“GOF 2.0 Integrated Urban Airspace Validation” project

The GOF 2.0 project, as a continuation of the SESAR JU Gulf of Finland (GOF) U-space project, which successfully demonstrated the safe integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the airspace in summer 2019, will go one step further and will test flights in the next two years drones in urban sky. This project started in January this year and is being carried out by a consortium of 13 members as part of the SESAR JU initiative “GOF 2.0 Integrated Urban Airspace Validation” with the participation of AEROBITS.

The main element of the project is the safe and sustainable integration of unmanned aerial vehicle operations in urban airspace.

• With the further development of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and air taxis, in the rapidly growing drone market, there is a need for the evolution of technologies and procedures for their safe coexistence with manned aircraft. The integration of unmanned traffic management (UTM) with air traffic management (ATM) systems has already been the focus of the SESAR JU GOF U-space research project, which successfully tested U-space services in seven advanced live tests with 11 unmanned and manned operators aircraft. Trials in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace, as well as below and above 500 feet in urban, rural and maritime areas, have shown that an integrated environment where manned and unmanned aviation uses the same data will improve situational awareness and security.
• Work-related to advanced test flights emphasized the importance of creating a scalable U-space architecture and ensuring that the technical environment is based on international standards using the principles of System Wide Information Management (SWIM). The GOF U-space project also highlighted the fact that it is equally important to ensure interoperability and market openness, with regulatory oversight to allow for the easy exchange of safety-related information.
• Building on the key findings and results of this project, SESAR JU GOF 2.0 now intends to safely, reliably and sustainably demonstrate the operational validity of the combined operation of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), electric powered powered-lifts (eVTOLs) and manned flights in a single dense urban space, using the existing ATM and U-space services and systems. Both the ATM and U-space communities rely heavily on the ongoing provision of timely, accurate and reliable information in order to collaborate and make informed decisions. Demonstrations will focus on validating the GOF 2.0 architecture for highly automated real-time separation in dense airspace, including precision weather and air-ground telecommunications networks. This will significantly contribute to the understanding of how the safe integration of UTM, and in particular of regular commercial drone projects in ATM airspace, can be implemented without compromising safety, security or disrupting ongoing airspace operations.
• GOF 2.0 is an important driver for the further development of the drone market and will provide the technical components (services, software, competencies, practices) required for the business-justified use of Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous Out of View Drones (BVLOS) in the Common Sky. This is possible thanks to the re-purpose of already available, ready-made commercial ATM components, supplemented with the latest U-space technologies. In addition, the project will contribute to the acceptance of drones as fully fledged airspace users by Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), other airspace users, regulators and ultimately the entire aviation community.

As a hardware technological partner, we have delivered two products: TR-1W and HoD (LTE and ADS-B Out trackers) – check below.