The last couple of years drones have been an interesting concept and a lot has been written about it. This year, Amazon has started testing Amazon Prime. Briefly explained, this is a new service that delivers goods to customers within half an hour, using drones that arrive at your doorstep.
Apart from the operational performances, the safety for the environment and citizens is an important factor that is part of the future of drones.
Last month, the first tests in Europe have started regarding the so-called, Unmanned Aerial System Traffic Management (UTM) at Twente Airport (Netherlands). These tests are initialised by Nokia, who wants to trial their UTM using real-life simulations and commercial demonstrations in relation to the use of drones in the vicinity of urban areas and manned aircrafts.
However, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the USA has started a long time ago (25 years) with setting up traffic management for UAS. In figure 1 different applications for UTM are visualised by NASA.
Figure 1 UTM applications (Source: NASA)
The following applications are visible in figure 1:
- Agricultural application
- Pictures
- Low altitude radar
- Search and rescue
- Rail surveillance
- Cargo delivery
In addition to the application, the functionalities of UTM are also described by the NASA, which is basically all focused on the safety of UAS in relation to the environment. However, the first is not focused on safety but on the architecture that is needed to make this technology possible in the world. This needed functionality covers the cloud-based architecture of the drones. The second needed functionality of a UTM system to support UAS operations are focused on the following systems:
- Airspace management and geo-fencing
- Weather and severe wind integration
- Predict and manage congestion
- Terrain and man-made objects database and avoidance system
- Maintain safe separation
- Allow only authenticated operation
In addition to the needed functionalities, different business models must be taken into consideration. The following are currently questioned:
- Single service provider as a government authority
- Single service provider as a non-government authority, but a non-profit organisation
- Connected and compatible UTM systems that are organised by regional/local government authorities
- Connected and compatible UTM systems that are organised by regional/local non-government authorities
In conclusion, drones have a future in our lives for different applications, such as cargo delivery and search applications. However, due to the low-altitude flying, there are numerous safety issues regarding the environment. Before the drones can be applied to a high extent and be of a part of our daily life, a cloud-based infrastructure must be in place that ensures that potential accidents are minimised.
References
www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/utm-factsheet-11-05-15.pdf
