EuroDRONE, A European UTM Testbed for U-Space

EuroDRONE is an Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) demonstration project, funded by the EU's SESAR organization and its aim is to test and validate key UTM technologies for Europe's `U-Space' UTM program. The EuroDRONE UTM architecture is made of cloud software (DroNav) and hardware (transponder) to be installed on drones. The proposed EuroDRONE system is a Highly Automated Air Traffic Management System for Small UAVs Operating at Low Altitudes. It is a sophisticated self-learning system based on software and hardware elements, operating in distributed computing environment, offering multiple levels of redundancy, fail-safe algorithms for conflict prevention/resolution and assets management. EuroDRONE focuses its work on functionalities which involve use of new communication links, use of V2I and V2V technology to communicate information and drones for safe and effective UTM functionality. Practical demonstrations taken place in Patras/Messolonghi in 2019 are presented and show the benefits and shortcomings for near term UTM implementation in Europe.