The latest stage in the development of Dubai’s UAS traffic management (UTM) system is due to become operational by June this year, incorporating non-cooperative drone surveillance.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and its UTM technology partner Exponent Technology Services have been trialling integrated counter-UAS equipment from Dedrone, DJI and L-3 but are planning for the integrated Dubai UTM system – now called “Utmosphere” – to eventually be C-UAS technology-agnostic, according to Exponent’s Chief Commercial Officer Ayhan Kamil.
At the core of Dubai’s UTM system is a 58 gram tracker which will be fitted to each commercial drone (https://www.unmannedairspace.info/utm-industry-leader-interview/dubais-pioneering-utm-technology-air-taxis-2020-interview-exponent-technology-services-ayhan-kamil/), equipped with built-in IMU accelerometer, barometric altimeter and GPS and GSM modules with an independent power source. The box is able to transmit over the GSM-network, in 2G, 3G and 4G environments.
The results of the trials with C-UAS technology companies – which have included research operations in Farnborough, UK – will mean UAE will be the first country into the world to field surveillance systems to detect uncooperative drones as an integral part of the UTM system.
In January 2019, Exponent became the technology partner for AirShare, New Zealand’s commercial UTM operator.