Safe integration of drones without new infrastructure
The existing mobile communications infrastructure is suitable for the safe operation of drone flights in Swiss airspace. This has been demonstrated by researchers at the Aviation Research Centre Switzerland (ARCS) on behalf of Skyguide. Measurement flights have also shown that data exchange between drones and providers of U-Space solutions is thus stable.
The air traffic control Skyguide will offer a registration system for drone pilots in summer 2019, laying the foundation for the safe integration of commercial and non-commercial drones into Swiss airspace (U-Space). This also requires an exchange of real-time data between drones, drone traffic management (analogous to air traffic management in manned aviation) and providers of geolocation services (airspace maps).
Positive signal
Skyguide has commissioned a feasibility study from the Aviation Research Centre Switzerland (ARCS) on the use of the mobile network for unmanned aerial vehicles. According to Skyguide, the study, "Use of Mobile Communications for Drones," led by Prof. Michel Guillaume of ZHAW, showed that the Swiss mobile communications infrastructure can already provide data exchange and drone guidance in U-Space. The study involved ZHAW, the University of St. Gallen, EPFL and Swisscom.
The study's findings are a positive signal for Switzerland's rapidly developing drone industry. According to the study, no new cost-intensive infrastructure is needed for the safe integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into Switzerland's airspace. "This opens up interesting new business areas for telecom companies in our country and further development opportunities for the drone industry," Skyguide concludes.
Follow-up study planned for 2019
The initial results are to be examined in greater depth in a follow-up study scheduled for 2019. Skyguide and ARCS hope that new long-term tests can be conducted from the Dübendorf Innovation Park. The park's avionics research center has the necessary expertise and structures. The research concept is currently being drawn up and the financing of the follow-up study is being clarified, Skyguide concludes.
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