AstraUTM collaborates with Unleash Live to deliver Safer and More Efficient Drone Operations
AstraUTM, a leading developer of Uncrewed Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, is excited to announce its partnership with Unleash Live, Australia’s leading visual analytics and drone management software provider. The integration of AstraUTM’s platform into Unleash Live’s software will bolster the safety and efficiency of drone flights across Australia, for both Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, by providing users with seamless access to AstraUTM’s advanced tools and capabilities such as airspace data, situational awareness, flight planning, real-time tracking & monitoring, and other management tools.
Our collaboration with Unleash Live comes at a crucial time as drone ownership across Australia, and their use for both commercial and recreational purposes witness an exponential rise. This growth demands that air traffic management systems be able to safely and efficiently integrate UAV traffic into existing airspace, and that which is in accordance with Australia’s rules and regulations. AstraUTM’s integration with Unleash Live’s drone management system will provide more accurate and comprehensive situational awareness, significantly enhancing the safety and efficiency of the burgeoning drone industry.
To learn more about our UTM solutions or to request a demo, please get in touch at business@astrautm.com
October 2021 – Commercial drone surveying of two live operational non controlled airports in Regional South Australia will be performed by R2F using SkyLink UAS – Astra UTM software, confirming the ground-breaking capabilities of Unmanned Traffic Management platforms for airspace awareness while operating of drones over non controlled regional airports.
SkyLink UAS partnership with Astra UTM one of the world’s leading Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technology providers, announces the first commercial use of the Astra UTM in Australia for R2F (Ready to Fly) next commercial drone survey project, R2F announced this week the successful application of CASA approval to 3D model survey of two regional airports in South Australia for one of their clients, consisting of drone flights using jointly developed UTM solution to monitor airspace awareness.
The SkyLink UTM platform will be powered by Astra UTM, delivering advanced airspace awareness, flight tracking for UAVs and General Aviation. It enables drones to be safely integrated into controlled airspace and ensures they are visible to and can be kept distant from other air traffic.
During October and November 2021, R2F will be using a DJI M300 RTK UAV equipped with a DJI P1 camera sensor. The DJI M300 will be connected and tracked using Astra UTM 4G tracker unit on the drone. The fully autonomous flights will be initiated and monitored by a RPAS pilot in command from the take-off and landing sites within the airports area of operations. With the aid of a visual observer, manned aviation will be tracked, monitored, and managed using the Astra UTM platform by a SkyLink UAS air traffic controller at SkyLink UAS HQ located in Uralla, New South Wales.
Jia Childs Founder and Chief Remote Pilot of R2F said: “With the UTM platform offering full situational awareness to the RPAS operations team, this enables us in reducing air risk during operations on and over the airports. During the flights, the system can detect any possible conflict with a commercial aircraft far more effectively and at a greater range than ground personnel alone. Astra UTM will trigger any warnings to de-conflict if aircraft are approaching the airport, allowing appropriate avoidance action to be taken early. Backed up by the SkyLink UAS Air Traffic Controller located at SkyLink UAS HQ who will be communicating directly to the pilot’s visual observer via the Astra UTM mobile application messaging feature and voice communication throughout the operations, the visual observer can remain focused on monitoring the air band radio and approach paths to advise the pilot in command of any approaching manned aircraft.”
Scott Hamey, SkyLink UAS Head of Air Traffic Management, said: “Our partnership with Astra UTM in the development of SkyLink UTM system for Australia has, in as little under six months, engineered a platform which has the power to save lives and revolutionise the way operators deploy BVLOS services in Australia. As an example, emergency services and first responders would be able to use drones alongside manned aircraft in the most challenging of scenarios.”
Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer at Astra UTM said: “It is a proud moment for Astra UTM to go operational in Australia – one of the biggest markets for drone operations with diverse use cases. We are also finally seeing integration across multiple platforms each delivering workflows seamlessly for various phases of drone operations – from mission planning, flight authorisations to Network RID based tracking of flights enabling real-time 2-way communications between UTM and Ground Stations/Autopilot systems. Astra UTM has committed to a comprehensive development roadmap specific to Australian requirements and we look forward to supporting drone operators here achieve scale in their operations.”
