[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_text_separator title=”Transport UAV (Kargo UAV)” border=”no”][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”649″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Suddenly, drones to deliver have become a need instead of a stylistic exercise. The global COVID-19 pandemic has painfully demonstrated that delivering goods with automated systems is another way to maintain a safe social distance by keeping the flow of vital supplies for a population in a prolonged lockdown. Unfortunately, we won’t have traditional delivery drones until we can solve the problem of their safe use in crowded airspace. In other words, they will not be a reality until we are able to safely combine air traffic control with unmanned air traffic management (autonomous flight).
Thankfully, while most of us work from home, dedicated groups of people work to advance the cause of integrating manned and unmanned aircraft into controlled airspace.
The Federal Aviation Administration (in the US) announced two new participants in the Pilot Drone Traffic Management (UPP) program, a program that was established in April 2017 to identify an initial set of industry and FAA capabilities needed to support operations with low-altitude drones. Entities selected were Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York. These test site participants will take part in Phase 2 of the pilot program. UPP will help identify services, roles and responsibilities, information architecture, data exchange protocols, software functions, and performance requirements for managing low-flying drone operations without intervention by of air traffic control facilities.
As demand for unmanned aerial systems increases, the FAA, along with NASA and other industry partners, is developing a UAS Traffic Management Infrastructure (UAS) to meet these operations safely and efficiently with programs such as UPP.
At the same time, EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency, published an opinion outlining guidelines on the use and control of drones in an urban environment. The document aims to balance the desire to maximize the commercial and convenience benefits of drones against the need to ensure the safety and privacy of citizens and the potential environmental impact on cities across Europe.
The objective of the EASA Opinion is to create and harmonize the conditions necessary for manned and unmanned aircraft to operate safely in U-space airspace, to prevent aircraft collisions and mitigate air and ground risks. Therefore, the U space regulatory framework, supported by clear and simple rules, should allow for safe flight operations in all areas and for all types of unmanned operations.
The term “U space” has been adopted to describe unmanned air traffic management to ensure safe interaction with other entities using the same space in any location, not just in urban areas.
“We are already starting to see an increasing number of complex flights being undertaken by drones in various experiments around the world,” said Patrick Ky, executive director of EASA. “Furthermore, as everyone knows, many companies have the commercial ambition to use drones for deliveries or, looking further, to offer services such as air taxis. This opinion proposes a regulatory framework that will allow these services to coexist with all other activities in our urban environments. The goal is to ensure safe operations, while creating the basis for a competitive market for services in the U space and establishing an acceptable level of environmental protection, security and privacy for the public. “
These guidelines, presented to the European Commission as a basis for future legislation, establish the first bloc for the creation of the U space in Europe. The initial purpose is low-level airspace, densely populated urban airspace and locations close to the airport, without attempting to cover airspace in other areas. EASA plans to broaden the reach as the market develops and experience is gained.
As the world looks forward to the day when Amazon, UPS, FEDEX, DHL and others will be able to ship products in near real time i.e. same day of order via drone to avoid the spread of infectious diseases, it is good to know that entities around the world are actively working to make sure that day is as soon as possible and far too late to meet the pressing needs.
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