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

  • Call for Contributions still open, ITS World Congress 2018
    December 11, 2017
    The Call for Contributions are still open for the ITS World Congress 2018, in Copenhagen. Through ITS, it aims to find answers to climate, air pollution, urbanization, congestion, and traffic safety through its main theme Quality of Life. The deadline for the submission of papers is 15 December 2017. Next year’s event is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors, 4,000 delegates and 400 exhibitors and will be held in the Bella Center from 12-21 September 2018. More information in the Call for Contribution
    Read More
  • Australia and Michigan to develop safer roads and vehicle technology
    October 10, 2018
    The Australian government and the US state of Michigan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop vehicle and road systems to help improve road safety. Michael McCormack, deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development, says the agreement is part of a strategy to position Australia for safer roads through automated and connected vehicles. “This is just one way the government is promoting safer vehicles on safer roads, including for our region
    Read More
  • Ficosa pledges €500m investment in C/AV technology
    March 19, 2019
    Spanish firm Ficosa is to put €500m into R&D over the next four years to provide new technology for connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs). The firm believes that revenue from its technology systems will rise from €100 million to €800 million over the next five years. Assisted driving and e-mobility are other areas of interest, and the company has already put its money where its mouth is, showing off a new e-mobility development centre last year. The company had overall revenues of €1.28 billion
    Read More
  • Continental wins follow-on order to upgrade Shanghai metro
    February 4, 2019
    Continental has secured a follow-on order for future metro projects in the Chinese city of Shanghai to help increase usage of rail and reduce gridlocks on roads. The project will expand the metro network from 16 to 22 lines by 2020 and cover an area of 970km. Jianhua Hao, head of marketing & sales at Continental China, says the company’s new air spring systems will allow metro trains to travel more quietly and with lower vibration levels.
    Read More

Highlighted Content