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.

Enforcement

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cubic pushes greater role of public transit authorities in driving MaaS
    March 26, 2018
    Public transit agencies must start playing a central role in shaping the direction of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions, driving the implementation effort and acting as coordinators of future endeavours, according to Cubic Transportation Systems' (CTS’) report presented in Washington DC. The document, authored by the company's president Matt Cole, aims to help clients, partners and the transit industry revisit their assumptions about MaaS and encourage an open discussion about public transit as the bac
    Read More
  • ITS World Congress 2019’s Expression of Interest deadline 28 February
    February 8, 2018
    The Expression of Interest Demonstrations deadline for ITS World Congress 2019 has been confirmed for the 28 February 2018. The event will provide exhibitors with an opportunity to showcase their products and solutions to over 10,000 ITS professionals, decision makers, government officials and media from the 21-25 October 2019, at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre. Demonstration themes include Connected & Automated Vehicles; Crowdsourcing & Big Data Analytics; Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
    Read More
  • USDOT releases connected vehicle program synopsis
    December 23, 2014
    The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued the synopsis of its connected vehicles pilot deployment program notice of Phase 1: Concept Development under the solicitation number DTFH6115R00003. Connected vehicle research is being sponsored by the USDOT and others to leverage the potentially transformative capabilities of wireless technology to make surface transportation safer, smarter, and greener.
    Read More
  • Gig economy drivers and riders at increased risk of collisions, warns UCL
    September 3, 2018
    Self-employed courier or taxi drivers who get their work through apps could be more likely to be involved in a collision, says a new study. The University College London (UCL) research found 63% of ‘gig’ economy respondents – who are not paid a salary - are not provided with safety training about managing risks on the road. The emerging issues for management of occupational road risk in a changing economy: A survey of gig economy drivers, riders and their managers also revealed 65% of drivers did not
    Read More

Highlighted Content