📅The first workshop of the AI4HyDrop project was held last Wednesday 7th February of 2024 (online event)
The main objective of the workshop was to discuss with the different stakeholders of the project the main activities that are being carried out, and to collect feedback with their comments and suggestions.

The workshop was attended by more than 70 participants, which was a great success! 🎉🎉

✏️The workshop started with a first plenary session with a general introduction of the project by Professor Aurelie Aurilla Bechina Arntzen from the University of South-Eastern Norway and PO Cengiz ARI from SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking
The workshop was then divided into three parallel tracks that were held twice each so that attendees could participate in more than one session. The sessions were:

✨Session 1: How could the design of airspace and its structure accommodate UAS operations?
Led and moderated by yannick Seprey (Sopra Steria) and NURULLAH GÜLTEKİN (dhmi – General Directorate of State Airports Authority)

✨Session 2: How to Detect and Identify Drones in restricted areas?
Led and moderated by Enrique Puertas (Universidad Europea) and Aurelie Aurilla Bechina Arntzen (USN)

✨Session 3 :How can AI Transform the Automation of Flight Plan Approval Processes?
Led and moderated by Miguel-Ángel Fas-Millán (German Aerospace Center (DLR)) and Emre KOYUNCU (Istanbul Technical University).

The three sessions have provided us with useful insights 📊📈from the stakeholders, which will allow us to take the next steps in the project with valuable information about the requirements and the point of view of the organisations and people who are related to areas related to the tasks of the AI4HyDrop project.

🗓️ The 1st Workshop of the AI4HyDrop project will take place on 7 February 2024 from 9:30 to 12 noon (virtual meeting).

During the workshop, you will have the chance to learn firsthand about the cutting-edge technologies, methodologies, and innovations that we are developing within the AI4HyDrop project. Furthermore, it will serve as a platform to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and explore potential collaborations with fellow stakeholders. We believe that your presence and active participation will greatly enrich the workshop and contribute towards the project’s success. Your expertise and insights are highly valued, and we look forward to hearing your perspectives during the interactive sessions. This workshop presents an opportunity for us to gather and exchange valuable insights on the project’s advancements, challenges, and future prospects.

The workshop will have a plenary session and three parallel tracks about design of airspace structure, drone detection, and automatization of drone operations using Artificial Intelligence:

AGENDA

Each track will be held twice to allow people interested in more than one topic to attend.

Session 1 – Design of airspace structure.

Chair: Yannick Seprey (Sopra Steria) / Nurullah Gültekin (DHMI – General Directorate of State Airports Authority)

Airspace design over urban areas, including close to ATM controlled airspaces, will be key to ensure safety of all kind of operations (manned and unmanned/crewed or uncrewed), of people on ground embedding social considerations; That will also provide the proper environment and conditions for airspace users to perform their missions as expected.

This session aims at challenging some ideas AI4HyDrop already has on the subject, collecting ideas from the audience and at answering questions we have on the way to build an airspace design conceptual framework.

Session 2 – How to Detect and Identify Drones in restricted areas?

Session chair: Enrique Puertas (European University in Madrid) / Fabio Suim Chagas (University of South-Eastern Norway)

In this session we will discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence to detect drones flying in no-fly areas within urban areas, discussing the constraints such as the use of low-cost sensors, where to place those sensors and how to train the algorithms with the reduction of false positives in mind. Some of the aspects we want to clarify in this session are what kind of signals and sensors can be suitable for detecting a drone, and which of them can be realistically used in cities and urban environments.

The session will also discuss the different mechanisms to identify the drone operator flying in a restricted area, and how to communicate with him to correct the situation.

Session 3 – How to support the automation of Flight Planning? Is AI the next thing?

Session chair: Miguel A. Fas-Millan (DLR – German Aerospace) / Emre Koyuncu (ITU – Istanbul Technical University)

In this session, we delve into a crucial aspect of AI4HyDrop – the automation of the flight plan approval process. This intricate process entails the management of a vast array of information, including environmental data, policies, priorities, and traffic density balance. We value your insights on the optimal level of transparency, independence, and safety when distributing this information to airspace users.

Furthermore, during this session, we aim to tackle several key aspects:

1. Defining and structuring pre-tactical flight intentions and plans.
2. Determining the mandated format for flight plans.
3. Identifying the information necessary for an automated AI system to assess flight plans in real-time, considering risks, safety, and fairness.

Our goal is to enable efficient and secure U-space management by automating the approval and rejection of flight plans, and your input in shaping these processes is highly valued.

We invite you to participate in this exclusive event. Join us to explore the latest advancements in the utilization of AI for future drone operations at scale in urban and restricted areas.

🔗 To secure your spot, we kindly request you to register promptly through the Eventbrite platform by following the registration link provided below.

🎟️ Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.es/e/ai4hydrop-workshop-tickets-798303476187

May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and safe flights. Remember, even Santa needs a well-organized airspace for his drone-assisted deliveries! 🎅🚀

At SESAR Innovation Days 2023, we presented our AI4HyDrop project through an informative poster, engaging with industry experts and aviation enthusiasts to showcase our innovative approach to U-Space management using AI.
As SESAR Innovation Days #SIDS23 concludes, we reflect on the vital role of innovation in enhancing day-to-day operations and future-proofing aviation. The dynamic insights gained at the event fuel our commitment to pioneering solutions in the ever-evolving U-Space and aviation landscape.

Photographs courtesy of Sopra Steria.

The kick-off meeting of the #AI4HyDrop project took place on September 27th at the Cuatro Vientos airport in Madrid, coinciding with the Expodrónica Air Show event, which was part of the Airspace Integration week. This meeting provided a great opportunity for all partners to familiarize themselves with the details of all project tasks, establish relationships, and lay the foundations for successful project development.

AI4HyDrop (An AI-based Holistic Dynamic Framework for safe Drone Operations in restricted and urban areas) is a project co-funded by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking initiative that assesses the diverse needs of stakeholders, providing validated concepts and defining a methodology for the organization of an airspace structure and the associated services of U-space. The framework will use Artificial Intelligence models and will consider information from other services such as meteorological and separation, which could be used for flight planning approval and priority establishment. Moreover, essential elements like surveillance and contingency planning will be considered.

All consortium members had the opportunity to present their tasks and work packages and exchange valuable information regarding the planning and organization of the work with the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking delegation.

From this point onward, the focus is on exploring solutions that enhance the U-Space in European territory using Artificial Intelligence techniques. We invite you to follow us and stay updated on the developments we will publish over the next 30 months.

 

#SESAR3JU#DigitalSky#AirTrafficManagement #AI4HyDrop