Estonia steps forward in U-Space sandbox
DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
The Estonian Transport Association recently invested in the U-Space sandbox in partnership with: ANRA TechnologiesA leading provider of UAM services, has taken another important step in its development. A recent stakeholder workshop at Tartu Science Park, where the new facility will be based, brought together participants from the aerospace industry, trade associations and research institutions to discuss business plans and confirm preliminary operational concepts. We also visited the site and discussed the location of the facility. operations center.
Launched in April, the sandbox represents a major step forward in Estonia’s unmanned aerial vehicle testing and technology development and is being created in partnership with the Tartu Science Park and the Estonian Aviation Academy. ANRA will be responsible for the development and integration of U-Space and the Common Information System (nicknamed CACTUS, meaning “the competent authority coordinates testing in the U-space sandbox”), which will provide the technical foundation for the new site. .
This testing ground is an important part of Estonia’s involvement in the EU’s U-Space programme. The U-Space program is a UAV management structure that ensures that both manned and unmanned forces can coexist in European airspace (read more). Logistics support is provided by the Estonian Aviation Academy. The academy’s vice-chancellor for development, Miken Kul, emphasized that Tartu, with its airport and an important center for research and development in Estonia, would be a suitable hub for the national implementation of U-Space. all of the Baltics.
By sponsoring this sandbox, the Transport Association seeks to enable the safe testing and development of unmanned autonomous technology within Estonia. Urar Salmae, Head of Aviation, Estonia Transport Authority, emphasized the need for new testing grounds for emerging technologies. We provide the solutions you need to develop a variety of innovative technologies. This is an important investment for the European drone industry, as emphasized by Pirkokantha, director of his park at Tartu Sciences. “This workshop was a great opportunity to discuss important topics that impact not only the sandbox, but also the broader community developing the ecosystem to enable future drone services,” he said. . “We are very excited to help develop something of great value to the drone industry.”
The cooperative project “Expertise for the Development of Unmanned Aerial (U-Space) Sandbox” will be funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.
read more:
Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, Massachusetts. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and sports at Boston University.
Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of professional drone services marketplace JobForDrones, is a keen observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory environment. Miriam is an international speaker and industry recognized figure, with over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and he has over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, email Miriam.
twitter:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to Drone Life here.
