Overview of U-Space.
Demonstration of Swiss-wide U-Space

«How to safely and efficiently integrate unmanned aircraft (UA) into the airspace?» Is a difficult question, which currently requires a comprehensive solution worldwide. In most cases, the answer is to translate the airspace into digital format, which involves the use of modern digital means of observation, communication and planning, as well as a high degree of situational awareness and modern data processing systems.

U1: covers electronic registration, identification and geofences.
U2: U-Space initial services for UA management, including flight planning and approval, tracking and interaction with traditional air traffic control authorities.
U3: Extended U-Space services supporting more complex operations in areas with high air traffic density.
U4: a full range of U-Space services, providing a high level of automation for both UAV and U-Space itself.

In early March of this year, Skyguide announced a partnership with AirMap to develop and deploy a national UAB movement control system in Switzerland. U-space provides the company with commercial services ( writes AirMap ).

The primary task will be the urgent transportation of medical laboratory samples and medicines between Tiefenau and Insel hospitals.

In this review, we want to draw attention to the U-Space event at the Drone Innovators Network event in Zurich , which took place on June 26, 2018, where the work of U-Space was demonstrated. Below is a video (English language), which is worth a look, because it contains a visual demonstration of the system:

— geodata analysis,
— movement tracking,
— planning management,
— aeronautical information management,
— air traffic information,
and so on.

— about the UAV in the air,
— about the restricted flight zones,
— about commercial aviation, etc.
Now in Europe, demonstrations of BVS integration are being held. This is largely due to the financing of the SESAR joint venture under the European Union program. The amount of funding is 9.5 million Euros (uasvision.com). The demonstrations are designed to show that Europe is on the path of implementing U-space, an initiative aimed at ensuring safe and reliable control of the UA movement.

Mobile operators Vodafone and Proximus are also involved in the implementation, as representatives of interested parties. Also involved in the work are research institutes and universities, UAV operators, service providers, airports, local/city authorities, law enforcement agencies and civil aviation authorities. Within 18 months, the SESAR Extended Stakeholder Group will hold demonstrations in several cities and rural areas of Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain — data from SESAR of October 19, 2018.

In Russia, U-Space has not yet been implemented. Firstly, there is a lack of a regulatory framework for this, which would regulate the use of UA. Secondly, the necessary observation fields and the corresponding ground infrastructure have not yet been created. However, at present, developments in this area are already underway, and there are certain results. Of the recent events, an event under the auspices of the union of aircraft manufacturers of Russia at the Orlovka airfield near Moscow, where a system of preventing conflicts between civil aircraft and UAVs was demonstrated, can be distinguished.

The United States is no exception, here a similar activity is also underway. The FAA has established seven test sites for the study of flight control of BWS and hired Intel Director General Brian Krzanic to lead the BVS Advisory Committee.

NASA — is the lead contractor for the project of integrating UAV into US national airspace. It is also worth highlighting the project of urban air mobility UAM (Urban Air Mobility). NASA also notes that in addition to technical and regulatory aspects, it is important to strengthen public confidence in such decisions throughout the community.

The Nevada Autonomous Systems Institute will participate in an assessment of the level of technical capabilities and will test various motion control systems in flights at altitudes up to 1200 feet. Other test sites throughout the country will operate in a similar way, conducting their own tests.

In the process of developing UAVs, they should independently navigate in the airspace akin to how people do it when moving around the city.

— emphasizes Richard Pat Anderson, director of the Flight Research Center at the University of Aviation. Embry-Riddle. America ruins the skies / wired.com / 05.2017

The civilian drone industry in China is growing rapidly. In 2018, more than 100 Chinese companies took part in the exhibition in Shenzhen (xinhuanet.com). BWS giant XAIRCRAFT used for agriculture, fully autonomous and able to work at night and in bad weather conditions.

In terms of airspace management, China has not yet published a specific concept for integrating UA in a single airspace, however, the media reported that the authorities are studying this issue. Given the fact that China is actively exploiting BVS, this initiative should not take long to wait.