SkyLink UAS have had very large interests from Energy, Mining, Construction Sectors, Emergency Services and Australia’s current and future BVLOS approved operators being a part of our Australian UTM commercial trials which establishes how SkyLink UTM can be quickly deployed within their organisation, and the trials will demonstrate how the UTM platform will perform in a real-world environment. The commercial trials will provide a real-world demonstration of how a UTM can be used to allow manned and unmanned aircraft to operate in close proximity, safely and securely. With BVLOS operations now a reality, and drone pilot crews can operate a UAV remotely and beyond the horizon, boosting the commercial viability of unmanned aerial operations.
SkyLink UAS has also partnered with DroneLogbook Australia with their API integration that pushes approved mission details into Astra UTM from DroneLogbook’s operations and compliance management cloud software, to automate the creation of flight requests within the Astra UTM platform for approval, and the syncing of personnel and drones data information via the API speeds up the onboarding process and sync’s changes between both platforms for DroneLogbook Private Label users.
About Astra UTM: ASTRA UTM is a world leading UTM solutions provider with multiple national deployments. The ASTRA platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to service the drone services industry.
About SkyLink UAS: SkyLink UAS Founder & CEO Mark Askey and Co-Founder Scott Hamey have teamed up with Australian and Global drone technology partners to offer BVLOS eco-systems capabilities that will enable enterprise clients the tools to manage and perform BVLOS operations efficiently and safely.
Behind the technological innovation of these systems, and with cross platform integration our systems solutions, will reduce workflow of managing, planning, training, for BVLOS approvals and delivering ROI to Enterprise Drone Service Providers in Australia, to drive substantial investment of the Australian Drone Industry move towards BVLOS operations in 2022 and offer a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners to their clients. For further information, follow us: LinkedIn
Ready to Fly (R2F) is an Australian-based drone service company that specialize in commercial and industrial asset inspections, mapping, and aerial surveys. R2F’s expertise includes the delivery of projects in high risk or sensitive environments while maintaining critical controls and data quality requirements.
AstraUTM adds 3 key ISO certifications AstraUTM is thrilled to announce that after having undergone a series of audits and review by accredited auditors, the company has been awarded 3 key ISO certifications for ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO/IEC 20000-1 for Quality Management Systems, Information Security Management & IT Service Management respectively.
“We are extremely proud to have achieved these internationally recognized certifications which further validate our commitment to quality, security and excellence in customer service”, said AstraUTM CEO, Asam Khan.
The Quality Management System (QMS) certification ISO 9001 recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.
The Information Security Management System (ISMS) certification ISO 27001 recognizes organizations that have implemented best practices for information security management. The standard is based on a risk management approach and provides a framework that organizations can use to identify, assess, and manage risks to their information and information systems.
The IT Service Management System (ITSMS) certification ISO/IEC 20000-1 recognizes organizations that have implemented best practices for IT service management. The standard is based on a process approach and provides a framework that organizations can use to plan, implement, operate, monitor, and improve their IT service management system.
“Aviation clients are one of the most demanding across industries – in terms of assurance and compliance. Achieving these certifications required a comprehensive review of AstraUTM’s processes and procedures across all departments and functions. Having achieved these certifications goes a long way in proving our commitment to delivering excellence” said Ayhan Kamil, CCO at AstraUTM.
About Astra UTM
Astra UTM is a world leading UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system with multiple national deployments. The Astra platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to facilitate the needs of the drone services industry. More details can be found at www.astrautm.com
Astra UTM delivered a unique showcase of simultaneous drone flights being tracked in real-time at the launch of the HERA Drone Hub in the City of Zaragoza. The inauguration aims to establish Zaragoza as the first and the only city in Europe to authorize a space for testing, experimentation and training of drones in an urban environment with a strategic focus on the future of mobility and advanced aerial mobility.
