Swedish drone company Everdrone has landed its first patent from the European Patent Office. The patent combines vision technology with drones to allow UAVs to fly “safely and accurately in low altitude airspace where obstacles such as buildings and vegetation are often present.”

The patent lays out a method of comparing camera data in order to automatically validate that the onboard sensors are working correctly – a process Everdrone officials say will make drone operations safer. Th company develops software and sensor technology for comprehensive autonomous drone operations.

“We’re thrilled about the approval of Everdrone’s first patent,” says Mats Sällström, CEO of Everdrone. “This patent demonstrates our commitment to safety and strengthens our position as a leader and innovator in the industry. This is one of several patents we’re working towards to continue driving our primary mission of saving lives.”

Last month, Everdrone announced the launch of a project to deliver automated external defibrillators to the scene of cardiac arrests in real-world emergencies. Initially launched as a pilot project in the Gothenburg region of Sweden, the initiative is expanding internationally thanks to an agreement with Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services. The project will continue to collaborate with the Centre for Resuscitation Science at Karolinska Institutet to promote medical research.

Last year, the startup created an advisory board with some heavy industry hitters – ex-AirMap CTO Daniel Alarcon-Rubio, former microdrones Sales and Marketing Manager Michael Thoss and Jeremy Wigmore, the former CEO of Aerialtronics.

The company’s test and development facilities are located at Säve Airport near Gothenburg. Everdrone focuses on civil applications for commercial drones, primarily for use within the healthcare and emergency response sector. Everdrone also actively works with regulatory issues associated with drones specializing in urban operations.

To date, the company has performed more than 13,000 autonomous flights in laboratory and outdoor settings, as well as more than 1.8 million simulated flights.