Four specialized applications of UTM technology

Unmanned traffic management (UTM) technology is a hot topic in the world of aviation and for good reason: airspaces are filling with a new generation of aircraft and dedicated technology is required to manage this new traffic. 

UTM has proven its ability to equip aviation authorities and ANSPs with the tools to manage and deconflict UAS traffic on local, municipal and national scales, enabling a future where UAS ecosystems can flourish safely in complex airspaces, and operate in harmony with manned aircraft. 

It's no surprise that authorities around the world are making moves to implement this technology nationwide. But UTM has specialized uses too - in this article we’ll look at a few examples, highlighting how specific features of UTM technology serve a range of requirements. 

Industrial site management 

Major industrial sites and mining operations worldwide are adopting drone technology because these precision aircraft improve their ability to carry out a wide range of critical tasks. For example, they carry out more regular, thorough and safe facility inspections, improve haulage efficiency, enhance response protocols during security events and emergency situations, enable general facility oversight to prevent non-compliant behavior, and more.

Where does UTM technology come in? It provides an airspace management and situational awareness layer covering all their operations. UTM technology enables site managers to see everything that’s going on in real time, confident that autonomous strategic and tactical deconfliction protocols will prevent costly and dangerous accidents. It lets them set restricted areas, share vital geo-awareness data drone pilots, and ensures that all aerial operations remain compliant with local airspace regulations. 

The more complex the airspace, the more important these capabilities become. For example… 

Port management

Ports are amongst the largest and busiest ecosystems that can be found in any country, and have amongst the most complex airspaces to match. These ecosystems comprise tens of thousands of employees (or more), not just of the port authority itself, but also those of the incoming, docked, and outgoing ships, haulage companies, and aerial service providers - which increasingly means drone operators. Operating at a fraction of the cost of helicopters, drones enable rapid ship-to-shore deliveries, emergency response, environmental monitoring, security services, and much more. 

Port operators not only have to be able to manage complex drone activity, but from multiple operators too - and the only way to do this is with UTM technology. Apart from the real-time airspace awareness, data-sharing and deconfliction capabilities mentioned above, UTM provides registration and flight plan request functions enabling safe operation - and regulatory compliance - for as many operators and drones as needed. This capability also provides port authorities with a potential new revenue source, as they can enact a billing system for third party drone operators who wish to fly in port airspace. 

Advanced air mobility

eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing) are remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft that more closely resemble small helicopters than drones. They herald an exciting new form of transportation in the form of air taxis and even personal vehicles, as well as delivery services with greater weight capacities. Once considered science fiction, these vehicles are now ready and operational, and the implementation of AAM networks is being investigated in countries worldwide. What’s missing is the infrastructure to make such operations safe in shared airspaces and urban areas. 

UTM technology is the enabler of AAM. It's able to detect both Remote ID and ADS-B broadcasts, and can create dynamic air corridors reserved for eVTOL transit. UTM’s flight plan approval capability provides an autonomous air traffic management infrastructure that ensures the safety of eVTOLs, including the dissemination of NOTAMs, which provide data essential for safe flights. Meanwhile, dynamic reconfiguration enables airspace authorities to execute real-time constraint adjustments according to the movements of manned aircraft, maintaining separation and safety. 

Security-sensitive airspaces

In some airspaces, the probability of incursions from unidentified and/or unauthorized drones is high. Airspace managers in such locations require solutions that give them full kinetic control of their airspaces, as well as the ability to coordinate multi-faceted responses to such events. They also need to be able to manage airspace constraints such as no-fly-zones and ensure that all authorized aircraft are aware of them in real time.

The best UTM systems seamlessly integrate with counter-UAS systems, enabling the detection, tracking, and active neutralization of unauthorized aircraft. UTM enables the creation of dynamic restricted and prohibited zones, and the dissemination of NOTAMs to friendly aircraft for efficient operational coordination. In such environments, data security is paramount - and UTM systems can offer hardened comms with end-to-end encryption, zero-trust architecture and GNSS alternatives to protect sensitive data flows. 

Vega UTM 

High Lander is a global leader in unmanned traffic management technology, with Vega UTM providing an end-to-end suite of services enabling the full and safe management of UAS traffic in any airspace. 

Operating at any scale and to the strictest international standards, Vega provides a complete airspace management solution for industrial facilities and mines, ports, security-sensitive areas, cities, and entire countries - in fact, Vega was the first UTM platform to receive a license to provide conformance monitoring for drone traffic nationwide. 

We’d be happy to chat to you about the power of Vega UTM and its specialized industrial facility, port, and security packages. Get in touch!