Skip to main content

Thales and Telstra link up to enable safe airspace for drones

Thales and Australian mobile network provider Telstra are working together to enable the management of low altitude airspace for autonomous flying taxis, drones and helicopters. The partnership is investigating how 4G and 5G technology and Internet of Things capabilities could enable robust navigation and monitoring of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – more commonly called drones. Chris Jenkins, chief executive of Thales Australia, says the partnership intends to help customers integrate unmanned aircra
March 4, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

596 Thales and Australian mobile network provider Telstra are working together to enable the management of low altitude airspace for autonomous flying taxis, drones and helicopters.

The partnership is investigating how 4G and 5G technology and Internet of Things capabilities could enable robust navigation and monitoring of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – more commonly called drones.

Chris Jenkins, chief executive of Thales Australia, says the partnership intends to help customers integrate unmanned aircraft into controlled airspace and help drone users perform their “missions in an orderly, safe and timely manner”.

Thales and Telstra have developed a prototype air traffic control platform called Low Altitude Airspace Management to integrate manned and unmanned traffic. The firms say it will include automated drone flight approvals and dynamic airspace management.

Australia is not the only country looking to improve the safety of airspace for drones. Last month, US space agency Nasa confirmed it is moving into the final %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external phase false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/nasa-tests-drone-traffic-management-system-in-nevada-and-texas/ false false%>of a four-year programme to prove it can safely control drones flying over urban areas.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • LED lighting strobes within ITS
    April 29, 2013
    Specialist in the design and manufacture of LED illumination and control solutions for machine vision and intelligent traffic applications, Gardasoft, has published a White Paper that deals specifically with the integration and advantages relating to the use of LED lighting within ITS systems.
  • Kapsch presents mobility solutions for smart cities at TRA Vienna
    April 13, 2018
    Three Kapsch subsidiaries will showcase smart mobility solutions for road and rail at the Transport Research Arena (TRA), in Vienna, from 16-19 April. The company will discuss how the Austrian technology group contributes to modern traffic management. These subsidiaries include Kapsch TrafficCom, Kapsch CarrierCom and Kapsch PublicTransportCom. Georg Kapsch, chief executive officer of the Kapsch, will discuss the impact of digitalisation on transportation and mobility. He will also provide a session on
  • News article 1
    December 4, 2013
    News article 1
  • Silca launches Roof Drip information display
    March 19, 2018
    Silca Traffic Systems Europe is launching its newly-developed portable Roof Drip information display. Designed to help quickly inform and manage traffic and other situations, the mobile information display is installed in a case that can be fitted on the roof of any delivery van or car. According to the company, the biggest benefit is that users always have a safety information display with them to deal with an incident.