We flew a drone over Goodwood to see what your eyes can’t

Quantum dot technology

Quantum Solutions' technology is built on a physics principle called the quantum dot — a nanoscale semiconductor particle that emits light at a precise wavelength. Tune the dot and the wavelength, and it's effectively light on a dial.

That property makes quantum dots exceptionally good at picking up short-wave infrared, or SWIR — a slice of the spectrum that carries unusually rich information about water content, material composition and structural integrity.

SWIR is the band that tells you whether a leaf is thirsty, whether a solar panel is failing, or whether a hidden pipe is leaking through the soil above it.

Until recently, this was the preserve of expensive, slow-to-task satellites with limited resolution. Quantum Solutions manufactures its own quantum dots and integrates them into a standard commercial drone, resulting in imagery up to 1,000 times sharper.

The Eden Project, water sustainability, and a 25th birthday

The most visible application of the technology is unfolding 200 miles west of Goodwood. Quantum Solutions surveyed Cornwall’s Eden Project, helping the team understand whether its wide array of plants was getting the water they needed.

It is timely work. In February 2026, Eden welcomed its 25 millionth visitor in its 25^th anniversary year. Eden Project Morecambe is due to open in 2028, while a third site, Eden Project Scotland in Dundee, is also in development.

“Quantum Solutions carried out a short exploratory survey at the Eden Project to better understand how emerging technologies might help us monitor aspects of our site,” says a spokesperson for the Eden Project.

“While this was an early-stage, one-off exercise, it’s encouraging to see innovative approaches being developed that could support environmental understanding in the future.”

The expansion only sharpens the question the Eden Project has spent a quarter of a century asking: how do you keep a living, breathing collection of plants healthy without wasting water? Answers you can discover at FOS Future Lab presented by Randox in 2026.

The whole thing is tied tightly to the water sustainability story — the unromantic, planet-critical question of who gets the water and who doesn’t, unravelled thanks to data collected by Quantum Solutions.

The leaks under your feet

A sharper, less photogenic version of the same problem is running under most British streets. UK water companies lose well over a trillion litres of treated water each year to leaks, and a meaningful share of those leaks happen in places that are slow and expensive to find on foot.

Quantum Solutions is working with utility operators to explore how Q.FLY Water can support infrastructure and leak detection from the air. A drone passes over a route. The SWIR payload looks for the tell-tale signs of water surfacing where it shouldn’t be.

It is the same underlying capability that helps the Eden Project water its biomes and helps a Goodwood groundsman read a pitch, because once you can see the water, you can manage it.

Water way to have a good time

The Quantum Solutions stand at FOS Future Lab is designed to feel like a working lab with the quantum-dot science laid bare.

Live demos will let visitors watch a drone-mounted camera resolve moisture invisible to the naked eye, pick out hidden defects on a deliberately damaged solar panel and reveal an object lurking inside a glass tank full of smoke. The world-as-it-is on the left, the world-as-the-camera-sees-it on the right.

And on a touchscreen at the back of the stand will be Quantum Solutions' own portfolio of aerial scans — vineyards, golf courses, archaeological sites — to peel back layer by layer. Goodwood's own scan, of the cricket pitch and the 18th hole, will be among them. See it for yourself at Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard this July.

Randox is a global leader in diagnostics, revolutionising patient outcomes through innovative technologies, including its patented biochip technology. This pioneering diagnostic platform allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers from a single sample, delivering faster, more accurate, and comprehensive results. Operating in over 145 countries, Randox develops advanced laboratory instruments, high-quality reagents, and innovative testing solutions to improve global healthcare.

Randox Health brings this cutting-edge technology directly to individuals, offering bespoke, preventative health testing programs. With world-class laboratories and personalised health insights, Randox Health enables early detection of a wide range of conditions, helping individuals take control of their health.

Together, Randox and Randox Health are redefining diagnostics and preventative healthcare. For more information, visit www.randox.com and www.randoxhealth.com.

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