Engineers have completed tests which operated multiple autonomous unmanned drones simultaneously in urban airspace over Zaragoza, Spain as part of the EU’s U-ELCOME program.
U-ELCOME, which is led by ATM organization Eurocontrol aims to help introduce unmanned drones and airspace management processes into Europe, a concept the EU calls U-Space. The program consists of a set of tests and demonstrations in various operational environments across 15 locations in Spain, Italy, and France.
Last week, engineers completed flight tests of U-Space technology for medical deliveries and search and rescue operations on the banks of the Ebro River in Zaragoza. The tests demonstrated the integration of multiple unmanned aircraft in a shared airspace.
The trials evaluated Dynamic Airspace Reconfiguration (DAR) protocols with two drone operators conducting simultaneous flights. The testing focused on emergency medical deliveries and water rescue scenarios.
Rodrigo Benedit, drone business development engineer at Enaire, the Spanish air navigation service provider and participant in the testing said, “U-Space enables protected, efficient and safe access to airspace for multiple unmanned aircraft through U-Space Service Providers [USSP] and Common Information Service Providers [CISP],” Benedit said.
The testing involved three different drone operations coordinating in a shared airspace. The Zaragoza Fire Department and Spanish aerospace company Crisalion Mobility conducted a simulated search and rescue operation using two drones working in conjunction with manned boats.
Transport infrastructure company Bluenest operated a third drone carrying a defibrillator across the Ebro River. “The flight served as a contingency for the other user in the area, which made a safe landing and resumed the flight when the volume was safe again,” said Darío Ares, UTM (unmanned traffic management) project manager at Bluenest.
The second phase of testing examined DAR activation during simultaneous drone operations. Crisalion performed a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) crop monitoring flight while Bluenest conducted a line-of-sight medical cargo delivery.
Engineers activated the DAR system during the second flight to simulate a firefighting helicopter requiring water collection from a nearby reservoir. Both drone operators received USSP alerts and terminated their operations to clear the airspace.
Fernando Castillo, CEO of Novaltia said, “This system enables last-mile transport and distribution of medicines using unmanned aerial vehicles to remote and difficult-to-access areas, in adverse weather conditions and emergencies.”
Saragossa’s Fire Department has been particularly active in developing and adopting drone technology. José Miguel Rodrigo, Zaragoza city councillor for mobility, said, “The Fire Brigade has integrated drones into their operations for rescue missions, missing person searches, and damaged building inspections.”
