Government gives go-ahead for drone superhighway
The UK government has given the go-ahead for a network of “drone superhighways” connecting airspace above Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Coventry, and Rugby over the next two years.
The project will be delivered by a consortium headed by Reading based uncrewed traffic management specialist, Altitude Angel, with BT supplying connectivity through its mobile network, EE, and a number of UK tech start-ups.
The Innovate UK backed Skyway superhighway network, says Altitude Angel, will help unlock the huge potential offered by unmanned aerial vehicles and be a catalyst to enable growth in the urban air mobility industry.
Rather than individual drones using onboard sensors to detect and avoid other craft, Skyway will use a series of ground-based sensors to centrally direct all overhead traffic. That will not only radically reduce the risk of collisions on the superhighway, but will allow UK drone operators to remove navigational sensors from their drones, reducing their weight and maximising payload and range.
Richard Parker, Altitude Angel, CEO and founder said, “The capability we are deploying and proving through Skyway can revolutionise the way we transport goods and travel in a way not experienced since the advent of the railways in the 18th century – the last transport revolution.”
The transformative ARROW technology, adds Parker, is the only “scalable, viable mechanism to start integration of drones into our everyday lives, safely and fairly, ensuring that airspace can remain open, and crewed and uncrewed aviation from any party can safely coexist.
“Skyway gives us not just the opportunity to level up access to green transportation across Britain, but we can benefit first and export it globally. We are therefore thrilled to be flying the flag on the global stage for UK Plc.”
Dave Pankhurst, BT’s Director of Drones, said, “The social and economic potential of drones is immense and requires close industry collaboration to fully unlock these opportunities in a safe and responsible way. It’s an exciting time to be part of such a powerful consortium. Project Skyway will be crucial to showcase how the UK can not only lead the creation of new jobs and public services, but form the backbone of how we integrate drones into our daily lives.
Cellular connectivity and a secure, resilient 4G and 5G mobile network, Pankhurst adds, are needed to support rapid growth of the drone market. Through the EE network, he explains, BT will keep drones connected, receiving greater situational awareness and tactical collision avoidance instructions from the autopilot system, and stream key video feeds back to control rooms.