Astra UTM showcases the future of drone traffic management at Zaragoza Drone Hub Inauguration
Astra UTM delivered a unique showcase of simultaneous drone flights being tracked in real-time at the launch of the HERA Drone Hub in the City of Zaragoza. The inauguration aims to establish Zaragoza as the first and the only city in Europe to authorize a space for testing, experimentation and training of drones in an urban environment with a strategic focus on the future of mobility and advanced aerial mobility.
“Zaragoza wants to be the European reference city for advanced mobility. The mobility of the future will be connected and autonomous, terrestrial and air, and that is why we have been working from the Public Services Area of the City Council so that Zaragoza is a reference in this sector. We are strongly committed to the future and the future is already here, in the form of urban air mobility. And we are doing it with facts,” said the mayor of Zaragoza, Jorge Azcón, at the inauguration today of Hera Drone Hub.
The extraordinary location of Hera Drone Hub, next to the AVE station and in the middle of the Ebro corridor, is a perfect location to experience the transformation of urban mobility and train new air, land and aquatic uses. The geographical situation of Zaragoza thus allows to develop a holistic project with industries such as energy, automotive and logistics and in which the Zaragoza City Council will also carry out the flight tests of the European project FLYING FORWARD, selected in the call for the H2020 program “Towards sustainable urban air mobility”.
On its launch, Hera Drone Hub hosted a flight demonstration test of four drone operations monitored and managed with the Astra UTM system in urban segregated space – simulating an urban multi use-case scenario in the future of UTM and AAM. The demonstration was coordinated by Everis through the Astra UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) platform, integrated with the AIRUS services of Everis and Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia.
According to Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer at Astra UTM, “We believe that city councils and municipalities are starting to recognize the potential economical advantages that UTM and UAM readiness can bring about – and as a result we are seeing an uptake in the interest and commitment to UTM from the relevant stakeholders – eventually UTM benefits both the operators and the airspace managers. We are excited about the integration with Everis AIRUS services, which demonstrates the capability of our platform to cater to varied regulatory framework architectures.”
Astra UTM is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Fintraffic Air Navigation Services to implement the initial UTM-centric services in Finland. Astra UTM will be delivering the Situational Awareness and Briefing Facility systems for Fintraffic ANS’s Digital Business Platform which is a collaborative initiative under Traffic Management Company Fintraffic Ltd.
Astra UTM to implement initial UTM services with Fintraffic Air Navigation Services
Astra UTM is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Fintraffic Air Navigation Services to implement the initial UTM-centric services in Finland. Astra UTM will be delivering the Situational Awareness and Briefing Facility systems for Fintraffic ANS’s Digital Business Platform which is a collaborative initiative under Traffic Management Company Fintraffic Ltd.
According to Pasi Nikama Senior Vice President, CMO & CCO of Fintraffic ANS “Advanced new digital services will contribute to the growth of the traffic ecosystems and will support new business to serve current and future market trends in the transportation sector in Finland. A defined set of federated services and associated functions will enable and support safe and efficient multiple simultaneous traffic operations – first focusing on manned air traffic, followed by unmanned air traffic and sea and land.”
The Situational Awareness module will allow for real-time map based status of the use of airspace for all airspace users. Additionally, users will be able to access usage history and planned airspace activity in the future. The Briefing Facility service will aim for a better user experience by taking advantage of the SA and new services such as a flight plan acknowledgment and reminder service for the pilot, a storage and retrieval service for previous flight plans, and various equipment registries. These functions will be there to serve both manned and unmanned air traffic.
According to Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer of Astra UTM “ The Situational Awareness and Briefing Facility systems, will not only cater to unmanned activities, but also for VFR flight planning and manned aviation services, making this project truly unique and a showcase of how ATM and UTM will eventually come together.”
About Fintraffic ANS
Fintraffic facilitates mobility on the land, in the air and at sea. We help people and goods get where they are going, safely and smoothly while caring for the environment. Smart traffic management services, digital services for consumers and businesses, and real-time traffic data are helping Finland become a pioneer in sustainable transport and logistics. We employ 1,100 professionals.
