Unmanned Traffic Management

The future is here: drones (or Unmanned Aerial Systems - UAS) are everywhere - in our skies, in the news, on store shelves - and accessible to everyone. From economic to social, the opportunities they offer are endless. Yet for key actors seeking to harness UAS’ full potential, such as companies, local authorities and governments, one important obstacle remains: efficient, safe and collaborative Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) UAS Traffic Management (UTM).

Leveraging decades of experience in Air Traffic Control (ATC), and building on an extensive network of Air Traffic Management (ATM) partners across countries throughout the world, Thales works closely with customers to design a UTM solution tailored to their specific needs.

Leverage multiple opportunities…

As UAS technologies continue to evolve, the potential for their application expands. Of all sizes, capable of carrying increasingly heavier loads, and with continuously extending ranges, these systems offer great potential for economic and social development - to execute dangerous tasks, to transport time sensitive health supplies, etc.

The implementation of these systems at city, region and/or country scale will itself represent an economic opportunity for key local and national actors. Developing UAS for different applications, understanding how to harness their potential and establishing tailored UTM systems are all catalysts for the development of industrial bases and networks at different scales.

Finally, as they progressively replace manned aircraft and cars for certain tasks, UAS will also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

… While addressing challenges…

These opportunities, however, can only be realised if an efficient and safe UTM system is implemented.

The key challenge is not merely the introduction of a growing number of UAS in both controlled and uncontrolled airspaces; it also stems from their use at increasingly extended ranges. UAS operations BVLOS require coordination and collaboration between all the actors involved in the registration and authorisation of the taking-off, flying and landing of each UAS.

Such coordination and collaboration starts with the implementation of safe and efficient UTM, but it is also contingent upon the development of an enabling legislative framework - today still in its infancy.

… With the right partners.

Leveraging years of experience as a key ATM partner across the world, Thales has already begun paving the way for the development of safe and efficient UTM systems. Working with networks of partners in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and France, it is developing physical and software infrastructures, as well as Flight Information Management Systems (FIMS) and Mission and Network Operation Centres (MNOC).

The aim of such projects is not simply to support mature clients with clearly defined needs. Expertise acquired through these projects, together with a strong network of ATM partners across the world, put Thales in a unique position to support customers wishing to expand their UAS activities through: 

• Physical Infrastructures combining remote radars and sensors, communication systems, buildings, and a backhaul network 
• Software infrastructures structured around a suite of multiple software components, e.g., TopSky UAS Airspace Manager, TopSky Tracker, health monitoring… 
• Flight Information Management System (FIMS) where the collaboration between the different software components provide the UTM Services, e.g., GIS (Geographical Information System) from Airspace Link (Partially owned by Thales), 
• Mission and Network Operation Centre (MNOC) where all above elements converge and enable Stakeholders to use effectively the UAS Airspace