Out of sight, but in control

Navigating the Future: Integrating BVLOS Drones into Mixed Airspace

Philip Hicks, partner at Campaign Catapult and Principal Consultant and Founder of Pravo Consulting reports on the latest milestones achieved by industry drone and sensor experts and academics in the pursuit of mixed use air space and safe operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Introduction

The realm of aviation is on the cusp of a transformation, driven by the integration of drones operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). This technological leap promises to revolutionise logistics, emergency response, and urban mobility. A key milestone in this journey is the culmination of the Project BLUEPRINT showcase presented at Cranfield University’s Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) on Tuesday 25 June. The presentations from project partners and demonstrations were introduced by strategic lead for Project BLUEPRINT James Dunthorne, CEO and co-founder of Neuron Innovations. This initiative, under the Innovate UK Future Flight Challenge, aims to develop open-source solutions for establishing drone zones in local areas, ensuring safe and efficient operations. This article explores global initiatives, technical advancements, and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of BVLOS drone use.

Project BLUEPRINT: Pioneering Innovation in the UK

Project BLUEPRINT, a two-year initiative, has been pivotal in advancing BVLOS drone operations in the UK. The project team successfully developed and integrated minimum viable products (MVPs), laying the groundwork for BVLOS solutions. A comprehensive sensor network was meticulously deployed, enhancing situational awareness and safety. Initial testing validated the system's functionality and performance, securing approval from the relevant authorities and demonstrating compliance with aviation standards.

Project Partners

The success of Project BLUEPRINT relies on the collective efforts of the following organisations:

·?????? Neuron Innovations (Project Lead)

·?????? Dronecloud

·?????? ANRA Technologies UK

·?????? Cranfield University

·?????? Cranfield Airport

·?????? Distributed Avionics

·?????? Ebeni

·?????? Future Aerial

·?????? Sky-Drones

·?????? University of Southampton

"Project BLUEPRINT was developed to show how ground-based surveillance networks and an open-architecture approach to UTM can enable BVLOS operations at scale. Our team has developed the necessary systems, integrated them, tested them, safety assessed them, and operated them in a live environment, allowing us to pull off a demonstration at this event that will hopefully give industry, government and regulators a clear vision for how the future of drone integration will come together. We'd like to thank everyone who has put in an extraordinary amount of effort to make this event so successful," said James Dunthorne, Strategic Lead for Project BLUEPRINT.

Key milestones:

·?????? MVPs Built and Integrated: The project team successfully developed and seamlessly integrated minimum viable products (MVPs), forming the bedrock of the BVLOS solution.

·?????? Sensor Network Installation and Modelling: A comprehensive sensor network was meticulously deployed and modelled, enhancing situational awareness and safety.

·?????? Initial Testing Completed: Rigorous testing validated system functionality and performance.

·?????? OSC (Operating Safety Case) Approval: The project secured approval from the relevant authorities, ensuring compliance with regulations.

·?????? TRA (Temporary Reserved Airspace) Application in Process: The team is part way through the process with the CAA to enable ADS-B mandated airspace to conduct routine operations.

"Project BLUEPRINT has been an excellent example of the system-wide, integrated and tech-led activities the Future Flight Challenge was seeking to solve as the biggest issue in Air Mobility, safe airspace management at volume. It is fabulous to see such an ambitious project from so many organisations complete a demonstration of the art of the possible paving the way for commercial scale-up," added Gary Cutts, Challenge Director - Future Flight, Innovate UK UKRI

Stakeholders including the general aviation industry, the drone industry organisation ARPAS-UK and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), were all represented at the update, that included live flight demos in four parts covering flight plan and amendments with ‘intruder entering a transponder mandatory zone (TMZ) without permission’. Scenarios included a range of aircraft including VTOL BVLOS UAS (real take off from Cranfield Airport), Fixed Wing BVLOS UAS (simulated) and VTOL VLOS UAS (simulated)

Previous BVLOS projects have primarily operated in temporary danger areas (TDA’s) which are temporary and isolated from other airspace users, limiting scalability. These operations have focused on technology demonstrations and trials without establishing a sustainable business model.

With the blueprint for BVLOS in large part developed, the project team is now focused on the next phase: Detect and Avoid (DAA) testing.

The DAA testing phase is critical for BVLOS operations, encompassing validation of sensor coverage using ADS-B equipped unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), simulation scenarios for pilot decision-making, rigorous command performance validation, feedback loop simulations, and comprehensive system integrity testing. This phase aims to ensure the overall system's reliability and calculate risk ratios accurately.

Collaboration has been a cornerstone of Project BLUEPRINT's success, next seps include working with Cranfield Airport and CAA to obtain TRA approval (by September 2024) and completion of assurance work in line with CAA's DAA policy concep. Engaging with the general aviation industry, ARPAS-UK and CAA, the project aligns BVLOS operations with existing aviation practices. Inevitably, policymakers and regulators need to key into trials such as BLUEPRINT, and this will include alignment with the CAA’s Airspace policy concept for BVLOS flying, (dubbed as a roadmap for the development and modernisation of UK airspace until 2040).