Fintraffic ANS provides the en-route services as well as aerodrome control services and approach control services for 22 airports in Finland. En-route services include area control services in Finland, airspace management, aeronautical search and rescue and air traffic flow management. Company is also responsible for providing air navigation technological services.
Astra UTM is a world leading UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) system with multiple national deployments. The Astra platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to facilitate the needs of the drone services industry. More details can be found at www.astrautm.com
With the final selection of their group to conduct the RTM* Trials in Canada under the supervision of Transport Canada and NAV Canada, ASTRA UTM and Airmarket have announced the next phase of their ongoing UTM collaboration where by ASTRA UTM’s world leading platform will be at the core of the Airmarket’s envisioned UTM architecture for the BVLOS trials.
ASTRA UTM and AirMarket to further enhance UTM collaboration:
With the final selection of their group to conduct the RTM* Trials in Canada under the supervision of Transport Canada and NAV Canada, ASTRA UTM and Airmarket have announced the next phase of their ongoing UTM collaboration where by ASTRA UTM’s world leading platform will be at the core of the Airmarket’s envisioned UTM architecture for the BVLOS trials.
Starting in a 425 km corridor in Northern Alberta, the partners will be conducting Cellular-enabled UTM and Sensing Data Services in conjunction with Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC) and one of North America’s leading energy infrastructure companies. The trial aims to generate data and experience that will be used by Transport Canada in the development of regulations for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations and the delivery of commercial cellular-enabled UTM services.
ASTRA UTM looks forward to making available its full suite of capabilities including Tactical Deconfliction and Digital Surface Modeling engines for real-time traffic advisory notifications and obstacle avoidance services respectively. ASTRA UTM is also deploying its advanced 4G transponders for real-time tracking and monitoring of drone operations leveraging AirMarket’s collaboration with TELUS (the leading telco services provider in Canada).
According to Ayhan Kamil, Chief Commercial Officer at Astra UTM – “ASTRA UTM shares AirMarkets vision of leveraging the cellular infrastructure as one of the core elements of UTM and as such we are thrilled to see AirMaket through their partners TELUS establishing that link and making connectivity available to the Drone-UTM ecosystem. This has potential beyond the ANSP U-space services and serves as a gateway to enterprise UTM services for numerous use-cases as well.
“AirMarket is excited to grow our strategic partnership with ASTRA UTM, a true global UTM platform leader” said Lindsay Mohr, CEO of AirMarket. “The Energy UTM Trials will provide the context to integrate, validate, and commercialize cellular UTM services at scale, by leveraging the ASTRA UTM platform and the TELUS infrastructure”.
ASTRA UTM is a world leading UTM solutions provider with multiple national deployments. The ASTRA platform provides the next generation of modular cloud-based, scalable UTM-as-a-Solution enabling ANSP’s and Enterprise to service the drone services industry.
AirMarket is a technology stack company focused on the delivery of Cellular enabled Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) services for commercial drones. AirMarket has the unique skills, technology, and experience for operationalizing UTM services and Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight operations using cellular infrastructure.
*UTM is Unmanned Traffic Management. The Government of Canada uses the term RTM, or RPAS Traffic Management. RPAS stands for Remotely Piloted Aerial System.
The 2020 African Drone Forum comprises a Symposium, Expo and Flying Competitions, which will take place in Rwanda. The Symposium and Expo will be taking place in Kigali from February 5 to 7, 2020. Competitive flights will commence on February 8, 2020.
The 2020 African Drone Forum Expo offers a platform for the drone industry, including global logistics experts, start-ups, drone pilots, engineers and media, to showcase their innovations and state-of-the-art technology for cargo drone deliveries, and outline strategies for the future.
Astra at ADF 2020
In an effort to support and accelerate UTM integration, the African Drone Forum will facilitate discussions between African civil aviation authorities and UTM service providers and allow demonstrations of service provision using drone data from the Lake Kivu Challenge (LKC) Flying Competitions. Eligible UTM companies will display their technology and services using live data from the LKC flying competitions.
