Welcome to my portfolio
Under the name BEAran I design, develop and build (prototypes of) unique high-tech systems, specifically mobile nest monitoring solutions and autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS), the latter often referred to by the term drones (nowadays a widespread misused catch-all term). These systems are specified specifically for either (Combat) search and rescue (CSAR/SAR) or wildlife research and conservation purposes. I team up with a multitude of partners, in both domains, to optimize my designs and use the systems as part of integral approaches to help solve some of the greatest challenges we are currently facing in those domains. Additionally, as a personal challenge, I perform fundamental research to help understand bird flight better, a science we humans still don't fully understand. For this I develop biorobotic birds.
A lifelong scholar of both technology and biomechanics with an extensive interest in biota (e.g. flora and fauna) I combine several engineering disciplines with that of biomimetics to design and develop these systems.
With my systems, I was one of the pioneers for both autonomous UAS (started in 2007) and remote mobile nest monitoring systems (started in 2008). This means that no commercial solutions were readily available during both pioneering eras. Design, development and build all evolved to full solutions from scratch for mechanics, aerodynamics, software and electronics (including avionics).
A booming UAS/drone industry has bloomed since those pioneering days, with some very professional and capable systems on the market. Nonetheless, BEAran UAS are still unique. Especially the autonomous biorobotic birds, due to the unmatched combination of efficiency ratios, all-weather capability and perfect fauna-mimicking properties which maximizes research/conservation opportunities while ensuring the subjects are not being disturbed.
As for the mobile nest monitoring mast systems, no matching (commercially available) alternative is readily available. With the NM³ I introduced an open-source solution for the (wildlife research and conservation) community. While the newest BEAran NM⁴ is the most capable solution currently available, why this is the case can be found here.
Operation of these systems is often in the hands of capable partners but I also like to do some of the fieldwork myself. Considering it a privilege.





