Unmanned aerial vehicles are on the verge of disrupting low level air traffic as we know it. For safe and efficient operations on a daily basis, future drone ecosystems will need mechanisms to balance demand and capacity. To address the challenge, the SESAR JU DACUS (demand and capacity for U-space optimisation) project have completed a first draft of a concept of operations for demand and capacity balancing in U-space.
Following months of hard work and several stakeholder workshops, the partners have compiled a series of guidelines on how urban drone flights can be managed using U-space services from the planning phase up until the execution of drone flights. The concept of operations takes an extensive look at U-space operational environment, drawing parallels to existing air traffic management processes. It also highlights several relevant research areas which the DACUS project will address over the coming months.