Honeywell, a global aerospace technology company, has successfully tested a new ground control station for eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft.
The demonstration took place in June 2024, in Amstetten, Austria, in collaboration with Frequentis an Austria-based global supplier of communication and information systems for control centers with safety-critical tasks. It was part of the SESAR Joint Undertaking OperA (Operate Anywhere) project consortium.
The ground control station features a two-display interface and is designed to enhance the operation of remotely piloted aircraft in European airspace. With a collaborative interface with air traffic control, the ground control station operator was able to receive commands originated by air traffic control to increase operational efficiency through real-time data exchange with different systems.
Key capabilities include:
- Real-time data exchange with air traffic control
- Initial implementation of ground-based detect and avoid solution
- Integration with enhanced U-space services
David Shilliday, Vice President and General Manager, Advanced Air Mobility at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, stated, “As the air mobility industry evolves, Honeywell continues to lead in providing innovative solutions that enhance both safety and efficiency. These demonstrations are a critical step toward integrating advanced air mobility systems into everyday airspace, promising significant advancements in drone operations.”
The system demonstrated the ability to receive commands from air traffic control, improving operational efficiency through seamless data exchange. Frequentis contributed by providing enhanced U-space services, including mission conformance monitoring and tactical conflict detection.
U-space, a new air traffic management environment for unmanned aerial systems, uses a set of new services based on a high degree of digitization, automation of functions and specific procedures created to safely allow a large number of drones within an airspace.
Using both simulated and real drones, Honeywell’s ground control station also demonstrated the initial implementation of a ground-based detect and avoid solution, a safety tool designed to make drone flights safer and more reliable, especially in uncontrolled airspace.
Günter Graf, Vice President, New Business Development at Frequentis, added, “The OperA research project provides Frequentis with an innovative environment to enhance existing solutions and develop new technologies. The validation exercise in Amstetten was a significant milestone in ensuring the seamless integration of the extended and highly automated U-space services with Honeywell’s ground control station and data exchange in real time.”
This development is part of the Honeywell-led Project OperA, one of two Honeywell projects awarded funding from the European Union’s SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking. The project aims to build solutions for complex operations of advanced air mobility, piloted eVTOL aircraft, and uncrewed cargo aircraft in real-life European airspace.
This development paves the way for safer and more efficient uncrewed aircraft operations and further supports Honeywell’s alignment with the compelling megatrends of automation and the future of aviation.
