a group company of Terra Drone Corporation, and a global supplier of Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, has announced the successful completion of the CORUS-XUAM project, a collaborative effort that has reshaped the landscape of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) globally.
This groundbreaking initiative concluded in April 2023, signifies a pivotal milestone in ensuring the safe and efficient integration of UAM operations by extending the current U-space Concept of Operations.
Six very large-scale demonstrations (VLDs) in Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, validated the integrated operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft alongside manned aircraft operations for diverse mission types such as passenger transport, logistics, delivery, emergency response, and surveillance.
These VLDs showcased advanced forms of interaction through digital data exchange supported by integrated and advanced U-space services in various scenarios, including urban, suburban, and inter-city settings, as well as areas in and near Air Traffic Management (ATM) controlled airspaces and airports.
The Belgian VLD, centered around the unique Antwerp urban port area near controlled airspace, aimed at developing guidelines for safe UAM operations at urban ports and other critical infrastructure sites. Unifly’s UTM platform served as a key solution in tackling challenges such as situational awareness, and flight authorizations and enabled the crucial scalability for UAM operations.
The results, enriched by extensive consultation with diverse stakeholders, were used to consolidate the Concept of Operations (ConOps) V.4. which serves as a reference manual for U-space, by addressing UAM needs, regulatory evolution, and inputs from other R&D projects.
Image of demonstration experiments conducted in each country
Building on the success of CORUS-XUAM, other SESAR JU projects have picked up on the results and continue the research and testing. As the integration of U-space advances, the airspace above our urban centers is poised to evolve into a flourishing hub of innovation, reshaping our modes of transportation and unlocking myriad possibilities for a more interconnected and streamlined world.
Andres Van Swalm, the CEO of Unifly, conveyed his excitement regarding the project’s significance by stating,
“This accomplishment highlights our commitment to pushing the frontiers of innovation in UTM and UAM. The outcomes of the CORUS-XUAM project undeniably played a crucial role in influencing the future of urban air mobility, and we take pride in our participation in this transformative journey. Unifly expresses appreciation to all collaborators, partners, and stakeholders engaged in the CORUS-XUAM project, marking a substantial milestone in Unifly’s dedication to propelling the UAM landscape forward.”
This project has received funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 101017682. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the SESAR JU members other than the Union Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessary reflect those of the European Union or JU. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Source: Press Release