As the number and complexity of drone flights increases, several conditions will be necessary to foster safe, secure, efficient, affordable, and resilient operations, in either segregated airspace or through integration of drones in national airspace systems.
Services can include some or all of the following (from the draft EASA opinion on U-Space Regulation, RMT.0230: high level regulatory framework for the U-Space):
E-identification service;
Geo-awareness service;
Flight authorization service;
Traffic information service;
Tracking service;
Weather information service; and
Conformance monitoring service.
Minimum UTM requirements include live drone tracking through Remote Identification (Remote ID) via either direct broadcast1 or network publishing2 to allow integrating a range of Remote ID options such as:
ADS-B; using uAvionics Ping 1090i and pingStations;
Low-Power Direct RF, Unlicensed Integrated C2;
Networked Cellular; using devices such as the Unifly BLIP;
Optional features include:
Integration of ATM radar data or Mode A/C/S transporter;
Remote ID via satellite;
Low-Power Direct RF [p. 10, FAA UAS ID ARC];
Dynamic geo-fencing;
Separation service: strategic and tactical conflict and collision avoidance;
Weather service integration;
Flight planning.
Astra is looking forward to our participation in the UTM trials and showcase at ADF2020.
du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has today announced a partnership with Exponent Technology Solutions to deliver bespoke Drones as a Service (DaaS) and Drone Traffic Control Centre solutions to match the emerging need for Drone Powered Business Solutions (DPBS) across the United Arab Emirates’ various industries.
As the country’s sectors work towards the digital transformation visions of the UAE leadership, drone solutions are being implemented in an array of use cases such as on construction sites and in the monitoring of commercial and non-commercial flights in Dubai.
In collaboration with Exponent Technology Services, du’s DaaS platform will power a new variety of applications to ensure Dubai reaches the intended milestone of becoming the happiest and smartest city in the world.
‘Enabling the UAE’s Sectors to Take-Off’
Marwan Bin Dalmook, Senior Vice President – ICT Solutions & Smart City Operations, du, said: “From traffic management, to surveillance and constriction site management, drones are becoming instrumental in providing happier, safer environments for all. With the announcement of our DaaS in conjunction with partner Exponent Technology Solutions, du is proud to be innovating new bespoke breakthroughs that will empower the enterprise ecosystem and enable greater digital capabilities through the intelligent application of next generation technology and solutions.”
Asam Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Exponent Technology Services, said: “Businesses across the region and the world are opening up to the benefits that bespoke unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS) can provide their organizations. By partnering with du, we are proud to be enabling multi-functional payload/sensors to address a wide range of operational data acquisition and analytical requirements for businesses across various industry verticals in the UAE.”
To explore this and other innovations that are shaping the future of digital human experiences, visit du’s GITEX Technology Week stand in Zabeel Hall 2 stand C20.
Exponent TS will be exhibiting at the upcoming Dubai Airshow 2019 – showcasing the latest upgrade of its UTM solution now branded as Astra.
Exponent is an Unmanned Traffic Management Solutions provider. Exponent has developed and successfully deployed its UTM solution with 3 ANSP’s: Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), ENAV in Italy and with Airways, New Zealand. utmOSphere is a leading UTM solution with over 13,000 successfully tracked UAV flights since April 2016 when its system was launched in Dubai, UAE. utmOSphere is a modular cloud-based, scalable Software-as-a-Solution.
Airways New Zealand has partnered with Exponent Technology Services to support the development of its second generation AirShare unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) traffic management system, a drone tracking and monitoring system that’s integrated with the New Zealand ATM system in a world-first solution. AirShare has been developed to help air navigation service providers safely and securely integrate UAVs and drones into their airspace and aviation system — providing real-time tracking and management of UAV activity and detection of UAVs in and around aerodrome control zones. AirShare is also a one-stop shop for drone pilots to plan flights, gain approvals, learn how to operate safely, and access airspace maps.
