Mitigating Air Risk of Drone Operations in Low-level Airspace with a 4D Trajectory U-space Framework

View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-4109.vid

U-space, the drone traffic management framework in Europe, is deploying advanced services to ensure safe and efficient air traffic management in low-level airspace. In urban areas, drone operations must mitigate the risk of mid-air collisions, or air risk, with both manned and unmanned traffic, whether planned or not. To address these challenges, we have developed an innovative solution that utilizes virtual 4D protection bubbles around drones. We present here an extension of this 4D trajectory-based model to incorporate the air risk associated with unplanned traffic. Protective bubbles are formed, ensuring sufficient separation from planned traffic, while also serving as a risk indicator throughout the trajectory. To demonstrate the efficacy of this approach, we present an operational use case based on the delivery of blood bags over a densely populated area. We also detail the construction of a basic risk model that combines a set of risk layers using data from geographically risky areas and historical traffic data. Finally, we explain how a suite of U-space services can leverage this 4D framework to evaluate and mitigate the air risk incurred by drones flying in low-level airspace.