Graham Brown, Chair of ARPAS-UK summarised: "The path to fully integrated airspace is complex with many moving parts. This project is excellent progress towards that goal."

Global Initiatives in BVLOS Drone Use

North America: Amazon's Prime Air and FAA Regulations

Back in 2019, the University of Alaska’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program (UASIPP) conducted the first ever BVLOS operation without visual observers on a 3.87-mile mission to inspect the Trans-Alaska Pipeline infrastructure. In 2023, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorised Zipline International, Inc. to conduct commercial package deliveries using BVLOS in Salt Lake City and Bentonville, Arkansas, in a move that marked a significant step toward integrating drones into the US National Airspace System. Now, in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Amazon’s Prime Air program permission to conduct BVLOS flights, marking a significant step toward scaling drone delivery operations. Amazon's demonstrations, conducted under FAA supervision, showcased the drone's detect-and-avoid technology, paving the way for expanded operations. This year, Amazon will begin drone deliveries in College Station, Texas, with an ambitious goal to deliver 500 million packages annually by drone by the end of the decade.

Backed by legislators

The FAA's BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) plays a crucial role, bringing together stakeholders to develop recommendations for safe BVLOS operations, highlighting the importance of industry and regulatory collaboration in advancing drone technology. The FAA Reauthorization Act, passed by Congress in May 2024, mandates the development of a final rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights, a move set to catalyse industry growth. The FAA is directed to propose this rule within four months of the bill’s passage and finalize it within the subsequent 16 months. This development, according to Michael Robbins, CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) in a DroneLife article, will provide commercial drone operators with the certainty needed to significantly expand their businesses.

United Kingdom: Future of Flight Action Plan

The UK's Department for Transport (DfT) unveiled its Future of Flight action plan in March 2024, setting out a comprehensive roadmap for drones and novel electric aircraft. This plan envisions regular drone deliveries across the skies by 2027, the first piloted flying taxi flights by 2026, and routine services by 2028. Additionally, the plan includes using emergency service drones to enhance public safety and healthcare logistics, and the development of vertiports for electric aircraft and drones.

The Future of Flight action plan is expected to boost the UK economy by?￡45 billion by 2030, emphasising the UK's commitment to becoming a leader in aviation innovation. This initiative underscores the potential of drone technology to revolutionise transport, with measures to simplify drone applications and assessments, develop certification standards for vertiports, and engage communities to maximize economic and social benefits.

European Union: EASA's Research Agenda 2024

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published its Research Agenda 2024 in June 2024, focusing on critical areas for the UAS community. Key topics include studying mobile technology for safe and efficient detect-and-avoid capabilities, enhancing resilience in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems, and addressing the interaction between artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. This agenda aims to support future European research programmes, such as Horizon Europe, ensuring the UAS community benefits from cutting-edge technological advancements. Europe’s autonomous BVLOS drone market was valued at US$ 3,447.0 million in 2023 and is projected to surpass around US$ 14,828.8 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 17.6% during the forecast period of 2024–2032, according to Astute Analytica’s research.

Asia: Pioneering Efforts in China and Japan

China and Japan are making significant strides in BVLOS drone operations. In China, companies like JDI and Meituan are conducting extensive BVLOS drone delivery trials, supported by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). These efforts aim to integrate drones into urban airspace, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges.

The UAE Ministry of Economy announced last October, Meituan UAS, a China-based drone-facilitated food delivery business, will be the latest pioneering global tech company to join its NextGen FDI program. The entry of Meituan UAS to the UAE market will help accelerate the country’s ambitions to become a regional leader in autonomous delivery services. The nation already offers licenses for commercial Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drones, while the Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation, launched in 2021, is establishing the infrastructure to enable drone use for a wide range of commercial purposes.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) is actively promoting BVLOS operations through regulatory reforms and pilot projects. Initiatives include drone delivery services in rural areas and advanced urban mobility solutions, with companies like Rakuten and ANA Holdings leading the charge. In June 2023, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) granted Skydio an unprecedented, nationwide approval to remotely fly drones BVLOS. These projects are crucial for addressing the country’s demographic challenges and enhancing logistics efficiency.

Challenges and Scalability

One of the primary challenges for BVLOS drone operations is integrating them into mixed airspace without disrupting existing aviation activities. Projects like BLUEPRINT aim to overcome scalability limitations by fostering collaboration and establishing sustainable business models. Regulatory frameworks must evolve to address safety, security, and operational concerns while enabling innovation.

Watch this space!

The integration of BVLOS drone operations into mixed airspace represents a significant leap towards the future of aviation. Initiatives like Project BLUEPRINT, Amazon’s Prime Air, the UK's Future of Flight action plan, and advancements in Asia illustrate the collaborative effort needed to overcome technical, regulatory, and operational challenges. As these projects advance, they pave the way for safer, more efficient, and scalable drone operations worldwide, heralding a new era in aviation technology. The global landscape is set for drones to play an integral role in logistics, emergency response, and urban mobility, transforming how we live and work.