Overland flight with the unmanned ALAADy demonstrator

Unmanned low-flying cargo transport out of sight of the pilot

Unmanned air cargo transport offers the opportunity to deliver urgently needed goods to a destination by air. An unmanned aircraft offers increased payload over a manned aircraft by saving pilot weight. Furthermore, continuous operations can be established without the risk of pilot fatigue and operations in hazardous flight missions are possible.

Potential deployment scenarios include transport missions for humanitarian aid supplies in areas that are permanently or temporarily cut off from the ground-based transport infrastructure. In the industrial environment, urgently needed production or spare parts deliveries represent relevant deployment scenarios. The regulatory framework will be provided by the EU implementing regulations 2019/947 and 2020/746 from 01.01.2022. In the project, the aim is to fly at low altitudes so that the spatial separation of unmanned aerial vehicles from manned air traffic is achieved. The realization of low-flying unmanned air cargo transport is challenging from a technical, regulatory and socio-technical perspective.

Applied research with unmanned gyrocopter

With the help of the gyrocopter drone "ALAADy demonstrator", the project is pursuing the demonstration of a cross-country flight over sparsely populated areas to transport a payload of up to 150 kg. The main research topics around low-flying cargo transport with the unmanned gyroplane are:

• on-board automation
• Remote guidance and airspace integration
• Risk-based operating license according to EASA Specific Category
• Acceptance optimized operation
• Flight test execution

During the project, technical competencies of the participating institutes and facilities are bundled. The topics include the increase of on-board autonomy, flight control, approvals for the operation of unmanned aerial systems, airspace integration, remote guidance in experimental and regular operation, support of remote guidance with the help of augmented reality, data management, procedures and processes for testing and investigations regarding acceptance in the population. The interdisciplinary project team thus makes a joint and unique contribution to the development of unmanned aviation.