Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AMU-LED (Air Mobility Urban - Large Experimental Demonstrations)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2023-02-28
The AMU-LED project aims at the definition and initial validation of a high-level concept of operations and use cases definition for performing UAM flight test campaigns, to demonstrate the safe integration of UAM as additional airspace user in U-space.
This safe integration of UAM as additional airspace user faces two main challenges:
1. The safe UAM flight and navigation
2. The integration with other airspace users
Accordingly, AMU-LED is focused on achieving the following two objectives:
• Objetive 1: Safe interaction of UAM with other Airspace Users. AMU-LED define and test U-space services and technologies to provide means to coordinate and integrate safely UAM operations with other Airspace Users, including manned aviation and ATC coordination.
• Objetive 2: Safe UAM flight. Additionally, the AMU-LED Project explore the requirements of UAM platforms to fly and navigate safely even in complex urban environments, considering the impact of buildings both in surrounding air streams and multipath effects on electromagnetic signals. This is done through the provision of guidance (e.g. GNSS) and communications (e.g. 4G/5G) to the UAM platforms.
The goal of Very Large-Scale Demonstrations (VLDs) is to join the Research & Innovation with the implementation phase without replacing such activities. VLDs are primarily focused on closing the gap between the development and operational implementation, being at the border in terms of maturity transition from the Industrial Research & Validation and the industrialisation and to the posterior implementation. As such, they will mostly derive from work matured through an earlier phase of Industrial Research & Validation while taking the opportunity to trial innovation close to the market to help secure a short time to market. The VLD described here may also be a vehicle to promote SESAR Solutions outside Europe and contribute to global de-carbonisation/fuel efficiency.
WP1 - Project Management and Monitoring & Ethics
• The management infrastructure, procedures, quality standards and European Ethics Regulations have been set up and maintained
• Financial supervision
• Several high level meetings have been arranged (kick-off meeting, consortium meetings and midterm meeting)
• Collaboration and synergies between partners have been fostered
• Advisory board has been consolidated
WP2 - UAM Operational & Safety Concept Definition
• Submission of the Operational Safety Analysis and Concept and the initial draft of the ConOps
• This ConOps were presented and discussed during public workshop arranged on April the 30th
• Participation to SJU ConOps Coordination Cell meetings and discussions hosted by Eurocontrol
• There has also been an active participation in workshops and collaboration with other sibling projects
WP3 - Use Case & Scenario Definition
• We defined Use Cases Definitions and we identified typical UAM and U-Space features across each of the three tests
• We defined the simulation requirement for the project and designed a synthetic ATM/UTM Use Case- Scenario Simulation
• Collected and analyzed SORAs for test flights
• We have started to work on the contingency management
WP4 - Technical Solution Definition
• Transformation of operational requirements (WP2 & WP3) into Functional Requirements
• Identify the interaction and required information exchanges between UAM & U-space, other Airspace Users, ATC, and other stakeholders
• Description of platforms main features and definition of Drones-USSP integration solution
• Operational Models Definition, identification of Points of Interaction among U-space Services and actors and Data model definition for information exchanges
• Definition of U-Space Architecture
• Definition of the expected CNS performances and definition of the supporting infrastructure to allow U-space and UAM/UAS interaction, as well as collaboration with ATC
WP6 - Testing and Demonstrations
In this WP, two versions of the Demonstration Plan have been provided, with version 01 focussing on the specification of demo sites, operational scenarios and demonstration objectives and version 02 providing an update, based on progress in the project and specific attention to the safety plan.
WP7 - Support to Standardisation and Regulation
• Identify existing standardisation and regulatory gaps associated to U-Space in the context of UAM
• Beginning of the analysis of Standards&Regulation and UAM services Safety and Social Acceptance
WP8 - Communication, Exploitation and Dissemination
• Set up the website and social media accounts
• Develop the dissemination and communication plan
• Publishing of news, blogs and newsletter
• Attendance to several congresses and submission of several contributions to conferences
The corresponding City Councils of the demos have confirmed their interest, involvement and needs for Air logistics, transport and emergency services.
With respect to the use cases, the consortium will consider at least the following missions: logistics and good transportation, air taxi, surveillance, infrastructure inspection and monitoring and emergency services. Conventional UAS (multicopter and fixed-wing), large eVTOL and helicopters will be the platforms supporting the demonstrations, thus representing a complete urban air mobility ecosystem. The tests will be performed in cities with highly accurate 3D terrain and city models, surrounding drone traffic, diverse weather conditions, UTM regulation for U-Space and communication coverage. U-Space service provision will be based on the latest EASA Opinion and in accordance to new EC regulation, proposing a regulatory framework with a Common Information Service (CIS) and several U-Space Service Providers. Discussions on the regulation are ongoing between the member states.