UAV system, this includes the high-power loom and low power loom. Design and development of the UAV power plant system, lighting systems, lightning protection. Power generation, consumption & assisting in the design and development of power management software, emergency power generation and battery protection.
Ishmael Farai Chiremba is a holder of a BEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree from the University of Johannesburg. He is currently pursuing an MEng in Engineering Management .
Nigel Nkundhlande
Founder , CPO, Aeronautical engineer
Primary job function is to work in a team of aeronautical engineers to design and further develop the aircraft frame/structure with the objective of optimising performance. Performing the necessary aerodynamic calculations & simulations for ground, airborne and hovering modes. Static and dynamic stability analysis for hover and forward flight, cruise turn performance including power requirements. Design and development of rotor (VTOL) system and also the design for safety of the entire system. Additionally, Nigel will be responsible for the procurement of the necessary materials and components that are required in order to build the prototype. He will manage supplier liaison and will ensure that materials & components are delivered on time.
Nigel Nkundhlande holds a BSc Aeronautical degree from the University of Witwatersrand
Accolades
2019 Winner of AVI Awards
Sentian Aerospace is the honoured to receive the prestigious Avi Afrique Awards for innovation for 2019. The company won first and second place as the most innovative aerospace start-up for this year. The awards are a celebration of the work done by the team in developing and building the Sentian UAV platform.
“Our awards winners truly impressed us with their innovative and unique aviation concepts which speaks volumes of the sheer talent we have and also bodes well for future innovation and development,” says Thomas Kgokolo, interim CEO of ATNS.
As part of the 8th annual AVI AFRIQUE Innovation Summit, the AVI Awards seek to recognise those individuals who contribute to innovation and elevate the aviation industry through intelligent design of products and processes that enhance the capabilities of the aviation industry.
The AVI Awards creates a platform that collates great ideas and assists innovators in turning their innovations into commercially-viable products and services. We want to create a pipeline of relevant aviation-related innovation ideas, products and services that seek to address the challenges faced by the industry and also look at improving on existing aviation technologies, services and products.
The programme is run by Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) which provides air traffic control, radar and navigation services to the South African aviation industry.
2019 Runner-up: Aviation Innovation awards
Sentian Aerospace did it again! We were nominated for the South African Civil Aviation awards for 2019. The prestigious awards are an annual celebration of all the contributions made by players in the aerospace industry.
“Every time an aircraft takes off, the lives of the people on that flight are in the hands of aviation professionals. Their dedication to their work and to the people they serve on a daily basis does both the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the country proud.
This is the reason why the SACAA saw it fit to launch the Civil Aviation Industry Awards to acknowledge and celebrate this exemplary practice. Various individuals and organisations in the critical areas of aviation safety, security, transformation and innovation, among others are celebrated by the awards.” as presented by SACAA.
Sentian were nominated for the aviation innovation category where we were up against 9 other participants including airlines (including the national carrier), flight schools, innovators and even space-based businesses.
At a dinner held in late November 2019, the team was placed second out of the nine entries! We are very honoured to receive such a prestigious accolade. We are determined to continue working hard to bring as much innovation to the South African landscape and the world as a whole. We are grateful for the support from our industry partners and here`s to an even brighter future.
The vision
From inception, Sentian Aerospace has always been about giving our customers “an extended hand” by delivering a lower-cost aerial platform that can be used to collect useful data over long distances and extended periods of time in hard-to-reach, less accessible areas or even dangerous places. Beyond that, we will in the future deliver vital resources such as medicine, blood and first aid packages to areas with low access
Innovation
The company is championing the development of new technology and innovation right here in Africa. For instance, we developed a modern manufacturing process where we create molds using 3D printing and use those to produce our aircraft body panels through a carbon fiber composite lay up process. We also developed hybrid technology that allows for redundancy by giving the aircraft the ability to fly on just electricity from the battery or from the engine. We strive for efficiency!
Get in touch
Muzi Dube
- +2773 252 1112
- muzie@proceptworks.com
Edmund Moyo
- +2781 060 3752
- edmund@proceptworks.com
Ishmael F. Chiremba
- +2776 255 4449
- ishmael@proceptworks.com
Nigel Nkundhlande
- +2776 949 2989
- nigelnkundhlande@gmail.com