EuroDRONE, a European Unmanned Traffic Management Testbed for U-Space

Abstract

EuroDRONE is an Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) demonstration project, funded by the EU’s SESAR organization, and its aim is to test and validate key UTM technologies for Europe’s ‘U-Space’ UTM program. The EuroDRONE UTM architecture comprises cloud software (DroNav) and hardware (transponder) to be installed on drones. The proposed EuroDRONE system is a Highly Automated Air Traffic Management System for small UAVs operating at low altitudes. It is a sophisticated, self-learning system based on software and hardware elements, operating in a distributed computing environment, offering multiple levels of redundancy, fail-safe algorithms for conflict prevention/resolution and assets management. EuroDRONE focuses its work on functionalities which involve the use of new communication links, the use of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology to communicate information between drones and operators for safe and effective UTM functionality. Practical demonstrations that took place in Patras/Messolonghi in 2019 are presented and show the benefits and shortcomings of near-term UTM implementation in Europe.