Dro­lo Pro­ject for Dro­ne Use in Lower Airs­pace

Unman­ned avia­tion is now real­ly taking off. The elect­ric-powe­red and local­ly emis­sion-free flying devices known as dro­nes are coming under the mag­ni­fying glass of both com­pa­nies and researc­hers.

In order to ensu­re efficient, safe and pro­fes­sio­nal ope­ra­tions, seve­ral major chal­len­ges need to be addres­sed. The­se inclu­de, for example, air navi­ga­tion ser­vices for low-level airs­pace, cont­rol of flights when out of visual line of sight, and the pos­si­bi­li­ty of per­for­ming seve­ral tasks with a single flight. The­se and many other chal­len­ges are being tackled by the Dro­lo pro­ject, which pro­mi­ses to be an under­ta­king of inter­na­tio­nal sig­ni­ficance.

The Dro­lo pro­ject will exa­mi­ne, deve­lop and pilot solu­tions for traf­fic mana­ge­ment in lower airs­pace, 5G con­nec­tions and the uti­li­sa­tion of prin­ted and embed­ded elect­ro­nics. The pro­ject will test out smart dro­ne ser­vices for use in ports, the use of dro­nes in the vici­ni­ty of an air­port, a dro­ne weat­her ser­vice and the sui­ta­bi­li­ty of hydro­gen as an ener­gy source for dro­nes. The pro­ject will also deve­lop busi­ness models for Fin­nish dro­ne ope­ra­tors from an export pers­pec­ti­ve. For example, per­for­ming seve­ral jobs or mul­tiple cus­to­mers during the same flight impro­ves the cost-effec­ti­ve­ness of dro­nes. The pro­ject will invol­ve set­ting up Fin­land’s first dro­ne air traf­fic cont­rol test area in the Oulu region.  The pro­ject’s part­ners inclu­de a num­ber of key dro­ne-rela­ted Fin­nish com­mercial and research actors. The pro­ject will crea­te an eco­sys­tem that will gene­ra­te inno­va­tions and new dro­ne-rela­ted busi­ness oppor­tu­ni­ties.

Read the full article here: https://ftnnews.com/aviation/41824-drolo-project-for-drone-use-in-lower-airspace