Out of sight, not out of mind: Partners boost 'beyond-line-of-sight’ drone testing

Drone operators and urban air mobility companies could soon confidently fly their autonomous vehicles over the horizon and out of sight, thanks to a research project boosted by two new partners.

Thales and Vodafone joined the National Beyond visual-line-of-sight Experimentation Corridor (NBEC), alongside founding partners Cranfield University and Blue Bear Research Systems.

The project, which recently ran its first test flights and ultimately aims to establish a testing corridor across Bedfordshire from Blue Bear’s headquarters in Oakley to Cranfield University’s airport, aims to “safely and securely integrate unmanned systems into UK airspace”.

Using software from French multinational Thales and mobile connectivity from Vodafone, the NBEC will demonstrate 4G and 5G mobile technology’s capabilities for identifying and tracking drones in real time – vital to ensuring autonomous beyond-line-of-sight flights are safe. The work will complement existing satellite-based location systems, which provide accurate location estimates but can be open to jamming and compromise.

Mobile connectivity on a drone will provide a secondary feed of location-based information, potentially providing a more robust and trusted picture of the drone’s location. Such capabilities are key for air traffic management to allow the routine and safe flying of commercial drones in the future. 

“Our solutions will help to build the foundations for an entirely new air transport system, based on clean, electric and hybrid air vehicles,” said Steve Murray, vice-president of strategy and marketing at Thales UK. “For example, this will enable the routine, safe and secure use of drones for infrastructure surveillance and inspection, logistics delivery services and a future in which urban air mobility is a reality.”

He added: “Our role in the project will contribute significantly in the areas of cyber security and the concept of centralised management for drone operations and UAV traffic management to ensure the safety and security of the airspace.”

Partners at the NBEC hope the new expansion will increase capability in the flight corridor and make it “the place to test drones in the UK.”

“Drones offer exciting opportunities for the future and will ultimately bring benefits to society and the economy,” said Anne Sheehan, director of Vodadone Business UK. “However, we need to make sure they are used safely and responsibly. We are delighted to bring our mobile connectivity expertise to the NBEC consortium so that drone technology can be further tested and developed.”