Drone Remote Identification Service Launched in Switzerland

A nationwide voluntary Network Remote Identification (NET-RID) service for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has been launched across Switzerland by a consortium of companies including AirMap, ANRA Technologies, Avision, Involi, OneSky, Orbitalize, Skyy Network, skyguide and Wing. The service complies with the U-Space Regulation (EU) 2021/664 adopted by the European Commission, which will be enforced beginning January 2023.

NET-RID ensures drone operations are safe and compliant by enabling information sharing about those operations via the internet. Members of SUSI (Swiss U-Space Implementation) are making it possible for drone operators to easily share information about their flights with airspace authorities, law enforcement, other operators, and the general public.

Sharing operator information with authorities is key to safe drone operations at scale. With NET-RID, airspace actors in Switzerland can now see drone operators’ registration numbers and information related to their flights. Operator information is shared via the Linux Foundation’s InterUSS Platform, an open-source platform that ensures a U-Space Service Provider (USSP) has obtained all relevant data from other USSPs. This allows USSPs to share information only when necessary and enables interoperability between all participants.

The NET-RID service complies with the ASTM F3411 standard, which guarantees that only necessary information is shared. This protects operator privacy while also reassuring the general public that nearby drone operations are safe and compliant.

Philippe Couturier, a sergeant with the Geneva police, commented: “With the increasing amount of drones operating in the airspace it is now important to be able to identify a drone easily. Thanks to the remote identification service we will save precious time, which is of considerable value to the Geneva police.”