Sentian aerospace

From here, we rise

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.

Sentian Cost
0%
Helicopter cost
0%
Distance to site [1000km]
Sentian Drone 85%
Typical helicopter 76%
fixed wing drones in the market 31%
Quadcopters 16%

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
Cost per hour
Sentian drone 26%
Small fixed wing aircraft 74%
Flight time [Endurance]
Sentian drone 72%
Small fixed wing aircraft 28%

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
Cost per hour
Sentian drone 15%
Helicopters 85%

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.

Aircraft design 95%
Structural & Composites 82%
Flight dynamics 80%
Marketing 65%

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

Electrical high power design 89%
Financials 83%
Marketing 78%
Flight dynamics 51%

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 .

Electronic circuit design 95%
Flight automation 85%
Project management 72%
Flight tests 61%

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

Aircraft design 90%
Aerodynamics 90%
Graphic design 75%
Marketing 55%

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
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