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Droniq: Test phase for commercial drone use begins

The project aims to promote the use of drones for commercial purposes in Germany.

From mid-September, the first test flights will be held in Hamburg to promote the commercial use of drones in Germany. (Archive image; Photo: Jan Brandes)
From mid-September, the first test flights will be held in Hamburg to promote the commercial use of drones in Germany. (Archive image; Photo: Jan Brandes)
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Johannes Reichel
von Melanie Wack

The U-Space Real Laboratory Hamburg will commence its first test flights in mid-September, as announced by Droniq and DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung on September 14th. The goal of the project is to promote commercial drone usage in Germany. The test flights were inaugurated by a first flight over the Port of Hamburg, which took place on September 14th. The project is being implemented by Droniq GmbH, a German company specializing in the integration of drones into airspace, together with its parent company DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI).

Michael Westhagemann, Senator for Economy and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “Hamburg embarked on the journey into the drone age as early as 2016. Various projects have been initiated since then, focusing on the transport of tissue samples by drone, an operations center for the organization of drone traffic, or the defense against non-cooperative drones at airports. The safe integration of drones has always been a top priority. The U-Space Real Laboratory is an important milestone towards the regularized use of drones, especially in the public interest, such as by the fire department or for the transport of medical goods, in close collaboration with numerous Hamburg partners.”

Testing Interaction

During the test flights, Droniq and DFS will, for the first time, put into practice the mandatory services for establishing a geographical area for drone flights (U-Space airspace) that will be effective starting in 2023. In several flight scenarios, according to the announcement, the safe and coordinated interaction of manned and unmanned air traffic in the U-Space airspace established in Hamburg will be simulated.

This includes, for instance, an emergency scenario in which the drone pilot has to quickly evade a helicopter entering the test field. Other scenarios test multiple parallel drone flights including registration and deregistration procedures, route planning, and subsequent flight execution. Drone pilots will be provided with a complete air situation picture for their flight. This allows controllers to recognize and respond to other air traffic participants in a timely and appropriate manner, according to the press release.

Making All Air Traffic Participants Visible

According to its own statements, Droniq assumes the role of the U-Space Service Provider (USSP) in the real-world laboratory, coordinating drone traffic in U-space airspace. This primarily involves the electronic visibility of drones and other traffic in a shared air situation display, as well as the issuance of flight permits for drones and the dynamic adjustment of airspace. For this purpose, Droniq uses the first fully operational traffic management system for drones (UTM) developed by DFS, which is claimed to be the first of its kind in Germany. Droniq also receives the necessary airspace and air traffic data for manned aviation from DFS. In the project, DFS assumes the role of the Common Information Service Provider (CISP) on the one hand, and the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) responsible for air traffic control through the Hamburg Tower on the other.

“To fully exploit the economic potential of drones, they must be integrated easily and safely into existing air traffic,” explains Droniq CEO Jan-Eric Putze. “The test flights mark the next step in achieving this. At the same time, we are getting closer to our goal of positioning Droniq as the first nationwide USSP in Germany.”

Germany in the Pioneering Role

"We are demonstrating here how modern and digital airspace for drones can be designed," adds Arndt Schoenemann, Chairman of the DFS Management Board. "To safely integrate unmanned aviation into the air traffic system, we are combining our experience in manned aviation with innovative technological solutions. In addition to drones, we will see significant developments in other fields of increasingly autonomous aviation in the coming years. We are proud to be at the forefront of this."

Real Lab as Part of the Drone Action Plan

For Germany to continue expanding its role as a leading market with high safety standards in unmanned aviation, it is necessary, according to the announcement, to bring connected and automated flying into practice.

Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer: "Drones are smart, fast, and clean helpers. They are revolutionizing passenger transport, logistics, and supply: They transport vital medications, tools, or packages quickly, efficiently, and over long distances. Drones supply rural and hard-to-reach areas, assist in the inspection of production facilities and infrastructures, and support rescue services, disaster management, and agriculture. For drone innovations made in Germany to be used in practice, they must be safely integrated into existing airspace structures. This is exactly what we are doing with the so-called U-Space. Here, manned and unmanned aviation are intelligently interconnected and visible to all. With the start of the test flights, we are launching the innovation turbo and positioning ourselves at the forefront of the world for the safe operation of unmanned aviation."

The real lab extends over 30 square kilometers in the airspace above the Port of Hamburg. The test flights take place over the Steinwerder area and parts of Grasbrook. According to the announcement, the "U-Space Demonstrator" at the Port of Hamburg is Germany's first test field for cooperative and coordinated flight operations between unmanned and manned aviation. The BMVI is supporting the establishment of the nation's first U-Space real lab with nearly 500,000 euros. The project is part of the drone action plan presented by Federal Minister Scheuer in May 2020.

Translated automatically from German.
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